Palm Springs, California facts for kids

Palm Springs (called Séc-he by the Cahuilla people) is a sunny desert city in Riverside County, California. It's located in the Coachella Valley, which is part of the Colorado Desert. Palm Springs is the biggest city in Riverside County by land area. A special part of the city, over 10%, is reservation land belonging to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. This tribe has the most people on a reservation in California.

In 2020, about 44,575 people lived in Palm Springs. But many people come to Palm Springs for vacation or to spend the winter months, especially older people and "snowbirds" (people who move to warmer places in winter). So, the city's population can triple between November and March!

Palm Springs is famous for its unique mid-century modern buildings, cool designs, and lively arts scene. It's also a great place for fun outdoor activities.

History of Palm Springs

Early Days

Native American History

The first people to live in the Palm Springs area were the Cahuilla people. They arrived about 2,000 years ago. The Cahuilla lived here peacefully for hundreds of years before Europeans came. They spoke a language called Ivilyuat.

Many important Cahuilla leaders came from this area, like Chief Juan Antonio. The Cahuilla lived in Palm Canyon during winter. But they often moved to cooler Chino Canyon in the summer.

The Cahuilla people had several permanent homes in the canyons of Palm Springs. This was because there was plenty of water and shade. They used natural hot springs in winter. The Cahuilla hunted rabbits, mountain goats, and quail. They also caught fish in nearby lakes and rivers. Men hunted, while women gathered berries, acorns, and seeds. They even made tortillas from mesquite seeds. The area where the Spa Resort Casino is now was a popular winter spot because of its hot springs.

You can still see ancient rock carvings, called petroglyphs, in Tahquitz, Chino, and Indian Canyons. The Cahuilla also built irrigation ditches and dams. You can see where their old houses were. In Andreas Canyon, there are also pictographs (rock paintings) and holes where they ground acorns into meal.

The Agua Caliente ("Hot Water") Reservation was created in 1876. It covers about 31,128 acres (12,597 hectares). About 6,700 acres (2,700 hectares) are right in Downtown Palm Springs. This land is leased out for long periods. Because it's next to fancy communities, the tribe has become one of the wealthiest in California.

The Cahuilla people first called Palm Springs "Se-Khi," which means "boiling water." In 1876, when the U.S. government set up the Agua Caliente Reservation, the land was divided into a checkerboard pattern. This meant alternating sections of land (each 640 acres or 259 hectares) were given to the Southern Pacific Railroad. This was to encourage them to build train lines through the desert.

Many streets in Palm Springs are named after important Native American people. These include Andreas, Arenas, Amado, Belardo, Lugo, Patencio, Saturnino, and Chino. These are all common Cahuilla family names.

Today, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is made up of several smaller groups. They live in the Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass. The Agua Caliente Reservation covers 32,000 acres (12,950 hectares). About 6,700 acres (2,700 hectares) are inside the city limits. This makes the Agua Caliente people the city's biggest landowners.

Early European Visitors

In 1821, Mexico became independent from Spain. In 1823, Mexican explorer José María Estudillo and Captain José Romero were looking for a route from Sonora to Alta California. During their trip, they were the first to write about the "Agua Caliente" (hot water) springs in Palm Springs. After the Mexican–American War, this region became part of the United States in 1848.

Later 1800s

One idea for the name "Palm Springs" comes from early Spanish explorers. They might have called the area La Palma de la Mano de Dios, meaning "The Palm of God's hand." The name "Palm Springs" first appeared on maps made by U.S. engineers in 1853. The word "palm" in California place names usually refers to the native California fan palm, which grows a lot in Palm Springs. Other early names were "Palmetto Spring" and "Big Palm Springs."

The first European person to live in Palm Springs was Jack Summers. He ran a stagecoach station on the Bradshaw Trail in 1862. In 1876, the Southern Pacific Railroad built tracks about 6 miles (10 km) north of the station, which made the station less important. By 1885, when San Francisco lawyer John Guthrie McCallum started buying land in Palm Springs, the name was already well-known. McCallum and his partners named the area "Palm Valley" when they started the "Palm Valley Land and Water Company."

