Joshua Tree is an unincorporated, census-designated community in San Bernardino County, California, set in the high desert of the Mojave at roughly 2,700 feet above sea level. It sits at the northwestern boundary of Joshua Tree National Park, one of the most visited desert parks in the country, and functions as a primary gateway town for the park's west entrance. The namesake Joshua tree — a distinctive yucca that dots the landscape in the park's higher elevations — defines both the scenery and the community's identity. The national park traces its roots to 1936, when the area was first protected as Joshua Tree National Monument, and the surrounding communities grew as modest desert outposts serving travelers, homesteaders, and later, a steady stream of outdoor enthusiasts. Over recent decades, Joshua Tree has become known for something more than its park: a creative, nature-centered culture that has drawn artists, musicians, designers, and people seeking a slower, more solitary way of life. The Lou Harrison House and other residencies reflect that artistic current, and the town's eclectic homes and desert-modern aesthetic have become part of its character. Residentially, Joshua Tree is a small community of roughly 6,500 people spread across a rugged, semi-rural desert landscape. Housing ranges from older homestead cabins and mid-century desert homes to newer, architecturally distinctive retreats on larger parcels. The community is not an incorporated city, so services are provided by San Bernardino County, and public schools belong to the Morongo Unified School District. Joshua Tree suits those drawn to wide-open desert, dramatic rock formations, dark night skies, and a creative community — whether as full-time residents, artists, or part-time desert dwellers who value proximity to one of America's most iconic national parks.