Cabazon

History

Cabazon was initially established as a settlement in the 1870s after the Southern Pacific Railroad built a railroad station there. The station was originally named Jacinto, but was renamed Cabezone after the Spanish name of a nearby Indian rancheria. The Spanish had named the latter after a chief of the Cahuilla Indians during the colonial period. He was named for his large head. In the late 19th century, a workers' camp known as Hall's Siding, which included a hotel and dance hall, developed. It was abandoned after the railroad relocated its facilities. In 1884 a new town was laid out by the Scottish-owned Cabazon Land and Water Company, which established a fruit farm. Some lots were sold, but were later repurchased. The large plot of land stayed intact until it was bought by a developer in 1910. The developer established a school and a post office, but was unable to attract many residents. Cabazon was incorporated as a city on November 1, 1955. Under California law, incorporated cities could host cardrooms, while unincorporated areas could not. One key dispute was between residents who hoped that Cabazon could be developed as a resort city like Palm Springs to the east, versus cardroom owners who wanted to keep Cabazon's population low so that the city government's operating expenses (and their taxes) would remain low and not impinge on their profits. With changing demographics and regional economy, locals in the early 21st century have intermittently discussed reincorporating the area. In late October 2006, a major arson fire started near Cabazon. California State Route 243 was renamed as the "Esperanza Firefighters Memorial Highway" to honor them.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all of which is land. |date=October 2013 }}

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Banning High
  High · Banning · 1,146 students · 20.1:1 ratio
• Nicolet Middle
  Middle · Banning · 975 students · 21.7:1 ratio
• Central Elementary
  Elementary · Banning · 783 students · 24.5:1 ratio
• Sundance Elementary
  Elementary · Beaumont · 734 students · 25.3:1 ratio
• Hemmerling Elementary
  Elementary · Banning · 533 students · 24.2:1 ratio
• Hoffer Elementary
  Elementary · Banning · 436 students · 22.9:1 ratio
• Cabazon Elementary
  Elementary · Cabazon · 272 students · 20.9:1 ratio
• Banning Independent Study
  Other · Banning · 83 students · 20.8:1 ratio