McCallum moved to Palm Springs because the dry climate was good for his sick son. He worked with others to build a canal from the Whitewater River. This canal brought water to fruit orchards on his land. He also asked Dr. Welwood Murray to open a hotel across from his home. Murray opened the hotel in 1886. But the crops and irrigation systems were damaged by floods in 1893. Then, a long drought from 1894 to 1905 caused even more problems.

The 20th Century

Becoming a Resort Town

Palm Springs became a popular resort in the 1900s. People came here for their health because the dry heat was good for them. But because of the extreme heat, many people left during the summer. In 1906, writer George Wharton James described Palm Springs as having "great charms." He noted that Palm Springs had a comfortable microclimate. This is because the San Jacinto Mountains to the west block cold winds and provide shade in winter. Famous early visitors included John Muir and U.S. Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks. Murray's hotel closed in 1909.

Nellie N. Coffman and her husband, Harry, opened The Desert Inn in 1909. It was a hotel and a place for people to get better from illnesses. It grew into a modern hotel in 1927. Nellie Coffman was a very important person in the city's tourism until she passed away in 1950.

In 1924, Pearl McCallum (Judge McCallum's daughter) built the Oasis Hotel. This modern hotel had a 40-foot (12 m) tower. The next big hotel was the El Mirador, which opened in 1927. It was very fancy and attracted many movie stars. It had a tall, 68-foot (21 m) tower. Silent film star Fritzi Ridgeway built her 100-room Hotel del Tahquitz in 1929.

Golf became popular with courses like the O'Donnell 9-hole course (1926) and the El Mirador (1929) course. Hollywood movie stars loved the hot, dry, sunny weather and the privacy. They built homes in areas like Warm Sands, The Mesa, and Historic Tennis Club neighborhoods. By 1922, about 20,000 visitors came to the area.

Palm Springs became even more popular with movie stars in the 1930s. They built more homes in the Movie Colony, Tahquitz River Estates, and Las Palmas neighborhoods. Actors Charles Farrell and Ralph Bellamy opened the Racquet Club in 1934. Pearl McCallum opened the Tennis Club in 1937. Nightclubs also opened, like The Dunes (1934) and the Chi Chi nightclub (1936).

Shopping in Palm Springs

In 1930, Bullock's, a big department store from Los Angeles, opened a "resort store" inside the Desert Inn. In 1947, Bullock's opened a full department store on Palm Canyon Drive. Then, another large L.A. store, J. W. Robinson's, took over the old Bullock's spot.

Southern California's first self-contained shopping center was La Plaza in Palm Springs, built in 1936. It was an open-air center with a small Desmond's department store. It even had a three-level parking garage for 141 cars, which was very new for the time! In the mid-1900s, other big department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue also opened downtown. For about two decades, downtown Palm Springs had seven department stores, plus the Palm Springs Mall nearby.

World War II Impact

When the United States joined World War II, Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley played an important role. The local airfield became a place for the Air Corps Ferrying Command in 1941. A new airfield, called Palm Springs Army Airfield, was built in early 1942. Soldiers trained there.

The El Mirador Hotel was bought by the U.S. government for $750,000. It was turned into the Torney General Hospital. Italian prisoners of war helped in the kitchen and as assistants. The hospital had 1,500 staff and treated about 19,000 patients during the war.

General Patton's Desert Training Center was in this region. Its main office was at Camp Young.

After World War II

Architects who designed modern buildings became very popular. They created unique vacation homes for famous people. These homes used new building ideas, like steel houses with special panels and roofs that folded. Some had glass and steel designs in rocky areas.

In 1946, Richard Neutra designed the Kaufmann Desert House. This famous modern house used lots of glass. It had the newest building technology, natural light, and open spaces. Today, there's a big effort to protect and improve many of these classic buildings.

Palm Springs architecture, called "Desert Modern," became a model for many homes, especially in the Southwest. This style had open designs, wall-to-wall carpets, air conditioning, swimming pools, and very large windows. It made homes feel like they blended inside and outside, perfect for relaxing.

Palm Springs became a mix of celebrity, health, and new wealth. During this time, the city government worked to remove poor people and Native Americans from certain areas.

