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PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA
(Redirected from Palmdale)
'Palmdale', the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city (on August 24, 1962), is located in the northeast reaches of Los Angeles County, California, United States, separated from Los Angeles by the San Gabriel Mountain range. As of the 2000 US census, the city had a total population of 116,670. As of spring 2007, the city proper has a total population estimate of 145,468 according to California state government sources. As of the 2007 population estimate, the ''Palmdale / Lancaster, CA Urbanized Area'' (a US Census Bureau defined term) has a population of 589,043.
Over the last 25 years this city has consistently been ranked in the top 25 fastest growing cities in the United States (based on percentage change) and as of 2007 is the 25th fastest growing city. As of fall 2006, the population was estimated at nearly 150,000 making Palmdale the sixth largest city in Los Angeles County and thirty-third largest in California. For most of its existence it has had a small population; however it now is arguably the largest "desert city" (from an Angeleno viewpoint) in California. With 105 square miles (272 km²) of land in its incorporated boundaries, the city is in the top 100 largest cities in the United States in geographic area and as of 2005 ranks 150th by population in the U.S.
The city has worked hard to maintain its image and upgrade its infrastructure during its rapid growth. A first-class medical campus called Palmdale Regional Medical Center is under construction (expected to open in 2008), which will include the region's largest emergency department, a helipad, medical office towers, and a senior housing complex. A new multi-modal transportation center, serving local and commuter bus and train services, opened in 2005. A voter-initiated and approved bond has funded major park and recreation expansions, including an earthen outdoor amphitheater (capacity 7,000), two new pools, other recreation buildings and a water park. Downtown revitalization includes hundreds of new senior housing units, a new senior center, and expanded open space. A new 48,000 sq. ft. sheriff station recently opened, the largest in Los Angeles County. Two new fire stations are being developed, one on the east side and one on the west side.
While Palmdale is still a part of Los Angeles County, the urbanized centers of Palmdale and Los Angeles are separated by the San Gabriel mountain range, which is about 40 miles (60 km) wide. This range forms the southern edge of the Antelope Valley portion of the Mojave Desert. Palmdale is the largest and principal city of the Antelope Valley, and the fourth largest city overall in the Mojave Desert by population, outstripped only by Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas, Nevada.
''Palmenthal'', the first European settlement within the limits of Palmdale, was established as a village in 1886 by westward travelers from the American Midwest, mostly of German and Swiss descent. According to area folklore, the travelers had been told they would know they were close to the ocean when they saw palm trees. Never actually having seen palm trees before, they mistook the local Joshua trees for palms and so named their settlement after them. (''Palmenthal'' is German for ''Palms Valley.'') The village was officially established upon the arrival of a post office on June 17, 1888.
By the 1890s (soon after the last of the indigenous antelopes, which the valley was named after, had died) farming families continued to migrate to Palmenthal and nearby ''Harold'' to grow grain and fruit. However, most of these settlers were unfamiliar with farming in a desert climate, so when the drought years occurred, most abandoned their settlement. By 1899, only one family was left in the original village. The rest of the settlers, including the post office, moved closer to the ''Southern Pacific'' railroad tracks. This new community was renamed Palmdale and was located where the present day civic center is. A railroad station was built along the tracks there. This railroad was operated by Southern Pacific and traveled between Los Angeles and San Francisco. There was also the ''Wells Fargo'' stagecoach line that ran between San Francisco and New Orleans that stopped there as well. The only remaining pieces of evidence of the original settlements of Palmenthal and Harold are the old cemetery located on the northeast corner of Avenue S and 20th Street East, and the old schoolhouse now relocated to ''McAdam Park''.
As the population of Palmdale began to increase after relocation, water became scarce, until November 5, 1913 when the California – Los Angeles Aqueduct system was completed finally by William Mulholland, bringing water from the Owens Valley into Los Angeles County. During this period, crops of apples, pears, and alfalfa became plentiful.
In 1915, Palmdale’s first newspaper, the ''Palmdale Post'', was published. Today its the conservative Antelope Valley Press.
In 1921, the first major link between Palmdale and Los Angeles was completed, U.S. Highway 6, or Mint Canyon/Lancaster Road. Completion of this road caused the local agricultural industry to flourish and was the first major step towards defining the metropolis that exists today. Presently this road is known as Sierra Highway.
In 1924, the Littlerock Dam and the Harold Reservoir, present day Lake Palmdale, were constructed to assist the agricultural industry and have enough water to serve the growing communities.
Agriculture continued to be the foremost industry for Palmdale and its northern neighbor Lancaster until the outbreak of World War II. In 1933, the United States government established Muroc Air Base (from an original founder name, Effie Corum, spelled backwards) six miles north of Lancaster in Kern County, now known as Edwards Air Force Base. They also bought Palmdale Airport in 1952 and established an aerospace development and testing facility called United States Air Force Plant 42. One year later, in 1953, Lockheed established a facility at the airport. After this point in time, the aerospace industry took over as the primary local source of employment, where it has remained ever since. Today the city is even referred to as the “Aerospace Capital of America” because of its rich heritage in being the home of many of the aircraft used in the United States military.
In 1956, Palmdale’s first high school, Palmdale High School, was established, making it easier for youths to not have to travel to Antelope Valley High School in nearby Lancaster.
In August 1962, the township of Palmdale officially became the ''city'' of Palmdale with the incorporation of 2 square miles (5 km²) of land around the present day civic center.
In 1963, the Antelope Valley Freeway, or State Highway 14, was completed as a link between Palmdale and Los Angeles. The freeway at this time ran all the way to present day Technology Drive. It was at this time that talk about the future ''Palmdale Intercontinental Airport'' was seen as the way of the future. By 1965 the new city had annexed an additional 20 square miles (52 km²) of land and industry was thriving. Talk of the future commercial airport had many investors buying up large quantities of land.
In 1970, the City of Los Angeles went forward with buying 17,500 acres (71 km²) of land east of the city for its proposed commercial airport. However, the United States Air Force desired to put a hold on the construction of this new facility until the existing airport reached its commercial capacity. So under a joint use agreement with the military, the Los Angeles Department of Airports, now called Los Angeles World Airports, built a 9,000 square foot (800 m²) terminal on leased land that opened in 1971, creating present day Palmdale Regional Airport.
By 1974, the Antelope Valley Freeway construction ended at the southern border of Mojave in Kern County. In 1977, Palmdale built its first municipal building, the Palmdale City Library. This was the same year that its northern neighbor Lancaster incorporated itself into a city. Since the 1920s, Lancaster had been the much larger and principal community of the Antelope Valley, as well as the rest of California's Mojave Desert, and Palmdale had always played second fiddle to it.
