Along the border of California, Arizona, and Mexico, the Imperial Valley's warm climate was ideal for growing produce. The Salinas Valley Exchange, Crown Packing, Pacific Crate Company, and Kubota Transfer were several of the companies established for the packing and shipping of the produce in El Centro. By 1941, El Centro, like its neighbor, Brawley, had a Buddhist and Christian church, 3 Japanese schools, 3 hotels, 4 pool halls, 14 restaurants, 3 drug stores, and several other stores. None of these businesses still operate, although a few structures stand and the Buddhist Church is now home to a Sikh temple. The JACL and Pioneer Museum offer the only trace of the continued historic communities of the Imperial Valley.