In November 1960, French photographer Robert Doisneau visited Palm Springs. He took pictures for Fortune magazine about the many golf courses being built there. He showed the lives of wealthy retirees and Hollywood stars. At that time, Palm Springs had 19 golf courses. By 2010, it had grown to 125!

Section 14 Evictions

Section 14 is a square mile of land owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. It's very close to downtown Palm Springs. For a long time, many residents in this area, mostly Black and other people of color, rented land from individual Native American owners on short-term leases. Because the leases were short, big businesses didn't want to build there.

In 1959, rules about Native American land leases changed, allowing for longer leases. City officials, including Mayor Frank Bogert, encouraged the tribe's land managers to end the short-term leases. They wanted to make long-term leases available to mostly white property owners for new development. The city even used public money to clear the land. This included burning down "shacks and makeshift homes" that had been rented cheaply.

In 2021, the California Attorney General's office said this displacement was a "city-engineered holocaust." It meant that many Black and Latino people lost their family wealth.

After these residents were moved out in the 1960s, the tribe built the Spa Hotel and Casino downtown. The city also built the Palm Springs Convention Center. The tribe leased land to developers for new hotels and condos.

The Palm Springs Human Relations Commission said this history was why a statue of Mayor Bogert should be removed from City Hall. The City Council ordered its removal in 2021 and officially apologized for the evictions. The statue was moved in July 2022. People who lived in Section 14 are still seeking money to make up for what they lost.

Year-Round Living

Palm Springs stayed popular with rich and famous Hollywood people, as well as retirees and Canadian tourists. Between 1947 and 1965, the Alexander Construction Company built about 2,200 houses in Palm Springs, which doubled the number of homes.

As the 1970s ended, more and more retirees moved to the Coachella Valley. Palm Springs began to change from a quiet place in the summer to a busy, year-round community. Businesses and hotels that used to close in July and August started staying open all summer. As more businesses grew, more families with children moved there too.

The economic downturn of 1973–1975 affected Palm Springs. Many wealthy residents had to spend less money. Later in the 1970s, some organized crime figures invested a lot of money in Palm Springs, buying homes and businesses. Even though other desert cities became popular in the late 1980s, Palm Springs has continued to do well.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Palm Springs became a popular place to move. Many people from bigger cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco moved there. They wanted less crowded areas where they could work from home.

Spring Break Fun

Since the early 1950s, Palm Springs was a popular place for spring break. The 1963 movie Palm Springs Weekend made it even more famous. More and more college students visited, and sometimes the large crowds caused problems. In the 1980s, over 10,000 college students would visit, leading to big parties. In 1990, residents complained. So, Mayor Sonny Bono and the city council closed Palm Canyon Drive to spring breakers. This caused downtown businesses to lose money.

Today's Palm Springs

Tourism is a huge part of Palm Springs' economy. In 2011, 1.6 million visitors came to the city. Palm Springs has over 130 hotels and resorts, many bed and breakfasts, and more than 100 restaurants. Big events like the Coachella and Stagecoach Festivals in nearby Indio attract younger people. This makes the greater Palm Springs area a more attractive place to live.

After the 2008 economic downturn, Palm Springs worked to improve its downtown area, known as "the Village." New construction began in 2012.

In 2020, Christy Holstege became the mayor of Palm Springs. She was the first openly bisexual mayor in the United States, and the first female mayor of Palm Springs. The next year, Lisa Middleton became mayor, making her the first openly transgender mayor in California history.

Many people love mid-century modern architecture (buildings from the 1950s and 60s) in Palm Springs. Architects, designers, and local historians work to save these classic buildings and homes of famous people. Stores sell furniture and gifts with a mid-century modern style. The city holds a Modernism Week celebration every February, with smaller events throughout the year.

Geography

Palm Springs is located in the Sonoran Desert. It covers about 95 square miles (246 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. Palm Springs is in the Coachella Valley desert region. It is surrounded by mountains: the San Bernardino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains to the south, the San Jacinto Mountains to the west, and the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the east.

Climate

Palm Springs has a hot desert climate. It gets over 300 days of sunshine and about 4.93 inches (125 mm) of rain each year.

