Desert Hot Springs

Desert Hot Springs, a popular spa town, experiences moderate traffic from visitors and locals. Auto accidents often occur on desert roads and intersections near resort areas.

It’s believed that the first homesteader in Desert Hot Springs was Hilda Mauda Gray in 1908. By 1913, a writer by the name of Cabot Yerxa moved into the area and discovered a hot springs on Miracle Hill. However, it wasn’t until July 12, 1941, that the city was officially founded by L. W. Coffee. At this time, Desert Hot Springs was only 1 square mile. By the 1950s, Desert Hot Springs became known as a tourist destination because of its spa hotels. Over the years, the population of Desert Hot Springs grew significantly. In 1963, the city was home to just 1,000 residents. By the 1980s, the population doubled, and in 2000, the number of residents had grown to 5,000. The 2010 census now has the population of the city at over 16,000 people.