Coachella, California

{{For|the music and arts festival|Coachella}}
{{short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{distinguish|Coahuila}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Coachella, California
|settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
|official_name            = {{lang-en|City of Coachella}}<br>{{lang-es|Ciudad de Coachella}}
|nicknames                 = Coachello, La Coachelita and Cochela
|image_skyline            = Coachella City Hall.jpg
|imagesize                = 240px
|image_caption            = Coachella City Hall
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = File:Riverside County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Coachella Highlighted 0614260.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Coachella in Riverside County, California
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief = 1
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States 
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[California]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Riverside County, California|Riverside]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[List of Indian reservations in the United States|Native American Reservation (partial)]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians]] & [[Cabazon Band of Mission Indians]]
|government_type          = Council-Manager 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Steven Hernandez<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.coachella.org/city-government/city-council|title=City Council|publisher=Coachella, CA|access-date=February 11, 2015}}</ref>
| leader_title1                   = [[Mayor Pro Tem]]
| leader_name1                    = Stephanie Virgen
| leader_title2                   = [[City Council]]
| leader_name2                    = Denise Delgado <br> Neftali Galarza <br> Dr. Frank Figueroa
| leader_title3                   = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name3                    = Gabriel Martin
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = December 13, 1946<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date 
 |format=Word 
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
 |access-date=August 25, 2014 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |archive-date=November 3, 2014 
 |df=mdy 
}}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>
|area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref               = Imperial
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 30.08
| area_land_sq_mi         = 30.08
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.00
| area_total_km2          = 77.90
| area_land_km2           = 77.90
| area_water_km2          = 0.00
| area_water_percent      = 0
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1652686|Coachella|access-date=February 11, 2015}}</ref>
|elevation_ft             = -69
|elevation_m              = -21
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_total         = 41941
|population_density_km2   = 538.39
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
|utc_offset               = &minus;8
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = &minus;7
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|40|46|N|116|10|28|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 92236
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
|area_code                = [[Area codes 442 and 760|442/760]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = {{FIPS|06|14260}}
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
|blank1_info              = {{GNIS 4|1652686}}, {{GNIS 4|2409493}}
|website                  = {{URL|www.coachella.org}}
|footnotes                = {{gnis|1652686}}
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 1394.41
|population_footnotes = 
}}
'''Coachella''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|oʊ|ə|ˈ|tʃ|ɛ|l|ə}} {{respell|KOH|ə|CHEL|ə}}, <small>commonly</small> {{IPAc-en|k|oʊ|ˈ|tʃ|ɛ|l|ə}} {{respell|koh|CHEL|ə}}{{efn|Despite originating from the word ''conchilla'' ({{IPA-es|kon'tʃiʎa}}), the name of Coachella is ''not'' pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|oʊ|ə|'|tʃ|eɪ|j|ə}} ({{respell|KOH|ə|CHAY|yə}}), because it is an American English [[Corruption (linguistics)|bastardization]] of Spanish rather than an actual Spanish name.}}<ref>[http://www.languagehat.com/archives/001249.php ''Languagehat.com''] which quotes {{cite book|title=California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names|publisher=Gudde and Bright}}</ref>) is a city in [[Riverside County, California]], United States. It is the namesake and easternmost city of the [[Coachella Valley]], in [[Southern California]]'s [[Colorado Desert]]. 

Coachella is one of California's fastest-growing cities; when it [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1946, it had 1,000 residents. By the [[2020 United States census|2020 Census]], the population had grown to 41,941. The city is officially bilingual in [[English language|English]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]],<ref>[https://businessviewmagazine.com/coachella-california-poised-growth/#:~:text=With%20a%20current%20population%20of,of%20commercial%20and%20industrial%20development. Business View Magazine - Coachella, California: Poised for Growth]</ref> with 90% of residents speaking Spanish.<ref>[https://nbcpalmsprings.com/2019/05/22/breaking-down-language-barriers-in-coachella-city-council-meetings/ NBC Palm Springs - Breaking Down Language Barriers in Coachella City Council Meetings]</ref>

==History==
{{more citations needed|date=April 2019}}
The city was founded as '''Woodspur''' in 1876, when the [[Southern Pacific Railroad]] built a [[rail siding]] on the site. In the 1880s the indigenous [[Cahuilla]] tribe sold their land plots to the railroads for new lands east of the current town site, and in the 1890s, a few hundred [[traquero]]s settled along the tracks. In 1901, the citizens of Woodspur voted on a new name for their community and at a town hall meeting settled on "Coachella".

