Get to know Indio, CA

Indio is a Riverside County city called “The City of Festivals.”  The area sprang up in 1876 when the Southern Pacific Railroad needed a halfway point between Los Angeles and Yuma, Arizona.  The city was originally called Indian Wells, but changed to Indio, which is “Indian” in Spanish, because other areas were already called Indian Wells.  The city started as a railroad town, but grew into an agricultural center, with onions, cotton, grapes, citrus, and dates being the main crops.  In 1907, the USDA’s Date Station began, leading to the Coachella Valley becoming a leading date producer in America.  The City of Indio was incorporated in 1930.  Agriculture and tourism fuel the economy.  The top employers in Indio are the County of Riverside and the Desert Sands Unified School District.  Popular attractions include the annual National Date Festival and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.  Famous residents of Indio have included L. Ron Hubbard and Merv Griffin.

Quick Facts

Population: 84,094

Median Household Income: $50,525

Median Property Value: $212,300