In the heart of the Morongo Basin, nestled between the City of Twentynine Palms and the Town of Yucca Valley, is the Village of Joshua Tree; home of Joshua Tree National Park and a vibrant community of artists and musicians who thrive off of the area’s natural positive energy. The history of this popular yet quaint Morongo Basin village is as interesting as it is extensive. In part 1 of a 2-part story, reporter Andrew Dieleman tells us how the Village of Joshua Tree came to be…
In 1937, the Joshua Tree Townsite Company built offices along the then Twentynine Palms Road. From 1941-1944, the population grew from 49 to 227 people. The first business block of 5 stores was built in 1945 and the first Post Office was built in 1946. In 1949, the area shared filming sites with nearby Pioneer Town and boasted a thriving turkey industry; and in 1950, villagers celebrated the completion of their self-built fire station. In 1963, the Hi-Desert Memorial Hospital District was established, and the then Joshua Tree Fire Protection District expanded. The population climbed to 3,800 people by 1967 and up to 4,500 people by 1969. By the 1970s, the area began to see more extensive development, including a Modern hospital on White Feather Road and the completion of the Joshua Tree Community Center in 1979.
Part 2 of this story, which will run Monday, November 16, will look at the growth of the Village of Joshua Tree from the 1980s through present day.
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