Lancaster, CA

Lancaster is located in California's Antelope Valley in the northern part of Los Angeles County and is roughly 70 miles north of Los Angeles. With a population of approximately 145,000, the city is the eighth largest in Los Angeles County. Together with the nearby city of Palmdale, it makes up the Palmdale/Lancaster Urbanized Area, which has a total population of roughly 447,000.

Lancaster lies 720 miles above sea level and is surrounded by the San Gabriel and Tehachapi mountain ranges. The area has a desert climate, averaging only 8 inches of rainfall per year, with average highs of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and average winter lows in the 50s.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

In the 1930s the U.S. Air Force began conducting its famous test flights, at what is now known as Edwards Air Force Base, making history when pilot Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. With more than 11,000 employees, Edwards Air Force Base remains the largest employer in the area. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, where the Navy and the Marine Corps develop and test airborne weapons systems, is the second-largest employer with a workforce of over 6,000. The proximity of the military installations makes aerospace development a major industry in the area. Lockheed Martin, Northrop-Grumman, and Boeing are all major employers.

Large corporations such as Rite Aid, Michaels and Sygma have opened their distribution centers in the city of Lancaster, resulting in fast growth in the business. In addition, smaller local businesses and national restaurant chains have also accelerated this growth.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Downtown Lancaster has a performing arts center and municipal buildings and there are some ambitious plans to make it high-density live/work/play neighborhood. Residential neighborhoods near downtown are 1950s-era tract housing; moving away from downtown, neighborhoods tend to become more upscale.

FOR VISITORS

• The Aerospace Walk of Honor was established in 1990 to pay tribute to distinguished Edwards Air Force Base test pilots. Inductees include Neil Armstrong, Chuck Yeager, and Fred Haise.
• The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, a California State National Reserve, is California's most fertile poppy-producing area. Although wildflower season is roughly February through May, the park is open year-round and has eight miles of trails.
• The Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park is just west of the Poppy Reserve. The park houses one of the few remaining Joshua Tree and juniper woodlands in the Antelope Valley.
• The Civic Musical Road was built in September 2008 as part of a Honda commercial. When cars drive over the road it plays the William Tell Overture. After noise complaints, it was paved over and recreated in a location two miles from the closest residence.
• Edwards Air Force Base is a secondary landing site for the space shuttle when conditions do not allow for a landing at Florida's Cape Canaveral.
• The Prime Desert Woodland Preserve is an area of approximately 100 acres nestled within an urban area of Lancaster. The preserve has over two miles of trails; guided nature walks are offered. The Elyze Clifford Interpretive Center is also located in the preserve.
• Lancaster National Soccer Center has 34 soccer fields and hosts a busy schedule of youth soccer tournaments and practice.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• The Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery hosts a variety of exhibits as well as a permanent collection that preserves the history of the Antelope Valley.
• The Lancaster Performing Arts Center hosts major touring acts and performances by local theater groups.

SPORTS TEAMS

The Lancaster Jethawks baseball team, a Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros, play at Clear Channel Stadium. The Jethawks are a member of the ten-team California League, which has clubs throughout the state.

EVENTS

• The Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival recognizes the area's history as a major alfalfa producer. This annual event traces its history back to 1895, when the Antelope Valley Association first sponsored a two-day celebration for ranchers and farmers. The festival has expanded and now spans eleven days each fall. A signature event of the festival is the Rural Olympics, where participants compete in hay-loading competitions, truck-driving relays, and Model T races.
• The California Poppy Festival kicks off spring in the Antelope Valley. It takes place at the Lancaster City Park and offers a variety of performances, special events, and food.
• Celebrate Downtown Lancaster was launched in 2005 as a way for residents to celebrate their city's history and promote community pride. It features food, music, and arts and crafts.

EDUCATION

Elementary and middle schools in Lancaster are located in three different school districts:

• The Eastside Union School District serves three elementary schools and one junior high school in Lancaster. The bulk of the city's kindergarten-through-eighth-grade schools are served by the Lancaster School District.
• The Westside Union School District serves the western parts of Palmdale and Lancaster.
• The Antelope Valley Union High School District serves all public high-school education.

Colleges and universities in the Lancaster area include:

• Antelope Valley College
• California State University, Bakersfield-Antelope Valley (satellite campus)
• Lancaster University Center (a partnership between California State University, Bakersfield, and California State University-Fresno)
• West Coast Baptist College

LOCAL MEDIA

Local print media includes the Antelope Valley Press and the Daily News-Antelope Valley.

Local television station KTRO-LP Channel 50 is licensed in Lancaster. Other television stations are Los Angeles-based.