Take a journey through time and learn how the Coachella Valley has evolved from an arid desert into the flourishing valley that it is today.
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Discovering the DesertIn the early 1900s, word of availability of fresh artesian water spreads, and people begin settling in the eastern part of the Coachella Valley. With water, soil and perfect growing temperatures, farming becomes the start of a living economy in the area.
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Water for the FutureFrom the early to mid 1900s, the Eastern Coachella Valley was now a developing region with growing demands. Local farmers begin to take action on acquiring water rights from the Colorado River to secure water resources for the future of the area.
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Securing Local ResourcesConstruction of the All-American Canal later made way for the 123-mile long Coachella Canal that is used today to divert imported water from the Colorado River to recharge local groundwater supplies and provide water for irrigation and recreation for residents of the Eastern Coachella Valley.
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Establishing a Thriving EconomyFrom a small town that was established in the Eastern Valley, the Coachella Valley has grown into an area with nine cities, totaling a population of about 443,000. Today, it is known as a top destination for tourism and is home to an agricultural industry that produces nearly a billion dollars a year of specialty crops.