The 1980s and 1990s were the decades that really started to define the two Antelope Valley cities. Affordable housing in the area caused a dramatic spike in the population. The city became a bedroom community for those employed in Los Angeles. Palmdale's population continued to approach Lancaster's. Throughout the eighties and even the nineties, Palmdale was the fastest growing city in California and second fastest growing city in the nation. In 1980, Palmdale's population was 12,177. By 1990, it had soared to 68,842. During that same year the Antelope Valley Mall opened at Avenue P (Rancho Vista Blvd.) and 10th Street West, presently the busiest intersection in the entire Mojave Desert. In 1991, the Palmdale Auto Center complex opened. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, central Palmdale has become the commercial center of the California High Desert. In 2000, the city's population was 116,670. In 2002, Palmdale's population finally eclipsed its northern neighbor Lancaster. With over 145,000 residents today, the City Planning Commission continues to attempt a form of managed growth in the early part of 21st century. There's a growing perception is that the seemingly endless supply of clean fresh water from the north to residential, commercial and agricultural customers is slowly becoming a pressing problem.
The City of Palmdale has three separate elementary school districts and one high school district:
★ The Palmdale School District is one of the largest elementary school districts in the nation consisting of 27 schools and over 23,000 students. This school district covers the majority of the city’s Kindergarten through 8th grade students. One of the unique parts of this school district was its practice of naming schools after desert flora and fauna. For instance, there is Tumbleweed, Juniper, and Sage schools.
★ The Westside Union School District covers the schools on the far west-side of Palmdale and its western suburbs. This school district has over 7,500 students and 11 schools for K-8 education.
★ The Keppel Union School District covers the schools on the far east-side of Palmdale and its eastern suburbs. This school district has 6 schools and nearly 3,000 students for K-8 education.
★ The Antelope Valley Union High School District covers nearly all of the 9-12th grade education for the entire metropolitan area, with the exception of private high schools. It has 12 schools with over 25,000 students.
★ The Antelope Valley Community College District currently has a satellite campus in Palmdale with a student population of about 500. This temporary campus was set up until a permanent community college campus could be established within the city, which is being planned for the south within the foothills bordering the San Gabriel mountain range. Local residents have raised concerns about the project due to its proximity to the San Andreas fault. The district has one full service campus in nearby Lancaster with about 20,000 students.
★ The California State University system also has a satellite campus from its Bakersfield facility in nearby Lancaster at the Antelope Valley College main campus.
★ Chapman University has a satellite campus in Palmdale.
★ University of La Verne has a satellite campus in Palmdale.
★ University of Phoenix has a satellite campus in nearby Lancaster.
★ The AERO Institute at the Palmdale Institute of Technology is a facility in Palmdale at the Civic Center. It is operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the City of Palmdale, and distance learning through a number of universities is available. This specialized school offers graduate and undergraduate education in aerospace science, engineering, and technical skills.
★ Big Rock Creek Camp
★ Devil's Punchbowl a county protected natural hiking preserve along Big Rock Creek similar to a miniature Grand Canyon.
★ Dry Town Waterpark on Avenue S opened May 2006.
★ Hammack Activity Center and Roller Hockey Rink
★ Joshua Ranch Trail a natural preservation area.
★ Littlerock Dam and Recreation Area
★ Los Angeles County Raceway
★ Mountain High ski resort in nearby Wrightwood.
★ Palmdale Amphitheater is a 7,000 seat theater hosting the “Starlight Concert Series” with world famous performers on evenings in the summer.
★ Palmdale Civic Center – (Poncitlan Square)
★ Palmdale Fall Festival is an annual festival said to be one of the best in California held every October at Marie Kerr Park.
★ Palmdale Heritage Airpark and next-door Blackbird Airpark show off displays of various aircraft built or tested at Palmdale Air Force Plant 42.
★ Palmdale Playhouse and Art Gallery
★ Palmdale Schoolhouse at McAdam Park. The only remaining building of the original village in the 1800’s.
★ Rancho Vista Golf Course Palmdale’s only PGA class golf course.
★ Tippi Hedren's Shambala Preserve
★ Antelope Valley Mall Holds the first escalator in Palmdale history
Palmdale is a general law City governed under the council / manager form of local government. The mayor is elected every two years for a two-year term. Also every two years, two of the four council members are elected to serve four-year terms. Palmdale has no term limits for mayor. The current mayor James C. Ledford is serving his eighth term in office.
The city also has an appointed Planning Commission divided into four separate districts. The Planning Commission was organized to help with the planning, zoning, and development of various city areas in different districts and to give the residents of those particular districts a greater voice in what is built on that land.
The city provides a number of municipal services, including a Parks and Recreation Department, a Film Convention and Visitors Bureau, Aviation and Aerospace Commission, Public Library System, Senior Citizens Center, Cultural Center, and a Public Works Department.
The city is policed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department under a formal contract with the County of Los Angeles and has its municipal judicial system intertwined with the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Palmdale has the largest Sheriff's Station in Los Angeles County.
The city is served by the Los Angeles County Fire Department for its fire and paramedic services through the Fire District. Palmdale downtown Station #37 is one of the busiest fire stations in the United States.
Utility services within the city are provided by several public and private agencies. Water service is primarily provided by Palmdale Water District (separate public agency) and LA County Waterworks (part of the County Public Works); sewer service is provided by the County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (separate public agency); electrical service is provided by Southern California Edison; natural gas service is provided by Southern California Gas; cable television service is provided by Time Warner Cable; telephone service is provided by SBC and Verizon; refuse pickup and disposal service is provided by Waste Management, Inc of the Antelope Valley under a franchise agreement with the city.
Palmdale is located at (34.581005, -118.100603). It has an elevation of 2,655 feet above sea level.
According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 272.2 km² (105.1 mi²). 271.8 km² (105.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water (the size of man-made Lake Palmdale, the most visible and scenic part of the municipal water supply system) . The total area is 0.13% water.
The city lies in close proximity to the infamous San Andreas Fault, making it, like many other regions of California, prone to strong earthquakes. This faultline cuts across the Antelope Valley Freeway just north of the Avenue S off-ramp; running westward along the old Butterfield Stage Line (now Elizabeth Lake Road) into Leona Valley.
The city currently has a total of eight ZIP codes:
★ '93536' – Most of Quartz Hill (district and adjacent town). Shared with cities and towns of Lancaster (westside), Neenach, Del Sur, and Antelope Acres.
★ '93543' – Parts of Sun Village. Shared with town of Littlerock.
★ '93550' – Downtown Civic Center, Harold, Vincent-Grade, and Barrel Springs.
★ '93551' – Central City, Anaverde, Rancho Vista, City Ranch, Desert-View Highlands, Portal Ridge, Leona Valley (district and adjacent town), and parts of Quartz Hill (district). Some P.O. boxes.
★ '93552' – Pearland, parts of Palmdale East, and parts of Sun Village.
