Palm Springs

History

Founding

The first humans to settle in the area were the Cahuilla people, who arrived 2,000 years ago. Cahuilla Indians lived here in isolation from other cultures for hundreds of years prior to European contact. They spoke Ivilyuat, which is a Uto-Aztecan language.

Numerous prominent and powerful Cahuilla leaders were from the area, including Cahuilla Lion (Chief Juan Antonio). Palm Canyon was occupied during the winter months, but they often moved to cooler Chino Canyon during the summer months.

The Cahuilla Indians had several permanent settlements in the canyons of Palm Springs due to the abundance of water and shade. Various hot springs were used during wintertime. The Cahuilla hunted rabbit, mountain goat, and quail while trapping fish in nearby lakes and rivers. While men were responsible for hunting, women were responsible for collecting berries, acorns, and seeds. They also made tortillas from mesquite seeds. While the Cahuillas often spent the summers in Indian Canyons, the current site of the former Spa Resort Casino, in downtown, was often used during winter due to its natural hot springs.

Native American petroglyphs can be seen in Tahquitz, Chino, and Indian Canyons. The Cahuilla's irrigation ditches, dams, and house pits can also be seen here. Ancient petroglyphs, pictographs and mortar holes can be seen in Andreas Canyon. The mortar holes were used to grind acorns into meal.

The Agua Caliente ("Hot Water") Reservation was established in 1876 and consists of 31,128 acres (12,597 ha). Six thousand seven hundred acres (2,700 ha) are located by Downtown Palm Springs. The Native American land is on long lease land and next to one of California's high-end communities, making the tribe one of the wealthiest in California.

The first name for Palm Springs was given by the native Cahuilla: "Se-Khi" (boiling water). When the Agua Caliente Reservation was established by the United States government in 1876, the reservation land was composed of alternating sections (640 acres or 260 ha) of land laid out across the desert in a checkerboard pattern. The alternating non-reservation sections were granted to the Southern Pacific Railroad as an incentive to bring rail lines through the Sonoran Desert.

20th century

The city became a fashionable resort in the 1900s when health tourists arrived with conditions that required dry heat. Because of the heat, however, the population dropped markedly in the summer months. In 1906 naturalist and travel writer George Wharton James's two volume The Wonders of the Colorado Desert described Palm Springs as having "great charms and attractiveness" and included an account of his stay at Murray's hotel. As James also described, Palm Springs was more comfortable in its microclimate because the area was covered in the shadow of Mount San Jacinto to the west and in the winter the mountains block cold winds from the San Gorgonio Pass. Early illustrious visitors included John Muir and his daughters, U.S. Vice President Charles Fairbanks, and Fanny Stevenson, widow of Robert Louis Stevenson. Murray's hotel was closed in 1909 and torn down in 1954.

Nellie N. Coffman and her physician husband Harry established The Desert Inn as a hotel and sanitarium in 1909. It was expanded as a modern hotel in 1927 and continued on until 1967. Coffman herself was a "driving force" in the city's tourism industry until her death in 1950.

James's Wonders of the Colorado Desert (above) was followed in 1920 by J. Smeaton Chase's Our Araby: Palm Springs and the Garden of the Sun, which also promoted the area. In 1924 Pearl McCallum (daughter of Judge McCallum) returned to Palm Springs and built the Oasis Hotel with her husband Austin G. McManus; the Modern/Art Deco resort was designed by Lloyd Wright and featured a 40-foot (12 m) tower. The next major hotel was the El Mirador, a large and luxurious resort that attracted the biggest movie stars; opening in 1927, its prominent feature was a 68-foot-tall (21 m) Renaissance style tower. Silent film star Fritzi Ridgeway's 100-room Hotel del Tahquitz was built in 1929, next to the "Fool's Folly" mansion built by Chicago heiress Lois Kellogg. Golfing was available at the O'Donnell 9 hole course (1926) and the El Mirador (1929) course (see Golf below). Hollywood movie stars were attracted by the hot dry, sunny weather and seclusion—they built homes and estates in the Warm Sands, The Mesa, and Historic Tennis Club neighborhoods (see Neighborhoods below). About 20,000 visitors came to the area in 1922.

