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Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley | |
|---|---|
| Idyllwild–Pine Cove[1] | |
 Idyllwild | |
 Location withinRiverside County andCalifornia | |
  Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley Location in the United States Show map of southern California Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley (California) Show map of California Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:33°44′40″N116°43′33″W / 33.74444°N 116.72583°W /33.74444; -116.72583 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Riverside |
| Area | |
• Total | 13.733 sq mi (35.568 km2) |
| • Land | 13.723 sq mi (35.542 km2) |
| • Water | 0.010 sq mi (0.026 km2) 0.07% |
| Elevation | 5,413 ft (1,650 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 4,163 |
| • Density | 303.4/sq mi (117.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 92549 |
| Area code | 951 |
| FIPS code | 06-36203 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2408414 |
Idyllwild,Pine Cove, andFern Valley are three adjacentunincorporated communities in theSan Jacinto Mountains inRiverside County, California, United States. Idyllwild has the largest population of the three. For statistical purposes, theUnited States Census Bureau has defined Idyllwild–Pine Cove as acensus-designated place (CDP). The CDP's population was 4,163 at the 2020 census,[3] up from 3,874 at the 2010 census.
Idyllwild is adjacent to thePacific Crest Trail.[4]
"Mile-high Idyllwild" is a mountain resort about one-mile (1,600 m) in altitude. Idyllwild is flanked by two large rock formations,Tahquitz Peak andSuicide Rock, which are famous in Southern California rock-climbing circles.[5] It offers no skiing, so "the Hill" has been minimally developed over the years and remains a center for hiking, mountain and rock climbing, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
Idyllwild was once the summer home for bands ofCahuilla Indians, who migrated there to escape the heat of lower-elevation deserts. The Cahuilla'sgrinding slabs can still be seen in Idyllwild.
Idyllwild was originally known as Strawberry Valley because of the wildstrawberries that grow there, especially beside the creek that runs through the town, Strawberry Creek. Shepherds regularly brought their flocks to the valley. In the 1880s, the Domenigoni family ofSan Jacinto homesteaded land near what is nowIdyllwild Arts Academy. In 1889, George and Sarah Hannahs built a summer camp next to their sawmill in upper Dutch Flat and named it Camp Idyllwilde. By the 1890s atoll road had been built fromHemet, which opened Idyllwild to settlement,logging, andtourism. Apost office was established in 1893; at this time, the town was called Rayneta after the Hannahs' son Raymond.
In 1901, the Idyllwild Sanatorium was built to treattuberculosis patients. It was soon remodeled as a resort called Idyllwild Among the Pines, and later Idyllwild. The same year, the town's name was changed to Idyllwild.
TheTribe of Tahquitz Boy Scout honor society was created in Idyllwild in 1925.
With the advent of the automobile, Idyllwild became a weekend tourist attraction forSouthern Californians.[6] For many years, the town presented itself as analpine village, and hotels and businesses hadGerman or German-sounding names, but this practice ended duringWorld War II.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, Idyllwild was a center for the production of "knotty pine furniture", the finelog furniture made in theArts and Crafts style. Under Charles "Selden" Belden's direction, the furniture was produced by the Idyllwild Pinecraft Furniture Company and, later, C. Selden Belden Idyllwild Pinecraft. The furniture is now "collectible" and can be found in many Idyllwild houses and cabins.[7]
In the 1950s, theYosemite Decimal System of grading routes was developed at Tahquitz by members of the Rock Climbing Section of the Angeles Chapter of theSierra Club.[8] In 1957 architectFrank Gehry designed and constructed his first private residence. Built along with USC classmate/architect Greg Walsh, the David Cabin shows early inspirational Asian influences and characteristics of Gehry'slater works, including unfinished ceiling beams and other exposed materials. It is on Middle Ridge Drive.
In the late 1960s and 1970s, there was an influx ofhippies to Idyllwild that changed the town and alarmed many longtime residents.Timothy Leary lived on a ranch in nearby Garner Valley, with the ranch serving as the headquarters ofThe Brotherhood of Eternal Love.[9] In 2019 YouTube celebrityLogan Paul bought the ranch.[10]
From 1974 to 1979, Idyllwild hosted the Idyllwild Bluegrass Invitational, then Southern California's onlybluegrass music festival (it was inspired by the Julian Banjo-Fiddle Contest, which takes place on the third weekend in September). From the 1950s through the 1970s Idyllwild also hosted the Bear Flag Festival, which honored California's Bear Flag and marked the passing of thegrizzly bear from California, the last of which, according to local legend, was killed at Hurkey Creek in Garner Valley.
