Indio

by The Linguist

Indio is a city located in the Coachella Valley of central Riverside County, California. With a population of over 89,000 as of 2019, Indio is considered the largest city in the Coachella Valley. The city’s unique location and warm climate helps drive tourism and agriculture which are important parts of the local economy.

Population and Demographics

According to 2019 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Indio has a population of 89,750 residents, making it the 198th largest city in California. The population density is approximately 1,840 people per square mile. The racial makeup of Indio is predominantly Hispanic or Latino of any race (70.2%) with White, Non-Hispanic residents making up 22.2% of the population. Other races include Black/African American (1.8%), Native American (1.2%), Asian (1.1%), Pacific Islander (0.2%) and other/mixed races (3.4%).

Over the last 10 years, Indio has seen steady population growth. From 2010 to 2019, the city grew 14.2% adding over 11,000 new residents. Indio’s growth rate of 14.2% this decade exceeded the overall growth rate of Riverside County (+10.4%) and the entire state of California (+6.1%).

The median age in Indio is 32, which is younger than the U.S. median age of 38. About 28.8% of the population is under age 18 and 7.9% is over age 65. Indio has a relatively large millennial population born between 1981 and 1996, which represents approximately 23.5% of the city’s total population.

Economy and Major Employers

Indio has a diverse economy focused around agriculture, food processing, health care, retail, tourism and renewable energy. Some of the major employers in Indio include:

Other major companies with operations in Indio include Walmart, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, El Super grocery store chain, Horizon Solar Power and OneLegacy organ recovery organization.

Two important industries that help drive Indio’s economy are agriculture and tourism/hospitality. The city has a long history of agricultural production focused on dates, citrus fruits, vegetables, grapes and cattle. Indio is home to the annual National Date Festival which celebrates the importance of the date crop to the city and entire Coachella Valley. In recent years, Indio has also become an important tourism destination thanks to its popular arts, food and music festivals like the world famous Coachella Music Festival and Stagecoach Country Music Festival.

Attractions and Landmarks

Some of the top attractions and landmarks in Indio include:

Outdoor recreation is also very popular given Indio’s sunny climate and proximity to desert areas. Top outdoor activities include golfing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and off-roading.

Sports Teams and Events

As a major Coachella Valley city, Indio is home to a few professional sports teams and major sporting events. These include:

In addition to the popular Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals, Indio is also home to major tennis (BNP Paribas Open), golf, polo, and multi-sport festivals throughout the year that attract athletes, spectators, and tourists.

Links and Additional Information

To learn more about Indio, California, check out the following useful links and resources: