Editing Palm Desert, California

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Palm Desert, California
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| motto              = "Feel The Warmth"
| nickname           = P. D., Palm Deezy
| image_skyline      = El Paseo (Palm Desert) 01.jpg
| image_caption      = El Paseo in Palm Desert
| image_seal         = 
| image_map          = Riverside County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Palm Desert Highlighted.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Palm Desert, California
| pushpin_map        = USA California Southern#USA California#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|43|20|N|116|22|28|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS>{{Cite gnis|id=1652767|name=Palm Desert|access-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref>
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[California]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Riverside County, California|Riverside]]
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Palm Desert, California.png
| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]<ref name="ABOUT"/>
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Jan Harnik
| leader_title1      = [[Mayor Pro Tem]]
| leader_name1       = Evan Trubee
| leader_title2      = [[City Council]]
| leader_name2       = Gina Nestande <br> Joe Pradetto <br> Karina Quintanilla
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = November 26, 1973<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date 
 |format=Word 
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
 |access-date=August 25, 2014 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |archive-date=November 3, 2014  
}}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 27.02
| area_land_sq_mi    = 26.81
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.20
| area_total_km2     = 69.97
| area_land_km2      = 69.44
| area_water_km2     = 0.53
| area_water_percent = 0.76
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS/>
| elevation_ft       = 220
| elevation_m        = 67
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 census">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts Palm Desert city, California |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/palmdesertcitycalifornia/PST045222 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| population_total   = 51163
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="2020 census"/>
| population_est     = 51583
| population_density_km2 = 736.85
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 92210, 92211, 92255, 92260, 92261
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| area_code          = [[Area codes 442 and 760|442/760]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|55184}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1652767}}, {{GNIS 4|2411356}}
| website            = {{URL|www.cityofpalmdesert.org}}
| population_density_sq_mi = 1986.98
| image_flag         = Flag of Palm Desert, California.svg
| flag_alt           = Flag of Palm Desert
}}

'''Palm Desert''' is a city in the [[Coachella Valley]] region of [[Riverside County, California]]. The city is located in the [[Colorado Desert]] arm of the [[Sonoran Desert]], about {{convert|14|mi|km}} east of [[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]], {{convert|121|mi|km}} northeast of [[San Diego]] and {{convert|122|mi|km}} east of [[Los Angeles]]. The population was 51,163 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], and the city has been one of the state's fastest-growing since 1980, when its population was 11,801.

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2021}}
Palm Desert is in the ancestral homeland of the [[Cahuilla]] people, who are nowadays organized as a division of the [[Morongo Band of Mission Indians]]. Their bird songs and funeral songs share the oral tradition of how they lived on this land for over 10,000 years.

The area was first known as the '''Old MacDonald Ranch''', before the name changed to '''Palm Village''' in the 1920s when [[date palm]] groves were planted. That original tract is today referred to as the ''Palma Village'' neighborhood in the central part of the city. Most of the pre-World War II residents of Palm Desert were Cahuilla farmers of the now extinct ''San Cayetano'' tribe; the Montoya family of Cahuilla and Spanish descent were prominent civic leaders in the early years of Palm Desert.

The first large scale residential development began in 1943 in connection with the United States [[United States Army|Army's]] [[Desert Training Center]], constructed in the area under the leadership of General [[George S. Patton]] during the Second World War in preparation for fighting in North Africa. After the War, the part of the site south of [[California State Route 111|Highway 111]] was developed into "[[El Paseo (Palm Desert, California)|El Paseo]]", an [[luxury goods|upscale shopping]] district modeled after [[Rodeo Drive]]. In 1948, the Palm Desert Corporation began to develop real estate, and in 1951 the area was given its present name.

