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Edwards Air Force Base

Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation in California. Most of the base sits in Kern County, but its eastern end is in San Bernardino County and a southern arm is in Los Angeles County. The hub of the base is Edwards, California. Established in the 1930s as Muroc Field, the facility was renamed Muroc Army Airfield and then Muroc Air Force Base before its final renaming in 1950 for World War II USAAF veteran and test pilot Capt. Glen Edwards.

Edwards is the home of the Air Force Test Center, Air Force Test Pilot School, and NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center. It is the Air Force Materiel Command center for conducting and supporting research and development of flight, as well as testing and evaluating aerospace systems from concept to combat. It also hosts many test activities conducted by America's commercial aerospace industry.

Notable occurrences at Edwards include Chuck Yeager's flight that broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1, test flights of the North American X-15, the first landings of the Space Shuttle, and the 1986 around-the-world flight of the Rutan Voyager.

Origins
A water stop on the Santa Fe Railroad since 1882, the site was largely unsettled until the early 20th century. In 1910, Ralph, Clifford and Effie Corum built a homestead on the edge of Rogers Dry Lake. The Corums proved instrumental in attracting other settlers and building infrastructure in the area, and when a post office was commissioned for the area, they named it Muroc, a reversal of the Corum name, due to the presence of a town named Coram.

Conscious that March Field was located in an area of increasing growth in Riverside County, and with the need for bombing and gunnery ranges for his units, base and 1st Wing commander Lieutenant Colonel Henry H. "Hap" Arnold began the process of acquiring land next to Muroc Dry Lake for a new bombing range away from populated areas in August 1932; the last tract was not acquired until 1939. The facility established to support the range, initially called "Mohave Field" for the nearby community of Mohave, was Muroc Field. In October 1935, five men under a Sergeant Folgleman were sent to the area from March Field. They put out circular bombing targets in the desert. For the next two years aircraft shuttled back and forth between Muroc Dry Lake and March Field for Crew Bombing Practice.

At this time, another colorful character in Edwards' history, Pancho Barnes, built her renowned Rancho Oro Verde Fly-Inn Dude Ranch that would be the scene of many parties and celebrations to come. The dry lake was a hive of hot rodding, with racing on the playa. The runway on which the Space Shuttle landed follows the route that hosted racing in the 1930s.

The first major aerial activity occurred at Muroc in 1937 when the entire Army Air Corps participated in a large-scale maneuver. From then on, the bombing range grew in size. When Arnold became Chief of the Air Corps in 1938, the service was given a renewed focus on research and development. Muroc Field drew attention because the nearby dry lake was so flat (Arnold described it as "level as a billiard table") that it could serve as a giant runway, ideal for flight testing. Over US$120 million was spent to develop the base in the 1940s and expand it to 301000 acre. The base's main 15000 ft runway was completed in a single pour of concrete.

World War II
On the afternoon of 7 December 1941, the 41st Bombardment Group and the 6th Reconnaissance Squadron moved to Muroc from Davis-Monthan Army Airfield, Arizona, with a collection of B-18 Bolos, B-25 Mitchells, and an A-29 Hudson. On Christmas Eve, the 30th Bombardment Group and the 2d Reconnaissance Squadron arrived from New Orleans Army Airbase, Louisiana, for crew training. On 23 July 1942, the Muroc Bombing and Gunnery Range, Muroc Lake, California, was designated as a separate post (Exempted Status). The name of the facility at the time was "Army Air Base, Muroc Lake."

In July 1942, Muroc Army Airfield became a separate airfield from March Field and was placed under the jurisdiction of Fourth Air Force. Throughout the war years, the primary mission at Muroc was providing final combat training for bomber and fighter aircrews just before overseas deployment. Among its sub-bases and auxiliaries were:
 * Bishop Army Airfield 37.37306°N, -118.36361°W
 * Blythe Army Airfield 33.61917°N, -114.71667°W
 * Palmdale Army Airfield 33.62861°N, -118.08444°W
 * Desert Center Army Airfield 33.74778°N, -115.32528°W
 * Gary Army Airfield 33.67917°N, -114.64333°W

Muroc was initially used for IV Bomber Command Operational Unit training. The B-25 Mitchell 41st and 30th Bombardment Groups and the A-20 Havoc 47th Bombardment Groups trained at the station in early 1942. The training provided newly graduated pilots eight to 12 weeks of training as a team using the same aircraft they would use in combat. In 1942, the training mission was transferred to IV Fighter Command, with P-38 Lightning OTU training for the 78th and 81st Fighter Groups. In 1943, the 360th Fighter Group and 382d Bombardment Groups were assigned permanently to Muroc for P-38 Lightning and B-24 Liberator Replacement Training (RTU) of personnel.

In the spring of 1942, the Mojave Desert station was chosen as a secluded site for testing America's first jet, the super-secret Bell Aircraft P-59 Airacomet jet fighter. The immense volume of flight tests being conducted at Wright Field, in Ohio, helped drive a search for a new, isolated site where a "Top Secret" airplane could undergo tests "away from prying eyes." The urgent need to complete the P-59 program without delay dictated a location with good, year-round flying weather, and the risks inherent in the radical new technology to be demonstrated on the aircraft dictated a spacious landing field. After examining a number of locations around the country, they selected a site along the north shore of the enormous, flat surface of Rogers Dry Lake about six miles away from the training base at Muroc.

Ground tests began five days after the first XP-59 arrived on 21 September 1942. First flight took place on 30 September when the XP-59 rose to 10 feet altitude for 0.5 mile during taxi testing. However, the first official flight was 1 October 1942 with NACA, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, Royal Air Force, Army, Bell and General Electric personnel on hand.

As with virtually all of the test programs conducted during the war years, most of the actual flight test work on the P-59 was conducted by the contractor. Although Army Air Forces (AAF) pilots flew the aircraft from time to time, and flight test engineers from Wright Field reviewed the data, the formal preliminary military test and evaluation program did not commence until the Fall of 1943, a year after the first flight. Designed to validate the contractor's reports, this preliminary evaluation consisted of a very limited number of flights and was essentially completed within a month. Formal operational suitability and accelerated service tests did not get underway until 1944, well after the AAF had decided that the airplane would not be suitable for combat operations and would, instead, be relegated to a training role.

The P-59s were tested at Muroc from October 1942 through February 1944 without a single accident and, though the aircraft did not prove to be combat worthy, the successful conduct of its test program, combined with the success of the Lockheed XP-80 program which followed it in early 1944, sealed the future destiny of the remote high desert installation. Muroc would thenceforth become synonymous with the cutting edge of the turbojet revolution in America.

Aircraft testing continued at this desert "Army Air Base", then on 8 November 1943, the base title was changed to "Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc". In the fall of 1944, Eighth Air Force ran tests to determine how well conventional fighters stood up against jets. Also, in October 1944, a small detachment arrived at the base for experimental work in rocket firing and achieved such success that they remained through most of 1945.

Other World War II test flights included the Northrop JB-1 Bat.

In 1943, a replica of a Japanese cruiser, nicknamed "Muroc Maru", was constructed in Rogers Dry Lake where it was used for bombing training until 1950.

Postwar era

With the end of the war, Fourth Air Force relinquished command of Muroc Army Airfield on 16 October 1945 and jurisdiction was transferred to Air Technical Service Command, becoming Air Materiel Command in 1946. Test work on the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the primary mission of the base for the greater part of the fall of 1945. The Consolidated Vultee XP-81 single-seat, long-range escort fighter and Republic XP-84 Thunderjet fighter arrived at the base in early 1946 for flight testing. It was obvious even at this embryonic stage of base development that the Army Air Force desert station was destined to become a proving ground for aircraft and a testing site for experimental airplanes.

The success of these programs attracted a new type of research activity to the base in late 1946. The rocket-powered Bell X-1 was the first in a long series of experimental airplanes designed to prove or disprove aeronautical concepts—to probe the most challenging unknowns of flight and solve its mysteries. Further evidence of things to come was experienced on 14 October 1947 when Captain Charles "Chuck" Yeager flew the small bullet-shaped airplane to become the first human to exceed the speed of sound.

Four months later, on 10 February 1948, Muroc AAF was re-designated Muroc Air Force Base with the establishment of the United States Air Force as a separate military service. Units attached or assigned to the base at the time were the 4144th Army Air Force Base Unit, the 3208th Strategic Bomb Test Squadron along with communications and weather detachments. On 20 August 1948, the 4144th Air Force Base Unit was re-designated as the 2759th AF Base Unit and with the adoption of the Hobson Plan, as the 2759th Experimental Wing.

With the X-1, flight testing at Muroc began to assume two distinct identities. Highly experimental research programs—such as the X-3, X-4, X-5 and XF-92A—were typically flown in conjunction with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, or NACA, and were conducted in a methodical fashion to answer largely theoretical questions. Then, as now, the great bulk of flight testing at Muroc focused on evaluations of the capabilities of aircraft and systems proposed for the operational inventory.