Mosthigh school-age students in Idyllwild attend school inHemet, which requires them to travel by school bus some 35 miles (56 km) in distance and 3,000 feet (910 m) in altitude to and from school. Since the 1950s, some Idyllwild parents have advocated for a high school in the town. There have been many attempts at establishing high schools, but most were short-lived. Startup schools that failed included Hi-Lo, or LIFE (Living in Free Education, a public school where Idyllwild Arts Academy now stands, operated by Mary Glavin in 1973–76),[11][12] New Schole Ranch (a private school in Mountain Center), and Freedom Schools, Inc. (a private school operated in Mountain Center by Mary Ellen DuBay). Desert Sun School (later called the Elliott-Pope School), a private boarding school that accepted boarders and day students, closed in December 1990, due to financial mischief, after operating for 65 years.
Idyllwild, Garner Valley andLake Hemet have been used for filming since the silent film era. Although most ofCecil B. DeMille'sThe Squaw Man (1914) was filmed in the Los Angeles vicinity, footage of cattle on the open range were shot at the "H.J." Ranch at Keen Camp, midway between Idyllwild and Garner Valley.[13] A number of Westerns have been filmed at the Garner Ranch in Garner Valley:Guns and Guitars (1936),Heading for the Rio Grande (1936),Springtime in the Rockies (1937),Brothers in the Saddle (1949),Riders of the Range (1949), andStorm over Wyoming (1950). The Garner Ranch also stood in for the Ponderosa in episodes of the TV showBonanza. In 1961 and 1962, theElvis Presley musicalKid Galahad was filmed in the Idyllwild vicinity. The 1980s television seriesAir Wolf and various car commercials were also filmed in the area. The biker funeral procession from the 1966 filmThe Wild Angels was filmed in Idyllwild and included the Silver Pines Lodge, which was named Hillbilly Lodge at the time of filming. Some of Steven Suptic'sSugar Pine 7, a YouTube comedy series, takes place in Idyllwild.
In 2012, aGolden Retriever named Max was elected as the "Mayor" of Idyllwild (which, as part of an unincorporated community, has no local government) out of a running of fourteen dogs and two cats as part of a fundraising event held by and for the non-profit organization Idyllwild Animal Rescue Friends (ARF). In 2013, Mayor Max died, andMaximus Mighty-Dog Mueller II, another Golden Retriever, arrived in Idyllwild to complete the remainder of the term. In March 2014, as the end of Max's term approached, Idyllwild Animal Rescue Friends surveyed the people of Idyllwild, inquiring for their interest in another election. The response was widespread and consistent: they wanted Mayor Max for life. No other elections were held and the Mayor Maxes have assumed the positions. Mayor Max II died on July 30, 2022, after a brief medical issue, and was succeeded by Mayor Max III.[14]
The Idyllwild–Pine Cove–Fern Valley CDP in Southern California's San Jacinto Mountains as defined by theUnited States Census Bureau statistical purposes may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the areas with the same names. The area includes 10,834-foot (3,302 m) highSan Jacinto Peak,[15] Southern California's second highest mountain, afterMount San Gorgonio.
Idyllwild lies mostly within a high mountain valley bisected by a small year-round stream, Strawberry Creek.
Pine Cove occupies a ridgetop location nearly 1,000 feet (300 m) higher than Idyllwild.
Under theKöppen climate classification system, Idyllwild–Pine Cove has awarm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps. Winter is cool with occasional rain storms and snow showers. January daily high temperatures are usually between 50–60 °F (10–16 °C) with lows just below freezing. On average, the lowest winter temperature is 14 °F (−10 °C), putting the area inhardiness zone 8A. Spring starts slowly but then gets warmer in April and is usually a pleasant time of year.
Summer is hot and dry, but temperatures cool off to below 60 °F (16 °C) at night and days are more similar to the coastal areas than to the deserts. An average of 17.7 days a year exceed 90 °F (32 °C), very low for inland California. Late summer brings occasional thunderstorms from theNorth American Monsoon. Fall is warm and dry, with the first freezes by October and the first snows by November.
The record high is 104 °F (40 °C) on September 6, 2020, and June 16, 2021, while the record low is 1 °F (−17 °C) on January 5, 1971. The lowest high ever was 23 °F (−5 °C) on January 10, 1949, while the highest low was 77 °F (25 °C) on July 10, 2002.
The wettest year was 1983 with 56.87 inches (144 cm) of precipitation. The wettest month was January 1993 with 23.72 inches (60 cm) of rainfall, and the wettest day had 6.66 inches (17 cm) of rainfall on December 5, 1966. With only 10.84 inches (28 cm) of rain, 1961 was the driest year on record.