The Henderson brothers began developing the Shadow Mountain Club in south Palm Desert in 1946. Completed in 1948, the club was the first of many large-scale resorts in Palm Desert, featuring a 360,000 gallon pool, golf course, tennis courts, hotel, restaurant, and entertainment amenities for visiting families.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/2020/08/16/history-shadow-mountain-club-offered-something-everyone/5592576002/|title=History: Shadow Mountain Club offered a little something for everyone|first=Tracy|last=Conrad|website=The Desert Sun|accessdate=March 3, 2025}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|27.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|26.8|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi|km2}} (0.76%) is water.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The elevation (at City Hall) is {{convert|224|ft|m}} above sea level. Elevations vary from the lower northern half once covered in sand dunes to the upper slope southern cove ({{convert|300|-|900|ft|m|disp=or}}) all the way to the ridgeline at {{convert|1000|ft|m}}. Palm Desert is in the Coachella Valley, the northwestern extension of the [[Sonoran Desert]].

===Climate===
The Coachella Valley's climate is influenced by high mountain ranges on three sides and a south-sloping valley floor contribute to its year-round warmth. Its winters are among the warmest in the western U.S. Palm Desert has a [[hot desert climate]]: its average annual high temperature is {{convert|88|°F}} and average annual low is {{convert|64|°F}}, but summer highs above {{convert|108|°F}} are common and sometimes exceed {{convert|120|°F}}, while summer night lows often stay above {{convert|82|°F}}. Winters are warm with daytime highs between {{convert|70|-|82|°F|°C}}. Under {{convert|3|in|mm}} of annual precipitation is average, with over 348 days of sunshine per year. The mean annual temperature at {{convert|76.0|°F}} makes Palm Desert one of the warmest places in the country. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Palm Desert was {{convert|125|°F}} on July 6, 1905.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca4259|title=Indio Fire Station, California – Climate Summary|work=dri.edu}}</ref>

{{Weather box|location = Palm Desert, California (Indio Fire STN) elev. {{convert|10|ft|1}} (1991–2020)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F =  97
|Feb record high F = 100
|Mar record high F = 103
|Apr record high F = 109
|May record high F = 117
|Jun record high F = 123
|Jul record high F = 125
|Aug record high F = 121
|Sep record high F = 122
|Oct record high F = 115
|Nov record high F = 101
|Dec record high F =  93
|year record high F =125
|Jan high F =  70.3
|Feb high F =  73.3
|Mar high F =  79.9
|Apr high F =  85.8
|May high F =  93.1
|Jun high F = 101.7
|Jul high F = 105.8
|Aug high F = 105.2
|Sep high F = 100.8
|Oct high F =  90.5
|Nov high F =  78.0
|Dec high F =  68.8
|year high F = 87.8
|Jan mean F = 58.6
|Feb mean F = 62.2
|Mar mean F = 68.5
|Apr mean F = 74.5
|May mean F = 81.2
|Jun mean F = 89.2
|Jul mean F = 94.1
|Aug mean F = 93.8
|Sep mean F = 88.7
|Oct mean F = 78.1
|Nov mean F = 65.5
|Dec mean F = 57.0
|year mean F = 76.0
|Jan low F = 46.8
|Feb low F = 51.0
|Mar low F = 57.2
|Apr low F = 63.1
|May low F = 69.3
|Jun low F = 76.6
|Jul low F = 82.5
|Aug low F = 82.5
|Sep low F = 76.5
|Oct low F = 65.8
|Nov low F = 53.0
|Dec low F = 45.3
|year low F =64.1
|Jan record low F = 13
|Feb record low F = 20
|Mar record low F = 25
|Apr record low F = 33
|May record low F = 38
|Jun record low F = 45
|Jul record low F = 59
|Aug record low F = 56
|Sep record low F = 46
|Oct record low F = 31
|Nov record low F = 23
|Dec record low F = 19
|year record low F =13
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.65
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.59
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.32
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.07
|May precipitation inch = 0.02
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.00
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.05
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.26
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.13
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.15
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.19
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.49
|year precipitation inch =2.92
|source 1 = www.ncdc.noaa.gov<ref>{{cite web | author=NOAA | title=1991–2020 Monthly Normals for Indio CA Fire STN | url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00044259&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608095644/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00044259&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 8, 2022 | publisher=NOAA | access-date=June 8, 2022 }}</ref>
|date=June 2022}}

