Joshua Tree, California

This article is about the city of Joshua Tree. For the US National Park, see Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 6,489 at the 2020 census. At approximately 2,700 feet (820 meters) above sea level, Joshua Tree and its surrounding communities are located in the High Desert of California. The center of the business district in Joshua Tree is on California State Route 62.

Joshua Tree, California
Census-designated place
Central Joshua Tree in 2013
Location in San Bernardino County and the state of California
Joshua Tree, California Location in the United States
Coordinates: 34°08′05″N 116°18′42″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	San Bernardino
Area [1]
• Total	36.086 sq mi (93.462 km2)
• Land	36.086 sq mi (93.462 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation [2]	2,923 ft (891 m)
Population  (2020)[3]
• Total	6,489
• Density	180/sq mi (69/km2)
Time zone	UTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−07:00 (PDT)
ZIP Code	92252
Area codes	442/760
FIPS code	06-37554
GNIS feature ID	2408454[2]

Geography

Joshua Tree is located in the Mojave Desert.^[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total land area of 93.5 km² (36.1 mi²).^[1]

Joshua Tree is home to Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree shares its eastern border with Twentynine Palms, its western border with Yucca Valley, and its northwestern border with Landers; it is bordered on the south by the Coachella Valley. The Bartlett Mountains are northwest of the community.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1970	1,211		—
1980	2,083		72.0%
1990	3,898		87.1%
2000	4,207		7.9%
2010	7,414		76.2%
2020	6,489		−12.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1970[6] 1980[7] 1990[8] 2000[9] 2010[10]

A sunrise in Joshua Tree, for which the town is well known.

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Joshua Tree had a population of 6,489. The population density was 179.8 inhabitants per square mile (69.4/km²). The racial makeup of Joshua Tree was 72.2% White, 3.4% African American, 1.5% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 7.1% from other races, and 13.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.0% of the population.^[11]

The census reported that 96.9% of the population lived in households, 0.6% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 2.5% were institutionalized.^[11]

There were 2,783 households, out of which 21.7% included children under the age of 18, 34.9% were married-couple households, 10.0% were cohabiting couple households, 31.2% had a female householder with no partner present, and 23.9% had a male householder with no partner present. 35.9% of households were one person, and 15.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.26.^[11] There were 1,515 families (54.4% of all households).^[12]

The age distribution was 18.6% under the age of 18, 6.0% aged 18 to 24, 25.3% aged 25 to 44, 27.2% aged 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males.^[11]

There were 3,745 housing units at an average density of 103.8 units per square mile (40.1 units/km²), of which 2,783 (74.3%) were occupied. Of these, 60.4% were owner-occupied, and 39.6% were occupied by renters.^[11]

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 7.6% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 88.5% spoke only English at home, 8.2% spoke Spanish, 2.3% spoke other Indo-European languages, 0.5% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.6% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 91.9% were high school graduates and 25.0% had a bachelor's degree.^[13]

The median household income in 2023 was $64,036, and the per capita income was $33,512. About 14.6% of families and 22.6% of the population were below the poverty line.^[14]

Wilderness near the Bartlett Mountains. The community's namesake, the western Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) on October 9, 2020 became a candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act; the first plant species granted such protection due to the impacts of climate change.^[15][16]

2010

At the 2010 census Joshua Tree had a population of 7,414. The population density was 200.1 inhabitants per square mile (77.3/km²). The racial makeup of Joshua Tree was 6,176 (83.3%) White (73.9% Non-Hispanic White),^[17] 234 (3.2%) African American, 84 (1.1%) Native American, 104 (1.4%) Asian, 18 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 368 (5.0%) from other races, and 430 (5.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,308 persons (17.6%).^[18]

The census reported that 7,263 people (98.0% of the population) lived in households, 30 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 121 (1.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,088 households, 862 (27.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,209 (39.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 431 (14.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, and 162 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 237 (7.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 30 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,018 households (33.0%) were one person and 358 (11.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35. There were 1,802 families (58.4% of households); the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 1,626 people (21.9%) under the age of 18, 813 people (11.0%) aged 18 to 24, 1,756 people (23.7%) aged 25 to 44, 2,056 people (27.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,163 people (15.7%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.

