text:
La Puente, California

La Puente (Spanish for "The Bridge") is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city had a population of 39,816 at the 2010 census and is approximately 20 mi east of downtown Los Angeles.

History
The original inhabitants of the area now occupied by the city of La Puente were the Tongva lived in a village called Awingna, which linguists translate as "abiding place." The Awingna chief Matheo (who also held sway over several other nearby villages) was baptized at Mission San Gabriel in 1774.

In 1769, the Spanish Portolá expedition became the first Europeans to see inland portions of Alta California. On July 30, the party camped on the east side of the San Gabriel River, in today's unincorporated area of Bassett. Father Juan Crespi wrote in his diary that, the next day, they had to build a bridge (Spanish "puente") to cross the miry San Gabriel River.

With the establishment of Mission San Gabriel, the area encompassing Awingna and what is now the city of La Puente became part of Rancho La Puente, established as a mission outpost and ranch. The rancho was visited by the Jedediah Smith party in November 1826, the first Americans to travel overland to California.

Following secularization of the missions in the 1830s, former mission ranchos passed into private ownership. In 1842, John Rowland and William Workman were granted the 48000 acre Rancho La Puente. In 1884, the area was named Puente (bridge in Spanish; in old Spanish the noun was often feminine, as opposed to modern Spanish el puente). In Crespi's diary, it was written as "la puente", and that spelling has persisted.

The area was known for its fruit and walnut groves during the 1930s. The city was even home to the world's largest walnut packing plant. A small airport called the 'Skyranch' operated in La Puente from 1944 to 1951 before it was closed and developed for housing. Today, the city is heavily urbanized, but the area still has some historical landmarks from its founding days nearby, for instance, the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum in neighboring City of Industry.

Redevelopment of the business districts in La Puente have been ongoing. However, the local government has been relatively unsuccessful in its attempts to attract big-box retailers and restaurant chains. La Puente retains many aging 1950s-era strip malls.

Geography
La Puente is located at 34.0325°N, -117.95528°W (34.032410, -117.955195). The city, which is mostly flat, covers about 3.5 sqmi of land in the San Gabriel Valley.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that La Puente had a population of 39,816. The population density was 11,443.2 PD/sqmi. La Puente is 49.4% White (4.6% Non-Hispanic White), 1.4% Black or African American, 1.1% Native American, 8.4% Asian, and 0.1% Pacific Islander. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33,896 persons (85.1%).

The Census reported that 39,773 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 43 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 9,451 households, out of which 5,186 (54.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,367 (56.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,824 (19.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 930 (9.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 584 (6.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 65 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 989 households (10.5%) were made up of individuals, and 472 (5.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.21. There were 8,121 families (85.9% of all households); the average family size was 4.34.

The population was spread out, with 11,423 people (28.7%) under the age of 18, 4,640 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 11,468 people (28.8%) aged 25 to 44, 8,619 people (21.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,666 people (9.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

There were 9,761 housing units at an average density of 2,805.3 /sqmi, of which 5,693 (60.2%) were owner-occupied, and 3,758 (39.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.9%. 24,961 people (62.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 14,812 people (37.2%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, La Puente had a median household income of $53,794, with 14.3% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 41,063 people, 9,461 households, and 8,183 families living in the city. The population density is 4,542.8/km2 (11,757.3/mi2). There were 9,660 housing units at an average density of 1,068.7/km2 (2,765.9/mi2). The racial makeup of the city was 39.11% White, 1.96% African American, 1.28% Native American, 7.16% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 45.14% from other races, and 5.19% from two or more races. 83.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,461 households, out of which 50.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.5% were non-families. 10.1% of all households were someone living alone and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.34 and the average family size was 4.48.

The population age distribution was 33.8% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,222, and the median income for a family was $41,079. Males had a median income of $26,381 versus $22,018 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,336. 18.9% of the population and 16.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 24.6% were under the age of 18 and 9.3% were 65 or older.

Government
In the California State Legislature, La Puente is in, and in and.

In the United States House of Representatives, La Puente is in.

Infrastructure
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Industry Station in the City of Industry, serving La Puente.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Pomona Health Center in Pomona, serving La Puente.

The city is served by Los Angeles County Fire Department Battalion 12's Fire Stations 26 and 43.

Economy
The income per capita of the city of La puente is $16,899, which includes all children and adults. The city's median household income is $62,709.

Top employers
According to the city's Annual Budget for FY2020–21, the top employers in the city are:

Education
School districts include:
 * Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
 * Bassett Unified School District
 * Rowland Unified School District

Elementary (primary) schools: Lasallette Elementary School, Temple Academy (Closed starting 2021-22), Baldwin Academy, Nelson Elementary School, Sparks Elementary School, California Elementary School, Sunkist Elementary School, Del Valle Elementary School, Northam Elementary School

Private (primary) schools: Saint Joseph School, Saint Louis of France, Saint Martha's Catholic School

High (secondary) schools: Bassett High School, La Puente High School, Nogales High School, William Workman High School (in the City of Industry)