The surrounding mountains create a thermal belt<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ocw.usu.edu/forest__range__and_wildlife_sciences/wildland_fire_management_and_planning/Unit_3__Topography___Fire_Behavior_9.html |title=Unit 3: Topography & Fire Behavior — Free Online Course Materials — USU OpenCourseWare |access-date=September 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124052849/http://ocw.usu.edu/Forest__Range__and_Wildlife_Sciences/Wildland_Fire_Management_and_Planning/Unit_3__Topography___Fire_Behavior_9.html |archive-date=November 24, 2012  }}</ref> in the southern foothills of Palm Desert, namely Cahuilla Hills and Bighorn, leading to a micro-climate with significantly warmer night-time temperatures during the winter months. The [[University of California]] maintains weather stations located in this thermal belt as part of their ecological project in the [[Philip L. Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center]].

{{Weather box
|location = South Palm Desert, California elev. {{convert|980|ft|1}} (Boyd Deep Canyon Ctr) 1981–2010
|single line = Y
|Jan high F =  69.6
|Feb high F =  72.0
|Mar high F =  77.5
|Apr high F =  84.6
|May high F =  92.5
|Jun high F =  100.8
|Jul high F =  104.4
|Aug high F =  104.0
|Sep high F =  99.1
|Oct high F =  88.7
|Nov high F =  77.0
|Dec high F =  68.5
|year high F = 86.6
|Jan mean F = 60.4
|Feb mean F = 62.6
|Mar mean F = 66.8
|Apr mean F = 72.6
|May mean F = 79.4
|Jun mean F = 86.9
|Jul mean F = 91.5
|Aug mean F = 91.8
|Sep mean F = 87.5
|Oct mean F = 78.4
|Nov mean F = 67.5
|Dec mean F = 59.4
|year mean F = 75.4
|Jan low F = 51.1
|Feb low F = 53.1
|Mar low F = 56.1
|Apr low F = 60.6
|May low F = 66.2
|Jun low F = 73.0
|Jul low F = 78.6
|Aug low F = 79.5
|Sep low F = 75.9
|Oct low F = 68.0
|Nov low F = 57.9
|Dec low F = 50.2
|year low F =64.2
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.86
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.86
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.56
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.16
|May precipitation inch = 0.07
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.02
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.44
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.59
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.53
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.24
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.44
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.69
|year precipitation inch =5.52
|source 1 = deepcanyon.ucnrs.org<ref>{{cite web | author=University of California | title=Weather Data at Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center | url=http://deepcanyon.ucnrs.org/weather/Boyd-ctr-long-term-temps.xls | publisher=University of California; Temperatures normalized for period from 1981-2010 | access-date=September 7, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728141347/http://deepcanyon.ucnrs.org/weather/Boyd-Ctr-long-term-temps.xls | archive-date=July 28, 2011 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1980= 11801
|1990= 23252
|2000= 41155
|2010= 48445
|2020= 51167
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015 }}</ref>
}}
===2020===

According to the [[2020 United States Census]], Palm Desert had a population of 51,163, reflecting a 5.6% increase from the 2010 count of 48,445. The population density was approximately 1,908.2 inhabitants per square mile (736.7/km²).

The racial composition of Palm Desert was 68.3% White, 2.2% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.1% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 17.1% from two or more races, and 26.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race. 

There were 24,145 households in Palm Desert, with an average household size of 2.11 persons. Approximately 64.4% of these were owner-occupied. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $491,600. Median gross rent was $1,717.<ref>{{cite web |title=Palm Springs city, California |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/palmspringscitycalifornia/PST045224 |website=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 3, 2025}}</ref> 

The age distribution was as follows: 2.8% under 5 years, 13.3% under 18 years, and 37.3% aged 65 years and over. The median age was 56.1 years. 