Palm Springs became popular with movie stars in the 1930s and estate building expanded into the Movie Colony neighborhoods, Tahquitz River Estates, and Las Palmas neighborhoods. Actors Charles Farrell and Ralph Bellamy opened the Racquet Club in 1934 and Pearl McCallum opened the Tennis Club in 1937. Nightclubs were set up as well, with Al Wertheimer opening The Dunes outside of Palm Springs in 1934 and the Chi Chi nightclub opening in 1936. Besides the gambling available at the Dunes Club, other casinos included The 139 Club and The Cove Club outside of the city.

Today

Tourism is a major factor in the city's economy with 1.6 million visitors in 2011. The city has over 130 hotels and resorts, numerous bed and breakfasts, and over 100 restaurants and dining spots and 9 Tribal Casino in nearby cities 1 of which is locaded in the city. Events such as the Coachella and Stagecoach Festivals in nearby Indio attract younger people, making greater Palm Springs a more attractive area to retire.

Following the 2008 recession, Palm Springs revitalized its Downtown, "the Village". Rebuilding started with the demolition of the Bank of America building in January 2012, with the Desert Fashion Plaza scheduled for demolition in 2013.

In 2020, Christy Holstege became the mayor of Palm Springs, which made her the first openly bisexual mayor in the United States, as well as the first female mayor of Palm Springs. The following year, Lisa Middleton became mayor, making her the first openly transgender mayor in California history.

The movement behind mid-century modern architecture (1950s/60s era) in Palm Springs is backed by architecture enthusiasts, designers, and local historians to preserve many of Palm Springs' buildings and homes of famous celebrities, businessmen, and politicians. Stores sell furniture and gifts that feature a mid-century modern theme. The city holds a Modernism Week celebration every February, along with several related smaller events during the year.

According to a 2021 study done by Visit Greater Palm Springs, Canadians own 7% of second homes in the valley, far more than any other country outside the U.S. A 2017 study found that 303,600 Canadians visited the valley that year, spending more than US$236 million, and impacting every sector of the economy.

Geography

Palm Springs is located in the Colorado Desert. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 95.0 square miles (246 km2), of which 94.1 square miles (244 km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) (1%) is water. Located in the Coachella Valley desert region, Palm Springs is sheltered by the San Bernardino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains to the south, by the San Jacinto Mountains to the west and by the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the east.

Climate

Palm Springs has a hot desert climate (BWh in Köppen-Geiger classification), with over 300 days of sunshine and 4.93 inches (125.2 mm) of rainfall annually. The wettest "rain year" on record was from July 1926 to June 1927 with 17.68 inches (449.1 mm) — of which 10.22 inches (259.6 mm) fell during three days in mid-February — and the driest from July 2001 to June 2002 with 0.4 inches (10.2 mm).

The winter months are warm, with a majority of days reaching 70 °F (21.1 °C) and in January and February afternoons often see temperatures of 80 °F (26.7 °C) and on occasion reach over 90 °F (32.2 °C), while, on average, there are 17 mornings annually dipping to or below 40 °F (4.4 °C); freezing temperatures occur in less than half of years. The lowest temperature recorded is 19 °F (−7.2 °C), on January 22, 1937.

Summers are extremely hot, with daytime temperatures consistently surpassing 110 °F (43.3 °C) while overnight temperatures often remain above 80 °F (26.7 °C). The mean annual temperature is 75.6 °F (24.2 °C). There are on average 176.6 afternoons with a high reaching 90 °F (32.2 °C), and 100 °F (37.8 °C) can be seen on 114.8 afternoons. The highest temperature on record in Palm Springs is 124 °F (51.1 °C) on July 5, 2024. The climate of Palm Springs is suitable for some palm trees, although tropical types that need more water and humidity do not grow as well.

