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Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is just 107 miles from Los Angeles and is the western gate of the Coachella Valley. With its rich culture, fine restaurants, spectacular resorts, outstanding attractions, and prosperous business climate, Palm Springs draws visitors from every corner of the world. It lies within the ecological area known as the Colorado Desert. Rising behind the downtown area is the impressive Mt. San Jacinto.
Palm Springs Real Estate
Palm Springs residential real estate increased in value in 2004 by approximately 30%? The greater Palm Springs metro area posted a median price coming in at $400,250 in June 2006. Annual price appreciation increased 9.8 percent in June 2206, compared to a year ago. In fact, sales of single-family homes increased 1.3 percent (to $415,000), condos were up 4.9 percent ($345,000) and new-construction homes registering a 21.3 percent ($425,000). Also, the median price of homes and condos in Palm Springs in the month of June 2006 was approximately $400,000.
Activities
If you enjoy being active, there are hiking trails, bicycle routes, a water park, and horseback riding, tennis, and a public Olympic-size swimming pool.
Known for diversity in dining, the Village of Palm Springs offers restaurants with a variety of cuisines and price ranges. The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, The Annenberg Theater in the Palm Springs Desert Museum, and the McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts in Palm Desert fill the bill for evening entertainment.
History
Palm Springs' first residents were the ancestors of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Tribal life centered around the lush vegetation and abundant water in the area known as Indian Canyons.
In 1877, to complete a railroad to the Pacific, the US government gave Southern Pacific Railroad title to the some of the parcels of land for 10 miles on either side of the tracks running through the Southern California desert around Palm Springs.
In 1884, Judge John Guthrie McCallum of San Francisco arrived in Palm Springs and built an elaborate aqueduct. Dr. Welwood Murray built the first hotel, The Palm Springs Hotel, in 1886.
In 1938, the Village of Palm Springs was incorporated and quickly became world famous as a winter playground for Hollywood stars, European royalty, and business tycoons, all who came to enjoy the endless sunshine and serenity of the desert.
During World War II, the desert became training grounds for General George S. Patton's troops.
The airfield, built to handle military cargo and personnel planes, would become Palm Springs Regional Airport.
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