Indio Provides a Central Location for Diverse Attractions
Not to be confused with the nation of India, Indio is an inland California city located in Riverside County, California. This places it in the heart of the Coachella Valley, which in turn is situated in the Colorado Desert region of Southern California. Indio is located a mere 70 miles from famed resort city Palm Springs and just 125 miles east of the large metropolitan area of Los Angeles. On the other hand, just 86 miles of driving will take tourists staying in holiday homes in Indio to Mexicali, a city located in the Mexican state of Baja California. Indio, therefore, has a convenient location for a long-term stay because from a home base there, visitors can take day trips to a wild diversity of locations.
The term 'Indio' is the Spanish word for Indian and pays tribute to the original inhabitants of this vibrant desert land. Although there are still Native Americans living in the area, the non-native population has swelled since California was admitted to the Union. Now, more than 75,000 people make Indio their home, and it is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Indio was once called the 'hub of the valley' to indicate its economic importance to the region. While this has not dimmed, a more current nickname for Indio is 'the city of festivals'.
Two of the most important of its annual festivals are the Indio International Tamale Festival and the National Date Festival. In addition, the Riverside County Fair is held each year in Indio because it is here that Riverside County maintains its permanent fairgrounds.