On October 1, 2024 the temperature in Palm Springs reached 117 °F (47.2 °C), tying the record for the highest temperature in the United States in October, after the same temperature was reached in nearby Mecca on October 5, 1917. On July 5, 2025, Palm Springs recorded its highest temperature of 124 °F (51.1 °C).

Ecology

The locale features a variety of native Low Desert flora and fauna. A notable tree occurring in the wild and under cultivation is the California Fan Palm, Washingtonia filifera.

Wildlife

The fauna of Palm Springs is mostly species adapted to desert, temperature extremes and to lack of moisture. It is located within the Nearctic faunistic realm in a region containing an assemblage of species similar to Northern Africa. Native fauna includes pronghorns, desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, kit fox, desert iguanas, horned lizards, chuckwalla, bobcats, mountain lions and Gila monsters. Other animals include ground squirrels, rock squirrels, porcupines, skunks, cactus mice, kangaroo rats, pocket gophers and raccoons. Desert birds here include the iconic roadrunner, which can run at speeds exceeding 15 mph (24 km/h). Other avifauna includes the ladder-backed woodpecker, flycatchers, elf owls, great horned owls, sparrow hawks and a variety of raptors.

The Sonoran Desert has more species of rattlesnakes (11) than anywhere else in the world. The most common species is the extremely venomous Mojave green, which is considered the world's most dangerous rattlesnake. The largest rattle snake species here is the western diamondback rattlesnake, while other species include the black-tailed rattlesnake, tiger rattler and sidewinder rattler. Palm Springs is home to tarantulas and various scorpion species, including the vinegaroon.

Although black bears are not common in the Coachella Valley, bears have been observed in Palm Springs and other parts of California.

Today, jaguars roam the northern Mexican dry-lands; however, they were previously common throughout the Coachella Valley. The last documented jaguar sighting in Palm Springs was in 1860.

Neighborhoods

In 2005 the City of Palm Springs formally launched a program to identify distinctive neighborhoods in the community and created the Office of Neighborhoods (ONE-PS). ONE-PS is a volunteer coalition of officially recognized neighborhood organizations. The group serves as a liaison between residents and the municipal government, advocating for neighborhood priorities and facilitating communication with city officials. ONE-PS organizes regular meetings, public forums, and community events, and provides a platform for neighborhoods to collaborate on civic initiatives, share resources, and address local concerns. The organization also works to strengthen community identity, support volunteer engagement, and promote transparency in city planning and governance.

Of the 52 neighborhoods that are part of ONE-PS, several have historical and cultural significance.

Deepwell Estates, the eastern portion of the square mile (2.6 km2) defined by South/East Palm Canyon, Mesquite, and Sunrise, contains around 370 homes, including notable homes architecturally and of celebrity figures. Among the celebrities who lived in the neighborhood are Jerry Lewis, Loretta Young, Liberace, and William Holden.

In the 1960s, Roy Fey built 110 homes designed by Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison in the El Rancho Vista Estates. Noted residents included Richard Harrison, Jack LaLanne and comic Andy Dick.

To the west of Palm Canyon Drive are the Vista Las Palmas, Old Las Palmas, and Little Tuscany neighborhoods. These areas also feature distinctive homes, celebrity estates, and Albert Frey's private residential complex Villa Hermosa.

Little Tuscany is a hillside neighborhood in north-west Palm Springs, named for its rocky terrain and winding streets reminiscent of Italy's Tuscany. Developed in the 1930s, it is known for mid-century modern and Spanish-influenced homes by architects such as Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and E. Stewart Williams, with many designed to integrate with the surrounding desert landscape.

The Mesa started off as a gated community developed in the 1920s near the Indian Canyons. Noted residents have included King Gillette, Zane Grey, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Suzanne Somers, Herman Wouk, Henry Fernandez, Barry Manilow and Trina Turk. Distinctive homes include Donald Wexler's "butterfly houses" and the "Streamline Moderne Ship of the Desert".

