Editing Indian Wells, California (section)

==History==
The city derived its name from a historic [[Cahuilla]] Native American water reservoir, which served as a crucial water supply for nearby tribes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=rbcushman3 |date=2019-08-03 |title=History of Indian Wells, CA - A Brief History |url=https://townsquarepublications.com/history-of-indian-wells-ca/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Town Square Publications |language=en-US}}</ref>

As early as 1820, the area now known as Indian Wells was the site of a thriving Indian village, as reported by W.P. Blade, a [[Smithsonian Institution]] geologist. A decade later, when gold was discovered on the [[Colorado River]], [[William D. Bradshaw]] built a trail from [[Los Angeles]] through the desert to the gold mines. The Alexander and Company Stage Line used the trail to transport prospectors and Indian Wells became an important stop along the trail. Competition from the [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific Railroad]] caused the route to be abandoned briefly in 1875 before being reactivated by the [[Wells Fargo]] company the following year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofindianwells.org/about/history/earlyyears.asp#.UWH-MfqCN4I |title=Indian Wells, CA - The Early Years |website=Cityofindianwells.org |access-date=March 12, 2017 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191014/http://www.cityofindianwells.org/about/history/earlyyears.asp#.UWH-MfqCN4I |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Over the next decades, settlers gradually arrived in the area and [[date palm]] ranches became profitable. The area's first golf courses were opened in the 1950s at the Eldorado Country Club and the Indian Wells Country Club. In 1957, [[Desi Arnaz]] opened his Indian Wells Hotel (forerunner to the Indian Wells Resort Hotel). In 1960, [[Arnold Palmer]] won the first [[Humana Challenge|Bob Hope Desert Classic]] golf tournament. President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] was a regular Indian Wells visitor and later an Eldorado homeowner.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofindianwells.org/about/history/fitiesandsixties.asp#.UWH__vqCN4I |title=Indian Wells, CA - The 1950s & 1960s |website=Cityofindianwells.org |date=February 24, 1967 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192256/http://www.cityofindianwells.org/about/history/fitiesandsixties.asp#.UWH__vqCN4I |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In an election held June 27, 1967, to avoid being annexed by neighboring cities such as Palm Desert, the inhabitants of Indian Wells voted to incorporate as a city. On July 14, 1967, Indian Wells became California's 400th city and the 16th in Riverside County. Since then, Indian Wells has continued to grow, with the development of resort hotels, golf courses and luxury residential areas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofindianwells.org/about/history/becoming.asp#.UWIDxPqCN4J |title=Indian Wells, CA - Becoming A City |website=Cityofindianwells.org |date=June 27, 1967 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195948/http://www.cityofindianwells.org/about/history/becoming.asp#.UWIDxPqCN4J |url-status=dead }}</ref>