La Quinta, California | |
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 St. Francis Church  La Quinta Museum  Old Town La Quinta .jpg) Lake La Quinta | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto: The Gem of the Desert | |
 Location of La Quinta in Riverside County, California. | |
  La Quinta, California Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:33°40′31″N116°17′51″W / 33.67528°N 116.29750°W /33.67528; -116.29750 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Riverside |
| Incorporated | May 1, 1982[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | Linda Evans[2] |
| • Mayor Pro Tem | Deborah McGarrey |
| • City Council | Kathleen Fitzpatrick John Pena Steve Sanchez |
| Area | |
• Total | 35.68 sq mi (92.42 km2) |
| • Land | 35.26 sq mi (91.32 km2) |
| • Water | 0.42 sq mi (1.10 km2) 1.22% |
| Elevation | 135 ft (41 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 37,558 |
| • Density | 1,184.1/sq mi (457.17/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 92253 |
| Area code | 442/760 |
| FIPS code | 06-40354 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1660870,2411582 |
| Website | www |
La Quinta (Spanish for "thecountry villa") is a desertresort city inRiverside County, California, United States. Located betweenIndian Wells andIndio, it is one of the nine cities of theCoachella Valley. The population was 37,558 at the2020 census, up from 37,467 at the2010 census.[6]
Golf courses includeLa Quinta Resort and Club, a resort dating to 1926, where directorFrank Capra wrote the screenplay forLost Horizon, and SilverRock Golf Resort, a host golf courses for the annualBob Hope Chrysler Classic PGA golf tournament.[7]
TheCahuilla Indians were the first inhabitants of La Quinta.[8]
In 1926, Walter Morgan established theLa Quinta Resort at the northern section of Marshall Cove as a type of secluded hideaway for Hollywood's celebrities and socialites. The Resort was the site for the Coachella Valley's firstgolf course, coinciding with the construction and pavement ofState Route 111 in the 1930s. Further expansion of Washington Street in the 1950s and 1960s connected La Quinta with US Highways60 and99 (becameInterstate 10 in the 1970s).[9]
As nearby desert cities grew to capacity, La Quinta's growth rose dramatically by the mid-1980s, which led to its incorporation as a city inRiverside County in 1982.[10] In the 1980 census, La Quinta had 4,200 residents, then increased to 11,215 by 1990 in the city's early phases of residential area growth. It was predominantly a part-time community until around that time.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.6 square miles (92 km2), of which 35.1 square miles (91 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (1.22%) is water. The city's elevation is 56 feet (20 m) above sea level.
La Quinta is located on the floor of theCoachella Valley, and is surrounded on three sides by theSanta Rosa Mountains. As the floor of the valley sank, it was covered by thePacific Ocean. Silt deposits from the flow of theColorado River into theGulf of California caused the basin to be cut off from the ocean. Five hundred years ago, theColorado River changed its course and the easternCoachella Valley flooded, leading to the creation ofLake Cahuilla, which was fresh water.[11]
The climate of the Coachella Valley is influenced by the surrounding geography. High mountain ranges on three sides contribute to its unique and year-round warm climate, with some of the warmest winters west of the Rocky Mountains. La Quinta has a warm winter/hot summer climate: Its average annual high temperature is 89.5 °F (31.9 °C) and average annual low is 62.1 °F (16.7 °C) but summer highs above 108 °F (42 °C) are common and sometimes exceed 120 °F (49 °C), while summer night lows often stay above 82 °F (28 °C). Winters are warm with daytime highs often between 68 and 86 °F (20 and 30 °C). Under 4 inches (100 mm) of annual precipitation are average, with over 348 days of sunshine per year. The hottest temperature ever recorded there was 125 °F (52 °C) on July 6, 1905.[12] The mean annual temperature is 75.8 °F (24.3 °C).[13]
| Climate data for La Quinta, California, elev. 10 feet (3.0 m) (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 97 (36) | 100 (38) | 103 (39) | 109 (43) | 117 (47) | 123 (51) | 125 (52) | 121 (49) | 122 (50) | 115 (46) | 101 (38) | 93 (34) | 125 (52) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 72.0 (22.2) | 75.3 (24.1) | 81.3 (27.4) | 87.5 (30.8) | 95.7 (35.4) | 103.1 (39.5) | 107.3 (41.8) | 106.6 (41.4) | 102.0 (38.9) | 91.9 (33.3) | 79.6 (26.4) | 71.0 (21.7) | 89.5 (31.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 58.3 (14.6) | 61.6 (16.4) | 68.1 (20.1) | 74.1 (23.4) | 81.7 (27.6) | 88.6 (31.4) | 93.8 (34.3) | 93.4 (34.1) | 88.0 (31.1) | 77.8 (25.4) | 65.7 (18.7) | 57.6 (14.2) | 75.8 (24.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 44.6 (7.0) | 48.0 (8.9) | 54.8 (12.7) | 60.7 (15.9) | 67.7 (19.8) | 74.2 (23.4) | 80.3 (26.8) | 80.3 (26.8) | 74.0 (23.3) | 63.7 (17.6) | 51.8 (11.0) | 44.2 (6.8) | 62.1 (16.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 13 (−11) | 20 (−7) | 25 (−4) | 33 (1) | 38 (3) | 45 (7) | 59 (15) | 56 (13) | 46 (8) | 31 (−1) | 23 (−5) | 19 (−7) | 13 (−11) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.56 (14) | 0.64 (16) | 0.43 (11) | 0.05 (1.3) | 0.07 (1.8) | 0.01 (0.25) | 0.04 (1.0) | 0.54 (14) | 0.04 (1.0) | 0.26 (6.6) | 0.18 (4.6) | 0.62 (16) | 3.44 (87) |