Private high schools: Bishop Amat Memorial High School

Notable people

 * Alfie Agnew – mathematician, songwriter and musician
 * Sutan Amrull – make-up artist and performer
 * Tony Baltazar – professional boxer (former resident)
 * Eric Bieniemy – University of Colorado Boulder and NFL running back, attended Bishop Amat HS
 * Anthony Calvillo – record-breaking Canadian Football League quarterback
 * David Denson – first professional baseball player affiliated with an MLB organization to come out as gay
 * Cecil Fielder – former Nogales HS and Detroit Tigers slugger, father of Prince Fielder
 * Jeff Garcia – voice actor and comedian; voice for the character Sheen Estevez in The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius
 * Norberto Garrido – lineman for the NFL's Carolina Panthers
 * Pat Haden – former USC and NFL quarterback, attended Bishop Amat HS
 * Dan Haren – MLB pitcher, attended Bishop Amat HS
 * Efren Herrera – UCLA and NFL kicker, attended La Puente HS
 * Padma Lakshmi – Indian American author, activist, model, and television host.
 * Mike Lamb – MLB infielder, attended Bishop Amat HS
 * Billy Laughlin – "Froggy" from the Our Gang comedies
 * Darryll Lewis – University of Arizona and NFL cornerback, attended Nogales HS
 * Steven Luevano – professional boxer
 * Kid Congo Powers – musician who has played in bands such as The Cramps, The Gun Club and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
 * Lionel Manuel – University of the Pacific and NFL wide receiver, attended Bassett HS
 * Arturo Marquez – composer of orchestra music (former resident)
 * Crispin Castro Monroy – municipal president of Santa Cruz Atizapán
 * Max Montoya – UCLA and NFL offensive lineman, attended La Puente HS
 * D'Angelo Ross – NFL cornerback
 * William R. Rowland – eleventh Los Angeles County Sheriff, major La Puente landowner
 * Kelly Seyarto - Firefighter and politician. Former mayor of Murrieta, California. Member of the California State Senate from the District 32. Born in La Puente.
 * John Sciarra – UCLA and NFL quarterback, attended Bishop Amat HS
 * Hilda Solis – politician, member of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for the First District
 * Michael Young – MLB 7-time All-Star infielder, attended Bishop Amat HS

title: La Puente, California


text:
La Verne, California

La Verne is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 31,334 at the 2020 census.

History

The area was home to Native Americans.

The European history of the area dates back to the 1830s when Ygnacio Palomares and Ricardo Véjar received the 15000 acre Rancho San Jose land grant from Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado in 1837. The land included the present day cities Pomona, Claremont, San Dimas, Glendora, and La Verne. The adobe that Palomares built in 1837 is still preserved in Pomona as La Casa Primera de Rancho San Jose (The First House). Palomares soon moved a mile or so northeast and constructed the Ygnacio Palomares Adobe. He ensured that a nephew, Jose Dolores Palomares, secured a tract of land a mile west.

In the mid-1880s, entrepreneur Isaac W. Lord purchased a tract of Jose Palomares' land and convinced the Santa Fe Railroad company to run its line across towards Los Angeles. Lord had the land surveyed for building lots and in 1887 had a large land sale, naming the new town 'Lordsburg' after himself. He also had a large Lordsburg Hotel constructed, but the land boom was over when it was completed. It sat empty for several years until sold to four members of the German Baptist Brethren Church, who persuaded others of that denomination that it would be an excellent site for a new institution of higher learning. Lordsburg College was founded in 1891.

In 1906 the town was incorporated as "La Verne." Residents grew field crops, and then began planting citrus trees, which flourished. Lordsburg became known as the "Heart of the Orange Empire." The city of La Verne flourished as a center of the citrus industry until after World War II, when the citrus industry slowly faded away. Two orange groves are on the grounds of the La Verne Heritage Foundation.

Geography
La Verne is a suburb 30 mi east of Los Angeles, located in the Pomona Valley below the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains part of the Angeles National Forest, a habitat known to support black bears. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.562 sqmi. It is to the east of San Dimas and to the west of Claremont. The city of Pomona lies to the south. California State Route 210 bisects La Verne in an east–west direction, and Historic U.S. Route 66 also passes through the city.

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, La Verne has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

2010
At the 2010 census La Verne had a population of 31,063. The population density was 3,628.0 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of La Verne was 23,057 (74.2%) White (55.4% Non-Hispanic White), 1,065 (3.4%) African American, 265 (0.9%) Native American, 2,381 (7.7%) Asian, 61 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 2,822 (9.1%) from other races, and 1,412 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9,635 persons (31.0%).

The census reported that 30,387 people (97.8% of the population) lived in households, 501 (1.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 175 (0.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 11,261 households, 3,582 (31.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 6,286 (55.8%) were married couples living together, 1,438 (12.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 489 (4.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 420 (3.7%) unmarried couples living together, and 74 (0.7%) homosexual partners living together. 2,517 households (22.4%) had one person and 1,429 (12.7%) had someone who was 65 or older living alone. The average household size was 2.70. There were 8,213 families (72.9% of households); the average family size was 3.16.

The age distribution was 6,605 people (21.3%) under the age of 18, 3,106 people (10.0%) aged 18 to 24, 6,678 people (21.5%) aged 25 to 44, 9,417 people (30.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 5,257 people (16.9%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 42.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

There were 11,686 housing units at an average density of 1,364.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 8,388 (74.5%) were owner-occupied and 2,873 (25.5%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%. 22,995 people (74.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 7,392 people (23.8%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, La Verne had a median household income of $77,040, with 7.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 31,638 people in 11,070 households, including 8,346 families, in the city. The population density was 3,805.8 PD/sqmi. There were 11,286 housing units at an average density of 1,357.6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 77.06% White, 3.21% African American, 0.64% Native American, 7.20% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 7.42% from other races, and 4.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.12%.