In December 1949, Muroc was renamed Edwards Air Force Base in honor of Captain Glen Edwards (1918–1948), who was killed a year earlier in the crash of the Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing. During World War II, he flew A-20 Havoc light attack bombers in the North African campaign on 50 hazardous, low-level missions against German tanks, convoys, troops, bridges, airfields, and other tactical targets. Edwards became a test pilot in 1943 and spent much of his time at Muroc Army Air Field, on California's high desert, testing wide varieties of experimental prototype aircraft. He died in the crash of a Northrop YB-49 flying wing near Muroc AFB on 5 June 1948. From the time Edwards Air Force Base was named, speed and altitude records began to pile up as new aircraft were developed and the base started to build and branch out significantly.

A major reason for the growth of Edwards AFB was the nearness of West Coast aircraft manufacturers. However, another major reason was the decision in 1947 to build a missile test facility on the base. The need for a static missile faculty to test high-thrust missile rocket engines was first envisioned in 1946 by the Power Plant Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. It was that decision that such a facility should be government-owned to prevent a single contractor exclusive advantages on Air Force contracts for high-thrust missile rocket power plants, and it would eliminate duplication of like facilities by different manufacturers. The choice of location in 1947 was the Leuhman Ridge east of Rogers Dry Lake on Edwards AFB. Construction began in November 1949 on what was to become the Experimental Rocket Engine Test Station.

Flight testing

Jurisdiction of Edwards AFB was transferred from Air Materiel Command on 2 April 1951 to the newly created Air Research and Development Command. Activation of the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) followed on 25 June 1951. Units designated and assigned to the Center at the time of activation were the 6510th Air Base Wing for station support units. The test flying units at Edwards were assigned directly to the AFFTC.

That same year, the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School moved to Edwards from Wright Field, Ohio.

Its curriculum focused on the traditional field of performance testing and the relatively new field of stability and control, which had suddenly assumed critical importance with the dramatic increases in speed offered by the new turbojets. As the decade opened, the first-generation X-1 reached 1.45 Mach and a 71902 feet altitude, representing the edge of the envelope. The D-558-II Douglas Skyrocket soon surpassed these marks. In 1951, Douglas test pilot Bill Bridgeman flew the Skyrocket to a top speed of 1.88 Mach and a peak altitude of 74494 feet. Then, in 1953, Marine Corps test pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Marion Carl, flew the same plane to an altitude of 83235 feet.

On 20 November 1951, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics' Scott Crossfield became the first man to reach Mach 2 as he piloted the Skyrocket to a speed of 2.005 Mach. Less than a month later, Major Chuck Yeager topped this record as he piloted the second-generation Bell X-1A to a top speed of 2.44 Mach and, just nine months later, Major Arthur "Kit" Murray flew the same airplane to a new altitude record of 90440 feet.

These records stood for less than three years. In September 1956, Captain Iven Kincheloe became the first man to soar above 100000 feet, as he piloted the Bell X-2 to a then-remarkable altitude of 126200 feet. Flying the same airplane just weeks later on 27 September, Captain Mel Apt became the first to exceed 3 Mach, accelerating to a speed of 3.2 Mach. His moment of glory was tragically brief, however. Just seconds after attaining top speed, the X-2 tumbled violently out of control and Apt was never able to recover.

With the loss of the X-2, the search for many of the answers to the riddles of high-Mach flight had to be postponed until the arrival of the most ambitious of the rocket planes—the North American X-15.

Meanwhile, the turbojet revolution had reached a high plateau at Edwards. By the time the base was officially designated the U.S. Air Force Flight Test Center in June 1951, more than 40 different types of aircraft had first taken flight at the base and the nation's first generation of jet-powered combat airplanes had already completed development. One of them, the North American F-86 Sabre, was dominating the skies over Korea.

The promise of the turbojet revolution and the supersonic breakthrough were realized in the 1950s, as the Center tested and developed the first generation of true supersonic fighters—the famed "Century Series" F-100 Super Sabre, F-101 Voodoo, F-102 Delta Dagger, F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief and F-106 Delta Dart, and, in the process, defined the basic speed and altitude envelopes for fighter aircraft that still prevail to this day. The Center also played a pivotal role in the development of systems that would provide the United States with true intercontinental power projection capabilities as it tested aircraft such as the B-52 Stratofortress, C-133 Cargomaster and KC-135 Stratotanker, as well as the YC-130 Hercules which served as the basis for a classic series of tactical transports that would continue in frontline service until well into the 21st century. It also supported the development of the extremely high-altitude and long-range Lockheed U-2 and the dazzling ultra-performance capabilities of the B-58 Hustler, the world's first Mach 2 bomber.

Throughout the 1950s, American airplanes regularly broke absolute speed and altitude records at Edwards, but nothing compared to the arrival of the North American X-15 in 1961. The program got under way in earnest in 1961 when Maj. Robert M. "Bob" White became the first man to exceed Mach 4, as he accelerated to 4.43 Mach on 7 March. He claimed Mach 5 just three months later when he pegged a speed of 5.27 Mach on 23 June and then, during the X-15's first full-powered flight on 9 November, he exceeded Mach 6, as he flew to a speed of 6.04 Mach. Major White also became the first man to fly an airplane in space when he climbed to 314750 feet on 17 July 1962. NASA's Joe Walker flew the airplane to its peak altitude of 354200 feet on 22 August 1963 and Maj William J. "Pete" Knight reached 6.72 Mach in the modified X-15A-2 on 3 October 1967, a speed that remains the highest ever attained in an airplane.

In addition to the X-15 Program, AFFTC and NASA also teamed up to explore a new concept called "lifting reentry" with a series of wingless lifting body aircraft. These rocket powered-vehicles – the M2-F2, M2-F3, HL-10, X-24A and X-24B – paved the way for the Space Shuttle and future spaceplane designs when they demonstrated that they could make precision landings after high-speed gliding descents from high altitude.

The major aircraft systems that were tested and developed during the 1960s, the T-38 Talon, B-52H Stratofortress, F-4 and RF-4 Phantom II, the F-111 and FB-111, C-141 Starlifter and C-5 Galaxy, all became mainstays in the USAF operational inventory. Another aircraft gained world fame in the late 1960s at Edwards: the Lockheed YF-12A, a precursor to the SR-71 Blackbird, shattered nine records in one day of testing at Edwards. The SR-71's full capabilities remain classified, but the records set on 1 May 1965 included a sustained speed of 2070 mph and an altitude of 80257 ft.

New aircraft types arrived in the 1970s: the F-15 Eagle with its advanced engine and fire-control system; the single-engine F-16 Fighting Falcon with its revolutionary "fly-by-wire" flight control system; and the B-1 Lancer with its multitude of highly sophisticated offensive and defensive systems. These planes more than bore out the prophecy concerning the ever-increasing importance of systems testing and integration. Moreover, another major new element of complexity was soon introduced into the flight test process.

At a remote location in 1978 and 1979, an AFFTC test pilot and a pair of flight test engineers were engaged in proof-of-concept testing with Lockheed's "low-observable" technology demonstrator, dubbed "Have Blue." The successful completion of those tests led immediately to the development of a new subsonic attack aircraft that was designated the F-117A Nighthawk.

The capabilities of existing aircraft such as the F-15 and F-16 have been continually refined and expanded, even as totally new aircraft and systems incorporating radical new technologies are developed for future operational use. The dual-role F-15E, for example, was developed in the 1980s and went on to demonstrate truly remarkable combat effectiveness in the Persian Gulf conflict of the early 90s. The Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night, or LANTIRN, system revolutionized air-to-ground combat operations during the same conflict by denying opposing forces the once comforting sanctuary of night.

The late 1980s also witnessed the arrival of the first giant flying wing to soar over the base in nearly 40 years. The thin silhouette, compound curves and other low-observable characteristics of the B-2 Spirit bomber represented third-generation stealth technology, following the SR-71 and F-117.

The 1980s also saw Edwards host a demonstration of America's space warfare capabilities when a highly modified F-15 Eagle launched an ASM-135 anti-satellite missile at the dead P78-1 (or Solwind) satellite and destroyed it. In 1986, Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager launched from Edwards to set a new aviation record by piloting the first non-stop, around-the-world flight on a single tank of fuel in the Rutan Voyager.

Ground research

Extensive aviation research was also conducted on the ground at Edwards. Two rocket sled tracks pioneered important developments and research for the Air Force. The first 2000 ft track was built by Northrop in 1944 near what is currently the North Base. Originally intended to help develop a V-1 flying-bomb-style weapon that never left the drawing board, the track found use after the war as a test area for V-2 rockets captured from Nazi Germany in Operation Paperclip. Later, Lt. Col. John Stapp appropriated the track for his MX981 project and installed what was believed to be one of the most powerful mechanical braking systems ever constructed. His deceleration tests led the press to nickname him the "fastest man on earth" and the "bravest man in the Air Force".

The results from the first track prompted the Air Force to build a second in 1948. Located just south of Rogers Lake, the 10000 ft track was capable of supersonic speeds. Its first project was the development of the SM-62 Snark cruise missile. This track was so successful that an extension was constructed, and on 13 May 1959, the full 20000 ft track was opened. After the Navy had conducted research on the UGM-27 Polaris ballistic missile, the track was used to develop ejection seats that could be used at supersonic speeds. Though this program was a success, a budgetary review concluded that the track was too expensive to maintain, and the track was decommissioned on 24 May 1963. Before it was closed, a trial run set a world speed record of 3.3 Mach before the test car broke up. After it closed, the rails were pulled up to help straighten Lancaster Boulevard.