★ '93553' – Parts of Sun Village. Shared with town of Pearblossom. Some P.O. boxes.
★ '93590' – Palmdale Regional Airport, USAF Plant 42, and most of Palmdale's P.O. boxes.
★ '93591' – Lake Los Angeles (district and adjacent town), parts of Palmdale East, and some P.O. boxes.
Other cities and towns in the Palmdale vicinity include:
★ Acton
★ Adelanto
★ Agua Dulce
★ Antelope Acres
★ Apple Valley
★ Barstow
★ Boron
★ California City
★ Daggett
★ Del Sur
★ Elizabeth Lake
★ Helendale
★ Hesperia
★ Hinkley
★ Kramer Junction
★ Lake Hughes
★ Lake Los Angeles
★ Lancaster
★ Lenwood
★ Leona Valley
★ Littlerock
★ Llano
★ Mojave
★ Neenach
★ North Edwards
★ Oro Grande
★ Pearblossom
★ Phelan
★ Pinon Hills
★ Quartz Hill
★ Randsburg
★ Red Mountain
★ Ridgecrest
★ Rosamond
★ Tehachapi
★ Valyermo
★ Victorville
★ Yermo
The city is unofficially divided up into 11 separate 'areas': 'Downtown' or 'Old Town Palmdale' (civic center), 'Trade & Commerce Center' (the main shopping district), 'Desert-View Highlands' (old county area), 'Anaverde' (west end-formerly City Ranch), 'Rancho Vista' (old Bolz Ranch), 'Ritter Ranch' (far west end),'Sun Village' (far east end-part County), 'Harold' (old settlement near Lake Palmdale-part County),'Quartz Hill' (northwest end-part County), 'Lake Los Angeles' (farthest east end-part County), and 'Leona Valley' (farthest west end-part County).
Unlike nearby Santa Clarita or Los Angeles, the residents of Palmdale usually do not use the name of their particular areas to have their mail addressed to for the most part. This is mostly due to the very easily navigated local street system, which is almost completely alphabetized and numeric.
The street system is set out in a grid. Each lettered east-westbound avenue is one mile from the next letter. (Example: Avenue R is one mile north from Avenue S.) In between each whole letter avenue, there are 15 sub avenues labeled -1 thru -15. Along with the whole letter avenues, the -8 avenues are also major throughfares. (Example: Avenue R-8 is a major road just like Avenue R and Avenue S). Sometimes the -8 avenues are renamed to other names such as Avenue Q-8 which has been renamed Palmdale Boulevard and Avenue P-8 that has been renamed Technology Drive or Bulldog Avenue depending on which stretch you're on.
Major streets which run north to south are numbered inside their direction i.e. 10th Street West and 10th Street East. Each 0 and 5 street is a major throughfare with each 0 street being 1 mile from the previous 0 street. (Example: 30th Street East is one mile west of 40th Street East.) The east-west dividing line is Division Street in downtown, which would be the eqivalent of 0th Street East/West.
All the addresses on east-west street correspond to this numbering system. For instance, if you were looking for 6066 West Avenue M-2, you would know to go to second street between Avenues M and N just past 60th Street. Avenue M, is the general border of the connected population between Palmdale and Lancaster. Avenue L is actually the longer border between the two cities, east of Challenger Way, but is not as heavily populated. Avenue M has recently been named Columbia Way out of respect for the astronauts onboard the Space Shuttle Columbia that disintegrated on re-entry in 2003. 10th Street East north of Columbia Way was renamed Challenger Way back in 1987 in honor of those lost in the Challenger Disaster. All of the shuttles were built in Palmdale.
Palmdale is located in the high (altitude) desert, where the summers are very hot and dry, and winters are cold and windy. Palmdale has over 300 days of sunshine per year. The same weather pattern that brings the marine layer stratus and afternoon sea breeze to the Los Angeles Basin brings gusty winds to Palmdale, especially near the foothills on the south side. Except during Santa Ana (northeast) wind events (usually fall and winter), gusty southwest winds blow over Palmdale almost every afternoon and evening all year round. The wind is so reliable that wind turbines are used to generate electricity.
'Winter' – Relatively cold, wet, and windy. Temperatures have gone into the single-digits at times. The wind chill factor can be below zero. This is Palmdale's rainy season and is prone to flash flooding during this time. On occasion, it will snow. Average day time highs are in the upper 50s to low 60s while being in the low to mid 30s overnight.
'Spring' – Moderate temperatures. Still occasionally wet. Very windy. Transitional period from winter to summer temperatures is very short. Average daytime highs are in the upper 70s to low 80s while being in the upper 40s to low 50s overnight.
'Summer' – Very hot, dry heat with little or no precipitation. Temperatures frequently soar into triple-digits. However, the high desert where Palmdale is located allows for the temperatures to cool down somewhat at night, unlike the low desert cities of Palm Springs and Blythe. Average day time highs are in the upper 90s while dropping into the mid to upper 70s after midnight. Local electrical bills spike during this period with air-conditioning units running day and night, until early October. Although the hot temperature, it is very common to experience "summer storms" in which temperatures are consistent but there is heavy rain and thunderstorms.
'Fall' – Moderate temperatures with little or no precipitation. Transitional period from summer to winter temperatures is very short. As a result, the deciduous trees in Palmdale will lose their leaves very rapidly, seemingly overnight, with a short color change. Average day time highs are in the upper 70s and low 80s while dropping into the mid 40s to mid 50s overnight.
★ Annual Average High Temperatures: ''98°F'' (summer) ''59°F'' (winter)
★ Annual Average Low Temperatures ''66°F'' (summer) ''33°F'' (winter)
★ Highest Recorded Temperature: ''113°F'' (2007)
★ Lowest Recorded Temperature: ''6°F'' (1963)
★ Warmest Month: ''July''
★ Coolest Month: ''December''
★ Highest Precipitation: ''February''
★ Annual Precipitation: ''7.36 inches''
The most important industry for Palmdale is the aerospace industry. However in recent times, other manufacturing companies have relocated to Palmdale seeking more affordable land, close proximity to Palmdale Airport, and special tax breaks.
The special tax breaks granted for companies that relocate to Palmdale is due to the city having the 'Antelope Valley Enterprise Zone' and the 'Palmdale Federal Foreign Trade Zone'. These are special zoning areas within the city that are given various state and federal tax breaks and municipal grant incentives to relocate their business there. These zones were put in effect to help Palmdale and nearby Lancaster draw more jobs to the area so that they would be less dependent on the Los Angeles Basin area for employment, thus relieving pollution and traffic congestion, and stabilizing the local economy on several industries instead of just aerospace which is known for it’s “feast or famine” seasons.