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Palm Springs had a population of 44,575 and a population density of 471.5 inhabitants per square mile (182.0/km2). The median age was 57.9 years; 9.7% of residents were under age 18 and 34.1% were age 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 154.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 160.2 males age 18 and over.

The census reported that 97.9% of the population lived in households, 0.8% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1.3% were institutionalized. The city was 98.9% urban and 1.1% rural.

There were 24,180 households, out of which 10.7% included children under the age of 18; 31.0% were married-couple households; 8.5% were cohabiting couple households; 25.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present; and 35.4% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 46.7% of households were one person, and 22.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.81. There were 10,184 families (42.1% of all households).

There were 35,184 housing units at an average density of 372.1 units per square mile (143.7 units/km2), of which 68.7% were occupied. Of these, 60.6% were owner-occupied and 39.4% were occupied by renters. 31.3% of housing units were vacant; the homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.2%.

The most reported ancestries were:

Mexican (18.8%)

English (15.9%)

German (13.7%)

Irish (12.4%)

Italian (6.1%)

French (3.5%)

Scottish (3.3%)

Filipino (3.2%)

African American (3%)

2023 ACS estimates

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 17.2% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 76.7% spoke only English at home, 16.7% spoke Spanish, 3.2% spoke other Indo-European languages, 2.6% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.8% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 93.1% were high school graduates and 45.1% had a bachelor's degree.

The median household income in 2023 was $71,979, and the per capita income was $64,811. About 8.2% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census reported that Palm Springs had a population of 44,552. The population density was 469.1 inhabitants per square mile (181.1/km2). The racial makeup of Palm Springs was 33,720 (75.7%) White (63.6% Non-Hispanic White), 1,982 (4.4%) African American, 467 (1.0%) Native American, 1,971 (4.4%) Asian, 71 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 4,949 (11.1%) from other races, and 1,392 (3.1%) from two or more races. There were 11,286 Hispanic or Latino residents, of any race (25.3%).

The census reported that 44,013 people (98.8% of the population) lived in households, 343 (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 196 (0.4%) were institutionalized.

There were 22,746 households, out of which 3,337 (14.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,812 (25.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,985 (8.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 868 (3.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,031 (4.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 2,307 (10.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 10,006 households (44.0%) were made up of individuals, and 4,295 (18.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.93. There were 8,665 families (38.1% of all households); the average family size was 2.82.

There were 6,125 residents (13.7%) under the age of 18, 2,572 (5.8%) aged 18 to 24, 8,625 (19.4%) aged 25 to 44, 15,419 (34.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 11,811 (26.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 129.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 133.8 males.

There were 34,794 housing units at an average density of 366.3 per square mile (141.4/km2), of which 13,349 (58.7%) were owner-occupied, and 9,397 (41.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 15.5%. 24,948 people (56.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 19,065 people (42.8%) lived in rental housing units.

2009-2013 ACS estimates

During 2009–2013, Palm Springs had a median household income of $45,198, with 18.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

LGBTQ community

Palm Springs has one of the highest concentrations of same-sex couples of any community in the United States. In 2010, 10.1% (2,307) of the city's households belong to same-sex married couples or partnerships, compared to the national average of 1%. Palm Springs has the fifth-highest percentage of same-sex households in the nation. Former mayor Ron Oden estimated that about a third of Palm Springs is gay. Over various times, the city has catered to LGBT tourists with an increasing number of events such as the annual Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend, as well as hosting various clothing-optional resorts and events. Palm Springs is host to the Greater Palm Springs Pride Celebration. This celebration, held every year in November, includes events such as the Palm Springs Pride Golf Classic, the Stonewall Equality Concert, and a Broadway in Drag Pageant. The city also held same-sex wedding ceremonies at the iconic Forever Marilyn statue located downtown, before its relocation in 2014. In January 2018, Palm Springs ushered in America's first fully LGBTQ comprised city government.

