The city of Indio was laid out in 1894, making it, along with Palm Springs, one of the oldest cities in the Coachella Valley. Indio incorporated in the 1930's. Indio is currently the largest city in the valley, with an estimated resident population of over 65,000. It ranks as one of the 10 fastest growing cities in California.

As the resort cities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage have been built up with land and housing prices skyrocketing in value, Indio has emerged as a popular destination for new home buyers seeking moderately priced housing. In recent years, Indio has been a magnet for newcomers seeking job opportunities in such fields as agriculture, construction, hospitality, housekeeping and retail.

Indio is also one of Southern California's most important agricultural regions, responsible for the majority of the nation's date crop, and a large share of the nation's palm trees.

With its many festivals, e.g. the annual Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival, National Date Festival, International Tamale Festival, and the Riverside County Fair, to name a few, Indio has earned its official nickname as "The City Of Festivals".

The median housing price is $323,000.