Palmdale refers to itself with the nickname the "aerospace capital of the United States", and has been the site of research, development, final assembly, flight testing and/or servicing/modifications of the Space Shuttle, X-15, B-2 Spirit & F-117 Nighthawk, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, SR-71 Blackbird, Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, and many other aircraft that have been used in the United States Air Force, NASA and air forces and airlines around the world. USAF Plant 42, where the aforementioned aerospace projects occurred / occur is home to major operations of the following aerospace companies: Boeing, Lockheed Martin and its famed Skunk Works, Northrop Grumman, and BAE Systems. The Boeing building (formerly North American Rockwell) at Plant 42 / Palmdale Regional Airport is one of the largest buildings in the world. It was used in the Tom Hanks movie ''The Terminal'' to house the duplicate JFK terminal set since it was the only building in the Southland area large enough to house it.
★ Antelope Valley Press
★ Daily News – Antelope Valley
★ KAVL '610' AM Sports
★ KTPI '1340' AM Talk
★ KWJL '1380' AM Spanish Oldies
★ KUTY '1470' AM News/Talk
★ KTLW '88.9' FM Religious/Christian
★ KLKX '93.5' FM Classic Rock
★ KFXM '96.7' FM Oldies
★ KVVS '97.7' FM Top 40 (simulcast of Los Angeles KIIS 102.7)
★ KKZQ '100.1' FM Modern Rock
★ KRAJ '100.9' FM Hip Hop
★ KTPI '103.1' FM Country
★ KEDD '103.9' FM Adult Hits
★ KLOA '104.9' FM Country
★ KOSS '105.5' FM Adult Contemporary
★ KGMX '106.3' FM Adult Contemporary
★ KCEL '106.9' FM Regional Spanish
★ Surge Radio 'Online Radio' Local Indie Bands/Underground Music
★ KAV '3' Independent/News
★ KPDL '27' City's cable channel
★ KPAL-LP '38' Home Shopping
The Antelope Valley Freeway (SR-14) is the major North-South highway connecting Palmdale to Los Angeles and Mojave.
State Highway 138 (SR-138) is the major east-west highway connecting Palmdale to the Inland Empire and Frazier Park.
State Highway 18 (SR-18) heads eastward out of the Antelope Valley connecting it to Victorville and via I-15 the Barstow area. This road is commonly used as a route to Las Vegas, Nevada.
'Future Highways:'
Cash-strapped Caltrans, which to date has not yet upgraded SR-138 (nicknamed "Blood Alley") or SR-18 between Palmdale and I-15 into an east / west freeway, has had plans on the table for several years. Due to State funding constraints, this expressway will probably not be completed until near 2020 as the planning, design and construction process can take as many as 10-15 years. There is also a plan to continue the freeway from Palmdale along the southern foothills of the Antelope Valley to I-5 in Gorman.
''State Highway 48'' (SR-48) is a planned east / west freeway connecting from the Antelope Valley Freeway (SR-14) at Avenue D, the current segment terminus for the western SR-138 branch, to Interstate 5 in Gorman. This freeway is planned to come after SR-138 has its new southern realignment through Palmdale completed, and will follow the existing SR-138 rightaway.
''State Highway 122'' (SR-122) is a planned north / south freeway from eastern Palmdale, passing east of Edwards Air Force Base to SR 58 near California City.
''State Highway 249'' (SR-249) is a planned north / south freeway from southern Palmdale to I-210 in La Canada Flintridge, near Glendale.
The Palmdale Transportation Center, recently completed in March 2005, is the central mass transit center for the Antelope Valley. It serves as the transit hub for the Antelope Valley Transit Authority, the city's public bus system, as well as an Amtrak, Greyhound Bus, and commuter rail Metrolink station. A monorail between Palmdale Airport and the center is planned when the new commercial air terminal is finished. The station is also designated a stop on the proposed California High Speed Rail System.
Palmdale's Airport is one of the largest in the world (geographically). The airport has two runways, each over two miles in length. LA/Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) has a commercial air terminal owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (L.A.W.A.), a Los Angeles municipal department, on leased land from the U.S. Air Force. It is shared with the U.S. Air Force Plant 42 facility that owns and operates the airfield. The airport district also owns 17,500 acres of land adjacent to the existing airport. This was originally acquired by L.A.W.A. in 1966 to be developed into "Palmdale Intercontinental Airport", intended to surpass the air traffic of LAX, L.A.W.A. has since over the decades not developed its Palmdale airport lands to these claims. Convincing airlines of the marketability of the airport has thus far been difficult, perhaps because of the airline industry's "hub and spoke" system which tends to shun new airports in an effort to improve airline profitability. Additionally, many San Fernando Valley L.A. residents believe Palmdale's airport is too far away for their tastes. In reality, considering automobile travel time on congested freeways and streets, as well as LAX passenger unloading/parking difficulties, Palmdale may offer the airline passenger a quicker ground transportation travel time from Sherman Oaks than the standard LAX airport car trip down the San Diego 405 freeway.
As of June 7, 2007 the airport will be served by United Airlines with 2 daily flights in and out of San Francisco. A third daily flight is planned in September 2007.
The movie "The Terminal" was filmed at the Palmdale Regional Airport.
As of the census of 2000, there were 116,670 people, 34,285 households, and 28,113 families residing in the city. The population density was 429.2/km² (1,111.6/mi²). There were 37,096 housing units at an average density of 136.5/km² (353.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.77% White, 14.50% African American, 1.03% Native American, 3.83% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 20.45% from other races, and 5.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.71% of the population.
There were 34,285 households out of which 54.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.0% were non-families. 13.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.40 and the average family size was 3.72.
In the city the population was spread out with 38.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,941, and the median income for a family was $49,293. Males had a median income of $42,190 versus $29,401 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,384. About 12.9% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
★ Afroman, rapper (formerly a resident)
★ The Archers CCM group
★ R. Lee Ermey, actor and military veteran
★ Ron Hornaday, NASCAR driver
★ Lance Hooper, NASCAR driver
★ Eugena Washington, from America's Next Top Model
★ Jason Kubel, MLB player
★ Marcus Demps, NFL player
★ Will Demps, NFL player
★ Derek Hagan, NFL player
★ Michelle Perry, track olympiad
★
★ Poncitlán, Jalisco, Mexico (1998)
1. City Council
2. Ibid
3. Ibid
★ City's official website
★
★ Palmdale Chamber of Commerce
★ Palmdale Regional Airport
★ Local History
★ Local Newspaper
★ The Geography of Suburban Sprawl in the Antelope Valley: an in depth study of the valley's historical development and recent (1995) urban conditions
★ Joe Davies Heritage Airpark @ Palmdale Plant 42 (City's static display airpark/museum)
'Palmdale', the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city (on August 24, 1962), is located in the northeast reaches of Los Angeles County, California, United States, separated from Los Angeles by the San Gabriel Mountain range. As of the 2000 US census, the city had a total population of 116,670. As of spring 2007, the city proper has a total population estimate of 145,468 according to California state government sources. As of the 2007 population estimate, the ''Palmdale / Lancaster, CA Urbanized Area'' (a US Census Bureau defined term) has a population of 589,043.