There were 3,808 housing units at an average density of 102.8 per square mile, of the occupied units 1,872 (60.6%) were owner-occupied and 1,216 (39.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%. 4,178 people (56.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,085 people (41.6%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Joshua Tree had a median household income of $39,492, with 21.8% of the population living below the federal poverty line.^[17]

Government

In the California State Legislature, Joshua Tree is in the 19th senatorial district, represented by Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, and in the 47th Assembly district, represented by Republican Greg Wallis.^[19]

In the United States House of Representatives, Joshua Tree is located in California's 23rd congressional district,^[20] which has a Cook PVI of R+10^[21] and is represented by Republican Jay Obernolte.^[22]

Joshua Tree is represented by San Bernardino County 3rd District Supervisor James Ramos – 2012.^[23]

Attractions

The Joshua Tree Visitor Center for Joshua Tree National Park is located at the junction of Highway 62 and Park Boulevard in downtown Joshua Tree and the park's west entrance is located 5 mi (8.0 km) south.^[24] The community of Joshua Tree is unincorporated and is represented by the Joshua Tree Municipal Advisory Counsel (MAC) as the official liaison between the community and the San Bernardino County government.

Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum of Assemblage Art is 10 acres (4.0 ha) of sculptures, assemblages, and installations mostly made from found material by Noah Purifoy.^[25] The World Famous Crochet Museum is also located in the area.

Wildlife

The Joshua Tree National Park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, featuring 57 types of mammals, including elusive bighorn sheep and common coyotes, alongside 46 reptile species, like the increasingly rare desert tortoise. The park is also a key spot on the Pacific Flyway, recording over 250 bird species, making it a hotspot for birdwatching, from common ravens to migrating warblers.^[26] Within the city of Joshua Tree itself, animals like cottontail rabbits, coyotes, roadrunners and quails can be frequently seen.

Notable people

Natives

People born in Joshua Tree:

• Less Bells, musician
• Brent Bolthouse, entrepreneur
• Josh Homme (born 1973), musician
• Phillip Carl Jablonski (1946–2019), serial killer

Inhabitants

People who live/lived in Joshua Tree:

• Alma Allen (born 1970), sculptor
• Tara Beier, singer
• Marjorie Cameron (1922–1995), actress
• Joey Castillo (born 1966), musician
• Dave Catching (born 1961), musician
• Edie Fake (born 1980), artist
• Lou Harrison (1917–2003), composer
• Conrad Lambert, musician known as "Merz"
• Myshkin, singer
• Johnette Napolitano, musician and artist
• Simon Rex (born 1974), actor^[27]
• Wayne Static (1965–2014), musician
• John Whooley, musician
• Charles M. Wysocki (1928–2002), painter

Deaths

People who died in Joshua Tree:

• Charles H. Gray (1921–2008), actor
• Ish Kabibble (1908–1994), comedian
• Art Kunkin (1928–2019), journalist
• John F. Logan (1946–2013), musician known as "Juke"
• Gram Parsons (1946–1973), musician
• Noah Purifoy (1917–2004), artist
• Tera Wray (1982–2016), pornographic actress

Gallery

• 
  Joshua Tree Welcome sign off Highway 62
• 
  Southward view of Joshua Tree Town Center in front of the mountains of Joshua Tree National Park
• 
  Southwesterly view of the San Bernardino Mountains from Twenty-Nine Palms Highway (CA Route 62)
• 
  Downtown Joshua Tree looking southwest
• 
  Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center
• 
  Southwesterly view of the Joshua Tree Retreat Center
• 
  Copper Mountain College
• 
  Backcountry road off of Olympic Road in Joshua Tree

Climate

Climate data for Joshua Tree, California.
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	79 (26)	86 (30)	90 (32)	99 (37)	102 (39)	113 (45)	115 (46)	110 (43)	105 (41)	102 (39)	86 (30)	78 (26)	115 (46)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	62.2 (16.8)	61.5 (16.4)	69.8 (21.0)	76.4 (24.7)	86.0 (30.0)	93.9 (34.4)	101.1 (38.4)	100.4 (38.0)	95.8 (35.4)	81.2 (27.3)	69.1 (20.6)	58.2 (14.6)	79.6 (26.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	37.9 (3.3)	37.5 (3.1)	41.0 (5.0)	46.0 (7.8)	53.4 (11.9)	60.0 (15.6)	70.8 (21.6)	70.1 (21.2)	65.8 (18.8)	53.4 (11.9)	43.0 (6.1)	35.8 (2.1)	51.2 (10.7)
Record low °F (°C)	18 (−8)	18 (−8)	29 (−2)	32 (0)	36 (2)	40 (4)	55 (13)	52 (11)	46 (8)	37 (3)	26 (−3)	17 (−8)	17 (−8)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.62 (16)	0.48 (12)	0.39 (9.9)	0.13 (3.3)	0.17 (4.3)	0.01 (0.25)	0.33 (8.4)	0.50 (13)	0.33 (8.4)	0.33 (8.4)	0.61 (15)	0.79 (20)	4.69 (119)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	0.5 (1.3)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	1.6 (4.1)	2.1 (5.3)
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center[28]

See also

• Yucca Valley, California
• Wonder Valley, California
• Pioneertown, California
• Twentynine Palms, California