Ridgecrest, California
Ridgecrest is a city in Kern County, California, United States, along U.S. Route 395 in the Indian Wells Valley in northeastern Kern County, adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. It was incorporated as a city in 1963. The population was 27,616 at the 2010 census, up from 24,927 at the 2000 census.
Ridgecrest is surrounded by four mountain ranges; the Sierra Nevada on the west, the Cosos on the north, the Argus Range on the east, and the El Paso Mountains on the south. It is approximately from the Lancaster/Palmdale area, from Bakersfield, and from San Bernardino, the three nearest major urban centers. Private air travel in and out of the city is provided through the Inyokern Airport. There are currently no scheduled commercial flights.
The city has been near the epicenter of major earthquakes, including one in 1995 and a series of quakes in July 2019.
History
The settlement began as a farming community called Crumville in 1912, honoring James and Robert Crum, local dairymen. The first post office opened in 1941. By 1943, Ridgecrest had grown to 115 homes and 196 residents. NOTS was established in November 1943, providing a strong job base for the years to come.Ridgecrest incorporated in 1963. During this era the growth of Ridgecrest was governed by the continuing needs of the high tech industries coupled to the Naval Station's programs for testing arms and guidance systems.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and of it is water. Ridgecrest is located in Indian Wells Valley, which is a southern extension of Owens Valley, broken up by the volcanic Coso Range.1995 earthquake
The area, associated with the Eastern California Shear Zone, has in the past experienced numerous earthquake swarms, groups of several thousand quakes under magnitude 6.0 or so, often with no obvious mainshock. The 1995 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence started on August 17, when a magnitude 5.4 quake, centered north of the town of Ridgecrest, shook the area and spawned over 2,500 aftershocks over the course of the following five weeks. Then, on September 20, 1995, the second large quake struck the area: it measured magnitude 5.8, and was at that time the largest earthquake to hit southern California since the 1994 Northridge earthquake.2019 earthquakes
On July 4–5, 2019, Ridgecrest was associated with a series of earthquakes, including the largest to affect the area in decades, measuring 7.1 magnitude. The epicenter was about 10 miles northeast of Ridgecrest. The earthquake sequence started with a 4.0 quake southwest of Searles Valley, then at 10:33 A.M. a 6.4 quake struck southwest of Searles Valley. Over 1,400 aftershocks struck Searles Valley and Ridgecrest. On July 5, 2019 at 8:19 P.M., the magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred, with the epicenter approximately 10 miles northeast of Ridgecrest.Climate
The weather in the Indian Wells Valley is predominantly influenced by its high desert location. The climate is characterized by hot days and cool nights with extremely arid conditions prevailing throughout the summer months. The mean annual maximum temperature for the Ridgecrest area is while the mean annual minimum temperature is. There are wide annual temperature fluctuations that occur from a high of to a low of. On average, annual rainfall is less than "equivalent rainfall" per year, which includes less than of snow. The area is known to have wind as high as. December is the coolest month with an average maximum temperature of and an average minimum temperature of. The all-time minimum temperature of was recorded on December 23, 1963, and January 7, 1973.July is the hottest month with an average maximum temperature of and an average minimum temperature of. The all-time maximum temperature of was recorded on July 31, 1971.
Demographics
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Ridgecrest had a population of 27,616. The population density was 1,289.5 people per square mile. The racial makeup of Ridgecrest was 21,387 White, 1,113 African American, 341 Native American, 1,209 Asian, 143 Pacific Islander, 1,836 from other races, and 1,587 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4,941 persons.The Census reported that 27,420 people lived in households, 109 lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 87 were institutionalized.
There were 10,781 households, out of which 3,901 had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,211 were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,352 had a female householder with no husband present, 609 had a male householder with no wife present. There were 681 unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 64 same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,978 households were made up of individuals and 1,001 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54. There were 7,172 families ; the average family size was 3.10.
The population was spread out with 7,544 people under the age of 18, 2,654 people aged 18 to 24, 7,157 people aged 25 to 44, 6,844 people aged 45 to 64, and 3,417 people who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males.
There were 11,915 housing units at an average density of 556.3 per square mile, of which 6,525 were owner-occupied, and 4,256 were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.2%. 16,520 people lived in owner-occupied housing units and 10,900 people lived in rental housing units.
2000
According to the census of 2000, there were 24,927 people, 9,826 households, and 6,691 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 11,309 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 82.02% White, 3.53% Black or African American, 1.08% Native American, 3.88% Asian, 0.58% Pacific Islander, 4.93% from other races, and 3.98% from two or more races. 12.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 9,826 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,971, and the median income for a family was $52,725. Males had a median income of $46,993 versus $29,558 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,312. About 10.2% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
People in group quarters:
- 987 people in military barracks, etc.
- 87 people in nursing homes
- 33 people in other non-institutional group quarters
- 22 people in state prisons
Economy
AltaOne Federal Credit Union has its corporate headquarters in Ridgecrest.