Economically, the median household income was $79,508, with a per capita income of $57,793. Approximately 11.3% of the population lived below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Palm Desert city, California |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/palmdesertcitycalifornia/PST045224 |website=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 3, 2025}}</ref> 

===2010===
The [[2010 United States census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0655184|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715032233/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0655184|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Palm Desert city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Palm Desert had a population of 48,445. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1793.3|PD/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of Palm Desert was 39,957 (82.5%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (70.4% Non-Hispanic White),<ref name="quickfacts.census.gov">{{cite web|title=Palm Desert (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0655184.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901195020/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0655184.html|archive-date=September 1, 2012}}</ref> 875 (1.8%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 249 (0.5%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1,647 (3.4%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 55 (0.1%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4,427 (9.1%) from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 1,235 (2.5%) from two or more races. There were 11,038 residents of [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] origin (22.8%).

The Census reported that 48,137 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 98 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 210 (0.4%) were institutionalized.

There were 23,117 households, out of which 4,253 (18.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 10,253 (44.4%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 2,177 (9.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 811 (3.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,227 (5.3%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 373 (1.6%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 7,948 households (34.4%) were made up of individuals, and 4,370 (18.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08. There were 13,241 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (57.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.65.

The population was spread out, with 7,534 people (15.6%) under the age of 18, 3,333 people (6.9%) aged 18 to 24, 8,731 people (18.0%) aged 25 to 44, 12,924 people (26.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 15,923 people (32.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

There were 37,073 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1372.4|/sqmi|/km2}}, of which 15,171 (65.6%) were owner-occupied, and 7,946 (34.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 16.8%. 30,667 people (63.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 17,470 people (36.1%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States census, Palm Desert had a median household income of $53,456, with 9.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line.<ref name="quickfacts.census.gov"/>

===2000===
According to the [[2000 United States census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 41,155 people, 19,184 households, and 11,414 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1689.1|PD/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 28,021 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1150.0|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 86.8% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|White]], 1.2% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|African American]], 0.5% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Native American]], 2.6% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Pacific Islander]], 6.5% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 2.4% from two or more races. [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Hispanic]] or [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Latino]] of any race were 17.1% of the population.

There are 19,184 households in Palm Desert, out of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.7. The demographics of Palm Desert shows a rising population of children and young adults.

The age distribution of the population was 17.3% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 27.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years.

The median [[income]] for a household in the city was $48,000 and the median income for a family was $58,183. Males had a median income of $42,257 versus $32,202 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $33,463. About 5.9% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==

===Top employers===
According to the City's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityofpalmdesert.org/home/showdocument?id=27733|title=City of Palm Desert CAFR 2019|website=Cityofpalmdesert.org}}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! Employer
! No. of Employees
|-
| 1
|[[JW Marriott Hotels|JW Marriott]] Desert Springs Golf Resort<br />[[Marriott Hotels & Resorts|Marriott]] Desert Springs Villas
|2,304
|-
|2
|[[Universal Protection Service]]
|1,500
|-
|3
|[[Securitas AB|Securitas]]
|700
|-
|4
|Avida Caregivers
|550
|-
|5
|Organization of Legal Pro's
|501
|-
|6
|Sunshine Landscape
|500
|-
|7
|[[Costco|Costco Wholesale]]
|250
|-
|8
|Big Horn Golf Club
|250
|-
|9
|Yellow Cab of Desert
|160
|-
|10
|[[Whole Foods Market]]
|150
|}

==Recreation==
Palm Desert is the home of the [[Living Desert Zoo and Gardens]], a combination [[zoo]] and [[botanical garden]] featuring over 500 animals from 150 species over 80 acres. The location also hosts an extensive collection of desert plants with a state-of-the-art animal hospital. Founded in 1970, The Living Desert hosts over 500,000 visitors a year.

