Important Phone Numbers
Chamber of Commerce 346-6111
Desert Sands Unified School District 777-4200
City of Palm Desert 346-0611
Family YMCA of the Desert 341-9622
Visitor Information Center 568-1441
Joslyn Senior Center 340-3220
College of the Desert 346-8041
Passport Services 416-5655
Community Center 568-9697
Palm Desert Public Library 346-6552
County Social Services 863-7210
Small Business Administration 340-6682
Department of Motor Vehicles:
Indio
Palm Springs
342-2288
327-1521
Social Security Administration 800-772-1213
U.S. Postal Service 800-257-8777
UTILITIES
Coachella Valley Water District 398-2651
Southern California Edison Co. 800-655-4555
Imperial Irrigation District 398-5111
Southern California Gas Co. 800-427-2200
Time Warner Cable 340-2225
Verizon Customer Service Center 800-483-4000
Waste Management of the Desert 340-2113
Elected Officials
Supervisor Roy Wilson Phone: 863-8211
Assemblyman David Kelley Phone: 346-2099
Senator Jim Battin Phone: 568-0408
Congresswoman Mary Bono Phone: 320-1076
Senator Dianne Feinstein Phone: 619-231-9712
Senator Barbara Boxer Phone: 213-894-5000
Location
Few communities can boast such easy access to everything from beaches to mountains. Because of Palm Desert's close proximity to a variety of climates, residents can take advantage of the beach and surfing; the mountains and snow skiing, hiking, or mountain biking; and all the amenities of metropolitan Los Angeles or San Diego. All within a short, two-hour drive of Palm Desert.
Our Palm Springs International Airport is just 20 minutes away. Scheduled service is provided by nine major and regional airlines with over 75 daily departures. Charter flights as well as worldwide connections are available.
Palm Desert, located in Riverside County, is 117 miles east of Los Angeles, 504 miles south of San Francisco and 118 miles northeast of San Diego.
Population
Palm Desert has grown to over 40,000 permanent residents, with an estimated additional 20,000 seasonal residents during the winter. Full-time population for the entire Coachella Valley is 318,000.
As more and more families move into our area, the year-round economy is booming. The average age is 48 years - a significant change from just a decade ago when the city was considered primarily a retirement area.
Education
Desert Sands Unified School District services Palm Desert students. The district encompasses the mid-valley and has the following facilities: 16 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 1 continuation school.
College of the Desert is a community-owned and supported 2-year school fully accredited for an AA degree. COD has an enrollment of more than 8,000 students and offers associate degrees and certificate programs in over 70 areas of study.
A new Coachella Valley campus of California State University, San Bernardino is under construction, due to open fall, 2002. The City of Palm Desert has deeded the land and private monies have been raised to fund the construction for the first of three buildings. In the meantime, the university is operating at the College of the Desert campus. The University of California at Riverside is developing an academic presence at the same site through the Heckman International Center for Entrepreneurial Management.
The Coachella Valley is also home to 15 high quality private elementary and high schools as well as a satellite campus of Chapman College
The numbers listed below are for non-emergencies only.
In case of an emergency dial 9-1-1.
Palm Springs Police Department
Serves Palm Springs (City limits).
200 S. Civic Dr.
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-323-8116
CATHEDRAL CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Serves Cathedral City (City limits).
68-625 Perez Rd.
Cathedral City, CA 92234
760-770-0300
COACHELLA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Serves Coachella (City limits).
1515 Sixth St.
Coachella, CA 92236
760-398-0101
INDO POLICE DEPARTMENT
Serves lndio (City limits).
46-800 S. Jackson St.
Indio, CA 92201
760-347-8522
Riverside County Sheriff
Serves: Palm Springs (County areas), North Palm Springs, Cathedral City
(County areas), Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Palm Desert,
Palm Desert Country Club,Pinyon, Rancho Mirage,
Sky Valley & Thousand Palms
760-341-1600
Serves: Bermuda Dunes, lndio (County areas),
lndio HilIs, La Quinta,
Mecca, North Shore, Oasis , Thermal
82-695 Carreon Blvd
Indio, CA 92201
760-863-8990
800-950-2444
Serving all areas
1-800-472-569
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL
79-650 Varner Rd.
Indio, CA 92203
760-345-2544
Crime Stoppers International, Inc. 800-245-0009
A non-profit citizen program. Cash awards are given for information leading
to arrest and charges filed. Information is received anonymously.
We Tip
800 - 47 - ARSON
800 - 78 - CRIME
800 - 87 - FRAUD
National crime reporting hotlines for both voice and ATT callers available 24 hours.
Calls are taken anonymously for any type of major crime including graffiti.
We Tip will pay a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Social Security Administration
1-800-772-1213
PALM SPRINGS OFFICE
275 N. El Cielo Rd.
Palm Springs, CA 92262
INDIO OFFICE
45-570 Grace St.
Indio, CA 92201
PALM SPRINGS REGIONAL AIRPORT
3400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs. CA 92262
760-323-8161
Parking: 760-327-9115
Pilot Information
Alaska Airlines 1-800-426-0333
American Airlines 1-800-433-7300
Northwest Airlines 1-800-225-2525
United Airlines 1-800-241-6522
Continental Airlines 1-800-525-0280
America West Express 1-800-235-9292
American Eagle 1-800-433-7300
Skywest Airlines 1-800-453-9417
United Express 1-800-241-6522
USAir Express 1-800-428-4322
Canadian Charters:
Canada 3000 1-800-993-4378
West Jet 1-403-735-2600
ONTARIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Airport Drive & Vineyard Avenue
Ontario, CA 91761
909-988-2700
Parking 909-988-2737
Palm Springs Fire Department
Serves Palm Springs (City limits)
3111 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-323-8181
American Medical Response (AMR)
Certified Paramedics (24 Hour Service)
560 Williams Road
Palm Springs, CA
760-327-1313 or 760-346-7441
Riverside County Fire Departments
Palm Springs (County areas): 760-323-8181
Coachella: 760-398-8895
Desert Hot Springs: 760-329-5123
Indian Wells: 760-568-5252
Indio (County areas): 760-347-2480
Indio Hills: 760-347-0157
La Quinta: 760-564-4351
Mecca: 760-396-2173
North Palm Springs: 760-329-6914
Palm Desert: 760-346-6234
Palm Desert Country Club: 760-345-3110
Rancho Mirage: 760-328-9877
Thermal: 760-399-5303
Thousand Palms: 760-343-3321