Top employers
The principal employers in Ridgecrest in 2018 were:| Rank | Employer | Employees |
| 1 | NAWS China Lake | 7995 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest Regional Hospital | 728 |
| 3 | Searles Valley Minerals | 650 |
| 4 | Sierra Sands Unified School District | 631 |
| 5 | Walmart | 316 |
| 6 | Cerro Coso Community College | 170 |
| 7 | Albertson’s | 152 |
| 8 | Alta One Federal Credit Union | 149 |
| 9 | City of Ridgecrest | 125 |
| 10 | Jacobs Technology | 101 |
Local features and activities
The most notable feature in the nearby area is the Coso People rock art in Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons. The Coso People were prolific artists and traded with distant tribes using tools crafted of stone. Archeological recovery at coastal Chumash sites in California indicates considerable trade with the Coso People.Other traditional activities present are:
Maturango Museum
The Maturango Museum is located in Ridgecrest. The museum is best known for the guided tours to Little Petroglyph Canyon on China Lake Naval Weapons Station. The museum offers exhibits and displays featuring both the natural and the cultural history and diversity of the Northern Mojave Desert with exhibits of plants, animals, Native American artifacts, geology and contemporary arts and crafts.Coso Rock Art District
Coso Rock Art District, sometimes equated with the Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons is a site containing over 20,000 Native American petroglyphs now located within Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, near China Lake and Ridgecrest, California. In fact, there are several other distinct canyons to the Coso Rock Art District besides the Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons. The most popular subjects are bighorn sheep, deer, and antelope. Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964. In 2001, they were incorporated into a larger National Historic Landmark District, called Coso Rock Art District. In 2014, the Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival, a celebration of the petroglyphs, native culture, and Ridgecrest as a California tourist destination was created as an annual event. It was named as one of Groupon's "10 Most Unique Autumn Festivals in the Country"Walker Pass
Walker Pass is a mountain pass by Lake Isabella in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. It is located in northeastern Kern County, approximately ENE of Bakersfield and WSW of Ridgecrest. The pass provides a route between the San Joaquin Valley on the west and the Mojave Desert on the east.[Trona Pinnacles]
Trona Pinnacles featured in many notable films is located near Ridgecrest.Red Rock Canyon State Park">Red Rock Canyon State Park (California)">Red Rock Canyon State Park
Red Rock Canyon State Park is also very close to Ridgecrest and provides the community with hiking and camping opportunities.Education
, which serves the city of Ridgecrest, Inyokern, and the surrounding communities, includes the following elementary schools: Las Flores Elementary, Faller Elementary, Richmond Elementary currently displaced to Vieweg Elementary due to damage in recent earthquakes, Gateway Elementary, Pierce Elementary, and Inyokern Elementary. For middle-schoolers the school district includes James Monroe Middle School, and Murray Middle School. The district's primary high school, Sherman E Burroughs High School, serves Ridgecrest, China Lake NAWC, Inyokern, Buttermilk Acres, Red Mountain, and Randsburg. There is also an alternative high school, Mesquite High School.Ridgecrest Elementary Academy for Language, Music, and Science is a public charter school sponsored by the Kern County Office of Education. Opened in 2019, the school educates children from Transitional K to the 6th grade. The school campus was formerly a Transitional K to 8th grade school which operated from 2001 to 2018 under the name Ridgecrest Charter School.
| Grades | School | City |
| K-5 | Faller Elementary School | Ridgecrest |
| K-5 | Gateway Elementary School | Ridgecrest |
| K-5 | Inyokern Elementary School | Inyokern |
| K-5 | Las Flores Elementary School | Ridgecrest |
| K-5 | Pierce Elementary School | Ridgecrest |
| K-5 | Richmond Elementary School | Ridgecrest |
| K-5 | Rand Elementary School | Johannesburg |
| 6-8 | James Monroe Middle School | Ridgecrest |
| 6-8 | Murray Middle School | Ridgecrest |
| 9-12 | Sherman E. Burroughs High School | Ridgecrest |
| 9-12 | Mesquite High School | Ridgecrest |
College
Cerro Coso Community College, a part of the Kern Community College District, was established in 1973 and has a full-time enrollment of 2,347. The Indian Wells Valley Campus is located in the upper Mojave Desert near Ridgecrest. The IWV Campus is the largest of the Cerro Coso campuses. It serves a population of about 50,000. The College serves the communities of Ridgecrest, China Lake, Inyokern, and Trona.Public library
Ridgecrest Branch Library, a branch of the Kern County Library, serves Ridgecrest, Inyokern, China Lake, Trona and surrounding communities.Public safety
Ridgecrest has its own police department, as well as a regional station of the . The Kern County Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services. Full-time law enforcement employees in 2008 numbered 56.Crime statistics for 2011 :
Notable people
Notable natives include:- Rebekka Armstrong, Playboy Playmate and HIV/AIDS activist
- Lacy Barnes-Mileham,, graduated Burroughs High and Fresno State. Won U.S.A. Track and Field discus championships in 1999 and 1991, and competed in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
- Mark Hoppus, co-lead singer and bassist of the rock band Blink-182
- Jason Monks, politician and member of the Idaho House of Representatives
Media
In popular culture
The town of Junktown in the video game Fallout is based on a post-apocalyptic version of Ridgecrest.In the following 1984 Sony commercial, Ridgecrest is known as the "Earthquake Capital of the World..."
Transportation
Ridgecrest is located at the junction of highways California State Route 178 and U.S. Route 395.The City of Ridgecrest provides the Ridgecrest Transit shuttle bus service to and from Inyokern, connecting with the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority bus that serves Bishop and Mammoth Lakes to the north, and Lancaster, with connections for Los Angeles, to the south. Kern Transit connects Ridgecrest to Lake Isabella and Mojave.