Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective

Twentynine Palms, California

City in California, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Twentynine Palms, Californiamap
Remove ads
"Twentynine Palms" redirects here. For other uses, see Twentynine Palms (disambiguation).

Twentynine Palms (also known as 29 Palms) is a city in San Bernardino County, California. It serves as one of the entry points to Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert region.

Quick Facts Country, State ...
Remove ads

History

Colonel Henry Washington made the first recorded exploration of Twentynine Palms, where he found people of the Chemehuevi tribe who lived in the surrounding hills and near the spring that they called "Mar-rah" or "Oasis of Mara".[6] The community was named for the 29 palms (Washingtonia filifera) that the Serrano had planted surrounding the Oasis of Mara. Nearby is also a small Indian reservation belonging to the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians.[6][7]

A post office was established in 1927.[8] A road named Utah Trail honors the late-19th century wagon trains and pioneers, originating in St. George, Utah and stretching all the way to Twentynine Palms.

Joshua Tree National Park lies just to the south of Twentynine Palms. It was designated a US national monument in 1936 and became a national park in 1994. The nearby Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms was founded in 1952.

Remove ads

Demographics

Summarize
Perspective
More information Census, Pop. ...
Thumb
Twentynine Palms sign

Twentynine Palms first appeared as a census designated place in the 1970 U.S. Census;[20] and then as a city in the 1990 U.S. Census.[22] Its population as of the 2020 census was 28,065.[25]

2020 census

The 2020 United States census reported that Twentynine Palms had a population of 28,065. The population density was 477.7 inhabitants per square mile (184.4/km2). The racial makeup of Twentynine Palms was 59.1% White, 11.8% African American, 1.4% Native American, 5.8% Asian, 1.3% Pacific Islander, 8.1% from other races, and 12.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.4% of the population.[26]

The census reported that 77.2% of the population lived in households, 22.8% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.[26]

There were 8,353 households, out of which 36.5% included children under the age of 18, 50.1% were married-couple households, 6.7% were cohabiting couple households, 22.2% had a female householder with no partner present, and 21.0% had a male householder with no partner present. 24.2% of households were one person, and 7.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.6.[26] There were 5,767 families (69.0% of all households).[27]

The age distribution was 20.9% under the age of 18, 26.0% aged 18 to 24, 32.6% aged 25 to 44, 13.1% aged 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 150.2 males.[26]

There were 9,541 housing units at an average density of 162.4 units per square mile (62.7 units/km2), of which 8,353 (87.5%) were occupied. Of these, 36.4% were owner-occupied, and 63.6% were occupied by renters.[26]

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $56,000, and the per capita income was $29,241. About 11.7% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line.[28]

2010 census

At the 2010 census,[29] there were 25,048 people in 8,095 households, including 5,847 families, in the city. The population density was 423.5 inhabitants per square mile (163.5/km2). There were 9,431 housing units at an average density of 159.5 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,742 (33.9%) were owner-occupied and 5,353 (66.1%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.2%. 6,876 people (27.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 14,825 people (59.2%) lived in rental housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 71.6% White (60.8% non-Hispanic),[30] 8.2% African American, 1.3% Native American, 3.9% Asian, 1.4% Pacific Islander, 6.7% from other races, and 6.9% mixed with two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 20.8% of the population.

The census reported that 21,701 people (86.6% of the population) lived in households, and 3,347 (13.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters.

Of the 8,095 households, 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 54.5% were opposite-sex married couples living together and 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, while 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present. There were 5% of residents living as unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1.6% as same-sex married couples or partnerships. Some 21.1% of households were one person, and 5.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68, and the average family size was 3.1.

The age distribution was 25.6% under the age of 18, 30% aged 18 to 24, 25.5% aged 25 to 44, 13.1% aged 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were over 65. The median age was 23.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 129 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and older, there were 139.9 males.

