Bear Valley Springs, California
| Bear Valley Springs | |
|---|---|
| — census-designated place — | |
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| Coordinates: 35°9.5′N 118°37.7′W / 35.1583°N 118.6283°WCoordinates: 35°9.5′N 118°37.7′W / 35.1583°N 118.6283°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Kern |
| Government | |
| • N/A | |
| • Senate | Roy Ashburn (R) |
| • Assembly | Jean Fuller (R) |
| • U. S. Congress | Kevin McCarthy (R) |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 41.551 sq mi (107.615 km2) |
| • Land | 41.485 sq mi (107.445 km2) |
| • Water | 0.066 sq mi (0.170 km2) 0.16% |
| Elevation[2] | 4,121 ft (1,256 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 5,172 |
| • Density | 120/sq mi (48/km2) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 93561 |
| Area code(s) | 661 |
| FIPS code | 06-04734 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1866997 |
Bear Valley Springs is both a census-designated place (CDP) and Community Service District in the Tehachapi Mountains, in Kern County, California, United States. The population was 5,172 at the 2010 census, up from 4,232 at the 2000 census. Bear Valley Springs' Elevation ranges from 4,121 feet (1,256 m) to 6,934 feet (Bear Mountain). Bear Valley Springs is located in the greater Tehachapi area.
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[edit] Geography
Bear Valley Springs is located at 35°09.5′N 118°37.7′W / 35.1583°N 118.6283°W.[2]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 41.6 square miles (108 km2), of which, 41.5 square miles (107 km2) of it is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) of it (0.16%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
[edit] 2010
The 2010 United States Census[3] reported that Bear Valley Springs had a population of 5,172. The population density was 124.5 people per square mile (48.1/km²). The racial makeup of Bear Valley Springs was 4,776 (92.3%) White, 74 (1.4%) African American, 46 (0.9%) Native American, 57 (1.1%) Asian, 3 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 89 (1.7%) from other races, and 127 (2.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 399 persons (7.7%).
The Census reported that 5,171 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 1 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,124 households, out of which 571 (26.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,467 (69.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 103 (4.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 54 (2.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 44 (2.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 16 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 429 households (20.2%) were made up of individuals and 214 (10.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43. There were 1,624 families (76.5% of all households); the average family size was 2.79.
The population was spread out with 1,068 people (20.6%) under the age of 18, 246 people (4.8%) aged 18 to 24, 684 people (13.2%) aged 25 to 44, 1,941 people (37.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,233 people (23.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.0 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
There were 2,729 housing units at an average density of 65.7 per square mile (25.4/km²), of which 1,860 (87.6%) were owner-occupied, and 264 (12.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.5%. 4,470 people (86.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 701 people (13.6%) lived in rental housing units.
[edit] 2000
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 4,232 people, 1,586 households, and 1,329 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 101.9 people per square mile (39.4/km²). There were 2,147 housing units at an average density of 51.7 per square mile (20.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.89% White, 1.37% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.95% from other races, and 4.70% from two or more races. 7.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,586 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.9% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.2% were non-families. 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 3.1% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $61,169, and the median income for a family was $64,583. Males had a median income of $61,834 versus $31,591 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,388. About 5.4% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
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This section appears to be written like an advertisement. (August 2010) |
While the nation had pushed to the western coast, the land the Fickert family settled in 1869 was still isolated and remote...a rich, virtually hidden valley. For centuries, it had been the untamed realm of Native Americans. Over the years, after purchasing squatter's rights to 160 acres (0.65 km2), the Fickerts expanded their holdings until, by 1900's their ranch encompassed a vast region, approximately 25,000 acres (100 km2).
By 1959, the last of the immediate Fickert family were gone, joining their kin who had gone before in the tiny family cemetery just up the hill from the main house. A quiet rural dynasty was ended.
After long negotiations Dart Resorts purchased the ranch, in its entirety, from the Fickert heirs. An outstanding ecological organization, Resource Ecology Associates, was employed by Dart to plan and maintain the original natural value of the property, including wildlife. Bear Valley Springs was born.
The first sales of property were in late 1970 with a full sales team starting January 1971. The project was sold out in November 1977. The Bear Valley Springs Community Services District was formed to act as a nonprofit organization for management and maintenance of the water, roads, and police protection. At the same time, the Bear Valley Springs Property Owners Association was formed to administer the amenity package. These groups acted to insure the upkeep of the facilities of Bear Valley Springs. Many projects in California have taken on one or the other. Bear Valley Springs has taken on both entities to protect the stability of the project.
The original concept was a second home destination resort where families could come to spend a weekend or longer and have a complete amenities package. As the uniqueness of Bear Valley Springs became apparent, many families moved here permanently, some retired and some to raise their families. The concept slowly changed from second homes to full-time residents, approximately 1,700 homes. In these changing, clamorous times, the historic legacy of the Fickert family lives on. A number of athletes and TV/movie stars have also made BVS their home.
[edit] References
- ^ U.S. Census
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bear Valley Springs, California
- ^ All data are derived from the United States Census Bureau reports from the 2010 United States Census, and are accessible on-line here. The data on unmarried partnerships and same-sex married couples are from the Census report DEC_10_SF1_PCT15. All other housing and population data are from Census report DEC_10_DP_DPDP1. Both reports are viewable online or downloadable in a zip file containing a comma-delimited data file. The area data, from which densities are calculated, are available on-line here. Percentage totals may not add to 100% due to rounding. The Census Bureau defines families as a household containing one or more people related to the householder by birth, opposite-sex marriage, or adoption. People living in group quarters are tabulated by the Census Bureau as neither owners nor renters. For further details, see the text files accompanying the data files containing the Census reports mentioned above.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