Snow falls every winter. The snowiest season by far was 1948–1949 with 108.1 inches (275 cm). The snowiest month ever was January 1949 with 49.0 inches (124 cm), and the snowiest day ever was March 24, 1964, when 22.0 inches (56 cm) of snow fell. There has never been a snowless season on record. The 4.8 inches (12 cm) of snow in 1983–1984 was the least snowy season ever.
| Climate data for Idyllwild, California (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1943–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) | 79 (26) | 82 (28) | 92 (33) | 93 (34) | 104 (40) | 103 (39) | 98 (37) | 104 (40) | 96 (36) | 84 (29) | 82 (28) | 104 (40) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 69.2 (20.7) | 68.1 (20.1) | 72.7 (22.6) | 78.7 (25.9) | 84.9 (29.4) | 90.1 (32.3) | 94.5 (34.7) | 93.3 (34.1) | 90.2 (32.3) | 83.8 (28.8) | 75.4 (24.1) | 70.2 (21.2) | 96.3 (35.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 54.2 (12.3) | 53.9 (12.2) | 57.9 (14.4) | 63.9 (17.7) | 71.0 (21.7) | 80.3 (26.8) | 85.3 (29.6) | 85.8 (29.9) | 80.8 (27.1) | 71.6 (22.0) | 61.0 (16.1) | 54.2 (12.3) | 68.3 (20.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 42.3 (5.7) | 42.1 (5.6) | 45.2 (7.3) | 49.4 (9.7) | 55.9 (13.3) | 64.1 (17.8) | 70.2 (21.2) | 70.6 (21.4) | 65.4 (18.6) | 56.5 (13.6) | 47.6 (8.7) | 41.6 (5.3) | 54.2 (12.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 29.7 (−1.3) | 29.4 (−1.4) | 31.0 (−0.6) | 34.9 (1.6) | 40.9 (4.9) | 47.8 (8.8) | 55.2 (12.9) | 55.4 (13.0) | 50.1 (10.1) | 41.0 (5.0) | 32.8 (0.4) | 29.3 (−1.5) | 39.8 (4.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 18.5 (−7.5) | 18.6 (−7.4) | 20.9 (−6.2) | 24.8 (−4.0) | 29.6 (−1.3) | 35.6 (2.0) | 44.5 (6.9) | 44.7 (7.1) | 37.4 (3.0) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 23.8 (−4.6) | 18.7 (−7.4) | 14.1 (−9.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 1 (−17) | 4 (−16) | 3 (−16) | 14 (−10) | 18 (−8) | 24 (−4) | 27 (−3) | 27 (−3) | 23 (−5) | 11 (−12) | 10 (−12) | 2 (−17) | 1 (−17) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.74 (120) | 5.35 (136) | 3.31 (84) | 1.67 (42) | 0.65 (17) | 0.13 (3.3) | 0.47 (12) | 0.60 (15) | 0.79 (20) | 1.17 (30) | 1.92 (49) | 3.65 (93) | 24.45 (621.3) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.3 (19) | 9.8 (25) | 5.0 (13) | 3.5 (8.9) | 0.5 (1.3) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 2.3 (5.8) | 4.2 (11) | 32.6 (84) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 6.9 | 7.9 | 6.0 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 6.3 | 47.2 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 2.2 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 11.2 |
| Source 1:NOAA[16] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NCEI[17] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3,504 | — | |
| 2010 | 3,874 | 10.6% | |
| 2020 | 4,163 | 7.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[18] | |||
The2020 United States census reported that Idyllwild-Pine Cove had a population of 4,163. The population density was 303.4 inhabitants per square mile (117.1/km2). The racial makeup of Idyllwild-Pine Cove was 77.6%White, 1.1%African American, 1.3%Native American, 2.1%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 6.8% fromother races, and 11.1% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.2% of the population.[19]
The census reported that 95.9% of the population lived in households, 4.1% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.[19]
There were 1,894 households, out of which 17.3% included children under the age of 18, 43.6% were married-couple households, 5.8% werecohabiting couple households, 28.7% had a female householder with no partner present, and 21.9% had a male householder with no partner present. 35.8% of households were one person, and 17.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.11.[19] There were 1,095families (57.8% of all households).[20]
The age distribution was 14.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% aged 18 to 24, 20.0% aged 25 to 44, 29.4% aged 45 to 64, and 29.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males.[19]
There were 3,958 housing units at an average density of 288.4 units per square mile (111.4 units/km2), of which 1,894 (47.9%) were occupied. Of these, 71.2% were owner-occupied, and 28.8% were occupied by renters.[19]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $83,205, and theper capita income was $53,777. About 3.7% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line.[21]
In theUnited States House of Representatives, Idyllwild, Fern Valley, and Pine Cove are inCalifornia's 41st Congressional District, represented byRepublicanKen Calvert, and in theCalifornia State Legislature, they are inthe 32nd senatorial district, represented byRepublican Kelly Seyarto, and inthe 47th Assembly district, represented byRepublican Greg Wallis.[22]
In the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, Fern Valley, Idyllwild, and Pine Cove are in the Third District, represented byChuck Washington.[23]In the jurisdiction of theRiverside County Sheriff's Department, with SheriffChad Bianco.[24]The Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley area has several local governmental agencies: Idyllwild County Water District, Pine Cove County Water District, Fern Valley State Water District,Idyllwild Fire Protection District, County Service Area 36, County Service Area 38 and Idyllwild Historical Preservation District.
