Indio, California, is a U.S. city located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California's desert region. Located 26 miles east of Palm Springs, Indio serves as the Coachella Valley's main transportation center. The population was 49,116 at the 2000 census. According to the book History of the Coachella Valley Water District, the word indio is Spanish for Indian.
Indio has hosted the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival since 1999 as well as other regularly-scheduled festivals. Notable among these are the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival held each February and the Indio International Tamale Festival held each December. The largest festival of its kind in the US, the Tamale Festival earned Indio the official nickname of "The City Of Festivals." Indio is the site of the annual Southwest Arts Festival in the Empire Polo Club.
Indio is one of Southern California's most important agricultural regions as well, responsible for an overwhelming percentage of the nation's date crop. The city's nurseries produce a large share of the nation's palm trees, as well. Travelers from around the world stop by Shields Date Gardens, the most famous of date growers maintain a square-mile area for harvest.
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,116 people, 13,871 households, and 11,069 families residing in the city. The population density was 710.5/km² (1,840.3/mi²). There were 16,909 housing units at an average density of 244.6/km² (633.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.67% White, 2.77% Black or African American, 1.04% Native American, 1.51% Asian American, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 42.02% from other races, and 3.89% from two or more races. 75.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 13,871 households out of which 48.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.48 and the average family size was 3.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 35.3% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 15.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,624, and the median income for a family was $35,564. Males had a median income of $25,651 versus $21,093 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,525. About 16.8% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.2% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
In 2005, Indio's population estimate was at 65,000 residents, while other estimates ranged from 75,000 to 85,000. Indio ranks one of the 10 fastest growing cities in California. If current trends continue, Indio will have over 80,000 by 2010 or pass the 100,000 mark in the next decade.
When nearby golf resort cities of Palm Springs are built-up and expensive, Indio, the neighboring towns of Coachella and La Quinta became popular destinations for new movers relocating to the area, and year-round residents sought a moderately-priced home.
Expected to have 5,000 new single family homes and 1,000 apartment units by the year 2012, Indio handles unprecedented growth for being a selection for new residents. City leaders and other locals are expanding city public services, including new recreation activities, commercial retail centers, and industrial complexes.
The majority of residents and newcomers are Latino, and a high proportion of immigrants from Mexico have arrived. The number of foreign born residents is high in ratio to the town's population. The proximity to the border is 80 miles (120 kms. away) and Indio is a magnet for job opportunities for both immigrants and across the state or nation.
In recent years, Indio served as a magnet of job opportunities for immigrants, and newcomers from parts of California and across the nation. Job fields, such as agriculture, construction, hospitality (hotel resorts), maintenance, retail and housekeeping are highly needed in the area.
Indio sought more corporate businesses and office professions, like fruit packing and shipping firms. Locally-based United States Filter Corporation, Guy Evans Inc., Dimare and Sun World; and move-in companies: Armtec Defense Products, Ernie Ball, Ernst and Young, Ferguson, Fulton Distributors and SunScape Tech choose Indio for the location of transport routes, low economical costs and growth potential.
The growth in population increased political representation, as the area (including Indio and Palm Desert, California) are covered by the 45th and 46th US congressional, and 64th and 80th state assembly districts, created by each city's partisan majorities. Monroe Street, where the elevation is sea level is also a political representative boundary, and the new socioeconomic divide, replaced the older north/south divide of Indio Boulevard.
