Palm Springs (pop. 44,575) is a resort city in southern California that is surrounded by desert and mountains. The city is named for the palm trees that line its streets and its natural hot springs. These features—plus a warm climate, fashionable hotels and private houses, golf courses, and swimming pools—make Palm Springs a major tourist attraction. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway carries passengers to near the top of nearby Mount San Jacinto.
About a fifth of the city’s area is part of a reservation of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla. The indigenous (native) Cahuilla lived in the area long before it was settled by whites in the late 1800’s. In the 1930’s, Palm Springs became a popular resort for movie stars. The city has a council-manager form of government.
