Our deserts are among the fastest growing places anywhere in the United States. These areas were places to get through during this country's westward expansion, even places to fear. The myth of the Great American Desert, which in nineteenth century minds included the Great Plains, helped to slow movement west. But with more effective means of transportation, and the introduction of the air conditioner, this region has entered the new urban economy and registered massive growth. Las Vegas is currently the fastest growing large urban area in the nation, gaining over 5,000 new residents each month.
New subdivisions appear weekly.
Los Angeles, itself a semi desert, is rapidly spilling out of the coastal basins and out into the desert. In the north Palmdale, Lancaster and Victorville and in the east Banning, Palm Springs and Indio are quickly becoming extensions of the metropolitan area. Pheonix, knocked off the list as the fastest growing city by Las Vegas, is still among our fastest growing and our largest cities. San Diego is growing very quickly and extending into our deserts. And in between these big cities are dozens of smaller cities, rapidly filling with new migrants and the nation's retired population.