Palmdale today
| City of Palmdale Population by year | |
|---|---|
| 1900 | 112 |
| 1910 | 195 |
| 1920 | 284 |
| 1930 | 347 |
| 1940 | 1,419 |
| 1950 | 2,886 |
| 1960 | 11,522 |
| 1970 | 8,511 |
| 1980 | 12,227 |
| 1990 | 68,842 |
| 2000 | 116,670 |
| 2007 | 145,468 |
Palmdale, looking east toward the Antelope Valley Freeway and the San Gabriel Mountains.
The city has worked hard to maintain its image and upgrade its infrastructure during its rapid growth. A first-class medical campus called Palmdale Regional Medical Center is under construction (expected to open in 2008), which will include the region's largest emergency department, a helipad, medical office towers, and a senior housing complex. A new multi-modal transportation center, serving local and commuter bus and train services, opened in 2005. A voter-initiated and approved bond has funded major park and recreation expansions, including an earthen outdoor amphitheater (capacity 7,000), two new pools, other recreation buildings and a water park. Downtown revitalization includes hundreds of new senior housing units, a new senior center, and expanded open space. A new 48,000 sq. ft. sheriff station recently opened, the largest in Los Angeles County. Two new fire stations are being developed, one on the east side and one on the west side.
While Palmdale is still a part of Los Angeles County, the urbanized centers of Palmdale and Los Angeles are separated by the San Gabriel mountain range, which is about 40 miles (60 km) wide. This range forms the southern edge of the Antelope Valley portion of the Mojave Desert. Palmdale is the largest and principal city of the Antelope Valley, and the fourth largest city overall in the Mojave Desert by population, outstripped only by Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas, Nevada.
History
This satellite image, looking toward the west, shows the Palmdale / Antelope Valley area in relation to Los Angeles with the San Gabriel Mountains separating them.
''Palmenthal'', the first European settlement within the limits of Palmdale, was established as a village in 1886 by westward travelers from the American Midwest, mostly of German and Swiss descent. According to area folklore, the travelers had been told they would know they were close to the ocean when they saw palm trees. Never actually having seen palm trees before, they mistook the local Joshua trees for palms and so named their settlement after them. (''Palmenthal'' is German for ''Palms Valley.'') The village was officially established upon the arrival of a post office on June 17, 1888.
By the 1890s (soon after the last of the indigenous antelopes, which the valley was named after, had died) farming families continued to migrate to Palmenthal and nearby ''Harold'' to grow grain and fruit. However, most of these settlers were unfamiliar with farming in a desert climate, so when the drought years occurred, most abandoned their settlement. By 1899, only one family was left in the original village. The rest of the settlers, including the post office, moved closer to the ''Southern Pacific'' railroad tracks. This new community was renamed Palmdale and was located where the present day civic center is. A railroad station was built along the tracks there. This railroad was operated by Southern Pacific and traveled between Los Angeles and San Francisco. There was also the ''Wells Fargo'' stagecoach line that ran between San Francisco and New Orleans that stopped there as well. The only remaining pieces of evidence of the original settlements of Palmenthal and Harold are the old cemetery located on the northeast corner of Avenue S and 20th Street East, and the old schoolhouse now relocated to ''McAdam Park''.
As the population of Palmdale began to increase after relocation, water became scarce, until November 5, 1913 when the California – Los Angeles Aqueduct system was completed finally by William Mulholland, bringing water from the Owens Valley into Los Angeles County. During this period, crops of apples, pears, and alfalfa became plentiful.
In 1915, Palmdale’s first newspaper, the ''Palmdale Post'', was published. Today its the conservative Antelope Valley Press.
In 1921, the first major link between Palmdale and Los Angeles was completed, U.S. Highway 6, or Mint Canyon/Lancaster Road. Completion of this road caused the local agricultural industry to flourish and was the first major step towards defining the metropolis that exists today. Presently this road is known as Sierra Highway.
In 1924, the Littlerock Dam and the Harold Reservoir, present day Lake Palmdale, were constructed to assist the agricultural industry and have enough water to serve the growing communities.
Agriculture continued to be the foremost industry for Palmdale and its northern neighbor Lancaster until the outbreak of World War II. In 1933, the United States government established Muroc Air Base (from an original founder name, Effie Corum, spelled backwards) six miles north of Lancaster in Kern County, now known as Edwards Air Force Base. They also bought Palmdale Airport in 1952 and established an aerospace development and testing facility called United States Air Force Plant 42. One year later, in 1953, Lockheed established a facility at the airport. After this point in time, the aerospace industry took over as the primary local source of employment, where it has remained ever since. Today the city is even referred to as the “Aerospace Capital of America” because of its rich heritage in being the home of many of the aircraft used in the United States military.
In 1956, Palmdale’s first high school, Palmdale High School, was established, making it easier for youths to not have to travel to Antelope Valley High School in nearby Lancaster.
In August 1962, the township of Palmdale officially became the ''city'' of Palmdale with the incorporation of 2 square miles (5 km²) of land around the present day civic center.
In 1963, the Antelope Valley Freeway, or State Highway 14, was completed as a link between Palmdale and Los Angeles. The freeway at this time ran all the way to present day Technology Drive. It was at this time that talk about the future ''Palmdale Intercontinental Airport'' was seen as the way of the future. By 1965 the new city had annexed an additional 20 square miles (52 km²) of land and industry was thriving. Talk of the future commercial airport had many investors buying up large quantities of land.
In 1970, the City of Los Angeles went forward with buying 17,500 acres (71 km²) of land east of the city for its proposed commercial airport. However, the United States Air Force desired to put a hold on the construction of this new facility until the existing airport reached its commercial capacity. So under a joint use agreement with the military, the Los Angeles Department of Airports, now called Los Angeles World Airports, built a 9,000 square foot (800 m²) terminal on leased land that opened in 1971, creating present day Palmdale Regional Airport.
By 1974, the Antelope Valley Freeway construction ended at the southern border of Mojave in Kern County. In 1977, Palmdale built its first municipal building, the Palmdale City Library. This was the same year that its northern neighbor Lancaster incorporated itself into a city. Since the 1920s, Lancaster had been the much larger and principal community of the Antelope Valley, as well as the rest of California's Mojave Desert, and Palmdale had always played second fiddle to it.
