Palm Desert is in the ancestral homeland of two now-extinct Cahuilla tribes - the Las Palmas band and the San Cayetano band - of theCahuilla people,[7] who are nowadays organized as a division of theMorongo Band of Mission Indians.
The area was first known as theOld MacDonald Ranch[8] before the name changed toPalm Village in the 1920s whendate palm groves were planted.[8] That original tract is today referred to as thePalma Village neighborhood in the central part of the city. Most of the pre–World War II residents of Palm Desert were Cahuilla farmers of the San Cayetano band. The Montoya family of Cahuilla and Spanish descent were prominent civic leaders in the early years of Palm Desert.[8]
The first large-scale residential development began in 1943 in connection with the United StatesArmy'sDesert Training Center, constructed in the area under the leadership of GeneralGeorge S. Patton during the Second World War in preparation for fighting in North Africa.[8][9] After the war, the part of the site south ofHighway 111 was developed into "El Paseo," anupscale shopping district modeled afterRodeo Drive.[8] In 1948, the Palm Desert Corporation began to develop real estate, and in 1951 the area was given its present name.[8]
After the war, Randall J. Henderson, publisher ofDesert Magazine, relocated the magazine to the area and built a modern Pueblo-inspired building near Highway 111 and El Paseo[8] with architect Harry J. Williams. His brother, aviation promoter Colonel Clifford W. Henderson, had envisioned a planned desert community.[8] Clifford Henderson acquired approximately 1,622 acres and in March 1945 formed the Palm Desert Corporation with investors including Edgar Bergen and Leonard Firestone.[8]
The Henderson brothers, assisted by landscape designer Tommy Tomson (their brother-in-law),[8] devised the street plan and aesthetic layout. Phil and Carl Henderson, brothers of Randall and Clifford, also contributed; however, Phil died in the late 1940s before the development was completed.[8]
A U.S. Post Office opened on July 14, 1947.[8] In 1948, the Palm Desert Corporation began construction of the Shadow Mountain Club, featuring a figure-eight pool, golf course, hotel, restaurant, and entertainment amenities.[10] In 1951, the town adopted the name Palm Desert and absorbed Palm Village.[8]
On November 26, 1973, Palm Desert was incorporated as the 17th city in Riverside County. At incorporation, the city covered about 8.5 square miles with a population of approximately 14,166. Since then, both population and area have expanded significantly.[8]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 27.0 square miles (70 km2), of which 26.96 square miles (69.8 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2), or 0.76%, is water.[11]
The elevation (at City Hall) is 224 feet (68 m) above sea level.[11] Elevations vary from the lower northern half once covered in sand dunes to the upper slope southern cove (300–900 feet or 91–274 meters) all the way to the ridgeline at 1,000 feet (300 m). Palm Desert is in the Coachella Valley, the northwestern extension of theSonoran Desert.[12]
The Coachella Valley's climate is influenced by high mountain ranges on three sides and a south-sloping valley floor contribute to its year-round warmth. Its winters are among the warmest in the western U.S. Palm Desert has ahot desert climate: its average annual high temperature is 88 °F (31.1 °C) and average annual low is 64 °F (17.8 °C), but summer highs above 108 °F (42.2 °C) are common and sometimes exceed 120 °F (48.9 °C), while summer night lows often stay above 82 °F (27.8 °C). Winters are warm, with daytime highs between 70–82 °F (21–28 °C). Under 3 inches (76.2 mm) of annual precipitation is average, with over 348 days of sunshine per year. The mean annual temperature, at 76 °F (24.4 °C), makes Palm Desert one of the warmest places in the country. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Palm Desert was 125 °F (51.7 °C), on July 6, 1905.[13]
Climate data for Palm Desert, California (Indio Fire STN) elev. 10 feet (3.0 m) (1991–2020)
The surrounding mountains create a thermal belt[15] in the southern foothills of Palm Desert, namely Cahuilla Hills and Bighorn, leading to a micro-climate with significantly warmer night-time temperatures during the winter months. TheUniversity of California maintains weather stations located in this thermal belt as part of their ecological project in thePhilip L. Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center.