Economy

Though celebrities still retreat to Palm Springs, many establish residences in other areas of the Coachella Valley. The city's economy now relies on tourism, and local government is largely supported by related retail sales taxes and the TOT (transient occupancy tax). The city hosts numerous festivals, conventions, and international events including the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

The world's largest rotating aerial tramcars (cable cars) can be found at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. These cars, built by Von Roll Tramways, ascend from Chino Canyon two and a half miles (4 km) up a steep incline to the station at 8,516 feet (2,596 m). The San Jacinto Wilderness is accessible from the top of the tram and there is a restaurant with notable views.

The Palm Springs Convention Center underwent a multimillion-dollar expansion and renovation under Mayor Will Kleindienst. The City Council Sub-Committee of Mayor Kleindienst and City Council Member Chris Mills selected Fentress Bradburn Architects from Denver, Colorado for the redesign.

Numerous hotels, restaurants and attractions cater to tourists, while shoppers can find a variety of high-end boutiques in downtown and uptown Palm Springs. The city is home to 20 clothing-optional resorts including many catering to gay men. Downtown Palm Springs shopping is anchored by historic La Plaza, built in 1936.

Top employers

According to the City's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Notable businesses

Ace Hotel & Swim Club – a renovated mid-20th century motel.

Bird Medical Technologies

Colony Palms Hotel – opened in 1936 as The Colonial House by Las Vegas casino owner Al Wertheimer.

Raven Productions – a television production company based in Palm Springs.

Earth Trek – a travel and adventure program produced by Raven.

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

The Palm Springs International Film Festival and Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films ("ShortFest") present movie star-filled, red-carpet affairs in January and June respectively.

Modernism Week, in February, is an 11-day event featuring mid-century modern architecture through films, lectures, tours and its Modernism Show & Sale. A four-day Modernism Week Preview is held in mid-October.

The Palm Springs Black History Committee celebrates Black History Month with a parade and town fair every February.

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum presents its annual Festival of Native Film & Culture at the Camelot Theaters in central Palm Springs.

The Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend, known as "The Dinah", is an LGBT event billed as the "Largest Girl Party in the World" held each March.

A circuit White Party was held in April, attracting 10,000 visitors. The event was cancelled for 2025 and its future remains unclear

The Palm Springs Cultural Center hosts a number of annual events, including Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival, The Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival, the Certified Farmers' Markets and more.

Palm Springs Desert Resorts Restaurant Week is held every June, featuring 10 days of dining at over 100 restaurants in the Coachella Valley.

The Caballeros, a gay men's chorus and member of GALA Choruses, has presented concerts since 1999.

The following three parades, held on Palm Canyon Drive, were created by former Mayor Will Kleindienst:

Ongoing cultural events

For many years, The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies was a stage-show at the historic Plaza Theatre featuring performers over the age of 55. Still Kicking: The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies is a 1997 Mel Damski short documentary film about the Follies. The Palm Springs Follies closed for good after the 2013–14 season.

Starting in 2004, the city worked with downtown businesses to develop the weekly Palm Springs VillageFest. The downtown street fair has been a regular Thursday evening event, drawing tourists and locals alike to Palm Canyon Drive to stroll amid the food and craft vendors.

Events related to films and film-craft are sponsored by the Desert Film Society.

Public art

The city and various individuals have sponsored different public art projects in the city, including Robolights. Numerous galleries and studios are located in the city and region. The California Art Club has a chapter in Palm Springs. The Desert Art Center of Coachella Valley was established in Palm Springs in 1950.

Modern architecture

Besides its tradition of mid-century modern architecture, Palm Springs and the region features numerous noted architects. Other (non-Mid-Century Modern) include Edward H. Fickett, Haralamb H. Georgescu, Howard Lapham, Karim Rashid.

Preservation

In addition to Modernism Week, Palm Springs has several organizations that are dedicated to the preservation of the city's history, architecture and culture:

Historic Site Preservation Board. A city board that reviews and recommends site and district designations.

Palm Springs Historical Society. A nonprofit that operates museums and maintains archives on the city's broader history.

Palm Springs Modern Committee. A nonprofit focused on Desert Modern architecture.