The 1980s and 1990s were the decades that really started to define the two Antelope Valley cities. Affordable housing in the area caused a dramatic spike in the population. The city became a bedroom community for those employed in Los Angeles. Palmdale's population continued to approach Lancaster's. Throughout the eighties and even the nineties, Palmdale was the fastest growing city in California and second fastest growing city in the nation. In 1980, Palmdale's population was 12,177. By 1990, it had soared to 68,842. During that same year the Antelope Valley Mall opened at Avenue P (Rancho Vista Blvd.) and 10th Street West, presently the busiest intersection in the entire Mojave Desert. In 1991, the Palmdale Auto Center complex opened. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, central Palmdale has become the commercial center of the California High Desert. In 2000, the city's population was 116,670. In 2002, Palmdale's population finally eclipsed its northern neighbor Lancaster. With over 145,000 residents today, the City Planning Commission continues to attempt a form of managed growth in the early part of 21st century. There's a growing perception is that the seemingly endless supply of clean fresh water from the north to residential, commercial and agricultural customers is slowly becoming a pressing problem.
Education
Kindergarten - Grade 12 schools
The City of Palmdale has three separate elementary school districts and one high school district:
★ The Palmdale School District is one of the largest elementary school districts in the nation consisting of 27 schools and over 23,000 students. This school district covers the majority of the city’s Kindergarten through 8th grade students. One of the unique parts of this school district was its practice of naming schools after desert flora and fauna. For instance, there is Tumbleweed, Juniper, and Sage schools.
★ The Westside Union School District covers the schools on the far west-side of Palmdale and its western suburbs. This school district has over 7,500 students and 11 schools for K-8 education.
★ The Keppel Union School District covers the schools on the far east-side of Palmdale and its eastern suburbs. This school district has 6 schools and nearly 3,000 students for K-8 education.
★ The Antelope Valley Union High School District covers nearly all of the 9-12th grade education for the entire metropolitan area, with the exception of private high schools. It has 12 schools with over 25,000 students.
Colleges and universities
★ The Antelope Valley Community College District currently has a satellite campus in Palmdale with a student population of about 500. This temporary campus was set up until a permanent community college campus could be established within the city, which is being planned for the south within the foothills bordering the San Gabriel mountain range. Local residents have raised concerns about the project due to its proximity to the San Andreas fault. The district has one full service campus in nearby Lancaster with about 20,000 students.
★ The California State University system also has a satellite campus from its Bakersfield facility in nearby Lancaster at the Antelope Valley College main campus.
★ Chapman University has a satellite campus in Palmdale.
★ University of La Verne has a satellite campus in Palmdale.
★ University of Phoenix has a satellite campus in nearby Lancaster.
★ The AERO Institute at the Palmdale Institute of Technology is a facility in Palmdale at the Civic Center. It is operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the City of Palmdale, and distance learning through a number of universities is available. This specialized school offers graduate and undergraduate education in aerospace science, engineering, and technical skills.
Sites of interest
★ Big Rock Creek Camp
★ Devil's Punchbowl a county protected natural hiking preserve along Big Rock Creek similar to a miniature Grand Canyon.
★ Dry Town Waterpark on Avenue S opened May 2006.
★ Hammack Activity Center and Roller Hockey Rink
★ Joshua Ranch Trail a natural preservation area.
★ Littlerock Dam and Recreation Area
★ Los Angeles County Raceway
★ Mountain High ski resort in nearby Wrightwood.
★ Palmdale Amphitheater is a 7,000 seat theater hosting the “Starlight Concert Series” with world famous performers on evenings in the summer.
★ Palmdale Civic Center – (Poncitlan Square)
★ Palmdale Fall Festival is an annual festival said to be one of the best in California held every October at Marie Kerr Park.
★ Palmdale Heritage Airpark and next-door Blackbird Airpark show off displays of various aircraft built or tested at Palmdale Air Force Plant 42.
★ Palmdale Playhouse and Art Gallery
★ Palmdale Schoolhouse at McAdam Park. The only remaining building of the original village in the 1800’s.
★ Rancho Vista Golf Course Palmdale’s only PGA class golf course.
★ Tippi Hedren's Shambala Preserve
★ Antelope Valley Mall Holds the first escalator in Palmdale history
Law and government
Palmdale is a general law City governed under the council / manager form of local government. The mayor is elected every two years for a two-year term. Also every two years, two of the four council members are elected to serve four-year terms. Palmdale has no term limits for mayor. The current mayor James C. Ledford is serving his eighth term in office.
The city also has an appointed Planning Commission divided into four separate districts. The Planning Commission was organized to help with the planning, zoning, and development of various city areas in different districts and to give the residents of those particular districts a greater voice in what is built on that land.
The city provides a number of municipal services, including a Parks and Recreation Department, a Film Convention and Visitors Bureau, Aviation and Aerospace Commission, Public Library System, Senior Citizens Center, Cultural Center, and a Public Works Department.
The city is policed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department under a formal contract with the County of Los Angeles and has its municipal judicial system intertwined with the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Palmdale has the largest Sheriff's Station in Los Angeles County.
The city is served by the Los Angeles County Fire Department for its fire and paramedic services through the Fire District. Palmdale downtown Station #37 is one of the busiest fire stations in the United States.
Utility services within the city are provided by several public and private agencies. Water service is primarily provided by Palmdale Water District (separate public agency) and LA County Waterworks (part of the County Public Works); sewer service is provided by the County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (separate public agency); electrical service is provided by Southern California Edison; natural gas service is provided by Southern California Gas; cable television service is provided by Time Warner Cable; telephone service is provided by SBC and Verizon; refuse pickup and disposal service is provided by Waste Management, Inc of the Antelope Valley under a franchise agreement with the city.
Geography
Palmdale is located at (34.581005, -118.100603). It has an elevation of 2,655 feet above sea level.
According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 272.2 km² (105.1 mi²). 271.8 km² (105.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water (the size of man-made Lake Palmdale, the most visible and scenic part of the municipal water supply system) . The total area is 0.13% water.
The city lies in close proximity to the infamous San Andreas Fault, making it, like many other regions of California, prone to strong earthquakes. This faultline cuts across the Antelope Valley Freeway just north of the Avenue S off-ramp; running westward along the old Butterfield Stage Line (now Elizabeth Lake Road) into Leona Valley.
Panoramic photo of Palmdale from the west, taken March 2000
ZIP codes
The city currently has a total of eight ZIP codes:
★ '93536' – Most of Quartz Hill (district and adjacent town). Shared with cities and towns of Lancaster (westside), Neenach, Del Sur, and Antelope Acres.
★ '93543' – Parts of Sun Village. Shared with town of Littlerock.
★ '93550' – Downtown Civic Center, Harold, Vincent-Grade, and Barrel Springs.
★ '93551' – Central City, Anaverde, Rancho Vista, City Ranch, Desert-View Highlands, Portal Ridge, Leona Valley (district and adjacent town), and parts of Quartz Hill (district). Some P.O. boxes.
★ '93552' – Pearland, parts of Palmdale East, and parts of Sun Village.
