Joshua Tree, California
Encyclopedia
Joshua Tree is a census-designated place
(CDP) in San Bernardino County
, California
, United States
. The population was 7,414 at the 2010 census, up from 4,207 at the 2000 census.
at 34°7′37"N 116°19′7"W.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 95.9 km² (37.0 mi²), all land. Joshua Tree, California is home to Joshua Tree National Park
.
was 200.1 people per square mile (77.3/km²). The racial makeup of Joshua Tree was 6,176 (83.3%) White, 234 (3.2%) African American, 84 (1.1%) Native American, 104 (1.4%) Asian, 18 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 368 (5.0%) from other races
, and 430 (5.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,308 persons (17.6%).
The Census reported that 7,263 people (98.0% of the population) lived in households, 30 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 121 (1.6%) were institutionalized.
There were 3,088 households, out of which 862 (27.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,209 (39.2%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 431 (14.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 162 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 237 (7.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 30 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,018 households (33.0%) were made up of individuals and 358 (11.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35. There were 1,802 families
(58.4% of all households); the average family size was 2.97.
The population was spread out with 1,626 people (21.9%) under the age of 18, 813 people (11.0%) aged 18 to 24, 1,756 people (23.7%) aged 25 to 44, 2,056 people (27.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,163 people (15.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
There were 3,808 housing units at an average density of 102.8 per square mile (39.7/km²), of which 1,872 (60.6%) were owner-occupied, and 1,216 (39.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%. 4,178 people (56.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,085 people (41.6%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 4,207 people, 1,765 households, and 1,057 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 265.4/km² (687.5/mi²). There were 2,112 housing units at an average density of 133.2/km² (345.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.38% White, 1.76% African American, 1.57% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.62% Pacific Islander, 4.61% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. 12.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,765 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples
living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,535, and the median income for a family was $33,333. Males had a median income of $27,465 versus $29,375 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $13,856. 21.2% of the population and 18.0% of families were below the poverty line. 31.5% of those under the age of 18 and 5.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Joshua Tree is located in the 18th Senate
District, represented by Republican
Jean Fuller
, and in the 65th Assembly
District, represented by Republican Paul Cook
. Federally, Joshua Tree is located in California's 41st congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +9 and is represented by Republican Jerry Lewis
. Joshua Tree is represented by San Bernardino County 3rd District Supervisor Neil Derry - 2011.
and Them Crooked Vultures
, was born in Joshua Tree.
Johnette Napolitano
, solo artist and lead singer of Concrete Blonde
lives in Joshua Tree.
Eric Burdon
lives in Joshua Tree. In an interview he claimed that the air would be good for his asthma
.
The body of rock musician Gram Parsons
(lead singer of the Flying Burrito Brothers and one-time member of The Byrds
) was stolen from a California airport by a friend, and then burned in the Joshua Tree desert on September 19, 1973. Prior to the cremation, Parsons, 26, had died of a drug overdose at the Joshua Tree Inn, a small hotel.
Joshua Tree is featured in a scene of the episode "Arctic Spill" of the animated series Rescue Heroes
. It is also featured in most of the episode "Tree Trippin" in the television series Entourage.
The Joshua Tree Visitor Center (Joshua Tree National Park)is located at the junction of Highway 62 and Park Boulevard in "downtown" Joshua Tree and the parks West Entrance is located five miles south. The community of Joshua Tree is not an incorporated town or city. Joshua Tree community is represented by Joshua Tree Municipal Advisory Counsel (MAC) as the official liaison between community and San Bernardino County government.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 7,414 at the 2010 census, up from 4,207 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Joshua Tree is located in the Mojave DesertMojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
at 34°7′37"N 116°19′7"W.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 95.9 km² (37.0 mi²), all land. Joshua Tree, California is home to Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California. Declared a U.S. National Park in 1994 when the U.S. Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act , it had previously been a U.S. National Monument since 1936. It is named for the Joshua tree forests native to the park...
.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Joshua Tree had a population of 7,414. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 200.1 people per square mile (77.3/km²). The racial makeup of Joshua Tree was 6,176 (83.3%) White, 234 (3.2%) African American, 84 (1.1%) Native American, 104 (1.4%) Asian, 18 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 368 (5.0%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 430 (5.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,308 persons (17.6%).
The Census reported that 7,263 people (98.0% of the population) lived in households, 30 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 121 (1.6%) were institutionalized.