Winters are warm, with most days reaching 70°F (21°C). In January and February, afternoons often reach 80°F (27°C) or even over 90°F (32°C). On average, there are 17 mornings a year when temperatures drop to or below 40°F (4°C). Freezing temperatures happen in less than half of all years. The lowest temperature ever recorded was 19°F (-7°C) on January 22, 1937.

Summers are extremely hot. Daytime temperatures are usually above 110°F (43°C). Overnight temperatures often stay above 80°F (27°C). On average, there are about 177 afternoons when the temperature reaches 90°F (32°C), and 115 afternoons when it reaches 100°F (38°C). The highest temperature ever recorded in Palm Springs was 124°F (51°C) on July 5, 2024. The climate is good for some types of palm trees, but tropical ones that need more water don't grow as well.

Ecology and Wildlife

The Palm Springs area has many native plants and animals that are used to the desert. A common tree here is the California Fan Palm.

The animals in Palm Springs are mostly those that can live in the desert, with its hot and cold temperatures and little water. You might see pronghorns, desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, kit foxes, and different kinds of lizards like desert iguanas and horned lizards. Other animals include bobcats, mountain lions, Gila monsters, ground squirrels, porcupines, and raccoons.

Desert birds include the famous roadrunner, which can run faster than 15 mph (24 km/h)! You might also see woodpeckers, elf owls, and different birds of prey.

The Sonoran Desert has more types of rattlesnakes (11) than anywhere else in the world. The most common is the very venomous Mojave green. The largest is the western diamondback rattlesnake. Other types include the black-tailed rattlesnake and sidewinder rattler. Palm Springs is also home to tarantulas and different kinds of scorpions.

While not common, black bears have been seen in Palm Springs. In the past, jaguars used to live in the Coachella Valley, but the last one was seen in Palm Springs in 1860.

Neighborhoods

Palm Springs has many unique neighborhoods. Seven of them are especially important for their history and culture.

Movie Colony Neighborhoods

The Movie Colony and Movie Colony East neighborhoods are just east of Palm Canyon Drive. These areas started growing in the 1930s. Hollywood movie stars built smaller homes here as getaways from their Los Angeles estates. Famous people like Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Estée Lauder, Carmen Miranda, and Bing Crosby had homes in these neighborhoods.

El Rancho Vista Estates

In the 1960s, Robert Fey built 70 homes in El Rancho Vista Estates. These homes were designed by Donald Wexler and Ric Harrison. Famous residents included Jack LaLanne.

Warm Sands

Historic homes in the Warm Sands area are from the 1920s, and many were built with adobe. This area also has small resorts.

The Mesa

The Mesa started as a private community in the 1920s near the Indian Canyons. Famous residents have included King Gillette, Zane Grey, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Suzanne Somers, and Barry Manilow. Unique homes here include Donald Wexler's "butterfly houses" and the "Streamline Moderne Ship of the Desert."

Tahquitz River Estates

Some homes in this neighborhood date back to the 1930s. Pearl McCallum McManus owned the area and started building homes after World War II. Dr. William Scholl (from Dr. Scholl's foot products) owned a 10-acre (4 hectare) estate here. Today, this is the largest neighborhood organization with 600 homes and businesses.

Sunmor Estates

During World War II, the original Sunmor Estates area was part of the Palm Springs Army Airfield. Robert Higgins and the Alexander Construction Company developed homes here. Actor and former mayor Frank Bogert bought his home for $16,000 and lived there for over 50 years.

Historic Tennis Club

Artist Carl Eytel built his cabin on what became the Tennis Club in 1937. Another artist, Gordon Coutts, built his Moroccan-style "Dar Marrac" estate in 1924. Other famous places include the Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn and the Casa Cody Inn. The neighborhood now has about 400 homes, condos, apartments, inns, and restaurants.

Las Palmas Neighborhoods

To the west of Palm Canyon Drive are the Vista Las Palmas, Old Las Palmas, and Little Tuscany neighborhoods. These areas also have unique homes, celebrity estates, and Albert Frey's private homes.