Palm Springs Preservation Foundation: A nonprofit organization focused on the preservation of the region's historic architecture and cultural resources.

Museums and other points of interest

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum (presently located downtown at the Village Green)

Indian Canyons (Palm Canyon, Andreas Canyon, Murray Canyon)

Tahquitz Canyon, wildlife area and one-time staging place for the outdoor "Desert Plays" in the 1920s

Tahquitz Falls, 60-foot (18 m) waterfall used as a scene in Frank Capra's 1937 film, Lost Horizon.

Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage

Spa Resort Casino, which is based on the original hot springs of the town

Forever Marilyn sculpture by Seward Johnson in downtown Palm Springs

Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium

Palm Springs Historical Society Museums (and Village Green)

Miss Cornelia White's "Little House" (railroad ties from the defunct Palmdale Railroad were used to build the house)

The McCallum Adobe – the oldest remaining building, built in 1884

Ruddy's General Store Museum – a 1930s general store

Palm Springs Air Museum – located at the Palm Springs International Airport

Palm Springs Art Museum – originally developed as the Desert Museum

Sports

Baseball

Palm Springs is home to the Palm Springs Power, a summer collegiate baseball team currently playing in the California Premier Collegiate League. The Power also operate the California Winter League a professional baseball showcase league. The league has run since 2010 playing games in January and February. The winter league plays their games in Palm Springs Stadium and next to the stadium in Cerritos Park. Both sites also feature teams from the Palm Springs Collegiate League in the summer.

The Palm Springs stadium was once the spring training site of the Major League Baseball California Angels (now the Los Angeles Angels) of the American League from 1961 to 1993. The stadium also hosted spring training of the Chicago White Sox in the late 1940s–1950s, the Oakland A's in the 1970s, and the 1950s minor league Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League also trained there.

Hockey

In 2019, Palm Springs was approved to become the home to an American Hockey League (AHL) expansion team to begin play for the 2021–22 season and serve as the development affiliate of the National Hockey League's 2021 expansion team, the Seattle Kraken. However, the original project to build an arena in Palm Springs fell through, leading to the team's launch to be delayed by one year to the 2022–23 season. The team, later named as the Coachella Valley Firebirds, then began building Acrisure Arena in nearby Thousand Palms, California.

Tennis

The Palm Springs area features numerous major sports events, including the annual BNP Paribas Open in March, voted by professional players over several years in the early 21st century as the premier mandatory Tournament of the Year. The Easter Bowl, sponsored by the United States Tennis Association is a showcase tournament for junior tennis players (girls and boys aged 12 to 18 years) held annually in March among several tennis centers of the Palm Springs area.

Golf

With more golf courses than any other region in California, Coachella Valley is the most popular golf vacation destination in California. Early golf courses in Palm Springs were the O'Donnell Golf Club (built by oil magnate Thomas A. O'Donnell) and the El Mirador Hotel course, both of which opened in the 1920s. After the Cochran-Odlum (Indio) and Shadow Mountain pitch and putt courses were built after World II, the first 18-hole golf course in the area was the Thunderbird Country Club, established 1951 in Rancho Mirage. Thunderbird was designed by golf course architects Lawrence Hughes and Johnny Dawson and in 1955 it hosted the 11th Ryder Cup championship.

In the 1970s the area had over 40 courses and in 2001 the 100th course was opened. The area is also home to the PGA Tour's Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation (formerly the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic), the LPGA's ANA Inspiration and the Canadian Tour's Desert Dunes Classic.

Soccer

The Palm Springs AYSO Region 80 plays in Section 1H of the American Youth Soccer Organization.

Parks and recreation

Recreation

Boomers! is a family entertainment center in Cathedral City.

A city skatepark was designed after the noted Nude Bowl.

CNL Financial Group operates the Wet'n'Wild Palm Springs water park in the summer. (Formerly operated as Knott's Soak City by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.)