The median household income was $42,572; about 14.4% of the population were living below the poverty line.[30]

Remove ads

Geography

Summarize
Perspective

The city is located in the Mojave Desert, in inland Southern California. It lies on the northern side of Joshua Tree National Park and contains one of the entrances to Joshua Tree, the Oasis of Mara.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 58.7 square miles (152 km2), all land.[4] The city is at an elevation of 1,988 feet (606 m) above sea level.[1]

Climate

Due, in large part, to its elevation of more than 1,900 ft (580 m) above sea level, Twentynine Palms has a slightly cooler climate, especially during winter, than nearby Palm Springs, but with essentially the same subtropical-desert characteristics. On average, temperatures reach 100 °F (38 °C) on 89 days of the year and 90 °F (32 °C) on 154 days; the freezing mark is reached an average of 17 nights, annually. Extremes range from 10 °F (−12 °C) on December 23, 1990, to 118 °F (48 °C) on July 11, 1961. Winters are moderately cool, with daytime highs in the 60s °F and lows in the 40s °F. Summers are very hot, with regular daytime high temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C). The wettest month is August, with 0.65 in (17 mm) inches of rain, mostly from monsoon thunderstorms; in some areas of low-lying terrain or canyons, flash flooding may be a concern.

More information Climate data for Twentynine Palms, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1935–present, Month ...
Remove ads

Attractions

The city has a series of 26 outdoor murals painted on buildings featuring various aspects of desert life and history.[33][34]

The 29 Palms Historical Society is housed in the original schoolhouse of the city and maintains a museum devoted to local history.[35] The Historical Society also hosts an annual "Weed Show" each November devoted to art work composed of weeds.[36][37] The Twentynine Palms Artists' Guild maintains exhibits devoted to local artists.[38]

Remove ads

Economy

The Oasis of Mara[39] is the original source of water and the historic source of all economic activity in the area. A long strip of palm trees to the east terminates at the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor's Center, which is visited by approximately 140,000 people every year and is maintained by the United States National Park Service. The remainder of the oasis to the west is owned by the 29 Palms Inn and ends in a large shaded pond.[40]

The current economy depends largely on the local Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, as well as tourism associated with Joshua Tree National Park. In February 2015, the city established rules governing vacation rentals and has granted approximately 100 permits,[41] compared to over 1,000 in the nearby community of Joshua Tree.

Remove ads

Government

The city uses a council-manager form of government. An elected city council establishes policy and appoints a city manager who executes these policies.[3]

State and federal representation

In the California State Legislature, Twentynine Palms is in the 19th senatorial district, represented by Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, and in the 34th Assembly district, represented by Republican Tom Lackey.[42]

In the United States House of Representatives, Twentynine Palms is in California's 23rd congressional district, represented by Republican Jay Obernolte.[43]

Remove ads

Education

Media

Summarize
Perspective
Thumb
Aerial view of Twentynine Palms from the south, with Mojave Desert behind

The Desert Trail newspaper in Yucca Valley is published weekly.[47] The Sun Runner Magazine of California Desert Life and Culture is published bi-monthly.[48]

There are two TV stations: K15FC-D (KESQ-TV (ABC), KPSP (CBS), KDFX (Fox), KCWQ-LD (CW) and KUNA-LD (Telemundo) subchannels) and KPSE-LD (My Network) 29 (also KMIR-TV (NBC), ION, MeTV and Movies! subchannels) from the Riverside County, California TV market, but the area is actually part of the Palm Springs TV market.

KEXV and KPLM are low power TV stations for the town and Yucca Valley.

KVMD is licensed in Twentynine Palms and serves all of Los Angeles and the Inland Empire.

There is one AM station: KNWH a transmitter of KNWQ-1140 "KNews" Radio – Twentynine Palms (Inland Empire, California and Coachella Valley radio markets) CA US news/talk. There are seven commercial and two public FM stations:

Low power FM translators:

Local stations:

Remove ads

Transportation

Notable people

Remove ads

In popular culture

Summarize
Perspective

Music

Film

Radio

On March 11, 1945, The Chase and Sanborn Hour was broadcast from Twentynine Palms Auxiliary Naval Air Station, featuring the ventriloquist-dummy team Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, and actress Joan Blondell.[63]

The base hosted The Jack Benny Program on April 22 of the same year. There were jokes about the base's dry, hot weather, along with a comedic sketch of the town's history.[64]

Remove ads

References

Further reading

External links

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Remove ads
Remove ads