This desert city, located 42 feet below sea level, is surely one of the most unique on our list. Located in the largely agricultural Imperial Valley about 100 miles east of San Diego, El Centro’s economy is dominated by government, retail, and education. With Mexico just 10 miles down the road, the city hosts the largest foreign born population of all small cities in America (#1), and boasts the #12 ranking in People overall. El Centro also has the best weather of all small cities (#1), with sunshine nearly every day of the year. Desert recreational activities abound: The nearby Algodones Dunes are the largest dune field in the U.S. and a popular destination for off-road vehicles. Nearby Slab City is an alternative community filled with large-scale, DIY art installations like Salvation Mountain and East Jesus that have recently become Instagram sensations (#103 in our Promotion subcategory).