===Resorts, tennis, and golf clubs===
[[File:Desert Willow Golf Course - panoramio (3).jpg|thumb|Desert Willow Golf Course]]

There are around thirty [[golf courses]] throughout the city which has a long history with the sport. Palm Desert is home to hundreds of tennis courts, both public and private. [[Pickleball]] has also gained popularity throughout the region in the 2010s and 2020s.

The city's first golf course and tennis club was Shadow Mountain in 1948, followed by Marrakesh in 1954, the Palm Desert Greens mobile home park golf course in 1961, and the Palm Desert Country Club in 1962. The latter, located {{convert|5|mi|km|0|spell=in}} east of the original city, was formally annexed in 1992. The total number of golf clubs (more than 30 located within {{convert|10|mi|km|disp=or}} from the city) have made Palm Desert known as the "World's Golf Capital."

Desert Willow Golf Resort is the City Of Palm Desert's municipal golf course, and has two championship courses: Mountain View and Firecliff. It is associated with the Westin Desert Willow Resort at the golf course location. The Firecliff course is listed at No.&nbsp;13 in Golf Magazine's 'Best Courses you can Play' 2010 list for California.

In the late-1970s and 1980s, a spate of private golf clubs, [[destination resort]]s and hotels appeared in the northern half of Palm Desert, such as the four-star [[JW Marriott Hotels|JW Marriott]] Desert Springs Golf Resort and Spa<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.desertspringsresort.com/|title=Palm Desert Hotels – JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa|work=Marriott}}</ref> in 1987 and the four-star Desert Willow Golf Resort<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.desertwillow.com/layout10.asp?id=186&page=4160|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221181506/http://www.desertwillow.com/layout10.asp?id=186&page=4160|url-status=dead|title=Desert Willow Golf Resort|archive-date=February 21, 2008}}</ref> in 2002. The city has over 30 hotels and 5,000 rooms, and lodging and hospitality is a major portion of the local tourist-based economy.

'''Sun City Palm Desert''' is an adjacent master-planned retirement community located on the north side of [[Interstate 10]], on unincorporated land just northeast of the city limits of Palm Desert itself, and about 7.7 miles from downtown Palm Desert. All residences in the community use Palm Desert, CA 92211 as part of their address. The community association address is 38180 Del Webb Blvd., Palm Desert, CA 92211.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Sun City Palm Desert - the area’s best active adult community - Sun City Palm Desert Community Association - Palm Desert, CA |url=https://www.scpdca.com/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=www.scpdca.com}}</ref> Sun City Palm Desert comprises the majority of the [[Desert Palms, California|Desert Palms]] census-designated place. Sun City Palm Desert was developed by [[Del E. Webb Construction Company|Del E. Webb Corp.]] (acquired by [[PulteGroup|Pulte Homes]] in 2001). Construction began in 1992 and was completed in 2003. The original name was Sun City Palm Springs from 1991 to 1996.<ref name=":0" /> Sun City Palm Desert is an active 55+ gated retirement community.

==Government==
Palm Desert was incorporated as a city in 1973 and designated a [[charter city]] in 1997.<ref name="ABOUT">{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofpalmdesert.org/our-city/about-palm-desert|title=About Palm Desert|year=2017|work=Our City|publisher=City Of Palm Desert|access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref> It operates on a [[council-manager]] form of government.<ref name="ABOUT"/> Residents of Palm Desert elect five [[non-partisan]] council members who serve four-year staggered terms, with elections occurring every two years. Currently the Palm Desert city council is elected through [[City Council Districts]] The position of mayor is non-elected and rotates annually among the members of the city council. The council serves to pass ordinances, approve budgets, and hire the city manager and city attorney. The city manager oversees administrative operations and the appointment of department heads.

