Twentynine Palms, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Twentynine Palms, California | |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Bernardino |
| Area | |
| - Total | 54.8 sq mi (142 km²) |
| - Land | 54.8 sq mi (142 km²) |
| - Water | 0 sq mi (0 km²) |
| Elevation | 1,991 ft (607 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 14,764 |
| - Density | 269.4/sq mi (104/km²) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP codes | 92277-92278 |
| Area code(s) | 760 |
| FIPS code | 06-80994 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1652804 |
Twentynine Palms (also 29 Palms) is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 14,764 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] Geography
Twentynine Palms is located at (34.138277, -116.072409)[1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 142.0 km² (54.8 mi²), all land.
Twentynine Palms is a desert and mountain area. It is home of Joshua Tree National Park and Park Headquarters, and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, the world's largest Marine Base. It is located approximately half way between Los Angeles and Las Vegas using the 10 and 15.
Located at an elevation of 1950 feet (595 m) in the Mojave desert of Southern California, Twentynine Palms is recognized for its extreme temperatures. On July 17, 2005 the high temperature hit 119 degrees Fahrenheit (48.3°C), which is a new record. The previous record was 118 degrees Fahrenheit (47.8°C), set on July 11, 1961. The record low temperature is 9 degrees Fahrenheit (-12.2°C), set on December 23, 1990.
[edit] History
Twentynine Palms was named for the palm trees located in the Oasis of Mara, at the Joshua Tree National Park headquarters. When the area was settled by gold miners in the late nineteenth century, there were 29 palm trees growing in the oasis, most of which are still standing today.
After decades as a rest stop for wagon travelers on what's called the "Utah Trail" named for a group of Mormon discoverers, the town was established in the 1920s.
There's a small Indian reservation belonging to the Twentynine Palms band of Mission Indians. The nearby Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms was founded in 1952.
[edit] The Willie Boy Story
Carlota, the daughter of William Mike, a Twentynine Palms Chemehuevi Indian who had moved his family to the Gilman Ranch in the Coachella Valley near Banning, figured in a tragedy that rocked Southern California in 1909, and has since been the subject of books and a movie. A cousin named Willie Boy, who had fallen in love with her, persuaded her to elope with him, their marriage having been forbidden because they were cousins. Her father tracked them and brought them back. Accounts vary with respect to what followed, but agree that Willie Boy shot and killed William Mike, perhaps by accident, escaped with Carlota into the desert, was tracked by a posse, and left Carlota hidden in a wash with his coat and waterskin. She died, either shot by the posse by mistake, or died from exposure. According to Chemehuevi tradition, Willie Boy escaped, but has not been seen again[2]
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 14,764 people, 5,653 households, and 3,855 families residing in the city. The population density was 104.0/km² (269.3/mi²). There were 6,952 housing units at an average density of 49.0/km² (126.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.02% White, 9.35% African American, 1.46% Native American, 3.81% Asian, 10.17% Pacific Islander, 6.24% from other races, and 6.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.91% of the population.
The Hispanic population has increased 50% since the 2000 census.
There were 5,653 households out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,178, and the median income for a family was $32,251. Males had a median income of $25,081 versus $25,141 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,613. About 13.6% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Politics
In the state legislature Twentynine Palms is located in the 18th Senate District, represented by Republican Roy Ashburn, and in the 65th Assembly District, represented by Republican Paul Cook. Federally, Twentynine Palms is located in California's 41st congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +9[4] and is represented by Republican Jerry Lewis.
[edit] Education
- Copper Mountain College, local community college serving 29 Palms and the entire Morongo Basin[5]
- Morongo Unified School District[6]
[edit] Athletics
Twentynine Palms High School won the 2007 Division IV-A Boys Basketball CIF Southern Section Championship. This was their first team CIF championship since 1982 (Small Schools Girls Basketball) and their eight CIF championship overall (the other 6 were in track and field).The school competes in the De Anza League.
[edit] Media
- The Desert Trail newspaper is published weekly[7]
- The Sun Runner Magazine of California Desert Life and Culture is published bi-monthly[8]
[edit] Controversies
The city is the setting of a controversial book entitled Twentynine Palms: A True Story of Murder, Marines, and the Mojave. It deals with a murder of a local young woman.
[edit] Religion
There is a Samoan language branch (similar to a Ward) in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints designated the Buena Vista branch.
[edit] In popular culture
[edit] Music
A song titled "The Lady from Twentynine Palms" was recorded by several artists, including Frank Sinatra in 1939.[9]
The town is referred to in two different Sublime songs (April 29th, 1992 and Thanx).
Former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant had a hit single called "29 Palms", from his solo album Fate of Nations in 1993.
The town of Twentynine Palms is also referred to repeatedly in the song 'Broken Parakeet Blues' written by Ike Reilly and appearing on the album titled "We Belong to the Staggering Evening," by the Ike Reilly Assassination (2007).
[edit] Films
It was briefly mentioned in the movie Independence day
A futuristic Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms is featured at the start of the movie Doom (film).
29 Palms is a 2002 murder mystery direct-to-video film that takes place on an Indian casino near town[10]
Twentynine Palms was a 2003 drama/horror movie[11]
[edit] Television
When the hit TV show Home Improvement was about to be sold into syndication, the producers decided to kick off the syndicated episodes with a brand new episode not shown on prime time. Much of that episode was taped aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms.[citation needed]
[edit] Books
In Janet Fitch's novel Paint it Black, Michael Faraday kills himself in a motel in Twentynine Palms
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Trafzer et al. 1997:86-90)
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?. Campaign Legal Center Blog. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
- ^ Copper Mountain College
- ^ Morongo Unified School District - Home
- ^ Desert Trail - Yucca Valley, CA: About Us
- ^ The Sun Runner Arts & Entertainment Magazine of 29 Palms, California
- ^ Alphabetical List of Songs recorded by Frank Sinatra
- ^ IMDB.com retrieved April 26, 2008
- ^ IMDB.com retrieved April 26, 2008
[edit] External links
- Twentynine Palms, California is at coordinates Coordinates:
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