Victorville, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Victorville | |
| Motto: "Key City of the High Desert" | |
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| Coordinates: 34°31′14″N 117°20′40″W / 34.52056°N 117.34444°W | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | California |
| County | San Bernardino |
| Incorporated (city) | 1962-09-21[1] |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Rudy Cabriales[2] |
| - City Manager | Jim Cox |
| Area | |
| - Total | 73.30 sq mi (189.85 km2) |
| - Land | 72.78 sq mi (188.50 km2) |
| - Water | 0.52 sq mi (1.35 km2) 0.71% |
| Elevation | 2,730 ft (832 m) |
| Population (2007)[3] | |
| - Total | 107,721 |
| - Density | 879.7/sq mi (339.7/km2) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP Code | 92392, 92393, 92394, 92395[4] |
| Area code(s) | 760[5] |
| FIPS code | 06-82590 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1652806 |
| Website | http://ci.victorville.ca.us/ |
Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of western San Bernardino County, California, US. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2000 census, the city has a total population of 64,029. The May 1, 2008 population estimate released by the state of California for Victorville is 107,721.
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[edit] Geography and Climate
Victorville is located at 34°31'14" North, 117°20'40" West (34.520459, -117.344525)[6].
Victorville is located at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert, 81 miles (130 km) northeast of Los Angeles, 34 miles (55 km) south of Barstow, 48 miles (77 km) east of Palmdale, and 37 miles (60 km) north of San Bernardino through the Cajon Pass on Interstate 15. Victorville has the Mojave Desert branch of the San Bernardino county government offices.
It is bordered by Apple Valley on the east, Hesperia on the south, and Adelanto on the west. The Mojave River flows through Victorville. The elevation at City Hall is approximately 2,950 feet (900 m) above sea level.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 189.8 km² (73.3 mi²). 188.5 km² (72.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.71% water.
The summer climate for this area in the Mojave Desert may be hotter than the Los Angeles basin, but actually 10 or 15 degrees cooler than in the Colorado Desert. The National Weather Service has maintained a cooperative weather station in Victorville since 1917. Official records show that Victorville has an arid climate with cool winters and hot summers. Average January temperatures range from a maximum of 58.5F to a minimum of 29.8F. Average July temperatures range from a maximum of 98.2F to a minimum of 60.7F. The record high temperature was 116F on July 10, 2002. The record low temperature was -1F on January 17, 1949. There are an average of 109.0 days with highs of 90F (32C) or higher and an average of 78.9 days with lows of 32F (0C) or lower.
Average annual precipitation is 5.57 inches. There are an average of 25 days annually with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1983 with 13.42 inches and the dryest year was 1953 with 1.27 inches. The most precipitation in one month was 5.45 inches in February 1944. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 3.00 inches on February 24, 1998. Snowfall averages only 1.4 inches annually. The most snowfall in one month was 38.0 inches on January 1949, including 31.0 inches on January 14. Snow is common during the winter months in the mountains south of Victorville, especially around Cajon Pass.[7]
[edit] Demographics
In 2005, the city was estimated to contain 86,473 people, 30,000 households, and 21,000 families residing in the city. The population density is 339.7/km² (879.7/mi²). There are 22,498 housing units at an average density of 119.4/km² (309.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 41.92% White, 16.05% African American, 1.11% Native American, 1.48% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 16.26% from other races, and 5.98% from two or more races. 50.46% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 30,000 households out of which 43.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% are married couples living together, 16.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% are non-families. 19.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.03 and the average family size is 3.47.
In the city the population is spread out with 34.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $36,187, and the median income for a family is $39,988. Males have a median income of $40,149 versus $26,138 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,454. 18.7% of the population and 15.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.6% of those under the age of 18 and 10.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
For the year ending July 2007, Victorville experienced the second-highest population growth rate in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That year, the population rose 9.5%, to 107,221.
In July 2009, Victorville was confirmed the decade's fastest-growing city of over 100,000 in California, and among the fastest-growing cities in the United States.[citation needed]
[edit] Politics
In the state legislature Victorville is located in the 17th Senate District, represented by Republican George Runner, and in the 36th Assembly District, represented by Republican Steve Knight. Federally, Victorville is located in California's 25th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +7[8] and is represented by Republican Buck McKeon.
[edit] History
In 1858 Aaron G. Lane came to the High Desert and created Lane's Crossing, for many years a provider of shelter and supplies for folks making the trip across the desert to San Bernardino. Lane's Crossing was on the Mojave River just north of where the river crosses Interstate 15. Captain Lane was a Mexican-American war veteran who suffered from malaria during that war. Originally he migrated west to join the gold rush but found out it was better to sell supplies to the miners than pan for the gold. He settled in Ione near Sutter's mill during those years, migrating to San Bernardino in 1857. Although his health did not improve he found that the dry desert air was beneficial to him. He settled there in 1858. He was a rancher and became very involved in the Mojave Valley, providing the first polling place in the high desert at his home. That first year 10 citizens cast their votes at Lane's residence rather than making the long trip to San Bernardino. [9]
About 1895 the town was named Victor after California Southern Railroad General Manager Jacob Nash Victor. In 1901, the United States Post Office Department changed the name to Victorville to avoid confusion with the town of Victor, Colorado.
In 1926, U.S. Route 66 was established and passed through Victorville. Today, the former route is the primary road through oldtown Victorville, known as Seventh Street.
In 1940, Herman J. Mankiewicz and John Houseman wrote the first two drafts of Citizen Kane in Victorville at the Green Spot motel along historic Route 66. Orson Welles sent the two of them to write in seclusion due to Mankiewicz's legendary drinking habits.[10]
Victorville Army Airfield was constructed in 1941 and later named George Air Force Base.
In 1992, George AFB was deactivated and is now Southern California Logistics Airport. The former base housing is now vacant, forming a ghost town that is used for military training purposes by troops from Fort Irwin Military Reservation. The grounds of the former George AFB is also the location of the Victorville federal prison.
On November 19, 1954, Sammy Davis, Jr. almost died in an automobile accident in Victorville on a return trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Davis lost his left eye as a result, and wore a glass eye for the rest of his life.
The city was incorporated on September 21, 1962.
On August 14, 1977, actor Ron Haydock was struck and killed while hitch-hiking near Victorville. Ron Haydock is also remembered for his hit rockabilly 45 rpm single "99 Chicks".
In 2003, the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum was moved away from Victorville to Branson, Missouri.
On November 3, 2007, Victorville hosted the DARPA Urban Challenge, a six-hour autonomous robot driving contest through the streets of what was formerly George Air Force Base, now the Southern California Logistics Airport. The Carnegie Mellon team, known as Tartan Racing, took the US$2 million first prize, while the Stanford Racing Team received a $1 million check for finishing second. Team Victor Tango, made up of faculty and students from Virginia Tech, whose vehicle number was 32 in honor of the 32 students killed in the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, received $500,000 for taking third place. “Robots sometimes stun the world, inspire a lot of people and change the belief of what is possible,” said William “Red” Whittaker, a Carnegie Mellon robotics professor and team leader of the university’s Tartan Racing team. “We’ve seen that here and once the perception of what’s possible changes it never goes back. This is a phenomenal thing for robotics.”[11]
[edit] Old Town Victorville
A revitalization project started in 1995 in the oldest part of the city, which encompasses ten square blocks along Old Route 66. They mostly consist of empty buildings, but do have the Veteran's Memorial on the corner of Seventh St. and Forrest Ave, the Route 66 Museum on D St, and Old Victor School on Sixth St.
[edit] Filming location
Victorville has been used for film shoots:
- The Harvey Girls (1942), partially filmed at Iverson Ranch.
- It Came From Outer Space (1953), filmed in Victorville and the surrounding desert; Victorville served as the setting for the fictional town of "Sand Rock, Arizona".
- Grand Theft Auto (1977), starring Ron Howard.
- The Hills Have Eyes (1977). However, the 2006 version was filmed in Morocco.
- Lethal Weapon (1987) filmed at El Mirage Dry Lake west of Victorville
- Face/Off (1997), portions filmed at Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville
- Breakdown (1997) starring Kurt Russell, filmed in downtown Victorville.
- Contact (1997), also partially filmed in Victorville, with some local residents used as extras.
- Play It to the Bone (1999) filmed partly in The New Reflections concert venue in Downtown.
- Terminator III: Rise of the Machines (2003) filmed at Desert View Memorial Park and parts of downtown.
- Foo Fighters - Times Like These (2002) filmed on D Street between Victorville and Apple Valley
- Kill Bill Volume 2 (2004) filmed in The New Reflections as well.
- The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), partially filmed in Victorville.
[edit] Notable residents of Victorville (past and present)
- Earl W. Bascom, Hall of Fame cowboy, international artist and sculptor.
- Dresta, rapper.
- Dan Henderson, Pride Fighting Championship welterweight champion and middleweight champion, was born in August 24, 1970 in Downey, CA and attended Victor Valley High School, but resided in Apple Valley.
- John W. Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, who graduated from Victor Valley High and attended Victor Valley College while residing in nearby Apple Valley.
- Bryan Herman, a professional skateboarder
- T. J. Houshmandzadeh, wide receiver for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks.
- Al Jury, NFL Referee.
- Trever Keith, guitarist, vocalist, and founding member of the punk band Face to Face, formed in Victorville in 1991.
- Dave Lombardo, drummer of thrash metal band, Slayer.
- Lorene Drive, a rock band formed in 2002.
- Mike Mangold, 2005 Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion.
- Prem Reddy, MD, FACC, FCCP, Cardiologist, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist.
- Matt Riddle, former bassist of Face to Face and current bassist for the punk band No Use for a Name.
- Joe Stevenson, ultimate fighter who attended Silverado High School and now owns a TapouT training center in Victorville.
- Skip Young, actor: Wally Plumstead on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
[edit] References
- ^ "Incorporation Dates of California Cities". http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/20457.IncorpDateLO.doc. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ "Victorville City Council: Councilmember Terry Caldwell". http://ci.victorville.ca.us/city-council/members/member4.html. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ "Victorville city, California - Fact Sheet - American FactFinder". http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=&_cityTown=Victorville%20city&_state=04000US06&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ "USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results". http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_1_results.jsp?visited=1&pagenumber=0&state=ca&city=Victorville. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ "Number Administration System - NPA and City/Town Search Results". http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_city_query_step2.do?method=displayData&cityToNpaModel.stateAbbr=CA&cityToNpaModel.city=Victorville. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca9325
- ^ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
- ^ Thompson, Richard D. and Kathryn L.. "[http://mojavehistory.com/lane1.html Pioneer of the Mojave: The Life and Times of Aaron G. Lane]". MojaveHistory.com. http://mojavehistory.com/lane1.html. Retrieved on 2008-12-02.
- ^ "Excerpt from "The Scripts of Citizen Kane" by Robert L. Carringer". http://criticalinquiry.uchicago.edu/issues/v5/v5n2.carringer.html. Retrieved on 2007-10-11.
- ^ "Competition drives robo-car technology forward"". http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071105_driverless.htm. Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
[edit] External links
- Victorville, California is at coordinates 34°31′14″N 117°20′40″W / 34.520459°N 117.344525°WCoordinates: 34°31′14″N 117°20′40″W / 34.520459°N 117.344525°W
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