Racquet Club Estates

Historic Racquet Club Estates, north of Vista Chino, has over 500 mid-century modern homes built by the Alexander Construction Company. It also has famous Donald Wexler steel homes. Racquet Club Estates was Palm Springs' first middle-income neighborhood. It became popular with Hollywood stars in the 1950s and 60s.

Deepwell Estates

Deepwell Estates has about 370 homes, including many famous ones and homes of celebrities. Some celebrities who lived here include Jerry Lewis, Loretta Young, Liberace, and William Holden.

Population and Community

Population Details

The 2010 United States Census reported that Palm Springs had 44,552 people. The population density was about 469 people per square mile (181 people per square kilometer). Most residents (75.7%) were White, with other groups making up the rest. About 25.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In 2010, 98.8% of the people lived in homes. About 14.7% of homes had children under 18. The average household had 1.93 people. The average age in Palm Springs was 51.6 years old.

In 2009–2013, the average household income in Palm Springs was $45,198. About 18.2% of the people lived below the poverty line.

Welcoming Community

Palm Springs is known for being a very welcoming place for the LGBTQ community. It has one of the highest numbers of same-sex couples in the United States. The city hosts the Greater Palm Springs Pride Celebration every November. This event includes a parade and other fun activities. In 2018, Palm Springs became the first city in America to have a city government made up entirely of LGBTQ members.

Economy

Even though some celebrities live in other parts of the Coachella Valley now, Palm Springs' economy still depends a lot on tourism. The city earns money from sales taxes and a special tax on hotel stays. Palm Springs hosts many festivals, conventions, and international events, like the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

You can find the world's largest rotating aerial tramcars (cable cars) at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. These cars go up from Chino Canyon for 2.5 miles (4 km) to a station at 8,516 feet (2,596 m). From the top, you can explore the San Jacinto Wilderness and enjoy a restaurant with amazing views.

The Palm Springs Convention Center has been expanded and renovated. Many hotels, restaurants, and attractions are here for tourists. Shoppers can find many fancy stores in downtown and uptown Palm Springs. Downtown shopping is centered around the historic La Plaza, built in 1936.

Top Employers

Here are some of the biggest employers in Palm Springs:

No.	Employer	No. of Employees
1	Palm Springs Unified School District	2,584
2	Desert Regional Medical Center	2,459
3	Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs	547
4	City of Palm Springs	470
5	Walmart Supercenter	387
6	Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs	251
7	The Home Depot	220
8	Lowe's Home Improvement	152
9	Ace Hotel & Swim Club	114
10	Hilton Palm Springs Resorts	108

Arts and Culture

Annual Events

• The Palm Springs International Film Festival and Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films ("ShortFest") are big events with movie stars and red carpets in January and June.
• Modernism Week in February is an 11-day event. It celebrates mid-century modern architecture with films, talks, tours, and a show.
• The Palm Springs Black History Committee celebrates Black History Month every February with a parade and fair.
• The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum hosts its annual Festival of Native Film & Culture.
• The Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend, known as "The Dinah," is a large event held each March.
• A big "White Party" is held in April, attracting 10,000 visitors.
• The Palm Springs Cultural Center hosts events like Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival and the Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival.
• Palm Springs Desert Resorts Restaurant Week is held every June. Over 100 restaurants in the Coachella Valley offer special dining experiences.
• The Caballeros, a gay men's chorus, have performed concerts since 1999.

Former Mayor Will Kleindienst created these three parades on Palm Canyon Drive:

• The Palm Springs Annual Homecoming Parade happens before the Palm Springs High School Homecoming Game.
• The city hosts a Veterans Day parade, concert, and fireworks show since 1996. It's one of the official national Veterans Day celebration sites.
• Since 1992, the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade is held on the first Saturday of December.

Ongoing Events

For many years, The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies was a stage show at the historic Plaza Theatre. It featured performers over 55 years old. The Palm Springs Follies closed after the 2013–14 season.

Since 2004, the city has held the weekly Palm Springs VillageFest. This downtown street fair is every Thursday evening. Tourists and locals enjoy walking among the food and craft vendors on Palm Canyon Drive.

The Desert Film Society sponsors events about films and filmmaking.