★ '93553' – Parts of Sun Village. Shared with town of Pearblossom. Some P.O. boxes.
★ '93590' – Palmdale Regional Airport, USAF Plant 42, and most of Palmdale's P.O. boxes.
★ '93591' – Lake Los Angeles (district and adjacent town), parts of Palmdale East, and some P.O. boxes.
Nearby Mojave Desert communities
Other cities and towns in the Palmdale vicinity include:
★ Acton
★ Adelanto
★ Agua Dulce
★ Antelope Acres
★ Apple Valley
★ Barstow
★ Boron
★ California City
★ Daggett
★ Del Sur
★ Elizabeth Lake
★ Helendale
★ Hesperia
★ Hinkley
★ Kramer Junction
★ Lake Hughes
★ Lake Los Angeles
★ Lancaster
★ Lenwood
★ Leona Valley
★ Littlerock
★ Llano
★ Mojave
★ Neenach
★ North Edwards
★ Oro Grande
★ Pearblossom
★ Phelan
★ Pinon Hills
★ Quartz Hill
★ Randsburg
★ Red Mountain
★ Ridgecrest
★ Rosamond
★ Tehachapi
★ Valyermo
★ Victorville
★ Yermo
Neighborhoods and districts
The city is unofficially divided up into 11 separate 'areas': 'Downtown' or 'Old Town Palmdale' (civic center), 'Trade & Commerce Center' (the main shopping district), 'Desert-View Highlands' (old county area), 'Anaverde' (west end-formerly City Ranch), 'Rancho Vista' (old Bolz Ranch), 'Ritter Ranch' (far west end),'Sun Village' (far east end-part County), 'Harold' (old settlement near Lake Palmdale-part County),'Quartz Hill' (northwest end-part County), 'Lake Los Angeles' (farthest east end-part County), and 'Leona Valley' (farthest west end-part County).
Unlike nearby Santa Clarita or Los Angeles, the residents of Palmdale usually do not use the name of their particular areas to have their mail addressed to for the most part. This is mostly due to the very easily navigated local street system, which is almost completely alphabetized and numeric.
Street System
The street system is set out in a grid. Each lettered east-westbound avenue is one mile from the next letter. (Example: Avenue R is one mile north from Avenue S.) In between each whole letter avenue, there are 15 sub avenues labeled -1 thru -15. Along with the whole letter avenues, the -8 avenues are also major throughfares. (Example: Avenue R-8 is a major road just like Avenue R and Avenue S). Sometimes the -8 avenues are renamed to other names such as Avenue Q-8 which has been renamed Palmdale Boulevard and Avenue P-8 that has been renamed Technology Drive or Bulldog Avenue depending on which stretch you're on.
Major streets which run north to south are numbered inside their direction i.e. 10th Street West and 10th Street East. Each 0 and 5 street is a major throughfare with each 0 street being 1 mile from the previous 0 street. (Example: 30th Street East is one mile west of 40th Street East.) The east-west dividing line is Division Street in downtown, which would be the eqivalent of 0th Street East/West.
All the addresses on east-west street correspond to this numbering system. For instance, if you were looking for 6066 West Avenue M-2, you would know to go to second street between Avenues M and N just past 60th Street. Avenue M, is the general border of the connected population between Palmdale and Lancaster. Avenue L is actually the longer border between the two cities, east of Challenger Way, but is not as heavily populated. Avenue M has recently been named Columbia Way out of respect for the astronauts onboard the Space Shuttle Columbia that disintegrated on re-entry in 2003. 10th Street East north of Columbia Way was renamed Challenger Way back in 1987 in honor of those lost in the Challenger Disaster. All of the shuttles were built in Palmdale.
Climate
Palmdale is located in the high (altitude) desert, where the summers are very hot and dry, and winters are cold and windy. Palmdale has over 300 days of sunshine per year. The same weather pattern that brings the marine layer stratus and afternoon sea breeze to the Los Angeles Basin brings gusty winds to Palmdale, especially near the foothills on the south side. Except during Santa Ana (northeast) wind events (usually fall and winter), gusty southwest winds blow over Palmdale almost every afternoon and evening all year round. The wind is so reliable that wind turbines are used to generate electricity.
'Winter' – Relatively cold, wet, and windy. Temperatures have gone into the single-digits at times. The wind chill factor can be below zero. This is Palmdale's rainy season and is prone to flash flooding during this time. On occasion, it will snow. Average day time highs are in the upper 50s to low 60s while being in the low to mid 30s overnight.
'Spring' – Moderate temperatures. Still occasionally wet. Very windy. Transitional period from winter to summer temperatures is very short. Average daytime highs are in the upper 70s to low 80s while being in the upper 40s to low 50s overnight.
'Summer' – Very hot, dry heat with little or no precipitation. Temperatures frequently soar into triple-digits. However, the high desert where Palmdale is located allows for the temperatures to cool down somewhat at night, unlike the low desert cities of Palm Springs and Blythe. Average day time highs are in the upper 90s while dropping into the mid to upper 70s after midnight. Local electrical bills spike during this period with air-conditioning units running day and night, until early October. Although the hot temperature, it is very common to experience "summer storms" in which temperatures are consistent but there is heavy rain and thunderstorms.
'Fall' – Moderate temperatures with little or no precipitation. Transitional period from summer to winter temperatures is very short. As a result, the deciduous trees in Palmdale will lose their leaves very rapidly, seemingly overnight, with a short color change. Average day time highs are in the upper 70s and low 80s while dropping into the mid 40s to mid 50s overnight.
★ Annual Average High Temperatures: ''98°F'' (summer) ''59°F'' (winter)
★ Annual Average Low Temperatures ''66°F'' (summer) ''33°F'' (winter)
★ Highest Recorded Temperature: ''113°F'' (2007)
★ Lowest Recorded Temperature: ''6°F'' (1963)
★ Warmest Month: ''July''
★ Coolest Month: ''December''
★ Highest Precipitation: ''February''
★ Annual Precipitation: ''7.36 inches''
Economy
The most important industry for Palmdale is the aerospace industry. However in recent times, other manufacturing companies have relocated to Palmdale seeking more affordable land, close proximity to Palmdale Airport, and special tax breaks.
The special tax breaks granted for companies that relocate to Palmdale is due to the city having the 'Antelope Valley Enterprise Zone' and the 'Palmdale Federal Foreign Trade Zone'. These are special zoning areas within the city that are given various state and federal tax breaks and municipal grant incentives to relocate their business there. These zones were put in effect to help Palmdale and nearby Lancaster draw more jobs to the area so that they would be less dependent on the Los Angeles Basin area for employment, thus relieving pollution and traffic congestion, and stabilizing the local economy on several industries instead of just aerospace which is known for it’s “feast or famine” seasons.
