Anza, California

Riverside County

Anza is a census -designated place in southern Riverside County in the U.S. state of California with 3014 inhabitants ( 2010). Named is the place after the Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza.

Geography

Anza is located south of the Riverside counties in California on the California State Route 371 The village is part of the Anza Valley, a valley of the San Jacinto Mountains. It is located 21 km south of Idyllwild - Pine Cove and about 55 kilometers southwest of Palm Springs, 230 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles and 120 kilometers northeast of San Diego. Surrounded Anza is by three mountains: Cahuilla Mountain, Thomas Mountain and Beauty Mountain.

With 3014 inhabitants (as of 2010 census ) and an area of ​​approximately 71.7 km ², almost entirely composed of land, the population density is 42.2 inhabitants per square kilometer. The center is located at an altitude of 1244 meters.

Anza is counted in the High Desert, since the temperature fluctuations are stronger here than in the coastal cities of California; so the high altitude often results, for example on summer evenings to temperature dips. The historic Anza Trail, which follows the route of Juan Bautista de Anza's expedition of 1774, Anza crossed from southeast to northwest. To the west of the town of Anza- Borrego Desert State Park begins.

History

The first inhabitants of the region were the native Cahuilla Indians. They lived in probably more than two thousand years ago the Anza Valley and met the first Europeans in 1774, when a Spanish expedition in search of an overland route from Sonora to Monterey, Alta California crossed the valley. The group led by Juan Bautista de Anza came into the valley the first time on March 16, 1774 and a second time on December 27, 1775. De Anza himself called the valley of San Carlos, later it was called Cahuilla Valley before it on 16 September 1926 its final name Anza Valley received.

Until about 1580 there was with the Lake Cahuilla near a large lake, which evaporated, however, what the desert character of the Anza Valley reinforced. The Lake Cahuilla surpassed in the Salton Sea area, which today were even areas covered, the earlier part of Lake Cahuillas. These cultural and climatic factors have exerted influence on the first European settlers in the area. During the 19th century, farmers and some mine operators and honey producers settled. In the mid to late 19th century the number of inhabitants of economic prosperity, however, were not too high, above average. From the 1860s Anza was predominantly populated by families who wanted to build in accordance with the Homestead Act own ranches here.

In 1926 opened the local post office.

In the 1970s, land in Anza were particularly advertised with the nearby rural village to the big coastal cities of Southern California. Although the community of visitors has been described as friendly and open to newcomers, you always tried to avoid the social and environmental problems of urbanization. Since the 1980s, the residents tried using precise tests of all change plans that could damage similar to elsewhere in the California area to maintain their culture.

Culture

In the 1990s, Anza was seen as a growing art colony with new residents who came partly from Europe. Popular recreational activities include hiking today, different historical offers and festivals, Motorcycling, collecting minerals and riding on the historic Anza Trail. The Cahuilla Indians now operate a casino on the southwestern outskirts of the village.

Every summer is celebrated with a parade of the Independence Day. This known as Anza Days Festival is celebrated all over the place and attracts many visitors. Another popular event is the annual, hosted by the Lions Club of Horseshoes.

Policy

Anza is part of the 28th district in the Senate of California, which is currently represented by Democrat Ted Lieu W.. In the California State Assembly, the place is assigned to the 71st district, and is therefore represented by Republican Brian Jones. At the federal level belongs to Anza California 36th congressional district, which a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R 1 and is represented by Democrat Raul Ruiz.