Space Shuttle support

After President Richard M. Nixon announced the Space Shuttle program on 5 January 1972, Edwards was chosen for Space Shuttle orbiter testing. The prototype was carried to altitude by the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) and released. In all, 13 test flights were conducted with the Enterprise and the SCA to determine their flight characteristics and handling.

After Space Shuttle Columbia became the first shuttle launched into orbit on 12 April 1981, it returned to Edwards for landing. The airbase's immense lakebeds and its proximity to Plant 42, where the shuttle was serviced before relaunch, were important factors in its selection and it continued to serve as the primary landing area for the space shuttle until 1991. After that time, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida was favored. This saved the considerable cost of transporting the shuttle from California back to Florida, but Edwards AFB and White Sands Space Harbor continued to serve as backups for the duration of the shuttle program. Shuttles landed at Edwards as recently as 9 August 2005 (STS-114), 22 June 2007 (STS-117), 30 November 2008 (STS-126), 24 May 2009 (STS-125), and 11 September 2009 (STS-128) due to rain and ceiling events at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility. STS-126 was the only mission to land on temporary runway 04 at Edwards, as the refurbished main runway was operational from STS-119 through to the retirement of the shuttles.

Into the 1990s
The end of the Cold War was marked by the arrival of the YF-22A and the YF-23A. The two prototype fighters were the first airplanes to blend stealth with agility and high-speed, supersonic cruise capability. The YF-22A was selected to become the Air Force's new advanced tactical fighter after a brief demonstration and validation risk reduction flight test program. Now named the Raptor, the F-22A continues to undergo test and evaluation at Edwards.

A new group of research projects came to Edwards in the 1990s. Global Hawk, an unmanned aerial vehicle that has been used extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq, made its first flight at Edwards in February 1998. The X-24, X-33, X-34, X-36 and X-38, a series of new lifting bodies, technology demonstrators and half-scale models were tested here by NASA during the decade.

The new millennium brought new projects with worldwide impact. The X-35A and X-32A, competing models for the Joint Strike Fighter program, made their first flights in September and October 2000. The X-35A won the competition in 2001 and will eventually be built in various versions for America's flying armed services and for foreign air forces as well. Also new are the RQ-4 Global Hawk, YAL-1 Airborne Laser, the B-52 synthetic fuel program, the C-17 Globemaster III, and many prototype unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Edwards is among the few U.S. military bases to have gained jobs since the Cold War. Under the DoD's Base Realignment and Closure process, several smaller bases have been decommissioned, and their facilities and responsibilities have been sent to Edwards, China Lake, and other large bases.

During 2012, the 95th Air Base Wing, the former base support unit at Edwards was inactivated and consolidated into the 412th Test Wing as part of the Air Force Flight Test Center transitioning into the Air Force Test Center. The five-Center consolidation not only better integrates the workforce but saves taxpayers approximately $109 million annually.

Role and operations
The base has helped develop virtually every aircraft purchased by the Air Force since World War II. Almost every United States military aircraft since the 1950s has been at least partially tested at Edwards, and it has been the site of many aviation breakthroughs.

412th Test Wing
The 412th Test Wing plans, conducts, analyzes, and reports on all flight and ground testing of aircraft, weapons, software and components as well as modeling and simulation for the U.S. Air Force. The Wing also oversees the base's day-to-day operations and provides support for the military, federal civilian, and contract personnel assigned to Edwards AFB. Planes assigned to the 412th carry the tail code ED.

The Test Engineering and Electronic Warfare groups provide the central components in conducting the Test and Evaluation mission of the 412 TW. They provide the tools, talent and equipment for the core disciplines of aircraft structures, propulsion, avionics and electronic warfare evaluation of the latest weapon system technologies. They also host the core facilities that enable flight test and ground test—the Range Division, Benefield Anechoic Facility, Integrated Flight Avionics Systems Test Facility and the Air Force Electronic Warfare Evaluation Simulator. The Project and Resource Management Divisions provide the foundation for the successful program management of test missions.
 * U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School: Part of the 412th Test Wing, USAF TPS is where the Air Force's top pilots, navigators and engineers learn how to conduct flight tests and generate the data needed to carry out test missions. The comprehensive curriculum of Test Pilot School is fundamental to the success of flight tests and evaluations.
 * 412th Operations Group: The 412th OG flies an average of 90 aircraft with upwards of 30 aircraft designs. It performs an annual average of more than 7,400 missions, including more than 1,900 test missions. Its squadrons include:
 * 411th Flight Test Squadron: (F-22)
 * 416th Flight Test Squadron: (F-16)
 * 419th Flight Test Squadron: (B-52H, B-1, B-2)
 * 445th Flight Test Squadron: (Initial Flight Test Operations, T-38)
 * 461st Flight Test Squadron: (F-35 Joint Strike Fighter)
 * 412th Flight Test Squadron: (C-135C Speckled Trout)
 * 418th Flight Test Squadron: (C-130 and special operations variants; CV-22; KC-135 and special variants; C-17A)
 * 452d Flight Test Squadron: (RQ-4)
 * 412th Test Management Division
 * 412th Test Management Group
 * 412th Civil Engineer Division
 * 412th Maintenance Group
 * 412th Medical Group
 * 412th Mission Support Group
 * 412th Electronic Warfare Group
 * 412th Test Engineering Group

Associate units
There are a vast array of organizations at Edwards that do not fall under the 412th Test Wing. They are known as Associate Units. These units do everything from providing an on-base grocery store to testing state-of-the-art rockets.

31st Test and Evaluation Squadron (Tail Code: OT)

 * The 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron provides Air Combat Command personnel to support combined test and evaluation on Air Force weapons systems. Established in 1917, it is one of the oldest units of the United States Air Force. The "Desert Pirates" are part of the 753d Test and Evaluation Group, Nellis AFB, Nevada and the 53d Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida. It also provides the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, and Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, with test team members who have an operational perspective to perform test and evaluation on Combat Air Force systems.

 * The 31st is staffed with a mixture of operations, maintenance and engineering experts who plan and conduct tests, evaluate effectiveness and suitability, and influence system design. The squadron's personnel are integrated into the B-1, B-2, B-52, Global Hawk, MQ-9 and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programs. Their results and conclusions support Department of Defense acquisition, deployment and employment decisions.

Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 1

 * An Air Force Materiel Command named unit assigned to Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, AFOTEC Detachment 1 is responsible for accomplishing Block 2 and 3 Initial Operational Test and Evaluation of the F-35 Lightning II for the US Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United Kingdom Ministry of Defense, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 5

 * AFOTEC Detachment 5** is responsible for conducting the operational test and evaluation of USAF aircraft and avionics systems. Certification by Detachment 5 is required for new aircraft prior to AFMC full-rate production and combat fielding decisions. Detachment 5 personnel are integrated into the Flight Test Center's combined test squadrons and provide a critical operating perspective during developmental flight testing to help prepare systems for their final operational test and evaluation.
 * ** Note: An AFOTEC Detachment 3 is an unconfirmed geographically separated unit, which may be assigned to a remote facility of Edwards AFB at Groom Lake, Nevada, that may perform similar testing as Detachment 5 on weapons systems not publicly identified. During 1978 and 1979, an AFFTC test pilot and a pair of flight test engineers were engaged in proof-of-concept testing with Lockheed's "low-observable" technology demonstrator, dubbed "Have Blue". The successful conduct of these tests led immediately to the development of the F-117A Nighthawk, the world's first operational stealth fighter.

Air Force Plant 42 production flight test installation

 * A remote facility of Edwards AFB, located at Palmdale, California, Plant 42 is a government-owned, contractor-operated facility with proximity to both the concentration of aerospace industry in Los Angeles, and the high-speed corridors and resources of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards. Plant 42 is one of four Air Force plants located throughout the United States and is uniquely situated to fully support the Air Force's newest and most advanced aerospace systems. It provides industrial facilities for production, modification, depot maintenance and flight testing of aerospace systems. It is staffed by a mixture of civilian defense contractors, as well as USAF personnel.

NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center

 * Contained inside Edwards Air Force Base is NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) where modern aircraft research is still active (e.g. the Boeing X-45). The AFRC is home to many of the world's most advanced aircraft. Notable recent research projects include the Controlled Impact Demonstration and the Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment. It is chartered to research and test advanced aeronautics, space and related technologies for atmospheric flight operations, and to transfer those technologies to industry and other government agencies. Armstrong supports NASA's Earth science research with a fleet of specialized manned and unmanned environmental science aircraft. Armstrong is also involved in NASA's space science mission by managing and flying the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. The center is named for Neil A. Armstrong, an American astronaut and the first person to walk on the Moon. Armstrong's history dates back to late 1946, when 13 engineers arrived at what is now Edwards from the NACA Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in Virginia to support the last supersonic research flights by the X-1 rocket plane in a joint NACA, Army Air Forces and Bell Aircraft program.

Air Force Rocket Research Laboratory

 * The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Propulsion Directorate maintains a rocket engine test facility on and around Leuhman Ridge, just east of Rogers Dry Lake. This facility traces its roots to early Army Air Corps activities. The Edwards Research Site is part of the AFRL Propulsion Directorate, which is headquartered at the Wright Research Site, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Other units and further details
Edwards is also home to several other units from DOD, Air Force, Army, Navy, FAA, USPS and many companies that support the primary mission or the personnel stationed there.