| Source: www.ncdc.noaa.gov[14] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3,328 | — | |
| 1990 | 11,215 | 237.0% | |
| 2000 | 23,694 | 111.3% | |
| 2010 | 37,467 | 58.1% | |
| 2020 | 37,558 | 0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] 1860–1870[16][17] 1880-1890[18] 1900[19] 1910[20] 1920[21] 1930[22] 1940[23] 1950[24] 1960[25][26] 1970[27] 1980[28] 1990[29]2000[30] 2010[31] 2020[31] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[32] | Pop 2010[33] | Pop 2020[34] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 14,893 | 23,648 | 21,040 | 62.86% | 63.12% | 56.02% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 296 | 607 | 636 | 1.25% | 1.62% | 1.69% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 95 | 98 | 124 | 0.40% | 0.26% | 0.33% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 401 | 1,093 | 1,464 | 1.69% | 2.92% | 3.90% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 19 | 25 | 45 | 0.08% | 0.07% | 0.12% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 11 | 62 | 177 | 0.05% | 0.17% | 0.47% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 395 | 595 | 1,220 | 1.67% | 1.59% | 3.25% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7,584 | 11,339 | 12,852 | 32.01% | 30.26% | 34.22% |
| Total | 23,694 | 37,467 | 37,558 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The2020 United States census reported that La Quinta had a population of 37,558. The population density was 1,065.2 inhabitants per square mile (411.3/km2). The racial makeup of La Quinta was 62.7%White, 1.9%African American, 0.9%Native American, 4.1%Asian, 0.2%Pacific Islander, 16.7% fromother races, and 13.5% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.2% of the population.[35]
The census reported that 99.8% of the population lived in households, 0.1% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.1% were institutionalized.[35]
There were 15,706 households, out of which 22.4% included children under the age of 18, 53.4% were married-couple households, 6.2% werecohabiting couple households, 26.2% had a female householder with no partner present, and 14.2% had a male householder with no partner present. 25.8% of households were one person, and 15.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39.[35] There were 10,705families (68.2% of all households).[36]
The age distribution was 17.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% aged 18 to 24, 18.6% aged 25 to 44, 27.3% aged 45 to 64, and 30.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males.[35]
There were 23,464 housing units at an average density of 665.5 units per square mile (257.0 units/km2), of which 15,706 (66.9%) were occupied. Of these, 73.4% were owner-occupied, and 26.6% were occupied by renters.[35]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $97,628, and theper capita income was $62,742. About 5.9% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line.[37]
The2010 United States census[38] reported that La Quinta had a population of 37,467. The population density was 1,053.9 inhabitants per square mile (406.9/km2). The racial makeup of La Quinta was 29,489 (78.7%)White (63.1% Non-Hispanic White),[39] 713 (1.9%)African American, 230 (0.6%)Native American, 1,176 (3.1%)Asian, 41 (0.1%)Pacific Islander, 4,595 (12.3%) fromother races, and 1,223 (3.3%) from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 11,339 persons (30.3%).
The Census reported that 37,410 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, 50 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 7 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 14,820 households, out of which 4,329 (29.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 8,672 (58.5%) wereopposite-sex married couples living together, 1,442 (9.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 595 (4.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 787 (5.3%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 182 (1.2%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,164 households (21.3%) were made up of individuals, and 1,522 (10.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52. There were 10,709families (72.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.93.
