Palm Desert, California
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Palm Desert is a city located in Riverside County, California, in the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs area), approximately 11 miles east of Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 41,155.
A major center of growth in the area, it was a popular retreat for "snowbirds" from colder climates, who swell its population by an estimated 31,000 each winter, but in the past couple of years Palm Desert has seen more residents become "full-timers" who now live in the city year-round.
The area was first known as the Old MacDonald Ranch, then Palm Village in the 1920s when date palms were planted. The first residential development occurred in 1943 in connection with an Army maintenance camp in the area. That site was later developed into "El Paseo," an upscale shopping district not unlike Rodeo Drive. In 1948, the Palm Desert Corporation began to develop real estate, and in 1951 the area was given its present name. Many celebrities keep homes in Palm Desert, including Rita Rudner. The community was incorporated November 26, 1973.
Palm Desert once served as a training ground for General George Patton's Third Army troops and tank battalions.
Palm Desert is the home of the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, a combination zoo and botanical garden featuring an extensive collection of desert plants and animals. It is also the site of the campus of College of the Desert, the local community college, as well as an extension campus of California State University, San Bernardino. Its main High School is Palm Desert High School
As the home of the pioneering band Kyuss and its successor group Queens of the Stone Age, the Palm Desert Scene is considered one of the cradles of the stoner rock movement.
Sun City Palm Desert, California lies on the northern side of Interstate 10 from Palm Desert itself, but is unincorporated and not part of the City of Palm Desert.
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Geography
Image:CAMap-doton-Palm-Desert.png Palm Desert is located at 33°43'32" North, 116°22'10" West (33.725542, -116.369444)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 63.7 km² (24.6 mi²). 63.1 km² (24.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.02% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 41,155 people, 19,184 households, and 11,414 families residing in the city. The population density was 652.0/km² (1,689.1/mi²). There were 28,021 housing units at an average density of 443.9/km² (1,150.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.84% White, 1.20% African American, 0.45% Native American, 2.57% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 6.48% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. 17.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 19,184 households out of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married 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 2.13 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the city the population was spread out with 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. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $48,316, and the median income for a family was $58,183. Males had a median income of $42,257 versus $32,202 for females. The per capita income for the city was $33,463. 9.2% of the population and 5.9% of families were below the poverty line. 12.1% of those under the age of 18 and 4.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Points of interest
External links
- City of Palm Desert homepage
- Palm Desert government page
- The Desert Sun, Coachella Valley Newspaper
- Cannibal Scene: Guide to Palm Desert's music scene
Template:Cities of Riverside County, California
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