The Main Base is also the home of the Benefield Anechoic Facility (BAF), an electromagnetic and radio frequency testing building. It is also home to the Air Force Flight Test Museum, which has over 15 aircraft on display.

The site has one 6000 x paved runway, 06/24, and is accessed from the lakebed or via a single controlled road.

Based units
Following are flying and notable non-flying units based at Edwards Air Force Base.

Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Edwards, are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.

United States Air Force
Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)
 * Air Force Test Center
 * Headquarters Air Force Test Center
 * 412th Test Wing (host wing)
 * 412th Comptroller Squadron
 * 412th Operations Group
 * 411th Flight Test Squadron – F-22A Raptor
 * 412th Operations Support Squadron
 * 416th Flight Test Squadron – F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, T-38C Talon
 * 418th Flight Test Squadron – C-17A Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, CV-22 Osprey, KC-46 Pegasus, KC-135R Stratotanker
 * 419th Flight Test Squadron – B-1B Lancer, B-2A Spirit, B-52H Stratofortress, C-12C Huron
 * 452d Flight Test Squadron – RQ-4B Global Hawk
 * 461st Flight Test Squadron – F-35A Lightning II
 * 412th Civil Engineer Group
 * Asset Management Branch
 * Environmental Management Branch
 * Explosive Ordnance Disposal Branch
 * Fire Protection Branch
 * Operations Branch
 * Programs Branch
 * Readiness Emergency Management Branch
 * Resources Branch
 * 412th Electronic Warfare Group
 * 771st Test Squadron
 * 772nd Test Squadron
 * Business Division
 * Electronic Warfare Range Division
 * Project Development Division
 * Site Support Division
 * 412th Maintenance Group
 * 412th Aircraft Instrumentation Test Squadron
 * 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
 * 412th Logistics Test Squadron
 * 412th Maintenance Squadron
 * 912th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
 * Maintenance Training Division
 * Plans, Programs, and Operations Division
 * Quality Assurance Division
 * Weapons Standardization Division
 * 412th Medical Group
 * 412th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron
 * 412th Healthcare Operations Squadron
 * 412th Mission Support Group
 * 412th Communications Squadron
 * 412th Force Support Squadron
 * 412th Security Forces Squadron
 * Logistics Readiness Squadron
 * 412th Test Engineering Group
 * 412th Range Squadron
 * 773rd Test Squadron
 * 775th Test Squadron
 * 812th Test Squadron
 * Test Instrumentation Division
 * 412th Test Management Division
 * Project Management
 * Resource, Planning & Analysis
 * Special Projects Branch
 * U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School – NF-16D Fighting Falcon
 * Air Force Research Laboratory
 * Propulsion Directorate
 * Air Force Rocket Research Laboratory

Air Combat Command (ACC) Direct Reporting Units (DRU)
 * US Air Force Warfare Center
 * 53rd Wing
 * 53rd Test and Evaluation Group
 * 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron (GSU) – B-1B Lancer, B-2A Spirit, B-52H Stratofortress, F-22A Raptor, F-35A Lightning II, RQ-4B Global Hawk
 * Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center
 * Detachment 1 (GSU)
 * Detachment 5 (GSU)

United States Navy
Operational Test and Evaluation Force
 * Aviation Warfare
 * VX-9
 * VX-9 Detachment Edwards (GSU) – F-35C Lightning II

NASA

 * Armstrong Flight Research Center – Beech 200 Super King Air, C-20A (UAVSAR), F-15B/D Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, Gulfstream III, RQ-4 Global Hawk, T-34C Talon, X-57 Maxwell

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Geodetic Surveys Division
 * Edwards Geodetic Surveys Branch

Royal Air Force

 * No. 17 Squadron – F-35B Lightning II

Royal Netherlands Air Force

 * 323 Squadron – F-35A Lightning II

Infrastructure and facilities

The base is next to Rogers Dry Lake, an endorheic desert salt pan which has a hard dry lake surface that provides a natural extension to Edwards' runways. This large landing area, combined with excellent year-round weather, makes the base good for flight testing. The lake is a National Historic Landmark. The base hosts half of the Edwards & Sanborn Solar and Energy Storage Project, with 875 megawatts of solar power and 3,287 megawatt-hours of battery storage. The base receives $75m during 35 years from the plant.

As a military airbase, civilian access is severely restricted. There are three lighted, paved runways:

 * 05R/23L is 15024 x, and an extra 9588 ft of lakebed runway is available at its northerly end. It is equipped with arresting systems approximately 1500 ft from each end.
 * 05L/23R is 12000 x and was constructed to temporarily replace 04R/22L while it was being renovated in 2008.
 * 07/25 is 8000 x (this runway is technically part of the South Base) and an extra 10158 x of lakebed runway is available at its easterly end.

There are 13 other official runways on the Rogers lakebed:
 * 17/35 is 39097 x. Imagery from the 1990s show an extension another 7500 ft to the north, including a visual cue and centerline markings that extend about 15000 ft down the currently declared portion of the runway. In 2022 Google Maps imagery, the southern Runway 35 indicator is still outlined and clearly visible. The only other remains are a faint outline along the length, and the very eroded northern Runway 17 indicator.
 * 05L/23R is 22175 x
 * 05R/23L is 14999 x and is next to 05L/23R at the 23L (easterly) end.
 * 06/24 is 7050 x. Not to be confused with the south base 06/24 paved runway (which also extends onto the lakebed), or the north base 06/24 paved runway.
 * 07/25 is 23100 x
 * 09/27 is 9991 x
 * 12/30 is 9235 x. It is actually marked as two adjacent 300 ft-wide runways (L and R). Runway 30 rolls out onto the compass rose, so its corresponding, unmarked, runway 12 is never used.
 * 15/33 is 29487 x
 * 18/36 is 23086 x. It is actually marked as three adjacent 300 ft-wide runways (L, C, and R).

The Rosamond lakebed has two runways painted on it:
 * 02/20 is 21044 ft long
 * 11/29 is 20998 ft long

Previous names

 * Muroc Lake Bombing and Gunnery Range, September 1933
 * Army Air Base, Muroc Lake, 23 July 1942
 * Army Air Base, Muroc, 2 September 1942
 * Muroc Army Airfield, 8 November 1943
 * Muroc Air Force Base, 12 February 1948 – 5 December 1949

Major commands to which assigned

 * Ninth Corps Area, United States Army, September 1933 – 16 January 1941
 * Chief of the Air Corps, September 1933 – 1 March 1935
 * General Headquarters Air Force (GHQAF), 1 March 1935 – 16 January 1941

 * Southwest Air District, 16 January 1941 – 11 March 1941
 * Fourth Air Force, 31 March 1941 – 17 July 1944
 * AAF Materiel and Services Command, 17 July 1944 – 31 August 1944
 * AAF Technical Service Command, 31 August 1944 – 6 June 1945
 * Continental Air Forces, 6 June 1945 – 16 October 1945
 * Air Technical Service Command, 16 October 1945 – 9 March 1946
 * Air Materiel Command, 9 March 1946 – 2 April 1951
 * Air Research and Development Command, 2 April 1951 – 1 April 1961
 * Air Force Systems Command, 1 April 1961 – 1 July 1992
 * Air Force Materiel Command, 1 July 1992–present

Major units assigned

 * 41st Bombardment Group, 11 December 1941 – 25 February 1942
 * 47th Bombardment Group, 11 December 1941 – 17 February 1942
 * 30th Bombardment Group, 24 December 1941 – 11 March 1942
 * 323d Base HQ and Air Base Squadron, 1 May 1942 – 1 April 1944
 * 78th Pursuit Group, 30 April – 9 May 1942
 * 81st Fighter Group, 28 June – 9 May 1942
 * 360th Fighter Group, 15 January – 14 April 1943
 * 382d Bombardment Group, 6 December 1943 – 31 March 1944
 * 412th Fighter Group, 29 November 1943 – 1 June 1944
 * 421st AAF Base Unit, 1 April 1944 – 16 October 1945
 * 4144th AAF Base Unit, 16 October 1945 – 28 August 1948
 * 3076th Air Base Group, 20 May 1949 – 25 June 1951
 * 3077th Experimental Group, 20 May 1949 – 25 June 1951

 * 730th AAF Base Unit (Flight Test), 11 March 1944 – 25 June 1951
 * Re-designated: 4144th AAF Base Unit (Flight Test)
 * Re-designated: 2759th AF Base Unit (Flight Test)
 * Re-designated: 2759th Experimental Wing

 * Replaced by: Air Force Flight Test Center, 25 June 1951
 * Re-designated: Air Force Test Center, 13 July 2012–present

 * 3076th Air Base Group, 20 May 1949
 * Re-designated 6510th Air Base Group, 25 June 1951 – 1 October 1994

 * 95th Air Base Wing, 1 October 1994 – 13 July 2012
 * 6510th Test Wing, 1 March 1978
 * Consolidated with 412th Test Wing, 2 October 1992–present

Geography

The largest features of the 470 sqmi that make up Edwards AFB are the Rogers Lake and Rosamond Lake dry lakes. These have served as emergency and scheduled landing sites for many aerospace projects including the Bell X-1, Lockheed U-2, Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, and the Space Shuttle. The lakebeds have black lines painted on them to mark seven official "runways". Also painted on the dry lake beds near Dryden is the world's largest compass rose: 2000 ft radius, 4000 feet in diameter. The Edwards AFB compass rose's magnetic declination to true north is measured by Google Earth's distance/direction measurement tool as inclined to magnetic north with a 15.3 degrees east variance of true north, as opposed to the current variance of 12.4 degrees east (2014). This is consistent with a calculated magnetic variance at this location in the early 1960s. The larger lake bed, Rogers, encompasses 44 sqmi of desert. Because of Rogers' history in the space program, it was declared a National Historic Landmark.

