The city derived its name from a historicCahuilla Native American water reservoir, which served as a crucial water supply for nearby tribes.[5]
As early as 1820, the area now known as Indian Wells was the site of a thriving Indian village, as reported by W.P. Blade, aSmithsonian Institution geologist. A decade later, when gold was discovered on theColorado River,William D. Bradshaw built a trail fromLos Angeles through the desert to the gold mines. The Alexander and Company Stage Line used the trail to transport prospectors and Indian Wells became an important stop along the trail. Competition from theSouthern Pacific Railroad caused the route to be abandoned briefly in 1875 before being reactivated by theWells Fargo company the following year.[6]
Over the next decades, settlers gradually arrived in the area anddate palm ranches became profitable. The area's first golf courses were opened in the 1950s at the Eldorado Country Club and the Indian Wells Country Club. In 1957,Desi Arnaz opened his Indian Wells Hotel (forerunner to the Indian Wells Resort Hotel). In 1960,Arnold Palmer won the firstBob Hope Desert Classic golf tournament. PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower was a regular Indian Wells visitor and later an Eldorado homeowner.[7]
In an election held June 27, 1967, to avoid being annexed by neighboring cities such as Palm Desert, the inhabitants of Indian Wells voted to incorporate as a city. On July 14, 1967, Indian Wells became California's 400th city and the 16th in Riverside County. Since then, Indian Wells has continued to grow, with the development of resort hotels, golf courses and luxury residential areas.[8]
The whole population lived in households. There were 2,634 households, out of which 7.7% included children under the age of 18, 51.8% were married-couple households, 4.6% werecohabiting couple households, 29.0% had a female householder with no partner present, and 14.6% had a male householder with no partner present. 35.6% of households were one person, and 28.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.81.[10] There were 1,544families (58.6% of all households).[11]
The age distribution was 6.6% under the age of 18, 2.2% aged 18 to 24, 6.5% aged 25 to 44, 23.5% aged 45 to 64, and 61.3% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 69.2years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males.[10]
There were 5,140 housing units at an average density of 359.0 units per square mile (138.6 units/km2), of which 2,634 (51.2%) were occupied. Of these, 82.4% were owner-occupied, and 17.6% were occupied by renters.[10]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $145,313, and theper capita income was $142,360. About 1.4% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line.[12]
The2010 United States census[13] reported that Indian Wells had a population of 4,958. The population density was 339.8 inhabitants per square mile (131.2/km2). Theracial makeup of Indian Wells was 4,721 (95.2%) White (92.3% Non-Hispanic White),[14] 29 (0.6%) African American, 20 (0.4%) Native American, 83 (1.7%) Asian, 2 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 52 (1.0%) from other races, and 51 (1.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 209 persons (4.2%).
The Census reported that 4,952 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 6 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,745 households, out of which 193 (7.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,519 (55.3%) wereopposite-sex married couples living together, 85 (3.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 46 (1.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 85 (3.1%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 36 (1.3%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 944 households (34.4%) were made up of individuals, and 690 (25.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.80. There were 1,650families (60.1% of all households); the average family size was 2.22.
The age distribution was: 310 people (6.3%) under the age of 18, 76 people (1.5%) aged 18 to 24, 283 people (5.7%) aged 25 to 44, 1,558 people (31.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,731 people (55.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 66.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
There were 5,137 housing units at an average density of 352.1 per square mile (135.9/km2), of which 2,285 (83.2%) were owner-occupied, and 460 (16.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 15.4%. 4,251 people (85.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 701 people (14.1%) lived in rental housing units.
During 2009–2013, Indian Wells had a median household income of $83,884, with 5.2% of the population living below the federalpoverty line.[15]
Hiking trails in the undeveloped area of Indian Wells
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.6 square miles (37.8 km2), of which 14.3 square miles (37.1 km2) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.7 km2), comprising 1.80%, is water.[3]
This climate is dominated in all months by the subtropicalanticyclone, or subtropical high, with its descending air, elevated inversions, and clear skies. Such an atmospheric environment inhibits precipitation.[17]
Climate data for Palm Springs Regional Airport (1991–2020 normals)
Indian Wells is a largely Republican city. Since its incorporation in 1967, all Republican candidates for president and governor have carried Indian Wells, with the six Republican presidential candidates from 1968 to 1988, and the seven Republican gubernatorial candidates from 1970 to 1994 each carrying the city by a margin of at least 53 points.
Even as both the state of California and Riverside County trended more Democratic from the 1990s onward, the Republican presidential and gubernatorial candidates have continued to carry Indian Wells by large, albeit smaller margins.
The GOP also retains a very strong voter registration advantage in the city. As of August 30, 2021, there are 3,343 registered voters in the city of Indian Wells. Of these voters, 1,720 (51.45%) are registered Republicans, 868 (25.96%) are registered Democrats, and 557 (16.66%) are not registered with a political party. Indian Wells is one of three incorporated cities in Riverside County where the Republican party retains an outright majority of registered voters as of August 30, 2021, the other two beingCanyon Lake andNorco.[19]
Indian Wells city vote by party in presidential elections