Forest Folk, using a grant from theRiverside County Transportation Commission, operates the Idyllwild Shuttle, which provides door-to-door service.[25]
Almost all of the CDP is inHemet Unified School District. A very small piece is in theBanning Unified School District.[26]
Idyllwild is within theSan Bernardino National Forest and bordersMount San Jacinto State Park.
TheRiverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District operates the Idyllwild Park and Idyllwild Nature Center.[27]
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In 1946, Ernie and Betty Maxwell founded theIdyllwild Town Crier weekly newspaper, which has been in continual operation ever since. Over the years, it has been variously owned and operated by local families, theChronicle Publishing Company in San Francisco, and a U.S. corporate subsidiary of theTindle Newspaper Group. Since June 28, 2013, theTown Crier has been owned and operated by Idyllwild House Publishing Company Ltd., a family-held California general corporation based in Idyllwild. TheTown Crier is the sole media monitor of eight local governmental agencies on "the Hill," as the San Jacinto Mountain communities are locally known. TheIdyllwild Town Crier has received awards from theNational Newspaper Association, theCalifornia Newspaper Publishers Association, and theCalifornia Press Association, which are on display at its Village Center Drive office.
TheIdyllwild Arts Foundation, which began as a summer arts program, was founded by Bea and Max Krone in 1950. It was administered by theUniversity of Southern California (USC) from 1964 through 1985, when the program was known as ISOMATA – Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts. In 1985, the Foundation purchased ISOMATA from USC, and followed by the founding of the private Idyllwild Arts Foundation (IAF) in 1986. IAF is a private, fully accredited high school for boarding and day students.
Since 2010 Idyllwild hosts theIdyllwild International Festival of Cinema. The first festival screened around 40 official selections from around the world.
In 2013, the Stratford Playerstheater group moved to Idyllwild, where they perform year-round. Typically in the fall, the troupe presents Will In The Woods, a selection of Shakespeare's scenes and soliloquies. The event is held outdoors in the afternoon, in keeping with Elizabethan custom. During the remainder of the year, Stratford Players present both staged readings and full productions of non-Shakespearean plays that vary from classics to recent works.[28][29][30]
Camp Emerson, aBoy Scouts of America camp established in 1919, is located in Idyllwild.[31]
AstroCamp, a sleepaway camp opened in 1991, is located in Idyllwild.[32]
Idyllwild is home to many artists and musicians, notably drummer David Atwood of the 1970s rock groupAmerica,Bobby Womack, andRichard Halligan, a founding member ofBlood, Sweat & Tears. Musician, composer, and record producerKenneth James Gibson has a studio in Idyllwild and has recorded multiple albums there.[33][34] PGA tour starBrendan Steele was born and raised in Idyllwild. ArtistNate Lowman grew up in Idyllwild and attendedIdyllwild Arts Academy before moving to New York. Musician and radio personalityChris Thile spent most of his childhood in Idyllwild (approximately 1985–1995).[35]
Film actors and producers who own or owned homes in Idyllwild and the surrounding area includeCharles Laughton,Marjorie Main,Sharon Lawrence,Barbara Hershey,Doris Day,Michael J. Fox,Sean Connery,Dolly Parton,Herb Jeffries,Craig Stevens,Andrew Robinson,Shari Lewis,Doron Ofir, andHorace Hahn, who had a supporting role in theCecil B. DeMille filmThis Day and Age (1933).[citation needed]American Idol season 10 contestant and musical artistCasey Abrams is from Idyllwild.
Idyllwild travel guide from Wikivoyage