The Rosamond dry lake bed encompasses 21 sqmi and is also used for emergency landings and other flight research roles. By August, the lake bed is dry and rough from the weather and from high-performance aircraft performing landings. Both lake beds are some of the lowest points in the Antelope Valley and they can collect large amounts of precipitation. Desert winds whip this seasonal water around on the lake beds and the process polishes them, yielding a new, extremely flat surface; the Rosamond lake bed was measured to have an altitude deviation of 18 in over a 30000 ft length; that's about 1 mm altitude deviation over every 20 m of length.

The census-designated place encompasses an area of 44.38 sqkm of which 0.173 ha is water.

Environmental concerns
There are several protected and threatened species living in Edwards, the most notable being the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). It is illegal to touch, harass or otherwise harm a desert tortoise. Another notable species is Yucca brevifolia: the taller members of this species are called Joshua trees.

Demographics
The United States Census Bureau has designated Edwards Air Force Base as a separate census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes, covering the base's residential population. Per the 2020 census, the population was 2,135.

2020 census
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

2010 Census
The 2010 United States Census reported that Edwards AFB had a population of 2,063. The population density was 120.4 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Edwards AFB was 1,518 (73.6%) White, 165 (8.0%) Black, 16 (0.8%) Native American, 99 (4.8%) Asian, 10 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 96 (4.7%) from other races, and 159 (7.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 355 persons (17.2%).

The Census reported that 1,834 people (88.9% of the population) lived in households, 229 (11.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 574 households, out of which 387 (67.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 456 (79.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 33 (5.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 17 (3.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1 (0.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 68 households (11.8%) were made up of individuals, and 4 (0.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.20. There were 506 families (88.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.48.

The population was spread out, with 771 people (37.4%) under the age of 18, 392 people (19.0%) aged 18 to 24, 803 people (38.9%) aged 25 to 44, 87 people (4.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 10 people (0.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.1 males.

There were 785 housing units at an average density of 45.8 /sqmi, of which 8 (1.4%) were owner-occupied, and 566 (98.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 0.2%. 16 people (0.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,818 people (88.1%) lived in rental housing units.

2000 Census
As of the 2000 census, there were 5,909 people, 1,678 households, and 1,515 families residing in the base. The population density was 132.9 PD/sqkm. There were 1,783 housing units at an average density of 40.1 PD/sqkm. The racial makeup of the base was 72.7% White, 10.4% Black, 0.8% Native American, 4.4% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 5.4% from other races, and 5.7% from two or more races. 11.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,678 households, out of which 67.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 84.9% were married couples living together, 3.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.7% were non-families. 9.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.19 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the base the population was spread out, with 36.1% under the age of 18, 19.9% from 18 to 24, 42.1% from 25 to 44, 1.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 121.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.4 males.

The median income for a household in the base was $36,915, and the median income for a family was $36,767. Males had a median income of $27,118 versus $23,536 for females. The per capita income for the base was $13,190. About 1.0% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

State and federal representation
In the California State Senate, Edwards AFB is in. In the California State Assembly, it is in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Edwards AFB is in.

title: Edwards Air Force Base


text:
Fellows, California

Fellows is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. Fellows is located 5 mi west-northwest of Taft, at an elevation of 1316 feet. The population was 106 at the 2010 census, down from 153 at the 2000 census. Fellows is surrounded on all sides by the enormous Midway-Sunset Oil Field, the third-largest oil field in the United States, and the oil and gas industry accounts for much of the area's economic activity.

Geography
Fellows is located at 35.17861°N, -119.54111°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 0.7 sqmi, all of it land.

History
Fellows developed as an oil boomtown after the 1909 discovery of the Midway Gusher. The first post office at Fellows opened in 1910. The name Fellows honors Charles A. Fellows, a Sunset Western Railroad contractor.

Perhaps Fellows' greatest claim to fame was as the location of a fictional event. The 1969 educational film The Lottery, based on the famous short story by Shirley Jackson, was shot at Fellows. It featured a small town much like thousands of others across America holding an apparently ordinary, mundane civic event that had a cold-blooded, horrifying ending to an unfortunate victim come from out-of-nowhere. The film was ranked as one of the two bestselling educational films ever and has been widely shown in educational settings across America as an indictment against unthinking adherence to tradition and general inhumanity.

2010
At the 2010 census Fellows had a population of 106. The population density was 161.5 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Fellows was 94 (88.7%) White, 1 (0.9%) African American, 5 (4.7%) Native American, 0 (0.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 2 (1.9%) from other races, and 4 (3.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11 people (10.4%).

The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.

There were 37 households, 17 (45.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 25 (67.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 6 (16.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1 (2.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1 (2.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 4 households (10.8%) were one person and 1 (2.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.86. There were 32 families (86.5% of households); the average family size was 3.06.

The age distribution was 29 people (27.4%) under the age of 18, 8 people (7.5%) aged 18 to 24, 19 people (17.9%) aged 25 to 44, 38 people (35.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 12 people (11.3%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 40.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 116.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.6 males.

There were 40 housing units at an average density of 60.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 33 (89.2%) were owner-occupied and 4 (10.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 0%. 91 people (85.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 15 people (14.2%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 153 people, 56 households, and 39 families in the CDP. The population density was 232.4 PD/sqmi. There were 58 housing units at an average density of 88.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.89% White, 1.96% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.65% Pacific Islander, 6.54% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. 14.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 56 households 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 19.6% of households were one person and 7.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.10.

The age distribution was 28.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median household income was $30,417 and the median family income was $30,000. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $20,781 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,636. About 17.5% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.7% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Fellows, California


text:
Ford City, California

Ford City is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. Ford City is located 1 mi north of Taft, at an elevation of 892 feet. The population was 4,348 at the 2020 census, up from 4,278 at the 2010 census. It is immediately north of Taft, between the huge Midway-Sunset Oil Field to the southwest, and the almost exhausted Buena Vista Oil Field to the northeast. State Route 119 passes east of town from its junction with SR 33 to the south.

Geography
Ford City is located at 35.15444°N, -119.45611°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.5 sqmi, all of it land.

History
Originally an oil boom town, the place was named after Ford Motor Company due to the abundance of Ford Model T cars there.

2010
At the 2010 census Ford City had a population of 4,298. The population density was 2,787.6 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Ford City was 2,735 (63.9%) White, 28 (0.7%) African American, 153 (3.6%) Native American, 36 (0.8%) Asian, 32 (0.7%) Pacific Islander, 1,113 (26.0%) from other races, and 181 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,971 persons (46.1%).

The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.

There were 1,260 households, 596 (47.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 607 (48.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 189 (15.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 148 (11.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 138 (11.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 4 (0.3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 242 households (19.2%) were one person and 94 (7.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.40. There were 944 families (74.9% of households); the average family size was 3.76.

The age distribution was 1,351 people (31.6%) under the age of 18, 622 people (14.5%) aged 18 to 24, 1,182 people (27.6%) aged 25 to 44, 772 people (18.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 351 people (8.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 27.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.0 males.

There were 1,426 housing units at an average density of 929.2 per square mile, of the occupied units 620 (49.2%) were owner-occupied and 640 (50.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.3%. 1,843 people (43.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,435 people (56.9%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 3,512 people, 1,241 households, and 882 families living in the CDP. The population density was 2,318.8 PD/sqmi. There were 1,444 housing units at an average density of 953.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 80.50% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 1.82% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.63% Pacific Islander, 11.62% from other races, and 3.53% from two or more races. 21.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 1,241 households 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 24.6% of households were one person and 10.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.28.

The age distribution was 31.4% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.

The median household income was $25,192 and the median family income was $30,256. Males had a median income of $34,474 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $11,581. About 30.5% of families and 31.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.7% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

title: Ford City, California


text:
Frazier Park, California

Frazier Park is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Kern County, California. It is 5 mi west of Lebec, at an elevation of 4639 ft. It is one of the Mountain Communities of the Tejon Pass. The population was 2,592 in the 2020 census, down from 2,691 in 2010.

History
The earliest record relating to Frazier Park was a report in 1854 that lumber was being produced there from Frazier Mountain trees for use at the new Army post at nearby Fort Tejon. Local historian Bonnie Ketterl Kane wrote that the mill was "supposedly" at the southeast end of the present community. She cited another report that a Kitanemuk Indian referred to the site as Campo del Soldado (Soldier's Camp), "which was where the soldiers stayed when they cut timber from a mountain they called Pinery Mountain, today's Frazier Mountain."