Public Art and Museums

The city and other groups have supported different public art projects. Many art galleries and studios are in the city. The California Art Club has a chapter in Palm Springs. The Desert Art Center of Coachella Valley opened in Palm Springs in 1950.

Modern Architecture

Palm Springs is famous for its mid-century modern architecture. Many other well-known architects have also designed buildings here.

Museums and Other Fun Places

• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
  • Agua Caliente Cultural Museum (located downtown)
  • Indian Canyons (Palm Canyon, Andreas Canyon, Murray Canyon)
  • Tahquitz Canyon, a wildlife area and a place for outdoor plays in the 1920s
  • Tahquitz Falls, a 60-foot (18 m) waterfall seen in the 1937 film, Lost Horizon.
  • Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage
  • Spa Resort Casino, built on the town's original hot springs
• Forever Marilyn sculpture by Seward Johnson in downtown Palm Springs
• Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium (a garden of desert plants)
• Palm Springs Historical Society Museums (and Village Green)
  • Miss Cornelia White's "Little House" (built with old railroad ties)
  • The McCallum Adobe – the oldest building still standing, built in 1884
  • Ruddy's General Store Museum – a general store from the 1930s
• Palm Springs Air Museum – located at the Palm Springs International Airport
• Palm Springs Art Museum
  • Annenberg Theater
• Palm Springs Walk of Stars (like Hollywood's Walk of Fame)
• San Jacinto Mountains
  • Cactus to Clouds Trail – a hiking trail from the Art Museum to San Jacinto Peak
  • Mount San Jacinto State Park
  • Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
  • Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
• Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert – in Rancho Mirage
• Living Desert Zoo and Gardens – in Palm Desert, California
• Joshua Tree National Park
  • Little San Bernardino Mountains

Some popular restaurants include 1501 Uptown Gastropub, Chi Chi, Koffi, Sherman's Deli & Bakery, Tac/Quila, and Townie Bagels.

Sports

Baseball

Palm Springs is home to the Palm Springs Power. This is a college summer baseball team. The Power also runs the California Winter League, where professional baseball players showcase their skills in January and February. Both leagues play at Palm Springs Stadium and Cerritos Park.

Palm Springs Stadium used to be the spring training home for the Major League Baseball California Angels (now the Los Angeles Angels) from 1961 to 1993. Other teams like the Chicago White Sox and Oakland A's also trained there.

Hockey

In 2019, Palm Springs was approved to have an American Hockey League (AHL) team. This team would be a development team for the National Hockey League's Seattle Kraken. The original plan to build an arena in Palm Springs didn't work out. So, the team, now called the Coachella Valley Firebirds, started building the Coachella Valley Arena in nearby Thousand Palms, California.

Tennis

The Palm Springs area hosts many major sports events. One is the annual BNP Paribas Open in March. Professional players have voted this as the best tournament of the year many times. The Easter Bowl, sponsored by the United States Tennis Association, is a tournament for young tennis players (ages 12 to 18) held every March in the Palm Springs area.

Golf

The Coachella Valley has more golf courses than any other region in California. It's the most popular golf vacation spot in the state. Early golf courses in Palm Springs were the O'Donnell Golf Club and the El Mirador Hotel course, both opened in the 1920s. After World War II, the first 18-hole golf course was the Thunderbird Country Club, opened in 1951 in Rancho Mirage. It hosted the Ryder Cup championship in 1955.

By the 1970s, the area had over 40 courses. In 2001, the 100th course opened! The area also hosts big golf tournaments like the PGA Tour's Humana Challenge and the LPGA's ANA Inspiration.

Soccer

The Palm Springs AYSO Region 80 plays in the American Youth Soccer Organization.

Parks and Recreation

City Parks

Palm Springs has several city parks for everyone to enjoy:

• Baristo Park
• DeMuth Park
• Desert Healthcare (Wellness) Park
• Downtown Park
• James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center
• Dog Park (behind city hall)
• Frances Stevens Park
• Ruth Hardy Park
• Sunrise Park
• Victoria Park

Recreation Activities

• Boomers! is a fun family entertainment center in Cathedral City.
• CNL Financial Group operates the Wet'n'Wild Palm Springs water park during the summer.