The origin of the name ''Coachella'' is unclear. Some locals believe it was a misspelling of ''conchilla'', a Spanish word for the small white snail shells found in the valley's sandy soil, vestiges of a lake that dried up over 3,000 years ago.

Coachella began as a {{convert|2.5|sqmi|km2|adj=on}} territory gridded out on the mesquite-covered desert floor. Coachella became a city in 1946. During the incorporation voting process, the first city council was tentatively elected.

In the 1950s Coachella begin to expand into its range, about {{convert|32|sqmi|km2}}, an area which contained large year-round agricultural corporate farms and fruit groves, particularly of [[citrus]] (lemons, oranges, grapefruit) and [[date palm]]s.

By the 1980 census, Coachella's population had reached at least 10,000 due to relatively slow population growth. Due to a high percentage of Hispanics in the city, Coachella was a scene of [[Chicano]] political activism. The agricultural area surrounding Coachella was where the [[United Farm Workers]] union staged strikes and protests, including visits by UFW leader [[César Chávez]] in the 1960s and 1970s. In 2018, Harrison Street (the main street in town) was renamed for him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/coachella/2018/05/31/coachellas-harrison-street-renamed-honor-cesar-chavez/661193002/|title=Organizer's 20-year quest to honor Cesar Chavez finds success in Coachella street renaming|website=Desert Sun|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref>

In 1995, state and federal officials designated Coachella as part of the [[Coachella Valley Enterprise Zone]] to boost economic activity and entice businesses to relocate to this rural city which was once home to several fruit shipping plants.

In 2010, a Coca-Cola bottling facility (a [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]] certified building) was added to the city's new light industry facilities, a boon in the rapid-growth community which has a currently troubled economy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mydesert.com/article/20100419/BUSINESS/100419031/1006/news01/Coca-Cola+%27s%20Coachella%20facility%20to%20open%20Wednesday%20with%20LEED%20certification|title=Coca-Cola's Coachella facility to open Wednesday with LEED certification|newspaper=Desert Sun|date=April 19, 2010|access-date=2010-04-22}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|28.95|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

The elevation is {{convert|68|ft|m}} below sea level, as the eastern half of the Coachella Valley is below sea level. The saltwater lake, [[Salton Sea]], {{convert|10|mi|km}} south of Coachella, is {{convert|228|ft|m}} below sea level.

===Climate===
This climate is dominated in all months by the subtropical [[anticyclone]], or subtropical high, with its descending air, elevated inversions, and clear skies. Although only a short distance from [[Banning, California]] which has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, it also lies in a [[rainshadow]] that allows Coachella only about one-fourth the precipitation of Banning. The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this climate is [[Desert climate#Hot desert climates|"Bwh"]]. (Tropical and Subtropical Desert Climate).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=952440&cityname=Indio-California|title=Indio, California Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase.com}}</ref>

<div style="width:70%;">{{Weather box|location = Coachella, California (1981–2010 normals)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 95
|Feb record high F = 99
|Mar record high F = 104
|Apr record high F = 112
|May record high F = 116
|Jun record high F = 121
|Jul record high F = 123
|Aug record high F = 123
|Sep record high F = 121
|Oct record high F = 116
|Nov record high F = 102
|Dec record high F = 93
|year record high F = 123
|Jan high F = 70.7
|Feb high F = 73.9
|Mar high F = 80.5
|Apr high F = 87.5
|May high F = 95.6
|Jun high F = 103.6
|Jul high F = 108.1
|Aug high F = 107.3
|Sep high F = 101.7
|Oct high F = 91.1
|Nov high F = 78.4
|Dec high F = 69.3
|year high F = 89.0
|Jan low F = 45.5
|Feb low F = 48.0
|Mar low F = 52.2
|Apr low F = 57.4
|May low F = 64.4
|Jun low F = 71.0
|Jul low F = 77.6
|Aug low F = 77.6
|Sep low F = 71.7
|Oct low F = 62.5
|Nov low F = 51.8
|Dec low F = 44.2
|year low F = 60.3
|Jan record low F = 19
|Feb record low F = 24
|Mar record low F = 29
|Apr record low F = 34
|May record low F = 36
|Jun record low F = 44
|Jul record low F = 54
|Aug record low F = 52
|Sep record low F = 46
|Oct record low F = 30
|Nov record low F = 23
|Dec record low F = 23
|year record low F = 19
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.15
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.11
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.53
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.06
|May precipitation inch = 0.02
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.02
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.13
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.29
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.23
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.24
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.32
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.87
|year precipitation inch = 4.97
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.1
|Feb precipitation days = 3.2
|Mar precipitation days = 1.6
|Apr precipitation days = 0.6
|May precipitation days = 0.2
|Jun precipitation days = 0
|Jul precipitation days = 0.6
|Aug precipitation days = 0.9
|Sep precipitation days = 0.8
|Oct precipitation days = 0.7
|Nov precipitation days = 0.8
|Dec precipitation days = 1.9
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA >{{cite web |url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=sgx |title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date = 2013-05-03}}</ref>
}}</div>