There were 3,088 households, out of which 862 (27.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,209 (39.2%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 431 (14.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 162 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 237 (7.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 30 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,018 households (33.0%) were made up of individuals and 358 (11.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35. There were 1,802 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(58.4% of all households); the average family size was 2.97.
The population was spread out with 1,626 people (21.9%) under the age of 18, 813 people (11.0%) aged 18 to 24, 1,756 people (23.7%) aged 25 to 44, 2,056 people (27.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,163 people (15.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
There were 3,808 housing units at an average density of 102.8 per square mile (39.7/km²), of which 1,872 (60.6%) were owner-occupied, and 1,216 (39.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%. 4,178 people (56.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,085 people (41.6%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,207 people, 1,765 households, and 1,057 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 265.4/km² (687.5/mi²). There were 2,112 housing units at an average density of 133.2/km² (345.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.38% White, 1.76% African American, 1.57% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.62% Pacific Islander, 4.61% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. 12.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,765 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,535, and the median income for a family was $33,333. Males had a median income of $27,465 versus $29,375 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $13,856. 21.2% of the population and 18.0% of families were below the poverty line. 31.5% of those under the age of 18 and 5.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Politics
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Joshua Tree is located in the 18th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Jean Fuller
Jean Fuller
Jean Fuller is a U.S. politician who serves in the California State Senate. A Republican, she was previously a member of the California Assembly and the Superintendent of Schools for the Bakersfield City School District....
, and in the 65th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Republican Paul Cook
Paul Cook (politician)
Paul Cook has represented California's 65th Assembly district since December 2006. Prior to his election he served as a member of the Yucca Valley city council from 1998 until 2006. He is a Republican.-Military career:...
. Federally, Joshua Tree is located in California's 41st congressional district
California's 41st congressional district
California's 41st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in San Bernardino County. The district encompasses the eastern region of the Greater Los Angeles Area known as the Inland Empire...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R +9 and is represented by Republican Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis (politician)
Charles Jeremy Lewis is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 40th, 35th and 37th, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, serving in the role during the 109th Congress.-Early life, education, and...
. Joshua Tree is represented by San Bernardino County 3rd District Supervisor Neil Derry - 2011.
Trivia
Josh Homme, lead singer for Queens of the Stone AgeQueens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
and Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures is a rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles in 2009 by John Paul Jones , Dave Grohl , and Josh Homme . The group also includes guitarist Alain Johannes during live performances...
, was born in Joshua Tree.
Johnette Napolitano
Johnette Napolitano
Johnette Napolitano is an American singer, songwriter and bassist best known as the lead vocalist/songwriter and bassist for the alternative rock group Concrete Blonde.- Solo career :...
, solo artist and lead singer of Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde is an alternative rock band based in the United States. They were initially active from 1982 to 1995, and again from 2001 to 2004, and once again in 2010.-Biography:...
lives in Joshua Tree.
Eric Burdon
Eric Burdon
Eric Victor Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance...
lives in Joshua Tree. In an interview he claimed that the air would be good for his asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
.
The body of rock musician Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. Parsons is best known for his work within the country genre; he also mixed blues, folk, and rock to create what he called "Cosmic American Music"...
(lead singer of the Flying Burrito Brothers and one-time member of The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
) was stolen from a California airport by a friend, and then burned in the Joshua Tree desert on September 19, 1973. Prior to the cremation, Parsons, 26, had died of a drug overdose at the Joshua Tree Inn, a small hotel.
Joshua Tree is featured in a scene of the episode "Arctic Spill" of the animated series Rescue Heroes
Rescue Heroes
Rescue Heroes is a line of toys from Fisher-Price that was introduced in 1997. Rescue Heroes depicts various rescue personnel and their equipment. In 1999, an animated television series titled Rescue Heroes was released and was based on the figurines...
. It is also featured in most of the episode "Tree Trippin" in the television series Entourage.
The Joshua Tree Visitor Center (Joshua Tree National Park)is located at the junction of Highway 62 and Park Boulevard in "downtown" Joshua Tree and the parks West Entrance is located five miles south. The community of Joshua Tree is not an incorporated town or city. Joshua Tree community is represented by Joshua Tree Municipal Advisory Counsel (MAC) as the official liaison between community and San Bernardino County government.
External links
- Joshua Tree Chamber of Commerce (ACTIVE 8/2011)
- Joshua Tree Traveler History (404 Error Web Site Not Found 8/2011)
- Joshua Tree Village History (inactive)
- JoshuaTreeStar.com JoshuaTreeStar interactive website (ACTIVE 2010--)
- Joshua Tree: The Complete Guide ISBN 0982517238