Climate data for South Palm Desert, California elev. 980 feet (298.7 m) (Boyd Deep Canyon Ctr) 1981–2010
According to the2020 United States Census, Palm Desert had a population of 51,163, reflecting a 5.6% increase from the 2010 count of 48,445. The population density was approximately 1,908.2 inhabitants per square mile (736.7/km2).
The racial composition of Palm Desert was 68.3% White, 2.2% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.1% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 17.1% from two or more races, and 26.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 24,145 households in Palm Desert, with an average household size of 2.11 persons. Approximately 64.4% of these were owner-occupied. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $491,600. Median gross rent was $1,717.[18]
The age distribution was as follows: 2.8% under 5 years, 13.3% under 18 years, and 37.3% aged 65 years and over. The median age was 56.1 years.
Economically, the median household income was $79,508, with a per capita income of $57,793. Approximately 11.3% of the population lived below the poverty line.[19]
The Census reported that 48,137 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 98 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 210 (0.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 23,117 households, out of which 4,253 (18.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 10,253 (44.4%) wereopposite-sex married couples living together, 2,177 (9.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 811 (3.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,227 (5.3%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 373 (1.6%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 7,948 households (34.4%) were made up of individuals, and 4,370 (18.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08. There were 13,241families (57.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.65.
The population was spread out, with 7,534 people (15.6%) under the age of 18, 3,333 people (6.9%) aged 18 to 24, 8,731 people (18.0%) aged 25 to 44, 12,924 people (26.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 15,923 people (32.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
There were 37,073 housing units at an average density of 1,372.4 per square mile (529.9/km2), of which 15,171 (65.6%) were owner-occupied, and 7,946 (34.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 16.8%. 30,667 people (63.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 17,470 people (36.1%) lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2010 United States census, Palm Desert had a median household income of $53,456, with 9.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[21]
According to the2000 United States census[22] of 2000, there were 41,155 people, 19,184 households, and 11,414 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,689.1 inhabitants per square mile (652.2/km2). There were 28,021 housing units at an average density of 1,150.0 per square mile (444.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.8%White, 1.2%African American, 0.5%Native American, 2.6%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 6.5% fromother races, and 2.4% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 17.1% of the population.
There are 19,184 households in Palm Desert, out of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% weremarried couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.7. The demographics of Palm Desert shows a rising population of children and young adults.
The age distribution of the population was 17.3% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 27.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years.
The medianincome for a household in the city was $48,000 and the median income for a family was $58,183. Males had a median income of $42,257 versus $32,202 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $33,463. About 5.9% of families and 9.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
Palm Desert is the home of theLiving Desert Zoo and Gardens, a combinationzoo andbotanical garden featuring over 500 animals from 150 species over 80 acres (32 ha). The location also hosts an extensive collection of desert plants with a state-of-the-art animal hospital. Founded in 1970, The Living Desert hosts over 500,000 visitors a year.
There are around thirtygolf courses throughout the city which has a long history with the sport. Palm Desert is home to hundreds of tennis courts, both public and private.Pickleball has also gained popularity throughout the region in the 2010s and 2020s.
The city's first golf course and tennis club was Shadow Mountain in 1948, followed by Marrakesh in 1954, the Palm Desert Greens mobile home park golf course in 1961, and the Palm Desert Country Club in 1962. The latter, located five miles (8 km) east of the original city, was formally annexed in 1992. The total number of golf clubs (more than 30 located within 10 mi or 16 km from the city) have made Palm Desert known as the "World's Golf Capital."
Desert Willow Golf Resort is the City Of Palm Desert's municipal golf course, and has two championship courses: Mountain View and Firecliff. It is associated with the Westin Desert Willow Resort at the golf course location. The Firecliff course is listed at No. 13 in Golf Magazine's 'Best Courses you can Play' 2010 list for California.
