2006 UTC hello I m a resident of Indio Cal and the regional term isn t as strong More people use the term desert or southwest than the terms Sou Cal or Inland Empire There s a similarity in geography and landscape with Arizona and Nevada for those living in the Indio area Culturally the high Latino Hispanic element might have to do with the name change as some in Imperial county might refer to American Mexico Mex USA Indio and Coachella became one of the U S Cal highest concentrates of Hispanic or Mexican Americans since immigration was very high for the two towns in the 1990s I been to Imperial County there s still plenty of farmland and the towns are growing within the confines of city limits It s going to change and with NAFTA passed in 1993 the border city of Calexico seem to boom and thrive the most Mexicali is a major city the capital of Baja Cal Mexico and perhaps the closest major city from Indio than Riverside or San Diego The regional term seems to follow where white Anglos are the majority but the eastward move of more no pun intended to Indio Coachella to purchase a new home or property in bargain prices the pendulum may be shifting back Then again most newcomers in the Inland Empire are Hispanic and came from Los Angeles or you won t have Spanish language new home ads Oh well 13 37 18 June