Cathedral City, Desert resort city in Riverside County, California, US
Cathedral City sits between Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage in the Coachella Valley, with the San Jacinto Mountains forming a natural backdrop. Residential neighborhoods spread across flat terrain with streets laid out in a regular grid, offering housing from modest homes to larger properties.
The settlement started in 1925 with a housing subdivision and gained municipal status in 1981. By that time it had already become the second largest population center in the Coachella Valley after Palm Springs.
The name comes from Cathedral Canyon, where rock formations resembled church spires until a flood in 1946 changed their shape. Today the surrounding landscape still recalls this earlier appearance and gives the town its character.
Streets follow a clear grid pattern that makes navigation straightforward and finding addresses simple. Most public facilities and businesses line the main roads, while residential areas sit along quieter side streets.
The town hosts a Mexican Independence Day festival each September, featuring traditional ceremonies and celebrations that bring Hispanic culture into view. This event draws people from across the region and shapes the yearly rhythm of local life.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
