Searles Valley, California

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Searles Valley
Census-designated place
The Searles Valley Inc. plant dominates the community
The Searles Valley Inc. plant dominates the community
Location in San Bernardino County and the state of California
Location in San Bernardino County and the state of California
Country United States
State California
CountySan Bernardino
Area
[1]
 • Total10.494 sq mi (27.180 km2)
 • Land10.494 sq mi (27.180 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,739
 • Density170/sq mi (64/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
93562
Area code760
FIPS code06-70728
GNIS feature ID2409296

Searles Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The CDP includes the unincorporated communities of Argus, Pioneer Point, Searles Valley and Trona. Searles Valley is at the western edge of Searles Lake, a dry lakebed at the bottom of in Searles Valley, southwest of Death Valley. The name Trona is derived from the mineral trona, abundant in the lake.

It is about 170 miles northeast of Los Angeles, on State Route 178. The population was 1,739 at the 2010 census. The ZIP code is 93562 and the area code 760.

Searles Valley is known for its isolation and desolation.[2] as well as the nearby Trona Pinnacles. The local school plays on a dirt football field because the high level of salt kills grass.

Geography

Searles Valley is located at 35°45′55″N 117°22′58″W / 35.765181°N 117.382803°W / 35.765181; -117.382803 (35.765181, -117.382803).[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 27.2 km2 (10.5 mi2), all land.

The same collection of geologic forces which created the Searles Valley where the community sits, also created the natural resource of Searles Dry Lake, which contains rich deposits of chemicals, including 98 of the 104 known naturally-occurring chemical elements.

Located a few miles to the south are the Trona Pinnacles, an unusual landscape consisting of more than 500 tufa spires, some as high as 140 feet, rising from the bed of the Searles Lake basin.

Demographics

2010

The 2010 United States Census[4] reported that Searles Valley had a population of 1,739. The population density was 165.7 people per square mile (64.0/km²). The racial makeup of Searles Valley was 1,405 (80.8%) White (72.3% Non-Hispanic White),[5] 69 (4.0%) African American, 56 (3.2%) Native American, 16 (0.9%) Asian, 6 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 83 (4.8%) from other races, and 104 (6.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 293 persons (16.8%).

The Census reported that 1,739 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 722 households, out of which 215 (29.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 309 (42.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 92 (12.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 52 (7.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 48 (6.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 3 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 223 households (30.9%) were made up of individuals and 80 (11.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41. There were 453 families (62.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.01.

The population was spread out with 436 people (25.1%) under the age of 18, 171 people (9.8%) aged 18 to 24, 342 people (19.7%) aged 25 to 44, 515 people (29.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 275 people (15.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.4 males.

There were 961 housing units at an average density of 91.6 per square mile (35.4/km²), of which 439 (60.8%) were owner-occupied, and 283 (39.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%. 1,041 people (59.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 698 people (40.1%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Searles Valley had a median household income of $32,448, with 21.7% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[6]

2000

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 1,885 people, 738 households, and 495 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 61.9/km2 (160.5/mi2). There were 1,051 housing units at an average density of 34.5/km2 (89.5/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.3% White, 1.5% African American, 2.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 5.0% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.2% of the population.

There were 738 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 30.9% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 104.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,833, and the median income for a family was $37,143. Males had a median income of $44,397 versus $35,625 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,861. About 18.2% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.0% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In the state legislature Searles Valley is located in the 18th Senate District, represented by Republican Roy Ashburn, and in the 33rd Assembly District, represented by Republican Tim Donnelly. Federally, Searles Valley is located in California's 25th congressional district and is represented by Republican Buck McKeon.

Gallery

  • Piles of lime dust sit just south of Trona on the Trona Railway.
    Piles of lime dust sit just south of Trona on the Trona Railway.
  • Entrance to town.
    Entrance to town.
  • Searles Valley from the tourist rest stop.
    Searles Valley from the tourist rest stop.
  • A dust storm forms over the dry Searles Lake bed, taken from the Searles Valley tourist stop.
    A dust storm forms over the dry Searles Lake bed, taken from the Searles Valley tourist stop.
  • A Mountain Monogram "T" sits on the hills above Trona.
    A Mountain Monogram "T" sits on the hills above Trona.

References

  1. ^ U.S. Census
  2. ^ David Kelly, Stark Beauty, Solitude, Squalor and Sulfur -- Trona Has It All, The Los Angeles Times, October 4, 2006, Accessed December 28, 2006.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Searles Valley CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  5. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml#none. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links

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