Of the 11,070 households, 35.5% had children under 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 19.6% of households were one person and 9.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.

The age distribution was 25.2% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

As of 2007, the median household income was $75,444, and the median family income was $87,915. The per capita income for the city was $31,689. About 2.5% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Mexican (17.7%) and German (12.2%) were the most common ancestries. Mexico (22.3%) and the Philippines (11.8%) were the most common foreign places of birth.

Government
La Verne is located in the 5th district of Los Angeles County, and is represented by supervisor Kathryn Barger.

In the state legislature, La Verne is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, La Verne is in.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Pomona Health Centre in Pomona, serving La Verne.

Public safety
The La Verne Police Department provides law enforcement services for the city of La Verne.

In 2018, the La Verne Police Department appointed its first woman captain, Colleen Flores.

Nick Paz is the current chief of police.

The La Verne Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of La Verne.

Education
The University of La Verne is located on 3rd Street in La Verne.

The Bonita Unified School District serves the city. Bonita High School is located on D Street.

Lutheran High School is located on Fruit Street. Damien High School is a Catholic boys' school located at the intersection of Damien and Bonita Avenues. Calvary Baptist Schools is located at the intersection of Damien Avenue and Forestdale Street.

Transportation
The Los Angeles Metro Rail A Line is currently being extended east from its current terminus in Azusa to Pomona. The extended line will include a La Verne station near the University of La Verne and the Pomona Fairplex. The station is currently under construction and will be in service with the rest of the extension in early 2025.

In popular culture
In the 1967 film The Graduate, the finale wedding scene was shot in La Verne (not Santa Barbara as presented in the movie) at the United Methodist Church of La Verne.

The wedding scene in Wayne's World 2 was also filmed at the United Methodist Church of La Verne.

In 1998, actor Christian Slater was sentenced to 90 days in the La Verne jail for domestic assault

Notable people

 * Ewell Blackwell - Major League Baseball pitcher, Bonita High School alumnus
 * Noah Clarke - professional hockey player
 * Glenn Davis - American football player, Heisman Trophy winner, Bonita High School alumnus, class of 1943
 * Ryan Stonehouse - American football player
 * Jason David Frank - MMA fighter, Bonita High School alumnus
 * Jeffrey Garcia - comedian, voice actor, radio DJ, has a house in La Verne
 * Erin Gruwell - author of The Freedom Writers Diary, Bonita High School alumnus
 * Sugar Shane Mosley - professional boxer, lives in La Verne
 * Paula Jean Myers-Pope - diver, four-time Olympic medalist

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

title: La Verne, California


text:
Ladera Heights, California

Ladera Heights is a community and unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, California. The population was 6,634 at the 2020 census. Culver City lies to its west, the Baldwin Hills neighborhood to its north, the View Park-Windsor Hills community to its east, the Westchester neighborhood to its south and southwest and the city of Inglewood to its southeast. With an average household income of $132,824, Ladera Heights ranks third amongst the ten wealthiest majority-Black communities in the United States.

History
Ladera Heights originated in the late 1940s with the development of "Old Ladera". In the 1960s, custom homes were built in "New Ladera". Prominent architect builders included Valentine and Gallant. Robert Earl, who designed many of the Valentine homes, went on to build large multimillion-dollar estates throughout Southern California and in other countries. Neighboring Fox Hills contained a golf course with rolling hills that backed up to Wooster Avenue. Valentine built Robert Earl designed homes on Wooster overlooking the Fox Hills golf course.

Baseball player Frank Robinson and other sports players began moving to Ladera Heights in the early 1970s. Many celebrities have lived in Ladera Heights over the years, including Peter Vidmar, Vanessa Williams, Chris Darden, Chris Strait, Lisa Leslie, Olympia Scott, Ken Norton, Arron Afflalo, Tyler, The Creator, Michael Cooper and Byron Scott. Ladera Heights is known as a residence for affluent African Americans.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.0 sqmi, all of it land.

Most of the area is in unincorporated Los Angeles County, with a small section in the neighborhood of Ladera, Los Angeles, within the City of Los Angeles.

Ladera Heights is portioned into three sections, known as "Upper Ladera," "Lower Ladera" and "Old Ladera". Upper Ladera includes all houses north of Slauson in between La Cienega Boulevard and Shenandoah Avenue, while Lower Ladera (the larger of the two) consists of all houses south of Slauson in between Wooster and La Cienega. Old Ladera is the small area just east of La Cienega and south of Slauson. The Ladera Center, located in Lower Ladera just west of La Cienega Boulevard, hosts a number of local franchise stores and eateries.

2020 census
According to a 2014 ranking, Ladera Heights ranks #3 among the top 10 richest majority-Black communities in the US, just under View Park-Windsor Hills, CA, and the Baldwin Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, and just above Mitchellville, Maryland. Per the study, Ladera Heights has an average family income of $132,824.

2010 Census
The 2010 US Census reported that Ladera Heights had a population of 6,498. The population density was 2,191.1 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Ladera Heights was 4,786 (73.7%) African American, 979 (15.1%) White (13.3% Non-Hispanic White), 20 (0.3%) Native American, 231 (3.6%) Asian, 2 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 134 (2.1%) from other races, and 346 (5.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 355 people (5.5%).

The census reported that 6,486 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, 8 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 4 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 2,751 households, 702 (25.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,240 (45.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 462 (16.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 113 (4.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 93 (3.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 20 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 778 households (28.3%) were one person and 351 (12.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36. There were 1,815 families (66.0% of households); the average family size was 2.88.

The age distribution was 1,122 people (17.3%) under the age of 18, 401 people (6.2%) aged 18 to 24, 1,264 people (19.5%) aged 25 to 44, 2,183 people (33.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,528 people (23.5%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 49.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males.

There were 2,867 housing units at an average density of 966.7 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,027 (73.7%) were owner-occupied and 724 (26.3%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%. 4,891 people (75.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,595 people (24.5%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Ladera Heights had a median household income of $99,563, with 4.7% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000 Census
At the 2000 census there were 6,568 people, 2,691 households, and 1,883 families residing in the census-designated place (CDP). The population density was 2,230.6 PD/sqmi. There were 2,755 housing units at an average density of 935.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 70.8% African American, 7.0% White, 2.9% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4%. English and German were the most common ancestries. Canada and Trinidad were the most common foreign places of birth.

Of the 2,691 households 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 24.8% of households were one person and 9.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution was 20.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.7 males.

The median household income was $90,233 and the median family income was $103,174. Males had a median income of $64,643 versus $52,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $47,798. About 1.1% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Primary and secondary schools
Most of Ladera Heights is served by the Inglewood Unified School District. The schools serving Ladera Heights are in the Inglewood city limits. As of 2006 fewer than 400 Ladera Heights residents attended Inglewood USD schools. La Tijera School (K-8) and Parent School (K-8) serve Ladera Heights. La Tijera and Parent feed into Inglewood High School.

In 2006, a group of residents petitioned to move the area into the Culver City Unified School District of Culver City. Both the Culver City USD and the Inglewood USD opposed the move.

As of 2014 the Wiseburn School District allows parents in Ladera Heights to send their children to Wiseburn schools on inter-district transfers.

Colleges and universities
West Los Angeles College, a community college, is in Ladera Heights.

Services
Ladera Heights receives fire protection from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Marina del Rey Station in Marina del Rey, serving Ladera Heights.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services SPA 5 West Area Health Office serves Ladera Heights.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Ladera Heights is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Ladera Heights is in.

Parks and recreation
Ladera Park is adjacent to the View Park-Windsor Hills and the City of Inglewood. The park has an outdoor amphitheatre, a baseball–softball diamond field, a basketball court, children's play areas, a community recreation center, water fountains, picnic areas with barbecue grills and tennis courts.

Retail commerce
Ladera Heights Shopping Center (at the northwest side of the junction of La Tijera, La Cienega, and Centinela boulevards) hosted a Henshey's Department Store from 1966 to 1990 and what was popularly known as Magic Johnson Starbucks, a Starbucks owned by Magic Johnson from 1998 to 2018.

Notable people

 * Jhené Aiko
 * Arron Afflalo
 * Chris Darden
 * Randy Gardner
 * Lisa Leslie
 * Ken Norton
 * Frank Robinson
 * Byron Scott
 * Olympia Scott
 * Chris Strait
 * Tyler, The Creator
 * Peter Vidmar
 * Jerry West

title: Ladera Heights, California


text:
Lancaster, California

Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the Antelope Valley of the western Mojave Desert in Southern California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 173,516, making Lancaster the 153rd largest city in the United States and the 30th largest in California. Lancaster is a twin city with its southern neighbor Palmdale; together, they are the principal cities within the Antelope Valley region.

Lancaster is located approximately 70 mi north (via I-5 and SR 14) of downtown Los Angeles and is near the Kern County line. It is separated from the Los Angeles Basin by the San Gabriel Mountains to the south and from Bakersfield and the San Joaquin Valley by the Tehachapi Mountains to the north. The population of Lancaster has grown from 37,000 at the time of its incorporation in 1977 to over 157,000 as of 2019.

History
Antelope Valley, the area where Lancaster is now located, was home to the Paiute tribe at the time of first contact with Europeans. The Antelope Valley's central geography then served as the hub of a trade route for tribes trading between the California coast, the Central Valley, the Great Basin, and the pueblos of Arizona.

After statehood, the Antelope Valley again served as a geographic shortcut but for the Stockton-Los Angeles Road and the Butterfield Overland Mail, which had two nearby stops in Mud Spring and Neenach in the 1850s. However, Lancaster's origins as a settlement start with the Southern Pacific Railroad, which replaced the stage coach routes. The railroad built a station house, locomotive watering facility, section gang housing, and railroad track in the location of the town's current center. In 1876 the Southern Pacific completed the line through the Antelope Valley, linking San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Lancaster began as a Scottish settlement. The origin of Lancaster's name is unclear, attributed variously to the surname of a railroad station clerk, the moniker given by railroad officials, or the former Pennsylvania home (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) of unknown settlers. Train service brought passengers through the water-stop-turned-community, which, with the help of promotional literature, attracted new settlers. The person credited with formally developing the town is Moses Langley Wicks, who in 1884 bought property from the railroad for $2.50 per acre, mapped out a town with streets and lots, and by September was advertising 160-acre tracts of land for $6 an acre. The following year, the Lancaster News started publication, making it the first weekly newspaper in the Antelope Valley. By 1890, Lancaster was bustling and booming, and thanks to adequate rainfall, farmers planted and sold thousands of acres of wheat and barley.

The town was devastated by the decade-long drought that began in 1894, killing businesses and driving cattle north, though fortunes improved somewhat in the late-1890s following the nearby discoveries of gold and borax. The Tropico Gold Mine in Rosamond was briefly the largest goldmine in Southern California before its 1956 closure. The Pacific Coast Borax Company mine would later become the world's largest borax mine, producing nearly half of the world's supply of borates. The 1912 completion of Antelope Valley High School allowed students from the growing region to study locally instead of moving to distant cities, hosting the state's first high school dormitory system.

Lancaster State Prison opened in 1993 and before that Los Angeles County hosted no prisons but accounted for forty percent of California's state-prison inmates. "Most of Lancaster's civic leaders and residents" opposed the building of the prison, and four inmates escaped from LAC in its first year of operation. Nevertheless, by 2000 a proposal to increase the proportion of maximum-security inmates received little criticism.

In 2005, Hyundai Motor Co. announced the grand opening of a 4,300-acre, $60 million "Proving Ground," a state-of-the-art testing facility for cars and sports utility vehicles in nearby California City.

In 2010, the city opened The BLVD, a one-mile revitalized stretch of Lancaster Boulevard between 10th Street West and Sierra Highway, with additional construction on Elm Avenue and Fig Avenue continuing for the next few months.

City leaders set the goal of becoming the nation's first Net-Zero municipality, wherein the city would produce more clean energy than it consumes. Much of the city's infrastructure including City Hall, local schools, and the minor league baseball stadium are solar-powered. In March 2013, Lancaster became the first city in the USA to require solar panels on all new homes in an effort to make the community more carbon neutral. The rule took effect in January 2014.

War Eagle Field / Mira Loma
War Eagle Field is a former airfield located in the Mojave Desert, about 5 mi west of central Lancaster.

In 1944, the flight school changed its name to Mira Loma Flight Academy. The airfield inactivated on October 1, 1945, and was declared surplus in 1946. Responsibility for it was given to the War Assets Administration. The land was then bought by Los Angeles County. The airfield was converted to the Mira Loma Detention Center. In 2012, Los Angeles County closed the detention center. Los Angeles County is currently collaborating with the City of Lancaster, the faith-based community, and the non-profit community to convert the facility into a winter shelter.

Climate
Lancaster has a semi-arid climate, bordering on an arid climate. The area within Lancaster is covered by shrublands (80%), forests (8%), grasslands (7%), lakes and rivers (2%), and croplands (2%). Lancaster and its immediate surroundings are part of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b. Winters are cool to mild, with daily normal minimum temperatures at or just below freezing from late November until late January; summers are hot and nearly rainless. On average, annually there are 68 mornings with a minimum at or below freezing, and 35.7 afternoons with a maximum at or above 100 °F. With a normal annual precipitation of 6.81 in, clear days are the norm even in winter, when surrounding mountain ranges are blanketed with snow. Thunderstorms are infrequent but do occur in July through September. Spring wildflowers are abundant, including Lupines, the California Poppy, Fiddlenecks, purple owl's clover, California Goldfields, Creamcups, and Coreopsis. Summer nights are cool and the Pacific tree frog or barn owl can be heard. Average annual snowfall is around 2 in.

The record high temperature in Lancaster was 115 °F on June 30, 2013. The record low temperature was 2 °F on December 24, 1984. The wettest “rain year” was from July 1992 to June 1993 with 19.57 in and the driest from July 2012 to June 2013 with 1.26 in. The most precipitation in one month was 7.46 in in January 1993. The most precipitation in one twenty-four-hour period was 2.93 in on March 1, 1983. In December 1979, 23.9 in of snow fell in Lancaster.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Lancaster had a population of 156,633. The population density was 1,656.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Lancaster was 77,734 (49.6%) White (34.2% Non-Hispanic White), 32,083 (20.5%) African American, 1,519 (1.0%) Native American, 6,810 (4.3%) Asian (2.2% Filipino, 0.4% Chinese, 0.4% Indian, 0.3% Vietnamese, 0.3% Korean, 0.2% Japanese), 362 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 29,728 (19.0%) from other races, and 8,397 (5.4%) from two or more races. There were 59,556 people of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, of any race (38.0%).

The Census reported that 148,374 people (94.7% of the population) lived in households, 1,484 (0.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 6,775 (4.3%) were institution

There were 46,992 households, out of which 22,021 (46.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 22,108 (47.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 9,481 (20.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3,389 (7.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,374 (7.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 376 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 9,239 households (19.7%) were made up of individuals, and 3,060 (6.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.16. There were 34,978 families (74.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.62.

The population was spread out, with 47,160 people (30.1%) under the age of 18, 18,607 people (11.9%) aged 18 to 24, 42,575 people (27.2%) aged 25 to 44, 35,632 people (22.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 12,659 people (8.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.5 males.

There were 51,835 housing units at an average density of 548.2 /sqmi, of which 28,366 (60.4%) were owner-occupied, and 18,626 (39.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%. 90,064 people (57.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 58,310 people (37.2%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Lancaster had a median household income of $50,193, with 21.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 118,718 people, 38,224 households, and 27,674 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,263.0 PD/sqmi. There were 41,745 housing units at an average density of 444.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 62.82% White, 16.01% African American, 1.02% Native American, 3.81% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 11.11% from other races, and 5.00% from two or more races. 24.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.95% were Mexican, 0.6% were Puerto Rican and 0.22% were Cuban. Mexican and German were the most common ancestries.

There were 38,224 households, out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.41.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 32.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,127, and the median income for a family was $48,276 (based on Merrit Research). Males had a median income of $40,710 versus $27,619 for females (+/- $3,000 per year).

Mexican (16.9%) and German (10.3%) are the most common ancestries in the city. Mexico (44.3%) and the Philippines (8.4%) are the most common foreign places of birth in Lancaster.

Homelessness
In 2022, there were 636 homeless individuals in Lancaster.

Economy
The Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance describes five areas as business and industrial parks in the city of Lancaster: Fox Field Industrial Corridor (adjacent to the General William J. Fox Airfield) along Avenue G, North Valley Industrial Center, Lancaster Business Park, Enterprise Business Park, Centerpoint Business Park, and the Southern Amargosa Industrial Area. The former Lancaster Redevelopment Agency is credited with attracting major business operations to the area such as SYGMA, Rite Aide, Micheals, Bank of America, and many more. In 2012 the state of California abolished all local redevelopment agencies. The city's economic development department is now responsible for recruiting large employers and is involved in attracting retail and dining to Lancaster Town Center, Front Row Center, and other retail centers throughout the city.

Another focus of the Agency and the city was the revitalization of Downtown Lancaster. With historic buildings interspersed with modern amenities such as a library and performing arts center, downtown businesses formed the Lancaster Old Town Site (LOTS). LOTS has resulted in the renovation of business facades and attraction of new businesses, including boutiques and restaurants in the Old Town Area.

In 2009, Lancaster had 17% unemployment. Given the strength of China's economy in the face of the global recession, Mayor R. Rex Parris identified recruitment of Chinese manufacturing firms as a high priority in 2009. In early 2010, Mayor Parris led a delegation to explore trade opportunities with China. An essential component of this trade mission was a stop in Shenzhen, China to meet with representatives of the battery, alternative energy, solar panel, and vehicle manufacturing firm BYD. BYD was looking to break into the United States vehicle manufacturing market, and was introduced to the City of Lancaster by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and his wife, Christine.

Lancaster's partnership with BYD began with the "Home of the Future," in which KB Home utilized BYD's energy efficiency and storage technology to construct some of the first affordable near net-zero homes in the U.S. Through the success of this project, a working relationship was born, which BYD and Lancaster continued to cultivate as BYD Auto prepared to enter the U.S. market. Once the firm was ready to establish its manufacturing facility, Lancaster was its first stop. In May 2013, BYD Auto announced two manufacturing facilities to be located in Lancaster. These include a 120,000-square-foot BYD electric bus manufacturing facility, as well as a separate 44,000-square-foot energy storage system (large scale battery) manufacturing facility. By April 2019, BYD Lancaster had produced over 300 electric buses for US and Canada. Lancaster has the highest solar production per capita in California.

unemployment is around 6%.

Shopping centers

 * Valley Central Way
 * Lancaster Boulevard (The BLVD)
 * Lancaster Commerce Center Shopping Center
 * West Lancaster Plaza Shopping Center

Lancaster Museum of Art and History
The city has prioritized arts and culture as an economic driver, opening the Lancaster Museum of Art and History, or MOAH, in 2012 locating the new facility in its downtown district known as The BLVD. Originally founded as the Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery in 1986, the MOAH operates four sites within the city, serving the Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County, and parts of Kern and San Bernardino Counties. The museum contains over 10,000 art pieces about Southern California.

The BLVD Cultural District
In 2018, downtown Lancaster was designated The BLVD Cultural District, one of fourteen California Cultural Districts recognized as a place where culture happens within the state. Within the district, BLVD Cultural District Family Days and the biannual POW! WOW! Antelope Valley mural and arts festival has added nearly 50 murals by both local and internationally known artists to the district. The BLVD project was completed in 2010 and consists of Lancaster Blvd from 10th Street West to Sierra Highway. The multiple festivals have attracted huge crowds in the tens of thousands. The BLVD project was largely accepted as a major success. The Western Hotel (1876) is the oldest standing structure in the city of Lancaster, which was converted to a museum under the California Historic Site program in 1992, is also located within The BLVD Cultural District.

The Lancaster Performing Arts Center, in addition to MOAH, is a cultural anchor within the cultural district, providing a varied array of fine arts from community theatre productions to classical music and various forms of dance. It also draws celebrity performers from across the country and around the world, including renowned singers, dancers and musicians of all genres as well as comedians and variety shows.

The BLVD Cultural District is also home to the Lancaster Aerospace Walk of Honor. Established in 1990 by the Lancaster City Council, the Aerospace Walk of Honor celebrates test pilots who were associated with Edwards Air Force Base. Recognition is awarded for distinguished aviation careers marked by significant and obvious achievements beyond one specific accomplishment. The sidewalk monuments are dedicated to a distinguished group of internationally known experimental test pilots. Five honorees are inducted each year in a special ceremony held in September.

The city has changed from a railroad water stop of the 19th century to a city with many residents and visitors. Lancaster was the headquarters of the "Flat Earth Society" from 1974 through 2001.

The Musical Road
Lancaster has the first musical road in the United States. The Civic Musical Road "plays" part of the William Tell Overture, also known as the theme to the 1950s television show The Lone Ranger. It was first put in by Honda for a television commercial. After noise and safety complaints, it was paved over two weeks later. After complaints in favor of the road, the musical road was reinstalled in a new location, at 30th Street West and Avenue G, near Fox Airport and Apollo County Park, completed October 17, 2008. While it plays the same song, it is now two miles (3 km) away from the nearest residence.

Special events
Each spring, the California Poppy Festival draws upward of 60,000 guests to Lancaster City Park to celebrate springtime. The California Poppy Reserve, 20 mi west of Lancaster, boasts one of California's most abundant crops of the state flower, and the Poppy Festival has become a popular event not only for Lancaster residents, but also for visitors from around the world. The California Poppy Festival began as an Earth Day celebration and has grown into an event with over 55 acre of activities and extensive wildflower information.

"Celebrate Downtown Lancaster", a street fair and farmers' market, is held multiple times throughout the summer and features family-friendly activities, street musicians and a variety of specialty vendors.

In October 2009, the city launched the first annual Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix, a professional go-kart racing event, in downtown Lancaster. In October 2010, the event was held along the newly revitalized BLVD and expanded to 3 days of festivities, boasting an attendance of 35,000. The event is accompanied by a street festival, live music, and a car show.

In April of each year the "Antelope Valley Gem and Mineral Club" hosts its annual gem and mineral show. This show usually takes place the last weekend of April at the Lancaster High School grounds. This event usually draws many visitors and local residents as it is a unique opportunity to see rare rocks, gemstones, specimens and hand made goods such as cabochons, faceted stones and hand made jewelry.

The Miss Lancaster pageant takes place every year in June. The winner represents her community at the Miss Antelope Valley Pageant in September and serves as an ambassador for the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. Notable recipients include Hannah Fernquist (2010), the first Miss Lancaster to be crowned Miss Antelope Valley since 1999 and the redhead featured on the Miss Antelope Valley banner.

BLVD Market is a farmers market held every Thursday year round on Lancaster BLVD between Fern and Ehrlich Avenues.

Other Cultural Assets
Today, the city has over 600 acre of developed or planned parkland, including playground and picnic areas as well as tournament-level sports facilities at Big 8 Softball Complex and the Lancaster National Soccer Center. The Prime Desert Woodland Preserve, located in West Lancaster, is a facility dedicated to preserving the pristine beauty of the High Desert and educating residents about their environment through nature walks and educational programs at its unique Interpretive Center. Forrest Hull Park, located near the southern border of the city on its west side and across the street from Paraclete High School, is a popular dog park where local residents frequently gather to allow their dogs to play and exercise together.

In 1996, the city built Lancaster Municipal Stadium (now The Hangar). It was home to the Lancaster JetHawks, a California League High-A minor league baseball team, from 1996 to 2020. As of 2023 it is home to the Lancaster Sound Breakers, a professional baseball team in the Pecos League.

Lancaster JetHawks
The Lancaster JetHawks were a minor league baseball team of the California League located in Lancaster, California. The team was named for the city's association with the aerospace industry and played its home games at The Hangar. The Lancaster JetHawks were last the Class A - Advanced affiliate of the Colorado Rockies since 2016. In 2012, the JetHawks won their first California League Championship in franchise history. In 2020, MLB revoked the JetHawks' affiliation in a contraction of all Minor League Baseball.

The Los Angeles Slam
The Los Angeles Slam is a team of the American Basketball Association, formed in 2008. The team relocated to Lancaster in 2011.

Lancaster Sound Breakers
On November 8, 2022, the Independent Pecos League announced the Lancaster Sound Breakers as an expansion team. The team played their first home game in May 2023 at The Hangar.

Master plan of trails and bikeways
The city's declared intent is to create a connected network of on-road and off-road trails and bikeway facilities to accommodate users of all ages and abilities including equestrians. This network is to provide linkages between residential areas, commercial centers, transportation hubs, employment centers, and recreational activities.

The Master Plan of Trails and Bikeways has been a collaborative effort with a variety of community interests, from transportation, public health, law enforcement, people with disabilities, schools, public and community-based bicycling, walking, equestrian groups and general public. The Master Plan directly responds to citizen input from the General Planning process. The plan will guide the design and development of pedestrian, bicycle and trail facilities to try to encourage people to use healthier transportation modes in Lancaster.

City government
Lancaster is a charter city which utilizes a City Council/City Manager system of government. This system of government provides accountability and responsiveness to the electorate, while maintaining the stability necessary for implementation of a long-term vision.

The Lancaster City Council consists of an elected Mayor and four elected Council Members. As the city's legislative and policy entity, the Mayor and Council Members are responsible to the residents of Lancaster for all municipal programs and services as well as for any legislative matters concerning the city. The Council approves and adopts ordinances, resolutions and contracts and enacts regulations and policies. It appoints the City Manager and City Attorney as well as members of commissions and citizen advisory committees that provide broad perspective in the decision-making process. Members of the council also serve as directors of the Lancaster Redevelopment Agency, the Financing Authority and the Housing Authority.