The community was established in 1925 by Harry McBain, who named it in 1926 for Frazier Mountain, on its southern flank. Its post office was established on September 14, 1927, with Charles B. Fife as the first postmaster.

Frazier Park was used in filming for The Waltons television show.

Frazier Park is the setting of the 2011 film The FP and 1974's The Black Six.

On October 11, 2023, a winning Powerball lottery ticket worth $1.75 billion was sold in Frazier Park. The owners of the Midway Market & Liquor store where the ticket was purchased receive a $1 million bonus for selling the billion-dollar ticket.

Geography
Frazier Park lies within Cuddy Canyon in the San Emigdio Mountains, within the Los Padres National Forest. Mount Pinos is the highest peak in the area at 8831 ft.

Other nearby communities include Lake of the Woods (3.6 mile), Lebec (4.6 mile), Pine Mountain Club (14.5 mile), and Mettler (16.7 mile). Santa Clarita is the nearest large city to the south on Interstate 5 (I-5), and Bakersfield is the largest city to the north of Interstate 5 (I-5).

The San Andreas fault transects the region, turning southeast on the west side of Interstate 5, just southwest of the Frazier Park exit in what is known as the Big Bend of the San Andreas. The Garlock Fault, California's second largest, intersects the San Andreas just east of town and heads northeast along the Tehachapi Mountains.

The nearest highway is Interstate 5, east of the community. The main road through Frazier Park is Frazier Mountain Park Road, which runs east to Lebec and I-5 and west to Lake of the Woods.

Climate
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Frazier Park has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Frazier Park had a population of 2,691. The population density was 531.2 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Frazier Park was 2,297 (85.4%) White, 16 (0.6%) African American, 31 (1.2%) Native American, 22 (0.8%) Asian, 3 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 212 (7.9%) from other races, and 110 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 528 persons (19.6%).

The Census reported that 2,691 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,086 households, out of which 342 (31.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 487 (44.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 116 (10.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 69 (6.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 83 (7.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 7 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 312 households (28.7%) were made up of individuals, and 97 (8.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48. There were 672 families (61.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.08.

The population included 643 people (23.9%) under the age of 18, 243 people (9.0%) aged 18 to 24, 616 people (22.9%) aged 25 to 44, 874 people (32.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 315 people (11.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.0 males.

There were 1,354 housing units at an average density of 267.3 /sqmi, of which 673 (62.0%) were owner-occupied, and 413 (38.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%. 1,627 people (60.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,064 people (39.5%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
A total of 2,348 people lived in Frazier Park in 2000, of which 2,055 (87 percent) were white. Other residents included 34 American Indians or Alaska natives, 19 Asians, and 14 blacks. There were 292 Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

The median age for Frazier Park residents was 38 years compared with 35 for the nation as a whole.

Frazier Park also had slightly more veterans than its share — 293, or 17%, compared to 13% around the country.

It had a significantly higher percentage of disabled people than the rest of the nation — 36% vice 19%.

In contrast with the country at large, where 64% of adults were working, Frazier Park had 48% employed. Those who were working had to travel some 42 minutes to their jobs, compared to 25 minutes for most Americans.

Frazier Park households had a lower median income than the nation as a whole — $46,857, compared to $50,046.

There were 291 people (12%) below the poverty level in Frazier Park in 2000. That is the same proportion as the entire country.

Almost a quarter of Frazier Park's 1,203 housing units (23%) were vacant when the census was taken in March 2000 — much higher than the national rate of 9%. This may be explained by the fact that many Frazier Park properties are second or seasonal homes. Property owners lived in about seven of every 10 occupied units, renters in the other three — nearly the same as the remainder of the nation.

Government
Frazier Park is governed by the Kern County Board of Supervisors. On August 13, 2009, County Supervisor Ray Watson announced that he wanted to appoint Thomas Lauchlan as Town Mayor and an advisory council to assist him in the governance of the area, which includes Frazier Park, Lebec, Fort Tejon and Tejon Village, Pinon Pines, Lake of the Woods, and Pine Mountain Club. A resolution to form the Mountain Communities Municipal Advisory Council and its bylaws would be brought to the Kern County Board of Supervisors for approval.

Education
The community is a part of the El Tejon Unified School District. Frazier Park Elementary School is the only non-charter school that lies within Frazier Park; it educates children in kindergarten through fourth grade. El Tejon Middle School in Lebec takes district students from the fifth through the eighth grade. Frazier Mountain High School, also in Lebec, was founded in 1995 for ninth- through 12th-graders.

Homeschooling is important in Frazier Park and surrounding areas, according to a March 2008 report in the Mountain Enterprise, which added:

"Per capita, the Mountain Communities may have one of the highest rates of homeschooling in the state, far above the national average of 2% to 4%, Holly Van Houten . . . [a home-school parent of the area] said. Estimates range between 8% and 30% — somewhere between 100 and 400 children, she reports."

Frazier Park hosts a branch of the Valley Oaks Community Charter School, headquartered in Bakersfield. The charter school is designed to "provide opportunities, support, and accountability for parents in their homeschooling endeavors."

Transportation
Kern Transit provides weekday service from the Flying J gas station via the Route 130 bus to the Santa Clarita Station Metrolink and the McBean Regional Transit Center, which includes many connecting bus routes, including to North Hollywood Station and Downtown Los Angeles.

Kern Transit also provides bus service Monday through Saturday during the summer months to Lebec, Gorman, Lake of the Woods, Pinon Pines, and Pine Mountain Club. It offers a dial-a-ride service all year.

Media

 * The Mountain Enterprise, weekly newspaper
 * The Bakersfield Californian The Californian discontinued circulation in the Mountain Communities effective May 1, 2009. Source: Mountain Enterprise, April 3, 2009

In popular culture
The Black Six (1973), a blaxploitation biker film directed by Matt Cimber and featuring several NFL stars was made in the area.

In 2011, an American independent film The FP was released. The comedy film written and directed by brothers Brandon and Jason Trost focuses on two gangs—the 248 and the 245—that are fighting for control of The FP (Frazier Park).

In 2017, the film Frazier Park Recut was released by filmmaker Tom Morris. It was filmed on location in Frazier Park.

The Clones (1973) was shot partially on location in Frazier Park.

title: Frazier Park, California


text:
Golden Hills, California

Golden Hills is a census-designated place (CDP) in the Tehachapi Mountains, in Kern County, California, United States. The population was 8,656 at the 2010 census, up from 7,434 at the 2000 census. Golden Hills adjoins the city of Tehachapi on the west.

Geography
Golden Hills is located at 35.1425°N, -118.49028°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 12.3 mi2, of which 0.017 mi2 or 0.14% is water.

2010
At the 2010 census Golden Hills had a population of 8,656. The population density was 705.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Golden Hills was 7,235 (83.6%) White, 129 (1.5%) African American, 124 (1.4%) Native American, 120 (1.4%) Asian, 15 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 670 (7.7%) from other races, and 363 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,674 persons (19.3%).

The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.

There were 3,216 households, 1,173 (36.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,887 (58.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 339 (10.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 144 (4.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 188 (5.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 15 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 672 households (20.9%) were one person and 247 (7.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.69. There were 2,370 families (73.7% of households); the average family size was 3.11.

The age distribution was 2,245 people (25.9%) under the age of 18, 819 people (9.5%) aged 18 to 24, 1,872 people (21.6%) aged 25 to 44, 2,648 people (30.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,072 people (12.4%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.

There were 3,522 housing units at an average density of 287.1 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,204 (68.5%) were owner-occupied and 1,012 (31.5%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.5%. 5,836 people (67.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,820 people (32.6%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,434 people, 2,547 households, and 2,019 families living in the CDP. The population density was 604.4 PD/sqmi. There were 2,841 housing units at an average density of 231.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 83.24% White, 1.30% Black or African American, 0.85% Native American, 1.44% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 7.88% from other races, and 5.21% from two or more races. 16.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,547 households 46.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.7% were non-families. 17.9% of households were one person and 6.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.30.

The age distribution was 33.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median household income was $48,047 and the median family income was $55,906. Males had a median income of $47,833 versus $29,815 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,333. About 6.5% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

title: Golden Hills, California


text:
Inyokern, California

Inyokern (formerly Siding 16 and Magnolia) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. Its name derives from its location near the border between Inyo and Kern Counties. Inyokern is located 8 mi west of Ridgecrest, at an elevation of 2434 feet. It is on the western side of the Indian Wells Valley. The population was 988 in the 2020 census, down from 1,099 in the 2010 census. It was a railroad town established along the Southern Pacific railroad's Lone Pine Branch (now removed) and with WWII became site of the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.

It is served by Inyokern Airport.

Geography
Inyokern is located at 35.64694°N, -117.8125°W about 8 mi west of Ridgecrest, at an elevation of 2434 feet. It is on the western side of the Indian Wells Valley, with the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada rising to the west.

It is on U.S. Route 395, the main north–south artery connecting the Inland Empire to Reno, Nevada. US 395 also connects Inyokern to Los Angeles via State Route 14 through Palmdale.