In the late-1970s and 1980s, a spate of private golf clubs,destination resorts and hotels appeared in the northern half of Palm Desert, such as the four-starJW Marriott Desert Springs Golf Resort and Spa[24] in 1987 and the four-star Desert Willow Golf Resort[25] in 2002. The city has over 30 hotels and 5,000 rooms, and lodging and hospitality is a major portion of the local tourist-based economy.
Sun City Palm Desert is an adjacent master-planned retirement community located on the north side ofInterstate 10, on unincorporated land just northeast of the city limits of Palm Desert itself, and about 7.7 miles (12.4 km) from downtown Palm Desert. All residences in the community use Palm Desert, CA 92211 as part of their address. The community association address is 38180 Del Webb Blvd., Palm Desert, CA 92211.[26] Sun City Palm Desert comprises the majority of theDesert Palms census-designated place. Sun City Palm Desert was developed byDel E. Webb Corp. (acquired byPulte Homes in 2001). Construction began in 1992 and was completed in 2003. The original name was Sun City Palm Springs from 1991 to 1996.[26] Sun City Palm Desert is an active 55+ gated retirement community.
Palm Desert was incorporated as a city in 1973 and designated acharter city in 1997.[3] It operates on acouncil-manager form of government.[3] Residents of Palm Desert elect fivenon-partisan council members who serve four-year staggered terms, with elections occurring every two years. Currently the Palm Desert city council is elected throughCity Council Districts The position of mayor is non-elected and rotates annually among the members of the city council. The council serves to pass ordinances, approve budgets, and hire the city manager and city attorney. The city manager oversees administrative operations and the appointment of department heads.
TheRiverside County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement services to the city through the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station located on Gerald Ford Drive. The Palm Desert Station also administers contract police services to the municipalities ofRancho Mirage,Indian Wells, as well as the surrounding unincorporated areas.
The city of Palm Desert contracts for fire and paramedic services with the Riverside County Fire Department through a cooperative agreement withCAL FIRE.[29] Palm Desert currently has three fire stations, which are Station 33 (Town Center), Station 67 (Mesa View), and Station 71 (North Palm Desert). Each fire station provides an engine company and a paramedic ambulance. Fire station 33 also has a truck company.
California State University, San Bernardino first opened its Palm Desert campus in 1986, followed by its own stand-alone 169-acre (68 ha) campus located on Cook Street in 2002. The Palm Desert Campus offers over 40 undergraduate, graduate, doctorate, and credential programs on site and online as the only full-service public school of higher education in the Coachella Valley.[30]
The Riverside County Department of Education operates San Cayetano Community School, a grade 1 to 12 educational facility. There are eight private schools in the immediate area: Desert Adventist Academy, Palm Desert Presbyterian School, Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, The Palm Valley School, the Learning Tree Academy,Xavier College Preparatory High School (Catholic-Jesuit), the Hope Academy,[32] and the Desert Torah Academy, a Jewish community school and its social recreational Jewish Community Center. It also has meetings by the Jewish Federation of the Desert based inPalm Springs,[33] serving an estimated 35,000 Jewish people in the Coachella Valley.
I-10 –Interstate 10 runs to the north of the city with access through the Monterey Avenue, Cook Street, and Washington Street exits.
SR 74 – ThePines to Palms Scenic Byway (California State Route 74) runs from the coast, over the San Jacinto Mountains and has its eastern terminus at Highway 111 in Palm Desert before continuing northbound as Monterey Avenue.
Many celebrities keep homes in Palm Desert, includingRita Rudner and more recently, the current home of professional golferMichelle Wie and one of the homes ofBill Gates. Legendary actressAnne Francis resided in a condominium until July 2000. Film producerJerry Weintraub called it his second home before he died. ArtistPhillip K. Smith III calls Palm Desert home and his studio is in Palm Desert.
Palm Desert had been in the sister cities program, as designated bySister Cities International. Six to nine cities that are or were associated with Palm Desert:
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