The population was spread out, with 8,208 people (21.9%) under the age of 18, 2,509 people (6.7%) aged 18 to 24, 7,696 people (20.5%) aged 25 to 44, 11,238 people (30.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 7,816 people (20.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
There were 23,489 housing units at an average density of 660.7 per square mile (255.1/km2), of which 11,152 (75.2%) were owner-occupied, and 3,668 (24.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 16.5%. 27,386 people (73.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 10,024 people (26.8%) lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2010 United States census, La Quinta had a median household income of $72,099, with 8.0% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[39]
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La Quinta has developed a culturally diverse community, as large ancestry groups includeMexicans (the largest) andMexican Americans who frequently came to the Palm Springs area/Coachella Valley to find available employment in the 1990s and 2000s. Others, in alphabetical order, include:Armenians,Bosnians,British,French,Germans,Italians,Poles andJews of multiple nationalities.[40]
Seasonal population known as "snowbirds" from coastal Southern California, Northern California, thePacific Northwest, theMidwest, andCanada increase the local population by 20-50 percent in the cooler months from November to April. A large percentage of seasonal residents aresenior citizens. There are also severalRV ormobile home parks in La Quinta with many seasonal residents, common throughout the eastern portion of the Coachella Valley.
Like the rest of the "East Valley" including nearby communities of Indio, Coachella, and unincorporated communities ofBermuda Dunes andVista Santa Rosa, there is a growing Latino (especially Mexican-American andCentral American nationalities) as well an enlargedAfrican American andAsian American (i.e.east Asians) population belonging to the middle and upper-middle class.
According to theUnited States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, estimates placed Latinos at half (about 50% to 60%) of the local population of the whole Coachella Valley region, Blacks at near or over 10% and Asians at 10–15% of the city population as of the year 2010. Most of the minorities are recently moved-in families sought starter homes and/or relocated from urban centers ofSouthern California during the 1990s and 2000s, and from families of two or more races (to represent multiracial identity).
La Quinta is the site of the firstWal-Mart Supercenter in California. Many residents work for the tourist industries in hotels, resorts, golf courses, and nearby casinos. Service industry jobs relate to the construction, hotel, landscaping, and retail industries. La Quinta has sought to attract professional businesses, and has benefited from neighboring cities' growth.[41] The city's downtown commercial district is officially known as The Village.[42] The Village District includes private commercial developments such as Old Town and Plaza Calle Tampico, and contain professional offices, the city museum, small tourist-oriented shops and boutiques, and restaurants.[43] Old Town La Quinta is a commercial real estate development[44][45] of 30 cafes, shops, boutiques, salons, services, and offices.[46]
According to La Quinta's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[47] the top employers in the city were:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Desert Sands Unified School District | 2,852 |
| 2 | La Quinta Resort & Club/PGA West | 1,412 |
| 3 | Walmart Supercenter | 300 |
| 4 | Costco Wholesale | 290 |
| 5 | The Home Depot | 212 |
| 6 | Target | 180 |
| 7 | Lowe's | 150 |
| 8 | Imperial Irrigation District | 134 |
| 9 | Traditions Golf Club | 120 |
| 10 | In-N-Out Burger | 84 |
The city opened a public library that commenced operations in 2005. La Quinta annually plays host to a four-day event known as the "La Quinta Art Celebration" at the scenic La Quinta Civic Center Park. A certified local farmers market is hosted at Old Town La Quinta. Old Town also hosts "Art on Main Street".
La Quinta has 20 parks within the city.[48] Lake Cahuilla Regional Park is a Riverside County park located just south of the city.
In theCalifornia State Legislature, La Quinta is inthe 19th senatorial district, represented byRepublican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, and inthe 47th Assembly district, represented byRepublican Greg Wallis.[49]
In theUnited States House of Representatives, La Quinta is inCalifornia's 41st congressional district, represented byRepublican Ken Calvert.[50]
TheDesert Sands Unified School District serves a majority of La Quinta, while theCoachella Valley Unified School District serves a segment in the eastern portion of the city.[51]
Public schools directly within the city limits include:
Students in north La Quinta are also zoned to the following Desert Sands Unified schools which are near, or directly across in the case of Earhart and Glenn, from the city borders:
Police services are provided under contract with theRiverside County Sheriff's Department through the Thermal Station, which also serves the city of Coachella and unincorporated areas of the eastern Coachella Valley.
The city of La Quinta contracts for fire and paramedic services with the Riverside County Fire Department through a cooperative agreement withCAL FIRE.[55]
American Medical Response provides ambulance services to La Quinta.
California State Route 111, the main surface street thoroughfare in the Coachella Valley, passes through La Quinta. The city has access toInterstate 10 through the Washington Street and Jefferson Street exits.
The city hosts multiple stops for theSunLine regional transportation agency, which provides bus service in the Coachella Valley.[56]
La Quinta is approximately a half hour drive from thePalm Springs International Airport, the main regional airport in the area with flights leaving daily to connecting airports across the United States and Canada. The city is a short drive from both the general aviationBermuda Dunes Airport to the north, and the general aviationJacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in unincorporatedThermal to the east.
The city has been home to a number of celebrity residents, including the lateMerv Griffin. Griffin was the driving force behind the annual La Quinta Arts Festival, one of the country's leadingplein air art shows, and was instrumental in the development of Griffin Ranch, a equestrian-oriented resort residential neighborhood.[57]
Places adjacent to La Quinta, California | |
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