Palmdale refers to itself with the nickname the "aerospace capital of the United States", and has been the site of research, development, final assembly, flight testing and/or servicing/modifications of the Space Shuttle, X-15, B-2 Spirit & F-117 Nighthawk, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, SR-71 Blackbird, Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, and many other aircraft that have been used in the United States Air Force, NASA and air forces and airlines around the world. USAF Plant 42, where the aforementioned aerospace projects occurred / occur is home to major operations of the following aerospace companies: Boeing, Lockheed Martin and its famed Skunk Works, Northrop Grumman, and BAE Systems. The Boeing building (formerly North American Rockwell) at Plant 42 / Palmdale Regional Airport is one of the largest buildings in the world. It was used in the Tom Hanks movie ''The Terminal'' to house the duplicate JFK terminal set since it was the only building in the Southland area large enough to house it.
Major companies with a presence in Palmdale
Media
Newspapers
★ Antelope Valley Press
★ Daily News – Antelope Valley
Radio stations
★ KAVL '610' AM Sports
★ KTPI '1340' AM Talk
★ KWJL '1380' AM Spanish Oldies
★ KUTY '1470' AM News/Talk
★ KTLW '88.9' FM Religious/Christian
★ KLKX '93.5' FM Classic Rock
★ KFXM '96.7' FM Oldies
★ KVVS '97.7' FM Top 40 (simulcast of Los Angeles KIIS 102.7)
★ KKZQ '100.1' FM Modern Rock
★ KRAJ '100.9' FM Hip Hop
★ KTPI '103.1' FM Country
★ KEDD '103.9' FM Adult Hits
★ KLOA '104.9' FM Country
★ KOSS '105.5' FM Adult Contemporary
★ KGMX '106.3' FM Adult Contemporary
★ KCEL '106.9' FM Regional Spanish
★ Surge Radio 'Online Radio' Local Indie Bands/Underground Music
Television stations
★ KAV '3' Independent/News
★ KPDL '27' City's cable channel
★ KPAL-LP '38' Home Shopping
Transportation
Area highways
The Antelope Valley Freeway (SR-14) is the major North-South highway connecting Palmdale to Los Angeles and Mojave.
State Highway 138 (SR-138) is the major east-west highway connecting Palmdale to the Inland Empire and Frazier Park.
State Highway 18 (SR-18) heads eastward out of the Antelope Valley connecting it to Victorville and via I-15 the Barstow area. This road is commonly used as a route to Las Vegas, Nevada.
'Future Highways:'
Cash-strapped Caltrans, which to date has not yet upgraded SR-138 (nicknamed "Blood Alley") or SR-18 between Palmdale and I-15 into an east / west freeway, has had plans on the table for several years. Due to State funding constraints, this expressway will probably not be completed until near 2020 as the planning, design and construction process can take as many as 10-15 years. There is also a plan to continue the freeway from Palmdale along the southern foothills of the Antelope Valley to I-5 in Gorman.
''State Highway 48'' (SR-48) is a planned east / west freeway connecting from the Antelope Valley Freeway (SR-14) at Avenue D, the current segment terminus for the western SR-138 branch, to Interstate 5 in Gorman. This freeway is planned to come after SR-138 has its new southern realignment through Palmdale completed, and will follow the existing SR-138 rightaway.
''State Highway 122'' (SR-122) is a planned north / south freeway from eastern Palmdale, passing east of Edwards Air Force Base to SR 58 near California City.
''State Highway 249'' (SR-249) is a planned north / south freeway from southern Palmdale to I-210 in La Canada Flintridge, near Glendale.
Public transportation
The Palmdale Transportation Center, recently completed in March 2005, is the central mass transit center for the Antelope Valley. It serves as the transit hub for the Antelope Valley Transit Authority, the city's public bus system, as well as an Amtrak, Greyhound Bus, and commuter rail Metrolink station. A monorail between Palmdale Airport and the center is planned when the new commercial air terminal is finished. The station is also designated a stop on the proposed California High Speed Rail System.
Airport
Palmdale's Airport is one of the largest in the world (geographically). The airport has two runways, each over two miles in length. LA/Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) has a commercial air terminal owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (L.A.W.A.), a Los Angeles municipal department, on leased land from the U.S. Air Force. It is shared with the U.S. Air Force Plant 42 facility that owns and operates the airfield. The airport district also owns 17,500 acres of land adjacent to the existing airport. This was originally acquired by L.A.W.A. in 1966 to be developed into "Palmdale Intercontinental Airport", intended to surpass the air traffic of LAX, L.A.W.A. has since over the decades not developed its Palmdale airport lands to these claims. Convincing airlines of the marketability of the airport has thus far been difficult, perhaps because of the airline industry's "hub and spoke" system which tends to shun new airports in an effort to improve airline profitability. Additionally, many San Fernando Valley L.A. residents believe Palmdale's airport is too far away for their tastes. In reality, considering automobile travel time on congested freeways and streets, as well as LAX passenger unloading/parking difficulties, Palmdale may offer the airline passenger a quicker ground transportation travel time from Sherman Oaks than the standard LAX airport car trip down the San Diego 405 freeway.
As of June 7, 2007 the airport will be served by United Airlines with 2 daily flights in and out of San Francisco. A third daily flight is planned in September 2007.
The movie "The Terminal" was filmed at the Palmdale Regional Airport.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 116,670 people, 34,285 households, and 28,113 families residing in the city. The population density was 429.2/km² (1,111.6/mi²). There were 37,096 housing units at an average density of 136.5/km² (353.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.77% White, 14.50% African American, 1.03% Native American, 3.83% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 20.45% from other races, and 5.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.71% of the population.
There were 34,285 households out of which 54.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.0% were non-families. 13.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.40 and the average family size was 3.72.
In the city the population was spread out with 38.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,941, and the median income for a family was $49,293. Males had a median income of $42,190 versus $29,401 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,384. About 12.9% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
★ Afroman, rapper (formerly a resident)
★ The Archers CCM group
★ R. Lee Ermey, actor and military veteran
★ Ron Hornaday, NASCAR driver
★ Lance Hooper, NASCAR driver
★ Eugena Washington, from America's Next Top Model
★ Jason Kubel, MLB player
★ Marcus Demps, NFL player
★ Will Demps, NFL player
★ Derek Hagan, NFL player
★ Michelle Perry, track olympiad
Sister Cities
★
★ Poncitlán, Jalisco, Mexico (1998)
References
1. City Council
2. Ibid
3. Ibid
External links
★ City's official website
★
★ Palmdale Chamber of Commerce
★ Palmdale Regional Airport
★ Local History
★ Local Newspaper
★ The Geography of Suburban Sprawl in the Antelope Valley: an in depth study of the valley's historical development and recent (1995) urban conditions
★ Joe Davies Heritage Airpark @ Palmdale Plant 42 (City's static display airpark/museum)
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