city, Riverside county, southern California, U.S. It lies in the Coachella Valley, at the foot of Mount San Jacinto, which rises to 10,804 feet (3,293 metres). The area originally was inhabited by Cahuilla Indians; it was known to the Spanish as Agua Caliente (“Hot Water”) for its hot springs. By 1872 it had become a stage stop between Prescott, Arizona, and Los Angeles. In 1884 Judge John Guthrie McCallum established the Palm Valley Colony on the site, which later developed as a model desert resort. The city includes within its boundaries parts of the Agua Caliente Indian reservation. Palm Springs became a glamorous desert resort and residence, frequented by Hollywood film stars and other celebrities, and it is a favourite vacation site for college students in the Los Angeles area.
It features luxurious hotels, fashionable restaurants and boutiques, and vast recreation areas for tennis, swimming, hiking, skiing, and especially golf (more than 50 golf courses lie within a 20-mile [30-km] radius). The 2.5-mile (4-km) Palm Springs Aerial Tram, upon which passengers ascend 5,873 feet (1,791 metres) to Mount San Jacinto, has the world's largest rotating tram cars. Other local attractions include Knott's Soak City USA water park; Moorten Botanical Garden, with several thousand species of desert plants; and the Palm Springs Air Museum, which features vintage World War II combat aircraft. San Bernardino National Forest and Joshua Tree National Park are nearby. Inc. 1938. Pop. (1990) 40,181; (2000) 42,807.
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