Twentynine Palms is a city located in San Bernardino County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 14,764.
Twentynine Palms is located at 34°8'18" North, 116°4'21" West (34.138277, -116.072409).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 142.0 km2 (54.8 mi2). 142.0 km2 (54.8 mi2) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
29 Palms is a desert and mountain area. It is home of Joshua Tree National Park and Park Headquarters, and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, the world's largest Marine Base.
As of the census of 2000, there are 14,764 people, 5,653 households, and 3,855 families residing in the city. The population density is 104.0/km2 (269.3/mi2). There are 6,952 housing units at an average density of 49.0/km2 (126.8/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 71.02% White, 9.35% African American, 1.46% Native American, 3.81% Asian, 1.76% Pacific Islander, 6.24% from other races, and 6.36% from two or more races. 14.91% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 5,653 households out of which 39.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% are married couples living together, 13.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% are non-families. 25.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.60 and the average family size is 3.12.
In the city the population is spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 27 years. For every 100 females there are 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $31,178, and the median income for a family is $32,251. Males have a median income of $25,081 versus $25,141 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,613. 16.8% of the population and 13.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 25.3% of those under the age of 18 and 10.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
In recent years, national drug enforcement officials have referred to Twentynine Palms as the "methamphetamine capital of the United States," in part due to the large number of meth-producing laboratories in the Morongo Basin. And the U.S. Attorney for the region warned in 2001 that meth would likely surpass cocaine as the most readily available narcotic in the county.
Twentynine Palms was named for the palm trees located in the Oasis of Mara, at Joshua Tree National Park headquarters. When the area was settled by miners in the late 1800's, there were 29 palm trees growing in the oasis.
Located at an elevation of approximately 1950 feet (595 m) in the Mojave desert of Southern California, Twentynine Palms is recognized for its extreme temperatures. On July 17, 2005 the high temperature hit 119 degrees Fahrenheit (48.3°C), which is a new record. The previous record was 118 degrees Fahrenheit (47.8°C), set on July 11, 1961. The record low temperature is 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12.2°C), set on December 23, 1990. *Source - Phil Ammar
The Willie Boy Story
The Willie Boy Story. Carlota, the daughter of William Mike, a Twenty-nine Palms Chemehuevi who had moved his family to the Gilman Ranch in the Coachella Valley near Banning, figured in a tragedy that rocked southern California in 1909, and has since been the subject of books and a movie. A cousin named Willie Boy, who had fallen in love with her, persuaded her to elope with him, their marriage having been forbidden because they were cousins. Her father tracked them and brought them back. Accounts vary with respect to what followed, but agree that Willie Boy shot and killed William Mike, perhaps by accident, escaped with Carlota into the desert, was tracked by a posse, and left Carlota hidden in a wash with his coat and waterskin. She died, either shot by the posse by mistake, or from exposure. According to Chemehuevi tradition, Willie Boy escaped, but has not been seen again (Trafzer et al. 1997:86-90).
Source:
TwentyninePalmsCalifornia.com
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