Desert Empire; the Coachella Valley. Today, Southern Californias’ Coachella Valley, is like a beautiful quilt consisting of it’s 9 desert cities as well as untouched expanses of desert land wrapped in the arms of the surrounding snow topped mountains. For 9 months a year, in my local experience, it is a paradise for home owners, or vacation seekers. Our beautiful Desert Empire cities are Palm Springs on the West border of the Coachella Valley, and Indio on the Eastern border. Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert Indian Wells and the City of La Quinta lie between them. If you’re looking for high desert properties for that 15 degree drop in temperature, head North up Hwy 62, through Desert Hot Springs, Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree. For help in your Coachella Valley real estate needs, give me a call at 760-285-3578.
The earliest residents of the Coachella Valley were local Indian tribes that became known as the Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians. They lived in canyon camps and villages throughout our desert regions for perhaps as long as 5,000 years! By 1876, the Southern Pacific Railroad linked Los Angeles to Indio by rail. With the discovery of Artesian wells, agriculture flourished. Date Palm cultivation was encouraged by the Federal government’s distribution of free date seeds. By the 1920’s, the Coachella Valley had been “discovered” by the Hollywood elite as a perfect vacation getaway.
Over the decades, there has been a steady growth of year round residences, vacation homes, golf and tennis resorts, and International Equestrian events like Polo. Visitors escaping brutal winter temps, escaped to our desert valley to soak up the sunshine and mild winter temperatures. Many retirees began settling here, and they continue to come. The Coachella Valleys’ desert population (2014 stat was 443,401), more than doubles in the winter and the desert local economy is augmented by a yearly influx of 3.5 million.tourists. Our beautiful desert is a cultural hub, offering world class museums, top billed entertainment, festivals, fine dining, wellness spas, hiking, golf, and top level Equestrian events. This is a video of our Eastern Coachella Valley desert city valley of Thermal near Monroe St.