Joshua Tree, California facts for kids

This page is about the city of Joshua Tree. For the US National Park, see Joshua Tree National Park.

Quick facts for kids Joshua Tree, California
Census-designated place
Joshua Tree
Central Joshua Tree in 2013
Location in San Bernardino County and the state of California
Joshua Tree, California Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	San Bernardino
Area
• Total	37.044 sq mi (95.943 km²)
• Land	37.044 sq mi (95.943 km²)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km²) 0%
Elevation	2,923 ft (891 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	6,489
• Density	175.170/sq mi (67.634/km²)
Time zone	UTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−07:00 (PDT)
ZIP Code	92252
Area codes	442/760
FIPS code	06-37554
GNIS feature ID	2408454

Joshua Tree is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 7,414 at the 2010 census. At approximately 2,700 feet (820 meters) above sea level, Joshua Tree and its surrounding communities are located in the High Desert of California. The center of the business district in Joshua Tree is on California State Route 62.

Geography
Demographics
- 2010
- 2000
Attractions
Wildlife
Notable people
Gallery
Climate
See also

Geography

Joshua Tree is located in the Mojave Desert.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total land area of 95.9 km² (37.0 mi²).

Joshua Tree is home to Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree shares its eastern border with Twentynine Palms, its western border with Yucca Valley, and its northwestern border with Landers; it is bordered on the south by the Coachella Valley. The Bartlett Mountains are northwest of the community.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
U.S. Decennial Census

A sunrise in Joshua Tree, for which the town is well known.

2010

At the 2010 census Joshua Tree had a population of 7,414. The population density was 200.1 inhabitants per square mile (77.3/km²). The racial makeup of Joshua Tree was 6,176 (83.3%) White (73.9% Non-Hispanic White), 234 (3.2%) African American, 84 (1.1%) Native American, 104 (1.4%) Asian, 18 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 368 (5.0%) from other races, and 430 (5.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,308 persons (17.6%).

The census reported that 7,263 people (98.0% of the population) lived in households, 30 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 121 (1.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,088 households, 862 (27.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,209 (39.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 431 (14.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, and 162 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 237 (7.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 30 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,018 households (33.0%) were one person and 358 (11.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35. There were 1,802 families (58.4% of households); the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 1,626 people (21.9%) under the age of 18, 813 people (11.0%) aged 18 to 24, 1,756 people (23.7%) aged 25 to 44, 2,056 people (27.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,163 people (15.7%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.

There were 3,808 housing units at an average density of 102.8 per square mile, of the occupied units 1,872 (60.6%) were owner-occupied and 1,216 (39.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%. 4,178 people (56.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,085 people (41.6%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Joshua Tree had a median household income of $39,492, with 21.8% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

Wilderness near the Bartlett Mountains. The community's namesake, the western Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) on October 9, 2020 became a candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act; the first plant species granted such protection due to the impacts of climate change.

2000

At the 2000 census there were 4,207 people, 1,765 households, and 1,057 families in the CDP. The population density was 265.4/km² (687.5/mi²). There were 2,112 housing units at an average density of 133.2/km² (345.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.38% White, 1.76% African American, 1.57% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.62% Pacific Islander, 4.61% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. 12.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 1,765 households 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 33.3% of households were one person and 15.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median household income was $26,535 and the median family income was $33,333. Males had a median income of $27,465 versus $29,375 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,856. 21.2% of the population and 18.0% of families were below the poverty line. 31.5% of those under the age of 18 and 5.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Attractions

The Joshua Tree Visitor Center for Joshua Tree National Park is located at the junction of Highway 62 and Park Boulevard in downtown Joshua Tree and the park's west entrance is located 5 mi (8.0 km) south. The community of Joshua Tree is unincorporated and is represented by the Joshua Tree Municipal Advisory Counsel (MAC) as the official liaison between the community and the San Bernardino County government.

Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum of Assemblage Art is 10 acres (4.0 ha) of sculptures, assemblages, and installations mostly made from found material by Noah Purifoy. The World Famous Crochet Museum is also located in the area.

Wildlife

The Joshua Tree National Park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, featuring 57 types of mammals, including elusive bighorn sheep and common coyotes, alongside 46 reptile species, like the increasingly rare desert tortoise. The park is also a key spot on the Pacific Flyway, recording over 250 bird species, making it a hotspot for birdwatching, from common ravens to migrating warblers. Within the city of Joshua Tree itself, animals like cottontail rabbits, coyotes, roadrunners and quails can be frequently seen.

Notable people

Natives

People born in Joshua Tree:

Less Bells, musician
Brent Bolthouse, entrepreneur
Josh Homme (born 1973), musician

Inhabitants

People who live/lived in Joshua Tree:

Alma Allen (born 1970), sculptor
Tara Beier, singer
Marjorie Cameron (1922–1995), actress
Joey Castillo (born 1966), musician
Dave Catching (born 1961), musician
Edie Fake (born 1980), artist
Lou Harrison (1917–2003), composer
Conrad Lambert, musician known as "Merz"
Myshkin, singer
Johnette Napolitano, musician and artist
Simon Rex (born 1974), actor
Wayne Static (1965–2014), musician
John Whooley, musician
Charles M. Wysocki (1928–2002), painter

Deaths

People who died in Joshua Tree:

Charles H. Gray (1921–2008), actor
Ish Kabibble (1908–1994), comedian
Art Kunkin (1928–2019), journalist
John F. Logan (1946–2013), musician known as "Juke"
Gram Parsons (1946–1973), musician
Noah Purifoy (1917–2004), artist

Gallery

Joshua Tree Welcome sign off Highway 62
Southward view of Joshua Tree Town Center in front of the mountains of Joshua Tree National Park
Southwesterly view of the San Bernardino Mountains from Twenty-Nine Palms Highway (CA Route 62)
Downtown Joshua Tree looking southwest
Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center
Southwesterly view of the Joshua Tree Retreat Center
Copper Mountain College
Backcountry road off of Olympic Road in Joshua Tree

Climate

Climate data for Joshua Tree, California.
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	79 (26)	86 (30)	90 (32)	99 (37)	102 (39)	113 (45)	115 (46)	110 (43)	105 (41)	102 (39)	86 (30)	78 (26)	115 (46)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	62.2 (16.8)	61.5 (16.4)	69.8 (21.0)	76.4 (24.7)	86.0 (30.0)	93.9 (34.4)	101.1 (38.4)	100.4 (38.0)	95.8 (35.4)	81.2 (27.3)	69.1 (20.6)	58.2 (14.6)	79.6 (26.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	37.9 (3.3)	37.5 (3.1)	41.0 (5.0)	46.0 (7.8)	53.4 (11.9)	60.0 (15.6)	70.8 (21.6)	70.1 (21.2)	65.8 (18.8)	53.4 (11.9)	43.0 (6.1)	35.8 (2.1)	51.2 (10.7)
Record low °F (°C)	18 (−8)	18 (−8)	29 (−2)	32 (0)	36 (2)	40 (4)	55 (13)	52 (11)	46 (8)	37 (3)	26 (−3)	17 (−8)	17 (−8)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.62 (16)	0.48 (12)	0.39 (9.9)	0.13 (3.3)	0.17 (4.3)	0.01 (0.25)	0.33 (8.4)	0.50 (13)	0.33 (8.4)	0.33 (8.4)	0.61 (15)	0.79 (20)	4.69 (119)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	0.5 (1.3)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	1.6 (4.1)	2.1 (5.3)
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center