In 1931 the Desert Riders was established. Starting off as a social organization for the cream of Palm Springs society, the group sponsors horseback riding and trail building for equestrians, hikers, and bicyclists. The Desert Riders were also significant in providing combination chuckwagon meals and rides through nearby canyons to hotel guests as Palm Springs developed its tourist industry.

Government

City

Business owners in the village first established a Palm Springs Board of Trade in 1918, followed by a chamber of commerce; the city itself was established by election in 1938 and converted to a charter city, with a charter adopted by the voters in 1994.

Presently the city has a council-manager type government, with a five-person city council that hires a city manager and city attorney. The mayor is directly elected and serves a four-year term. The other four council members also serve four-year terms, with staggered elections. The city is considered a full-service city, in that it staffs and manages its own police and fire departments including parks and recreation programs, public library, sewer system and wastewater treatment plant, international airport, and planning and building services

The city government is a member of the Southern California Association of Governments.

American Medical Response provides ambulance services to Palm Springs

Christy Holstege, who took office as mayor in December 2020, was the first female and the first openly bisexual mayor in the city's history, and the first openly bisexual mayor in American history. Lisa Middleton, the first transgender mayor in California history, took office in 2021.

Palm Springs' longest-tenured mayor was Frank Bogert (1958–66 and 1982–88). He was credited with leading the city as it evolved from a small resort town into a larger community. Bogert's actions as mayor have proved controversial in recent years, as allegations that Bogert removed hundreds of citizens of color from a city neighborhood led to the removal of a statue on city property that honored him.

Former entertainer Sonny Bono had the most recognizable name; Bono served from 1988 to 1992 and was eventually elected to the U.S. Congress.

In 2017, Palm Springs elected the first entirely LGBTQ city council in U.S. history. The Council was composed of one bisexual woman, three gay men, and one trans woman.

County

Palm Springs is in Supervisorial District 4 of Riverside County represented by Democrat V. Manuel Perez

State

In the California State Legislature, Palm Springs is in the 19th senatorial district, represented by Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, and in the 47th Assembly district, represented by Republican Greg Wallis.

Federal

In the United States House of Representatives, Palm Springs is in California's 41st congressional district, represented by Republican Ken Calvert.

Tribal Council

Palm Springs is the seat of government and the administrative capital for the tribal council of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The tribal government governs over parts of the city where reservation jurisdictions overlap.

Education

Public schools

Public education in Palm Springs is under the jurisdiction of the Palm Springs Unified School District, an independent district with five board members. The Palm Springs High School is the oldest school in the district, built in 1938. Originally it was a K–12 school in the 1920s and had the College of the Desert campus from 1958 to 1964. And Raymond Cree Middle School in its current site since the mid-1960s.

Elementary schools in Palm Springs include:

Cahuilla Elementary School

Cielo Vista Charter School (received a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon award in 2011, and U.S. Department of Education National Gold Ribbon Award in 2016)

Katherine Finchy Elementary School (received a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon award in 2011, and U.S. Department of Education National Gold Ribbon Award in 2016)

Vista del Monte Elementary School

Alternative education is provided by the Ramon Alternative Center.

Private schools

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

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

Post-secondary education

The Desert Community College District, headquartered with its main campus, College of the Desert, is located in Palm Desert. California State University, San Bernardino and University of California, Riverside used to have satellite campuses available within the College of the Desert campus, but now have their own buildings in Palm Desert.

Private post-secondary education institutions include Brandman University (branch in Palm Desert), California Desert Trial Academy College of Law (in Indio), Kaplan College (Palm Springs), University of Phoenix (Palm Desert), Mayfield College (Cathedral City), and California Nurses Educational Institute (Palm Springs).

Media

News outlets and magazines

The Desert Sun is the local daily newspaper serving Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley region. It is owned by the Gannett Corporation, parent company of USA Today.

The Palm Springs Post is a digital-only news site and daily newsletter serving only Palm Springs. It is independently owned and operated.

Desert Magazine is a monthly lifestyle magazine delivered to 40,000 homes.

The Desert Daily Guide is a weekly LGBT periodical.

