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Transportation The town was laid out in 1894 by A.G. Tingman, a Southern Pacific Railroad construction boss. Tingman was also Indio's first storekeeper and postmaster. Indio was chosen as a railroad stop because it was the halfway point between Los Angeles and Yuma, Arizona. Tingman Avenue, once downtown Indio's main street was named in his honor; it was removed during the construction of a highway overpass on Jackson Street designed to eliminate a railroad grade crossing and traffic congestion along Indio Boulevard (old Highway 99, which see). Another over-the-track bridge, Auto Center (now Golf Center) Drive, an extension of SR 111 opened in 1977, and the Monroe Street bridge opened in 1989. Today, the Southern Pacific's successor, the Union Pacific Railroad maintains that original rail corridor as the main transcontinental line between Los Angeles and New Orleans, Louisiana. Indio's growth over the years was attributable both to the railroad and the coming of U.S. Highway 99 in 1926. Once California's main north-south highway, US 99 was decommissioned in 1964. Its present-day replacements are California State Highway 111, California State Highway 86 and Interstate 10. The original 1903 railroad station, a two-story wooden structure unique to the Southern Pacific, burned to the ground in 1966. Some of the station's artifacts were salvaged and can be viewed at the Coachella Valley Museum and Cultural Center in downtown Indio. The aforementioned present-day Indio Boulevard was the site of the world's first use of a painted line to delineate lanes of traffic and was spearheaded by Dr. June McCarroll for whom a stretch of Interstate 10 through the city is named. Bermuda Dunes Airport (FAA designator: UDD) has a 5,000 foot runway and is on the north-western border of Indio, serves small private planes, air carriers and commuter jets. The Southern Pacific rail depot is on the NE corner of Indio Blvd. and Jackson Street, but the railroad's regional headquarters moved to Colton, California|Colton]] near San Bernardino, California in 1990. The city is part of the SunBus line, which services much of the Coachella Valley. Its' substation is located on State Highway 111 and Golf Center Drive. Geography
Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 49,116 people, 13,871 households, and 11,069 families residing in the city. The population density was 710.5/km² (1,840.3/mi²). There were 16,909 housing units at an average density of 244.6/km² (633.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.67% White, 2.77% Black or African American, 1.04% Native American, 1.51% Asian American, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 42.02% from other races, and 3.89% from two or more races. 75.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 13,871 households out of which 48.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.48 and the average family size was 3.88. In the city the population was spread out with 35.3% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 15.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $34,624, and the median income for a family was $35,564. Males had a median income of $25,651 versus $21,093 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,525. About 16.8% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.2% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over. Population growth all paragraphs are In 2005, Indio's population estimate was at 65,000 residents, while other estimates ranged from 75,000 to 85,000. Indio ranks one of the 10 fastest growing cities in California. If current trends continue, Indio will have over 80,000 by 2010 or pass the 100,000 mark in the next decade. When nearby golf resort cities of Palm Springs are built-up and expensive, Indio, the neighboring towns of Coachella and La Quinta became popular destinations for new movers relocating to the area, and year-round residents sought a moderately-priced home. Expected to have 5,000 new single family homes and 1,000 apartment units by the year 2012, Indio handles unprecedented growth for being a selection for new residents. City leaders and other locals are expanding city public services, including new recreation activities, commercial retail centers, and industrial complexes. The majority of residents and newcomers are Latino, and a high proportion of immigrants from Mexico have arrived. The number of foreign born residents is high in ratio to the town's population. The proximity to the border is 80 miles (120 kms. away) and Indio is a magnet for job opportunities for both immigrants and across the state or nation. In recent years, Indio is a magnet for job opportunities for immigrants, and newcomers from parts of California and across the nation. Job fields, such as agriculture, construction, hospitality (hotel resorts), maintenance, retail and housekeeping are highly needed in the area. Indio sought more corporate businesses and office professions, like fruit packing and shipping firms. Locally-based Guy Evans Inc., Dimare and Sun World, and move-in companies: Ferguson, Fulton Distributors and SunScape Tech choose Indio for the location of transport routes, low economical costs and growth potential. Miscellanous One celebrity hails from this city, actress Vanessa Marcil. Indio is again is locally referred to as "the Hub of the Valley", the city Chamber of Commerce jingle in the 1970's. The city's namesake appeared on a circus poster in a fast food joint scene of the 1990 comedy movie Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. A little league record-holding batter from Indio was one of the talented youth athletes on the intro of sports comedy movie Jerry Maguire. Sister cities Indio, California has two in the sister cities program. Healthcare John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital is a General Acute Care Hospital in Indio with Basic Emergency Services as of 2006. One of three hospitals in the Coachella Valley, JFK hospital boosts of one of the state's busiest maternity wards and in 2005, opened a new maternity center in part of hospital expansion plan for more surgical rooms, intensive care units and a new concrete emergency heliport. | ||||||||||||
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