==Demographics==
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2009}}
Downtown Coachella is under renovation as the area experiences an economic boom which has brought increasing numbers of people in the city – ''Pueblo Viejo'' (the old neighborhood) as locals of Hispanic origin sometimes call it.{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}} Despite its image for Mexican immigration, a large percentage are US citizens, born and raised in Coachella. A multi-generational [[Mexican American]] subculture has taken root in the town.

Much of the population consists of younger Latino families (an estimated 90 percent of [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]] origin) and, in the outlying areas, migrant farm workers. The city is officially bilingual in the English and Spanish languages, although city council meetings are nominally in English. Historically, Coachella was predominantly Mexican/Latino (including Central America) and/or [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], but had other ethnic groups like [[Arab-American|Arabs]], [[Armenian American|Armenians]], [[Filipino American|Filipinos]], [[Italian-American|Italians]], [[Japanese American|Japanese]] and recent immigrants from Southeast Asia and the former [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]].

{{US Census population
|1950= 2755
|1960= 4854
|1970= 8353
|1980= 9129
|1990= 16896
|2000= 22724
|2010= 40704
|2020= 41941
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|website=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015|df=mdy }}</ref>
}}

===2010===
The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0614260|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715024142/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0614260|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Coachella city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Coachella had a population of 40,704. The [[population density]] was 1,406.0 people per square mile (542.9 per km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of Coachella was 19,576 (48.1%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (2.3% Non-Hispanic White),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0614260.html | title=QuickFacts | access-date=2014-05-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218085111/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0614260.html | archive-date=February 18, 2014 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> 320 (0.8%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 290 (0.7%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 266 (0.7%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 34 (0.1%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 19,154 (47.1%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1,064 (2.6%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 39,254 persons (96.4%).

The Census reported that 40,646 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 58 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 8,998 households, out of which 6,625 (73.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,583 (62.0%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 1,927 (21.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 820 (9.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 795 (8.8%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 76 (0.8%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 464 households (5.2%) were made up of individuals, and 151 (1.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.52. There were 8,330 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (92.6% of all households); the average family size was 4.57.

The population was spread out, with 15,786 people (38.8%) under the age of 18, 4,889 people (12.0%) aged 18 to 24, 11,896 people (29.2%) aged 25 to 44, 6,306 people (15.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,827 people (4.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

There were 9,903 housing units at an average density of 342.1 per square mile (132.1 per km<sup>2</sup>), of which 5,586 (62.1%) were owner-occupied, and 3,412 (37.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%. 25,519 people (62.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 15,127 people (37.2%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Coachella had a median household income of $41,611, with 27.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0614260.html|title=Population estimates, July 1, 2015, (V2015)|access-date=February 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218085111/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0614260.html|archive-date=February 18, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===2000===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website |df=mdy }}</ref> of 2000, there were 22,724 people, 4,807 households, and 4,480 families residing in the city.  The [[population density]] was 1,091.4 people per square mile (421.4 per km<sup>2</sup>).  There were 5,024 housing units at an average density of 241.3 per square mile (93.2 per km<sup>2</sup>).  The racial makeup of the city was 38.8% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.8% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], < 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 56.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.0% from two or more races. 97.4% of the population were [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Hispanic]] or [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Latino]] of any race.

There were 4,807 households, of which 65.9% had children under the age of 18, 66.5% were married couples living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 6.8% were non-families. 5.3% of all households were individuals living alone, and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.72 and the average family size was 4.80.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 40.8% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 12.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% 65 years or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.

The median [[income]] for a household in the city was $28,590, and the median income for a family was $28,320. Males had a median income of $23,044, compared to $15,550 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $7,416. About 29.1% of families and 28.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 25.7% of those 65 or over.

==Economy==

===Top employers===
According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers are:<ref name="employers">{{cite web|url=https://www.coachella.org/home/showpublisheddocument/8150/637516847396900000|title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2019-2020|website=Coachella.org|access-date= August 2, 2021}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! Employees
|-
|1
|[[Coachella Valley Unified School District]]
|530
|-
|2
|[[Spotlight 29 Casino]]
|496
|-
|3
|[[Ernie Ball Inc.|Ernie Ball]]
|380
|-
|4
|[[Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians|Augustine Casino]]
|314
|-
|5
|[[Esterline|Armtec Defense]]
|236
|-
|6
|Valley Pride
|200
|-
|7
|[[Coachella Valley Water District]]
|194
|-
|8
|Teserra Outdoors
|156
|-
|9
|[[Cardenas (supermarket)|Cardenas Market]]
|118
|-
|10
|[[Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling]] 
|103
|}

Near the city limits of Coachella are three [[casino]]s on [[Indian reservations]]: [[Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fantasyspringsresort.com/prod/entertain/entertain.php|title=Live concerts, shows and performances in Palm Springs – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino|website=Fantasyspringsresort.com}}</ref> [[Spotlight 29 Casino]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spotlight29.com/|title=Spotlight 29 Casino - The Valley's Best Bet!|website=Spotlight29.com}}</ref> and [[Augustine Band of Mission Indians|Augustine Casino]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.augustinecasino.com/|title=Home - Augustine Casino|website=Augustinecasino.com}}</ref> which are owned and operated by Native American tribes – the [[Cabazon Band of Mission Indians]], [[Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians]], and [[Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians]], respectively. These small but highly profitable tribes have representative councils to ensure self-reliance as a community. Coachella is also home to a significant Southwest Indian ([[Apache]], [[Hopi]], [[Navajo people|Navajo]] and [[Zuni people|Zuni]]) population, though not indigenous to the California desert region.

== Housing and recreation ==
{{More citations needed|date=September 2009}}

Since 2000, thousands of single-family homes and multi-unit apartment complexes have been built at a fast pace, as the city's population soared, having more than doubled in just a decade.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Coachella, CA Population - Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts - CensusViewer|url = http://censusviewer.com/city/CA/Coachella|website = censusviewer.com|access-date = 2016-02-18}}</ref>

In 2015, the number of unpermitted [[trailer park]]s, often housing [[farmworker]]s, was estimated at "dozens if not more than 100."<ref name = "esquivel201510">{{Cite web|title = Farmworkers find a bumper crop of squalor in Coachella Valley trailer parks|url = http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-farmworker-trailers-20151006-story.html|website = Los Angeles Times|access-date = 2015-10-06|last = Esquivel|first = Paloma|date = 2015-10-06}}</ref> Many of these parks are in poor condition. Some have [[dirt roads]] and frequent [[power outages]], or [[Drinking water pollution|drinking water supplies]] contaminated with [[arsenic]] or [[hexavalent chromium]]. It is uncertain whether it would be more practical to bring in city water and [[Sewage|sewer lines]], or to simply start over with new developments. Given that a recent 181-unit development, Mountain View Estates, required over 28 million dollars in funding, the nonprofit Pueblo Unido Community Development Corp. is pushing for code upgrades of existing facilities. A court case which alleged that the county had made an intentional effort to close trailer parks with Latino populations was settled in 2000. The US$21 million from the settlement was used to build three farmworker housing projects. As of 2015, dirt roads in 35 trailer parks are being paved as part of a US$3.4 million county project.<ref name = "esquivel201510" />

Coachella expanded recreational and social activities for which residents once had to drive {{convert|10|or|20 | miles}} west. The city has a recreation center, a [[Boys & Girls Clubs of America|Boys and Girls Club]] center, and a [[boxing]] club in Bagdouma Park. There are two dance clubs and the Corona Yacht Club located near Spotlight 29 casino; two new golf courses (Desert Lakes and the Vineyards) attract many retirees, [[Recreational vehicles|RV]] owners, and local business people.

==Events and points of interest==
Three popular fiestas are celebrated each year in town: [[Cinco de Mayo]] (May 5), the 16 de Septiembre [[Fiestas Patrias (Mexico)|Fiestas Patrias]] (Mexico's Independence from Spain) and the 12 de Diciembre (the patron saint of Mexico, [[Santa Maria de Guadalupe]]) to celebrate the [[Virgin Mary]].

* [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]]
* [[Coachella Valley Radio Control Club]]
* Shady Lane Mural <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kcet.org/shows/artbound/the-unforgotten-wall-of-coachella|title=The Unforgotten Wall of Coachella|date=November 2, 2014|website=kcet.org|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>
* The film director [[Frank Capra]] is interred in the Coachella Valley Cemetery.

