UTC   hello Im a resident of Indio Cal and the regional term isnt as strong More people use the term desert or southwest than the terms Sou Cal or Inland Empire Theres a similarity in geography and landscape with Arizona and Nevada for those living in the Indio area Culturally the high LatinoHispanic element might have to do with the name change as some in Imperial county might refer to American Mexico MexUSA Indio and Coachella became one of the USCal highest concentrates of Hispanic or Mexican Americans since immigration was very high for the two towns in the s I been to Imperial County theres still plenty of farmland and the towns are growing within the confines of city limits Its going to change and with NAFTA passed in  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 IndioCoachella 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 wont have Spanishlanguage new home ads Oh well    June