Coachella Valley is 40 miles long and 15 miles wide, surrounded by 4 mountain ranges including the 2 highest mountain peaks in southern California. Under the desert floor is the 2nd largest underground aquifer in the United States, providing water to the entire valley. Running up the valley is the San Andreas Fault allowing water to seep up to ground level from the aquifer.
The western entrance to the valley is through the San Gorgonio Pass, one of the deepest mountain passes in the U.S., and one of the windiest places in North America. This distinctive geology has created what is called a “rain shadow” desert – home to over 500 species of native plants, 200 species of birds, 25 different species of reptiles and over 30 species of mammals, ranging from bats to bighorn sheep.
The valley is comprised of a number of separate city entities, all contiguous and stretching the length of the valley. Total valley population during the months of October-May is 610,000, making the valley comparable in size during season to the cities of Boston, Seattle and Denver.
Each city, although part of this extended Coachella Valley metromix, is unique and distinct. Indio, at the east end of the valley is the center of the second largest industry in the valley – agriculture – the first table grapes of the summer season and the nation’s largest date-growing region. With ideal climate and conditions for growing dates, the Coachella Valley produces 95 percent of all dates grown in the United States. During May and June, fields overflow with red, yellow and green peppers; seedless watermelon; cantaloupe; eggplant and the first sweet corn of the season.
Palm Springs, at the west end of the valley is home to the largest valley industry, tourism. It has the highest density of tourism accommodations and attractions of any other valley city, and is the only real “walking” city. Known as the former “Playground to the Stars,” it is now estimated that Palm Springs resident population is 40%-50% gay or lesbian, making Palm Springs (on a per capita basis) the biggest little gay city in the world.
Between Palm Springs and Indio are over 100 golf courses, many large resort hotels, El Paseo shopping district (known as the Rodeo Drive of Palm Springs) and the City of Indian Wells, one of the wealthiest communities in the country.
The Coachella Valley is a region of stark contrasts – going from desert floor at 0 feet above sea level to the top of Mt. San Jacinto at 10,800 feet above sea level – from ancient history of Native Americans living in the area almost 2,000 years ago to the modern technology of the San Gorgonio Wind Turbine Farms – from migrant farmers to some of the wealthiest individuals in this country – from a conservative political viewpoint expressed by many east valley residents to a progressive viewpoint at the west end of the valley (Palm Springs elected the first openly gay African American mayor in the country).
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