Palm Springs Life is a monthly magazine; it also has publications on El Paseo Drive shopping in Palm Desert, desert area entertainment, homes, health, culture and arts, golf, plus annual issues on weddings and dining out.

The Palm Springs Villager was published in the early 20th century until 1959.

The Palm Canyon Times was published from 1993 to 1996.

The Desert Post Weekly – Cathedral City.

The Public Record – Palm Desert, is a business and public affairs weekly.

Television

Palm Springs is the 144th largest TV market as defined by AC Nielsen. The Palm Springs DMA is unique among TV markets as it is entirely located within only a small portion of Riverside County. Also, while many cities launched local television stations during the 1950s, Palm Springs did not have a local TV station until October 1968, when stations KPLM-TV (now KESQ) and KMIR-TV debuted. Prior to that time, Palm Springs was served by TV stations from the Los Angeles market, which were carried on the local cable system that began operations in the 1950s and which predated the emergence of local broadcast stations by more than a decade.

Television stations serving the Palm Springs and Coachella Valley area include:

KCWQ-LD 2 (The CW Plus) – Cable channel 5

KEVC-CD 5 (UniMás)

KYAV-LD 12 (Independent)

KUNA-LD 15 (Telemundo)

KJHP-LD 22 (PBS) – A translator of KVCR-DT in San Bernardino

KDFX-CD 33 (Fox) – Cable channel 11

KMIR-TV 36 (NBC) – Cable channel 13

KPSP-CD 38 (CBS) – Cable channel 2

KVER-CD 41 (Univision)

KESQ-TV 42 (ABC) – Cable channel 3

KPSE-LD 50 (MyNetworkTV) – Cable channel 20

Infrastructure

Libraries

The city's library was started in 1924 and financed by Martha Hitchcock. It expanded in 1940 on land donated to the newly incorporated city by Dr. Welwood Murray and was financed through the efforts of Thomas O'Donnell. The present site now operates as a branch library, research library for the Palm Springs Historical Society, and tourism office for the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism.

Transportation

One of the first transportation routes for Palm Springs was on the Bradshaw Trail, an historic overland stage coach route from San Bernardino to La Paz, Arizona. The Bradshaw Trail operated from 1862 to 1877. In the 1870s the Southern Pacific Railroad expanded its lines into the Coachella Valley.

Modern transportation services include:

Palm Springs International Airport serves Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.

Historical note: during World War II it was operated as the Palm Springs Army Airfield.

SunLine Transit Agency provides bus service in the Coachella Valley.

Morongo Basin Transit Authority provides bus service to and from Morongo Basin communities.

Amtrak's Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle form a single train which stops thrice weekly at the Palm Springs Amtrak station.

Amtrak's Amtrak Thruway connects Palm Springs to Bakersfield, Claremont, Indio, La Crescenta, Ontario, Pasadena, Riverside and San Bernardino. Curbside Thruway bus stops are located in Downtown Palm Springs and at the airport.

Historical note: the Southern Pacific Railroad Argonaut served Palm Springs from 1926 to 1961; and its Imperial served the city from 1931 to 1967.

Greyhound Bus Lines has a stop (no ticketing) at the Palm Springs Amtrak station.

Flixbus provides service between Palm Springs and several destinations in Southern California and Arizona.

Highways include:

Cemeteries

In 1890, the Jane Augustine Patencio Cemetery was established on Tahquitz Way with the burial of Jane Augustine Patencio. It is maintained by the Agua Caliente Tribe.

The Welwood Murray Cemetery was started by hotel operator Welwood Murray in 1894 when his son died. It is maintained by the Palm Springs Cemetery District, which also maintains the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City.

Also in Cathedral City is the Forest Lawn Cemetery, maintained by Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries.

Notable people

Over 400 Palm Springs and Coachella Valley residents have been recognized on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

In popular culture

The Palm Springs area has been a filming location, topical setting, and storyline subject for many films, television shows, and works of literature. The April 20, 1958 Gunsmoke radio episode "The Partners" features a prominent commercial lauding Palm Springs.