La Quinta sits in Riverside County, California, in the heart of the Coachella Valley, between Indian Wells and Indio and about 20 miles southeast of Palm Springs. It is one of the nine incorporated cities of the valley and a defining part of the desert resort landscape. Its population is about 37,500, supplemented by thousands of seasonal residents. The city owes its name and identity to the La Quinta Resort & Club, which opened in December 1926 as a Spanish colonial revival retreat built by Walter H. Morgan. The resort introduced the Coachella Valley's first golf course the following year and became a magnet for well-heeled winter visitors. La Quinta, Spanish for "the country villa," was later adopted as the community's name, and the city incorporated in 1982. Golf remains the city's signature. PGA West, self-described as the "Western Home of Golf in America," offers nine courses designed by legends such as Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, and Tom Weiskopf, while the La Quinta Resort contributes additional championship layouts. These courses, along with private clubs like Tradition, Hideaway, and Madison, anchor a resort and second-home economy. The city's residential areas cluster around these golf communities, with La Quinta Cove nearer the Santa Rosa Mountains and Old Town La Quinta serving as the walkable dining and shopping center. Education is provided by the Desert Sands Unified School District, headquartered in La Quinta and serving five Coachella Valley communities. La Quinta suits golf enthusiasts, retirees, and seasonal residents seeking an upscale desert setting with resort amenities, mountain views, and the cultural life of the greater Palm Springs area close at hand.