In the [[California State Legislature]], Palm Desert is in {{Representative|casd|19|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|47|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
 | title = Statewide Database
 | publisher = UC Regents
 | access-date = November 29, 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
 | archive-date = February 1, 2015
| url-status = dead
 }}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Palm Desert is in {{Representative|cacd|41|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|41}}</ref>

===Public safety===
The [[Riverside County Sheriff's Department]] provides law enforcement services to the city through the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station located on Gerald Ford Drive. The Palm Desert Station also administers contract police services to the municipalities of [[Rancho Mirage]], [[Indian Wells, California|Indian Wells]], as well as the surrounding unincorporated areas.

The city of Palm Desert contracts for fire and paramedic services with the Riverside County Fire Department through a cooperative agreement with [[California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection|CAL FIRE]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rvcfire.org/about-us/service-area|title=Service Area|website=rvcfire.org}}</ref> Palm Desert currently has three fire stations, which are Station 33 (Town Center), Station 67 (Mesa View), and Station 71 (North Palm Desert). Each fire station provides an engine company and a paramedic ambulance. Fire station 33 also has a truck company.

==Education==
[[Image:CSUSB PalmDesertCampus.jpg|thumb|CSUSB Palm Desert Campus]]

Palm Desert is the site for the main campus of [[College of the Desert]], a community college, which originally opened in 1962. The [[University of California, Riverside]] also has an extension learning center in the city.

[[California State University, San Bernardino]] first opened its Palm Desert campus in 1986, followed by its own stand-alone, 169 acre campus located on Cook Street in 2002. The Palm Desert Campus offers over 40 undergraduate, graduate, doctorate, and credential programs on site and online as the only full-service public school of higher education in the Coachella Valley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.csusb.edu/pdc/about-pdc/history|title=History &#124; Palm Desert Campus &#124; CSUSB|website=www.csusb.edu|accessdate=March 3, 2025}}</ref>

The primary high school is [[Palm Desert High School]] (with 2200 students) which is part of the [[Desert Sands Unified School District]]. The main Middle School (with 1100 students) is [[Palm Desert Middle School]], a [[charter school]]. The four elementary schools in the city are George Washington Charter, Abraham Lincoln, James Carter and Ronald Reagan. The northernmost part of Palm Desert is served by the [[Palm Springs Unified School District]], so the students can attend [[Rancho Mirage High School]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ranchomiragehighschool.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105015840/http://www.ranchomiragehighschool.org/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 5, 2013|title=Rancho Mirage High School|website=Rancho Mirage High School}}</ref> in Rancho Mirage, or Nellie Coffman Middle School and [[Cathedral City High School]] in [[Cathedral City, California]]. Some students in the eastside are zoned to [[La Quinta High School (La Quinta, California)|La Quinta High School]] and [[Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School]].

The Riverside County Department of Education operates San Cayetano Community School, a grade 1 to 12 educational facility. There are eight private schools in the immediate area: Desert Adventist Academy, Palm Desert Presbyterian School, Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, The Palm Valley School, the Learning Tree Academy, [[Xavier College Preparatory High School (California)|Xavier College Preparatory High School]] (Catholic-Jesuit), the Hope Academy,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ww1.hopeacademycharter.org/?subid1=d0ad75ec-aa1b-11e9-9455-4f81ea1a3e97|title=hopeacademycharter.org|website=1.hopeacademycharter.org}}</ref> and the Desert Torah Academy, a Jewish community school and its social recreational Jewish Community Center. It also has meetings by the Jewish Federation of the Desert based in [[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]],<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.jfedps.com/ | title=Home|website=Jfedps.com}}</ref> serving an estimated 35,000 Jewish people in the Coachella Valley.

==Infrastructure==
===Utilities===
Electricity in Palm Desert is served by [[Southern California Edison]]. Water is provided by the [[Coachella Valley Water District]].

===Transportation===
Modern transportation services include:
* [[Palm Springs International Airport]] is the closest commercial airport and serves Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.
** Historical note: during World War II it was operated as the [[California World War II Army Airfields#Major Airfields|Palm Springs Army Airfield]].
* [[SunLine Transit Agency]] provides [[bus service]] in the Coachella Valley.