State Route 178, the main east–west artery, connects Inyokern to Bakersfield, the county seat, via Lake Isabella in the west, and to Death Valley via Ridgecrest in the east.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 10.9 sqmi, over 99% of it land.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Inyokern had a population of 1,099. The population density was 100.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Inyokern was 930 (84.6%) White, 14 (1.3%) African American, 24 (2.2%) Native American, 25 (2.3%) Asian, 2 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 49 (4.5%) from other races, and 55 (5.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 116 persons (10.6%).

The Census reported that 1,099 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 484 households, out of which 111 (22.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 219 (45.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 38 (7.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 21 (4.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 29 (6.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 4 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 179 households (37.0%) were made up of individuals, and 73 (15.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27. There were 278 families (57.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.01.

The population was spread out, with 222 people (20.2%) under the age of 18, 74 people (6.7%) aged 18 to 24, 201 people (18.3%) aged 25 to 44, 406 people (36.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 196 people (17.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.8 males.

There were 537 housing units at an average density of 49.2 /sqmi, of which 355 (73.3%) were owner-occupied, and 129 (26.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%. 776 people (70.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 323 people (29.4%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 984 people, 418 households, and 270 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 88.9 PD/sqmi. There were 519 housing units at an average density of 46.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 87.70% White, 0.41% Black or African American, 4.88% Native American, 2.24% Asian, 1.02% from other races, and 3.76% from two or more races. 6.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 418 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,046, and the median income for a family was $41,500. Males had a median income of $50,938 versus $33,889 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,707. About 10.5% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Climate
The climate of Inyokern, California, 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 temperature for the Inyokern area is 70 F. Wide annual temperature fluctuations occur from a high of 118 F to a low of 8 F.

January is the coolest month with an average maximum temperature of 47 F and an average minimum temperature of 22 F. The all-time minimum temperature of -12 F was recorded on December 23, 1972, and January 7, 1973. Inyokern is in a desert, with an average of less than 5 inch of "equivalent rainfall" per year, which includes less than 2 inch of snow.

July is the hottest month with an average maximum temperature of 108 F and an average minimum temperature of 80 F. The all-time maximum temperature of 118 F was recorded on July 31, 1985.

History
Inyokern was founded in the mid-19th century as an agrarian community located in the northernmost corner of the Mojave Desert. It expanded during construction of the Owens Valley aqueduct. The first post office opened in 1910.

The Inyokern Elementary School was founded in 1913. The original building was replaced in the mid-1930s by a larger building with a stage and indoor restrooms. This building was demolished in the early 1970s. In the 1930s, half a dozen irrigated farms were scattered around Indian Wells Valley, growing mostly alfalfa and livestock. Community events were held in Inyokern Hall, which still stands.

With the onset of World War II, the US Navy located its new Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in Inyokern. This accounts for the length of the runways and the size of the county airport. The military base was subsequently moved to the east 12 mi and the city of Ridgecrest was established as a commercial support center for that base.

Present time
Today Inyokern serves as a sparsely-populated bedroom community for workers on the base desiring a more rural lifestyle.

The town infrastructure consists of two churches, a post office, market and gas station, convenience store and gas station, a variety store, hardware store, welding and blacksmith shop, a county park, two restaurants, a motel, an autobody shop and several antique shops. In the 1990s the building which formerly housed the library was demolished and replaced by a Senior Citizen's Center. Inyokern also had a now-closed Kern County Sheriff's Office substation and a Caltrans road maintenance center and a motorcycle shop and blanket store. The town water and sewer system is managed by the Community Services Center. The population of the town peaked circa 1988 following a period of expansion on the naval base, but has dwindled since then, and many properties were abandoned during the military downsizing of the 1990s. Until the 1990s, the main commercial block of the town along highway 178 was a somewhat picturesque street of older buildings constructed of local rock and bricks, including a vintage post office, cafe, three bars, and a small Chinese restaurant. This street is sometimes used in filming Hollywood westerns. The Inyokern airport is used to film commercials.

Environment
Characterized by extreme aridity, Inyokern is situated in a wide valley at the base of the eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Rugged mountains more than 9000 feet in elevation west of the area create a pronounced rain-shadow effect, resulting in a shrub-steppe habitat zone with annual rainfall of less than 3 in. The flora of the valley floor consists primarily of Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata), Burrobush (Ambrosia dumosa), and several varieties of native bunch grasses. The transition zone of the nearby foothills also contain mixtures of pinyon pine, Joshua tree forests, and concentrated riparian habitat surrounding the small streams descending from the mountain peaks.

Wildlife ranges from black bear, mountain lion, and whitetail deer in the mountain and transition zones to the kangaroo rat and the endangered desert tortoise on the valley floor. A special note on the local wildlife is the local subspecies of rattlesnake, the Mojave rattlesnake (also called the Mojave green rattlesnake). This snake, which is common in the area, produces pit viper venom common to the general species but also produces a neuro-toxin that paralyzes the victim within 15 minutes. The subspecies is docile, and fatal bites are rare. Indigenous animals that found in the valley floor are kit foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and roadrunners. Bears and mountain lions occasionally descend from the Sierra Nevada Mountains seeking food.

Attractions
As of 2008, Inyokern had the highest insolation of any locale on the North American continent, having over 355 days of sunshine each year.

As of 2018, the town was home to the past and current world champion musical saw players.

The Inyokern Airport has been a popular location for car commercials, with the Sierra Nevada Mountains as a backdrop.

Transportation

 * Inyokern Airport
 * Kern Transit
 * Eastern Sierra Transit

Churches

 * Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
 * Inyokern Baptist Church
 * Inyokern Community Methodist Church

Media
Inyokern is served by two newspapers, The Daily Independent and the News Review, as well as a mixture of local broadcast stations and repeaters from radio and TV stations based in Los Angeles, California. The repeaters are operated by the IWV TV Booster.

AM radio stations

 * KIRN (670 AM; 35 kW; Simi Valley, CA; Owner: Lotus Oxnard)
 * KLOA (1240 AM; 1 kW; Ridgecrest, CA; Owner: Adelman Communications)
 * KLAC (570 AM; 50 kW; Los Angeles, CA; Owner: AMFM Radio Licenses)
 * KSPN (710 AM; 50 kW; Los Angeles, CA; Owner: KABC-AM Radio)
 * KWDJ (1360 AM; 1 kW; Ridgecrest, CA)
 * KMJ (580 AM; 50 kW; Fresno, CA; Owner: Infinity Radio Operations)
 * KFI (640 AM; 50 kW; Los Angeles, CA; Owner: Capstar TX Limited Partnership)
 * KPLS (830 AM; 50 kW; Orange, CA; Owner: CRN Licenses)
 * KFWB (980 AM; 50 kW; Los Angeles, CA; Owner: Infinity Broadcasting Operations)
 * KDIS (1110 AM; 50 kW; Pasadena, CA; Owner: ABC)
 * KTNQ (1020 AM; 50 kW; Los Angeles, CA; Owner: KTNQ-AM License Corp.)
 * KERI (1180 AM; 50 kW; Wasco-Greenacres, CA; Owner: KWSO)
 * KWRU (940 AM; 50 kW; Fresno, CA)

FM radio stations

 * KZIQ-FM (92.7 FM; Ridgecrest, CA; Owner: James Knudsen and Donna Knudsen)
 * KLOA-FM (104.9 FM; Ridgecrest, CA; Owner: Adelman Communications)
 * KRAJ (100.9 FM; Johannesburg, CA; Owner: Adelman Broadcasting)
 * KGBM (89.7 FM; Randsburg, CA; Owner: Educational Media Foundation)
 * K266AH (101.1 FM; Bena, CA; Owner: Calvary Chapel of Twin Falls)
 * KTQX (90.1 FM; Bakersfield, CA; Owner: Radio Bilingue)
 * KMYX-FM (92.5 FM; Arvin, CA; Owner: Farmworker Educational Radio Network)
 * KKZQ (100.1 FM; Tehachapi, CA; Owner: High Desert Broadcasting)
 * KVLI-FM (104.5 FM; Lake Isabella, CA; Owner: Robert J. and Katherine M. Bohn)
 * KCNQ (102.5 FM; Kernville, CA; Owner: Robert J. and Katherine M. Bohn)
 * K218DU (90.9 FM; Ridgecrest, CA; Owner: Calvary Chapel of Twin Falls)
 * KCEL (106.9 FM; California City, CA; Owner: KCEL Radio)
 * K206CO (89.1 FM; Ridgecrest, CA; Owner: Educational Media Foundation)

Notable residents

 * Lorien Stern, artist

title: Inyokern, California


text:
Johannesburg, California

Johannesburg is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, in a mining district of the Rand Mountains. Johannesburg is located 1 mi east-northeast of Randsburg, at an elevation of 3517 feet. The terminus of the Randsburg Railway was here from 1897 to 1933. The population was 172 at the 2010 census, down from 176 at the 2000 census. Johannesburg is divided from the neighboring community of Randsburg by a ridge. The town is frequently referred to as "Jo-burg" by locals and frequent visitors to the northwest Mojave.

History
Johannesburg was founded to support mining operations at Randsburg. In addition to providing rail access, the region's first wells were operated by companies located in Johannesburg. During the first half of the 20th century, the Rand Mining District was the principal gold producing region of California. Activity centered on the Yellow Aster Mine, discovered in 1894. In 1919, the Rand Silver Mine was discovered east of town on Red Mountain. The Rand Mine produced more silver than any mine in California.

