1959 Map of Palm Desert

About this map

Palm Desert and the surrounding Coachella Valley communities appear in a period of rapid mid-century development, transitioning from desert outposts to established residential and resort destinations. The Whitewater River and the Coachella Canal define the water management that enabled this growth, while the Southern Pacific railroad runs through the northern reaches near Myoma. Beyond the valley floor, the landscape rises into the high peaks of the San Bernardino National Forest and the Santa Rosa Indian Reservation, where the terrain is marked by steep canyons such as Deep Canyon and Horsethief Canyon.