Highways include:
:{{jct|state=CA|I|10}} – [[Interstate 10 (California)#Riverside County|Interstate 10]] runs to the north of the city with access through the Monterey Avenue, Cook Street, and Washington Street exits.
:{{jct|state=CA|SR|74}} – The [[Pines to Palms Scenic Byway]] (California State Route 74) runs from the coast, over the San Jacinto Mountains and has its eastern terminus at Highway 111 in Palm Desert before continuing northbound as Monterey Avenue.
:{{jct|state=CA|SR|111}} – [[California State Route 111]], which passes through the city.

=== Parks ===
Palm Desert has 14 city parks:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofpalmdesert.org/index.aspx?page=175|title=City of Palm Desert : Our Parks|website=Cityofpalmdesert.org}}</ref>

* Cahuilla Hills Park
* Cap Homme/ Ralph Adams Park
* Civic Center Park
* Community Gardens
* Freedom Park
* Hovley Soccer Park
* Ironwood Park
* Joe Mann Park
* Magnesia Falls City Park
* Palm Desert Dog Park
* Palma Village Park
* University Dog Park
* University Park East
* Washington Charter School Park

To the south of Palm Desert is the [[Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings/santarosa.html|title=BLM California: Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument|date=October 2, 2015|work=blm.gov|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126023854/http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings/santarosa.html|archive-date=January 26, 2009}}</ref> and to the north of Palm Desert is the [[Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge]].

===Cemeteries===
The [[Desert Memorial Park]] in Cathedral City is maintained by the Palm Springs Cemetery District.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pscemetery.com/|title=Palm Springs Cemetery District – Desert Memorial Park and Welwood Murray Cemetery|website=Pscemetery.com}}</ref> Also in Cathedral City is the [[Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City)|Forest Lawn Cemetery]], maintained by [[Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries]].

== Culture ==
* Desert ARC Italian Festival<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.desertarc.org/italian-festival|title=DesertArc &#124; Italian Festival|website=Desertarc.org}}</ref>
* Greek Festival<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pdgreekfest.org/|title=Greek Festival ~ Palm Desert|website=Pdgreekfest.org}}</ref>
* Armenian Festival<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://aacod.org/2017-armenian-cultural-festival/ | title=2017 Armenian Cultural Festival – St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert | access-date=December 7, 2017 | archive-date=November 26, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126080714/http://aacod.org/2017-armenian-cultural-festival/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* CanadaFest<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/money/business/tourism/2015/02/13/canada-fest-palm-springs/23384053/|title=Desert's Canada Fest expands its reach to snowbirds|website=Desert Sun}}</ref>
* Scottish Festival<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.stmargarets.org/covers/scottishfestival/| title=Scottish Festival| website=Stmargarets.org| date=November 5, 2013| access-date=December 7, 2017| archive-date=December 8, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208070736/http://www.stmargarets.org/covers/scottishfestival/| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Attractions==
* Palm Desert
**[[College of the Desert]]
** [[Philip L. Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center]], a unit of the [[University of California Natural Reserve System]]
** [[Living Desert Zoo and Gardens]]
** [[McCallum Theatre]]
** Circle of Land and Sky temporary art installation by [[Phillip K. Smith III]], part of the inaugural [[Desert X]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Circle+of+Land+and+Sky/@33.7757857,-116.3697852,182m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x80daf43543dfd785:0x166ce7cda7235031!2sIndio,+CA!3b1!8m2!3d33.7203419!4d-116.2154388!3m4!1s0x80dafcff0267405f:0x3ae2323f572769!8m2!3d33.7759168!4d-116.3686942 | title=Google Maps|website=Google.com}}</ref>
* Surrounding communities
** Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert in [[Rancho Mirage]].
** [[Indian Wells Tennis Garden]] in Indian Wells.