In 1931, the Desert Riders group was formed. It started as a social club for important people in Palm Springs. Now, the group supports horseback riding and building trails for riders, hikers, and bikers. The Desert Riders also helped the tourist industry by offering horseback rides and meals in the canyons to hotel guests.

Education

Public Schools

Public education in Palm Springs is managed by the Palm Springs Unified School District. Palm Springs High School is the oldest school in the district, built in 1938. Raymond Cree Middle School is also part of the district.

Elementary schools in Palm Springs include:

• Cahuilla Elementary School
• Cielo Vista Charter School (won a National Blue Ribbon award in 2011 and a Gold Ribbon Award in 2016)
• Katherine Finchy Elementary School (won a National Blue Ribbon award in 2011 and a Gold Ribbon Award in 2016)
• Vista del Monte Elementary School

The Ramon Alternative Center offers other types of education.

Private Schools

Private schools in Palm Springs and nearby areas include Desert Chapel Christian School (K-12), Desert Adventist Academy (K–8), Sacred Heart School (PreK-8), St. Theresa (PreK–8), King's School (K–8), Desert Christian (K–12), Marywood-Palm Valley School, and The Academy.

In 2006, the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino built the Xavier College Preparatory High School in Palm Desert.

Colleges and Universities

The main campus of College of the Desert is in Palm Desert. California State University, San Bernardino and University of California, Riverside used to have smaller campuses there. Now, they have their own buildings in Palm Desert.

Private colleges include Brandman University (in Palm Desert), Kaplan College (Palm Springs), and the California Nurses Educational Institute (Palm Springs).

Media

Radio and Television

Palm Springs has its own TV market. Before 1968, people in Palm Springs watched TV stations from Los Angeles through cable. Now, there are local TV stations like KDFX-CD (Fox), KESQ-TV (ABC), KMIR-TV (NBC), and KPSP-CD (CBS). Other networks are available through low-power TV stations.

Palm Springs also has many AM and FM radio stations.

News and Magazines

• The Desert Sun is the local daily newspaper for Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.
• The Palm Springs Post is a digital news site and daily newsletter just for Palm Springs.
• Desert Magazine is a monthly lifestyle magazine.
• The Desert Star Weekly is published in Desert Hot Springs, California.
• The Desert Daily Guide is a weekly magazine for the LGBTQ community.
• Palm Springs Life is a monthly magazine about shopping, entertainment, homes, health, culture, arts, and golf in the desert area.

Transportation

One of the first ways to travel to Palm Springs was on the Bradshaw Trail. This was a historic stagecoach route from San Bernardino to La Paz, Arizona, used from 1862 to 1877. In the 1870s, the Southern Pacific Railroad expanded its train lines into the Coachella Valley.

Today, transportation services include:

• Palm Springs International Airport serves Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. During World War II, it was called the Palm Springs Army Airfield.
• SunLine Transit Agency provides bus service in the Coachella Valley.
• Morongo Basin Transit Authority offers bus service to and from Morongo Basin communities.
• Amtrak's Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle trains stop three times a week at the Palm Springs Amtrak station.
• Amtrak Thruway buses connect Palm Springs to other cities like Bakersfield and Riverside.
• Greyhound Bus Lines has a stop at the Palm Springs Amtrak station.
• Flixbus provides bus service to several places in Southern California and Arizona.

Major highways include:

• California State Route 111, which goes through the city.
• Interstate 10 generally runs north of the city.
• The Pines to Palms Scenic Byway (California State Route 74) goes from the coast, over the San Jacinto Mountains, to nearby Palm Desert.
• California State Route 62 connects to I-10 northwest of the city and goes northeast to Joshua Tree National Park.

Cemeteries

In 1890, the Jane Augustine Patencio Cemetery was started. It is cared for by the Agua Caliente Tribe.

The Welwood Murray Cemetery was started by hotel owner Welwood Murray in 1894 after his son passed away. It is maintained by the Palm Springs Cemetery District.

Forest Lawn Cemetery is also in Cathedral City.

Images for kids

• 

  Palm Canyon near Palm Springs, showing palm trees over a creek, around 1901.

See also

In Spanish: Palm Springs para niños