Cahuilla County, California facts for kids

Cahuilla County was a plan for a brand-new county in California. People living in the eastern part of Riverside County, California came up with this idea in the 1980s. They wanted to create their own county.

The name "Cahuilla" came from the Cahuilla people. This Native American tribe has lived in this area for over 2,000 years. It was their homeland.

The new county would have included the Coachella Valley. This valley has many cities, such as:

• Palm Springs
• Desert Hot Springs
• Cathedral City
• Rancho Mirage
• Palm Desert
• Indian Wells
• La Quinta
• Indio
• Coachella
• Blythe

However, the plan to create Cahuilla County was voted on and did not pass. So, it was never formed.

Why a New County?

People who supported the new county had several reasons. They felt their part of Riverside County was very different. It included the Colorado Desert and Peninsular Ranges mountains. These areas felt far away from the main city of Riverside.

Distance from Riverside

The current county seat for Riverside County is the city of Riverside. This city is about 70 miles away from Indio. Indio was considered a possible main city, or "county seat," for the new Cahuilla County. People felt it was too far to travel for county business.

Different Areas, Different Needs

Supporters believed the eastern desert and mountain areas had different needs. They were distinct from the more crowded western part of Riverside County. This western area is often called the Inland Empire. Creating a new county would allow the people in the east to have more local control. They hoped it would better serve their specific community needs.

Proposed Borders

The proposed Cahuilla County would have had clear borders.

Eastern Border

The eastern edge of the new county would have been the same as Riverside County's current eastern border. This line runs along the Colorado River. It also borders the state of Arizona. This would have included the city of Blythe.

Western Border

The western border was planned to be near Banning or Beaumont. It could also have been close to Cabazon. This border would have included the mountain town of Idyllwild. Idyllwild is located in the San Jacinto Mountains. The area around Hemet would have stayed in Riverside County.