Whitewater is famous for its recently renovated trout farm in the canyon of the Whitewater River.[3]
History
Whitewater, still a populated place on the west bank of the Whitewater River, is located 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Palm Springs.33°54′52″N116°42′38″W / 33.91444°N 116.71056°W / 33.91444; -116.71056[4] It began as rest and watering place for travelers on the Bradshaw Trail between San Bernardino and La PazArizona Territory in 1862. With the start of the Colorado River Gold Rush the trail was created to ship goods and allow people to cross the desert to the new boom towns on the Colorado River and the interior of Arizona Territory. Whitewater got its name from the White Water Station, a stagecoach station that was located there on the Bradshaw Trail.[5] The settlement at White Water remained as a stop on the road into the Coachella Valley and to other desert regions to the east as it does today.
The Census reported that 859 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 312 households, out of which 111 (36%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 116 (37%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 49 (16%) had a female householder with no husband present, 32 (10%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 35 (11%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 11 (4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 82 households (26%) were made up of individuals, and 26 (8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75. There were 197 families (63% of all households); the average family size was 3.33.
The population was spread out, with 219 people (26%) under the age of 18, 74 people (9%) aged 18 to 24, 239 people (28%) aged 25 to 44, 242 people (28%) aged 45 to 64, and 85 people (10%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.8 males.
There were 405 housing units at an average density of 41.0 per square mile (15.8/km2), of which 235 (75%) were owner-occupied, and 77 (25%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 10%; the rental vacancy rate was 21%. 606 people (71% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 253 people (30%) lived in rental housing units.
^Topographical Sketch showing the Outward and Inward Route of a Party, while examining as to the practicability of a Diversion of the Colorado River for Purposes of Irrigation, Lithograph by Eric Bergland, 1875. From, Wheeler, G.M., Topographical Atlas Projected To Illustrate United States Geographical Surveys West Of The 100th Meridian Of Longitude Prosecuted In Accordance With Acts Of Congress Under The Authority Of The Honorable The Secretary Of War, And The Direction Of Brig. Genl. A.A. Humphreys, Chief Of Engineers, U.S. Army. Embracing Results Of the Different Expeditions Under The Command Of 1st Lieut. Geo. M. Wheeler, Corps Of Engineers. Julius Bien, lith., G. Thompson, Washington, 1876. Name and distances between stations and watering places on the Bradshaw Trail taken from this survey map.