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Palm Springs, California}}

Many celebrities keep homes in Palm Desert, including [[Rita Rudner]] and more recently, the current home of professional golfer [[Michelle Wie]] and one of the homes of [[Bill Gates]]. Legendary actress [[Anne Francis]] resided in a condominium until July 2000. Film producer [[Jerry Weintraub]] called it his second home before he died. Artist [[Phillip K Smith III|Phillip K. Smith III]] calls Palm Desert home and his studio is in Palm Desert.

The city is home to the [[Palm Desert Scene]], a musical genre that has been heavily influential internationally since the early 1990s. Many of the Palm Desert bands are credited for starting the [[rock music|rock]]/[[Heavy metal music|metal]] subgenre known as [[stoner rock]]. Bands including [[Queens of the Stone Age]], [[Kyuss]], [[Fu Manchu (band)|Fu Manchu]] and [[Eagles of Death Metal]] have become well known rock bands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/503529/queens-of-the-stone-age-at-home-in-desert/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102105829/http://www.mtv.com/news/503529/queens-of-the-stone-age-at-home-in-desert/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2015|title=Queens of the Stone Age at Home in Desert|author=Teri van Horn|website=[[MTV News]]|date=November 12, 1998|access-date=May 7, 2023}}</ref>

==Sister cities==
Palm Desert had been in the sister cities program, as designated by [[Sister Cities International]]. Six to nine cities that are or were associated with Palm Desert:
* [[Wollongong]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]
* [[Osoyoos]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]]
* [[Haifa, Israel]]
* [[La Paz, Baja California Sur]], [[Mexico]]
* [[Gisborne, New Zealand]]
* [[Port Moresby]], [[Papua New Guinea]]
* [[Port Elizabeth]], [[South Africa]]
* [[Zihuatanejo]], [[Guerrero]], Mexico

Palm Desert has a community exchange program with
* [[Ketchikan]], [[Alaska]], [[United States|U.S.]]

Also a community exchange relationship with the major city of [[Concepcion, Chile]].

==See also==
{{Portal|California}}
* [[List of public art in Palm Desert, California]]
* [[St. Margaret's Episcopal Church (Palm Desert, California)|St. Margaret's Episcopal Church]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Geyer|first=Barbara L.|title=Geology of the Palm Desert Region, Riverside County|publisher=California State University|location=San Diego, CA|year=1962|pages=19 [3]}} {{LCC|QE90 R5 G4}}
* {{cite book|last=Historical Society of Palm Desert|title=Palm Desert|year=2009|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|location=Charleston, SC|isbn=978-0-7385-5964-3|pages=128|author2=Rover, Hal |author3=Kousken, Kim |author4= Romer, Brett }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Palm Desert}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.pdcc.org/ Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce]
* {{cite web|last=Howser|first=Huell|title=Palm Desert – Palm Springs Week (004)|url=http://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2001/10/24/palm-desert-palm-springs-week-4/|author-link=Huell Howser|work=California's Gold|publisher=[[Chapman University]] Huell Howser Archive|date=October 21, 2001}}&nbsp;{{OCLC|47732515}}
* [https://www.scpdca.com/ Sun City Palm Desert]
<br />
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Palm Desert
|North     = [[Sky Valley, California|Sky Valley]]
|Northeast = [[Desert Palms, California|Desert Palms]]<br />[[Bermuda Dunes, California|Bermuda Dunes]]
|East      = [[Bermuda Dunes, California|Bermuda Dunes]]<br />[[Indian Wells, California|Indian Wells]]
|Southeast = [[Indian Wells, California|Indian Wells]]
|South     = ''[[Santa Rosa Mountains (California)|Santa Rosa Mountains]]''
|Southwest = ''[[Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument]]''
|West      = [[Rancho Mirage]]
|Northwest = [[Thousand Palms]]
}}
{{Riverside County, California}}
{{Inland Empire (California)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Palm Desert, California| ]]
[[Category:1973 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Cities in Riverside County, California]]
[[Category:Coachella Valley]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1943]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1973]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Colorado Desert]]