==Government and politics==
The majority of registered voters are in the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], a stronghold of Democrats in a largely [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] voting bloc (the [[Inland Empire (California)|Inland Empire]]).{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}}

In the [[California State Legislature]], Coachella is in {{Representative|casd|28|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|56|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
 | title = Statewide Database
 | publisher = UC Regents
 | access-date = December 19, 2014
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
 | archive-date = February 1, 2015
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Coachella is in {{Representative|cacd|25|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|25}}</ref>

==Education==
Coachella is served by the [[Coachella Valley Unified School District]],<ref>[http://www.coachella.k12.ca.us/ Coachella Valley Unified School District] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127122357/http://www.coachella.k12.ca.us/ |date=January 27, 2015 }}</ref> based in [[Thermal, California]]. Its main high school is [[Coachella Valley High School]] (with 2900 students) followed by a new high school, [[Desert Mirage High School]], about 5 miles to the south; its three middle schools are Cahuilla Desert Academy, Toro Canyon, and Bobby Duke. Elementary schools include Cesar Chavez, Coral Mountain Academy, Palm View, Peter Pendleton, Valle Del Sol, Valley View, Westside and in nearby Thermal, John Kelley.

The Coachella Valley Adult School, in operation since 1952, is the third-largest adult school in Riverside County. It offers seven levels of [[English language learning and teaching|English as a Second Language]] (ESL), and has offered citizenship classes for over 20 years. In the last ten years, over 1,500 people completed citizenship classes at the school and submitted [[Form N-400|N-400]] forms.

==Public safety==
The [[Riverside County Sheriff's Department]] provides law enforcement for the city from the nearby Thermal Regional Station. The original Coachella Police Department was disbanded in 1998.

The city of Coachella contracts for fire and paramedic services with the Riverside County Fire Department through a cooperative agreement with [[California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection|CAL FIRE]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rvcfire.org/about-us/service-area|title=Service Area|website=rvcfire.org}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Near Coachella, a new four-lane expressway, [[California State Route 86|State Route 86]], was built for international trucking from [[Mexicali, Mexico]] to Los Angeles or Arizona. Referred to as the "NAFTA highway" (in reference to the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] took effect in 1994), it replaces an older and less safe two-lane road known as the "killer highway, deadly highway, and death highway" where over 400 auto accident fatalities took place since 1980.

A plan is being developed for new passenger rail service that would span approximately 144 miles from Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS) to Coachella. Construction would take an estimated ten years following completion of an [[Environmental Impact Statement]]/[[Environmental Impact Report]] (EIS/EIR). <ref>{{cite news |last1=Worrell |first1=Carolina |title=Proposed L.A.-Indio Passenger Rail Service Makes Headway |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/intercity/proposed-l-a-indio-passenger-rail-service-makes-headway/?RAchannel=news |access-date=23 July 2022 |work=Railway Age |date=July 20, 2022}}</ref>

==In popular culture==

In 2001 [[Huell Howser]] Productions, in association with [[KCET]]/Los Angeles, featured Coachella in ''[[California's Gold]]''; the program is available as a VHS videorecording.<ref>{{Cite book |oclc = 47724837|title = California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names|isbn = 9780520266193|last1 = Gudde|first1 = Erwin G.|last2 = Bright|first2 = William|date = February 10, 2010}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Coachella, California}}
{{Wikivoyage|Coachella}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://coachellachamber.com/ Coachella Chamber Of Commerce] Official site
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051443/http://www.hispanicchamber.imagemarketingnetwork.com/about.html Hispanic Chamber of Commerce –  Coachella Valley]
* {{cite web|last=Howser|first=Huell|title=Coachella – Palm Springs Week (18)|url=http://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2002/09/27/coachella-palm-springs-week-18/|work=California's Gold|publisher=[[Chapman University]] Huell Howser Archive|author-link=Huell Howser|date=September 27, 2002}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Coachella
|North     = ''[[Joshua Tree National Park]]''
|Northeast = ''[[Cottonwood Mountains (Riverside County)|Cottonwood Mountains]]''
|East      = ''[[Mecca Hills]]''
|Southeast = [[Thermal, California|Thermal]]<br />[[Mecca, California|Mecca]]
|South     = Valerie (a.k.a. Valerie Jean)<!--See GNIS ID # 1661609 [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=154:2:4469798661714498::NO:RP::]-->
|Southwest = Vista Santa Rosa
|West      = [[Indio, California|Indio]]
|Northwest = [[Indio, California|Indio]]
}}

{{Riverside County, California}}
{{Inland Empire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Coachella, California| ]]
[[Category:Coachella Valley]]
[[Category:Cities in Riverside County, California]]
[[Category:Chicano and Mexican neighborhoods in California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1876]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Colorado Desert]]
[[Category:1876 establishments in California]]