Johannesburg was named by miners who had previously worked in the gold-producing region of South Africa. Containing the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, this region is in the Witwatersrand, and is frequently referred to as "the Rand."

The first post office at Johannesburg opened in 1897.

Transportation
Transportation to Johannesburg is provided by Ridgecrest Transit as a lifeline service once a week.

Geography
Johannesburg is located at 35.37278°N, -117.63472°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.4 sqmi, all of it land.

2010
At the 2010 census Johannesburg had a population of 172. The population density was 71.2 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Johannesburg was 152 (88.4%) White, 2 (1.2%) African American, 2 (1.2%) Native American, 8 (4.7%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 0 (0.0%) from other races, and 8 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8 people (4.7%).

The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.

There were 95 households, 10 (10.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 32 (33.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2 (2.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3 (3.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 7 (7.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 47 households (49.5%) were one person and 21 (22.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.81. There were 37 families (38.9% of households); the average family size was 2.76.

The age distribution was 21 people (12.2%) under the age of 18, 4 people (2.3%) aged 18 to 24, 26 people (15.1%) aged 25 to 44, 75 people (43.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 46 people (26.7%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 55.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.7 males.

There were 139 housing units at an average density of 57.6 per square mile, of the occupied units 73 (76.8%) were owner-occupied and 22 (23.2%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 14.8%. 137 people (79.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 35 people (20.3%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 176 people, 85 households, and 45 families in the CDP. The population density was 72.0 PD/sqmi. There were 133 housing units at an average density of 54.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.48% White, 0.57% Black or African American, 1.14% Native American and 2.84% from other races, and 3.98% from two or more races. 5.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 85 households 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.9% were non-families. 35.3% of households were one person and 21.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.70.

The age distribution was 20.5% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 31.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% 65 or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median household income was $63,611 and the median family income was $72,222. Males had a median income of $51,250 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,478. None of the families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line. None are under the age of 18 or over 65.

title: Johannesburg, California


text:
Keene, California

Keene (formerly, Wells) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California in the foothills of the Tehachapi Mountains at the southern extreme of the San Joaquin Valley. Keene is located 8.5 mi northwest of Tehachapi, at an elevation of 2602 feet. The population was 469 at the 2020 census, up from 431 at the 2010 census.

The headquarters of the United Farm Workers (UFW), a national farmworkers organization organized and led by Cesar Chavez, is located in Keene, and is sometimes referred to as "Nuestra Señora Reina de La Paz" ("Our Lady Queen of Peace").

Keene is located in the greater Tehachapi area.

Geography
Keene is located at 35.22361°N, -118.56222°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.7 sqmi, over 99% of it land.

A small community, Woodford, of about 30 buildings was once existed about 1 mile southeast of Keene.

Climate
Keene is categorized as being within the 8b USDA hardiness zone, meaning temperatures can get as low as 15 to 20 °F.

History
The Keene post office opened in 1879, closed in 1881, and re-opened in 1885. Keene was founded in 1876 with the name Wells as a railroad town. The name Wells honored Madison P. Wells, a local rancher. The town was renamed Keene in honor of James P. Keene, a financier.

César Chávez
The UFW moved its national headquarters to Keene from Delano, California. César Chávez spent his last years in Keene. The walls of his United Farm Workers office in Keene were lined with hundreds of books ranging in subject from philosophy, economics, cooperatives, and unions, to biographies of Gandhi, the Kennedys, and Che Guevara. He is buried at 29700 Woodford Tehachapi Rd, Keene, CA 93531, on the campus of the UFW headquarters.

The National Chavez Center was opened on the UFW campus in 2004 by the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation. It currently consists of a visitor center, memorial garden and the grave site of the civil rights leader. When it is fully completed, the 187 acre site will include a museum and conference center to explore and share Chávez's work. A two-acre parcel of the site was designated as César E. Chávez National Monument on October 8, 2012.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Keene had a population of 431. The population density was 44.6 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Keene was 385 (89.3%) White, 2 (0.5%) African American, 10 (2.3%) Native American, 8 (1.9%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 16 (3.7%) from other races, and 10 (2.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 47 persons (10.9%).

The Census reported that 431 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 186 households, out of which 38 (20.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 126 (67.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 12 (6.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 4 (2.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 9 (4.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 2 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 36 households (19.4%) were made up of individuals, and 13 (7.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32. There were 142 families (76.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.59.

The population was spread out, with 63 people (14.6%) under the age of 18, 22 people (5.1%) aged 18 to 24, 59 people (13.7%) aged 25 to 44, 213 people (49.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 74 people (17.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

There were 225 housing units at an average density of 23.3 /sqmi, of which 157 (84.4%) were owner-occupied, and 29 (15.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 14.7%. 361 people (83.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 70 people (16.2%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 339 people, 136 households, and 99 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 34.8 PD/sqmi. There were 177 housing units at an average density of 18.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 81.71% White, 2.95% Native American, 7.08% from other races, and 5.60% from two or more races. 10.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 136 households, out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.6% were married couples living together, 2.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 38.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $49,500, and the median income for a family was $59,583. Males had a median income of $60,078 versus $27,813 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,986. About 22.5% of families and 24.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

title: Keene, California


text:
Kernville, California

Kernville is a census-designated place (CDP) in the southern Sierra Nevada, in Kern County, California, United States. Kernville is located 42 mi northeast of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 2667 feet. The population was 1,549 at the 2020 United States census, up from 1,395 at the 2010 census, but below the 2000 census total of 1,736.

History
The Kern River was named after artist and topographer Edward Kern, who accompanied John C. Fremont on his 1845 expedition. They camped at what was a fork of two rivers, now the middle of Lake Isabella. An 1858 gold rush led to the formation of a town briefly called Rogersville, then Williamsburg, which was in 1863 renamed Whiskey Flat after a bar opened. In 1864, the town was renamed Kernville.

After decades of planning, the Isabella Dam project began in 1948. As a result, Kernville was relocated upstream to its present location at the tip of the northeast fork of the man-made lake, along with certain historic buildings. Downtown visibly retains Kernville's gold rush and Old West roots, attracting tourists along with the area's natural scenery and outdoor activities. The town's original location is slightly east of Wofford Heights. Foundations and other remnants can still be seen when the lake is low. The famous Mountain Inn, built mainly to house movie stars and crew before the 1948 move, is now (partially) at the new Kernville, renamed the River View Lodge.

Whiskey Flat Days is the annual celebration of the area's Wild West roots. A parade, historical re-enactments, pioneer-style camps, a carnival, street vendors and rodeo are just part of the festivities put on every President's Day weekend and attended by thousands of visitors.

Even with its annual summer influx of tourists, Kernville remains one of the most quaint, conservative relics of early California. Many local families trace their lineage to original 19th century homesteaders. The post office, established at the original site in 1868, was moved to the new site in 1951.

The original townsite is now registered as California Historical Landmark #132.

Climate
Climate type occurs primarily on the periphery of the true deserts in low-latitude semiarid steppe regions.

Points of interest
Kernville has a large tourist industry centered on the white water rapids of the Kern River. While white water rafting and kayaking are the main attractions, one can also enjoy mountain biking, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities. Fly fishing is also popular; in particular, the golden trout is highly sought after for catch and release fishing. Downtown Kernville has an Old West look and contains a number of restaurants, antique shops and motels. The Kern Valley Museum houses a collection of historical items and displays. The nearby Kern Valley Airport is a popular general aviation destination for pilots, with on-site services including riverside camping and a cafe.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Kernville had a population of 1,395. The population density was 110.1 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Kernville was 1,257 (90.1%) White, 1 (0.1%) African American, 19 (1.4%) Native American, 7 (0.5%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 33 (2.4%) from other races, and 78 (5.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 82 persons (5.9%).

The Census reported that 1,387 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 8 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 723 households, out of which 111 (15.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 312 (43.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 57 (7.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 28 (3.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 40 (5.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 5 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 282 households (39.0%) were made up of individuals, and 132 (18.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92. There were 397 families (54.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.50.

The population was spread out, with 184 people (13.2%) under the age of 18, 74 people (5.3%) aged 18 to 24, 197 people (14.1%) aged 25 to 44, 521 people (37.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 419 people (30.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.

There were 1,072 housing units at an average density of 84.6 /sqmi, of which 532 (73.6%) were owner-occupied, and 191 (26.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 13.5%. 1,018 people (73.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 369 people (26.5%) lived in rental housing units.

Transportation
The city is served by the Kern Valley Airport, 3 mile south of town. The airport features a fly-in campground on site. An airfield cafe serves both pilots and visitors.

The city is also served by Kern Transit, connecting the Kern River Valley with the rest of the county.

California Historical Landmark
The California Historical Landmark reads:

 * NO. 132 KERNVILLE - Called Whiskey Flat until 1864, Kernville was founded in 1860 when whiskey dealer Adam Hamilton moved shop here from more temperate Quartzburg, founded earlier that year. Both camps resulted from a discovery by 'Lovely' Rogers, who found the Big Blue Ledge while tracking a stray mule from the earlier camp of Keysville.

The marker is located in the Old Kernville Cemetery, with a registration date of January 31, 1934.

title: Kernville, California