City Council meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, with special or adjourned meetings scheduled as needed. City Council meetings are open to the public and include opportunities for residents to voice concerns and suggestions.

The office of City Manager is an appointed, long-term professional position. With oversight and direction from the City Council, the City Manager sets and implements policy. The City Manager leads the management team to achieve the goals and directives set forth in the city's General Plan and to develop and implement a long-term vision for city growth and achievement.

A Deputy City Manager and Assistant City Manager are appointed by the City Manager to help manage, coordinate, control and direct Administrative Services, and to ensure achievement of operating department goals and objectives.

As of 2021 the mayor was Lancaster native and local lawyer R. Rex Parris. He was first elected in April 2008 and was re-elected in 2010, 2012, 2016 and 2020. The City Manager is Jason Caudle, who has been with the City of Lancaster since 2008 and was appointed City Manager in December 2018. The current Vice Mayor is Marvin Crist, and other current Council Members are Raj Malhi, Ken Mann and Darrell Dorris.

State and federal government
In the California State Legislature, Lancaster is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Lancaster is in.

Public schools
There are three elementary school districts in Lancaster: Eastside Union School District, Westside Union School District, and Lancaster School District.

The city has taken an active role in education through its Lancaster CARES after-school program created in collaboration with the Lancaster School District. CARES provides learning and enrichment activities as well as mentors and positive adult role models to give children the encouragement and personal attention essential to building future leaders.

The Antelope Valley Union High School District covers all high schools in Lancaster.

SOAR (Students on the Academic Rise) is a specialized high school which is located on the Antelope Valley College campus, but is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District. It is an Early College High School which integrates college courses into the high school curriculum. Successful students receive both a high school diploma and an Associate's college degree within five years. SOAR High School has an emphasis in mathematics, science, and engineering. In the 2011–2012 academic year, SOAR students received an API score of 945, which is ranked in the top 1% of all high schools in the nation.

In March 2015, two students from Lancaster's SOAR High School demonstrated a blood alcohol content detection wristband at the fifth annual White House Science Fair.

The Antelope Valley Union High School District currently houses 6 Career Academies, all of which include some STEM component: Green Enterprise at AV High School (Project Lead the Way pre-engineering and business); Law and Government at Highland High School (crime scene investigation); Digital Design and Engineering at Knight High School (PLTW pre-engineering, 3D simulations); Agriculture and Environmental Science at Littlerock High School; Health Careers Academy and Falcon Academy of Sustainable Technology (FAST) (PLTW pre-engineering, automotive, construction, 3D simulations) at Palmdale High. AVUHSD also has 3 middle school academies, which include Soar Prep, Knight Prep, and Palmdale Prep.

In addition, STEM career pathways and courses are in place at other high schools, including: PLTW pre-engineering at Lancaster and Quartz Hill High School; Health Science with dental concentration at Antelope Valley High School; Automotive technology at Highland, Littlerock, Quartz Hill, and Desert Winds; Agriculture science at AV High School and Palmdale High; Computer multimedia design at every AVUHSD comprehensive site.

Quartz Hill High School of the AVUHSD houses the district's International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The IB program combines advanced content knowledge with a focus on the development of critical thinking. Earning an IB diploma requires a multi-year commitment across disciplines.

The U.S. News & World Report education site shows the district falls below the California Academic Performance Index Evaluation. 70% of students receive a free lunch, with 8% participating in Advanced Placement courses or credits.

Private schools
There are also several private schools in the city including Bethel Christian School (K-8), Desert Christian Schools, Grace Lutheran Christian School, Sacred Heart School (TK - 8th grades), Paraclete High School, Lancaster Baptist School, Desert Montessori Academy, Antelope Valley Adventist School, Country Christian School, and Desert Vineyard Christian School.

Charter schools
Charter schools include Academy for the Advancement of Children with Autism, Antelope Valley Learning Academy, Assurance Learning Academy, Desert Sands Charter High School, Gorman Learning Charter Network, iLEAD Innovation Studios High School, iLEAD Lancaster Charter School, Learn4Life Concept Charter School, Life Source International Charter School, and Options For Youth Charter School.

Higher education
Lancaster is home to Antelope Valley College, the University of Antelope Valley, as well as a satellite campus of California State University, Bakersfield. In 2005, Charter College was opened. The city has spearheaded the development of the Lancaster University Center to provide local students with a chance to receive a first-rate education in engineering and technology. The $3.5 million reconstruction of Challenger Hall, located at the old Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, gave the new campus 13 classrooms, two of which are high tech distance learning rooms and 2 of which are lab classrooms, as well as office space. Through partnerships with local aerospace companies, and California State University, Bakersfield. Previously California State University, Fresno offered two Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering in association with the Lancaster University Center. However, CSUF began phasing out these programs in the Antelope Valley in 2010, ceasing course offerings at the end of the 2011 spring term. Beginning in fall 2011, California State University, Long Beach will now be offering Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering at the LUC, ensuring students in the Antelope Valley will receive a first-rate education without leaving the area.

Antelope Valley College
Antelope Valley College is the oldest institution of higher learning in the Antelope Valley. It was founded in 1929 on the campus of Antelope Valley High School. In the mid-1950s, it moved to its current location.

California State University, Bakersfield-Antelope Valley
California State University, Bakersfield-Antelope Valley (CSUB-AV) is located on the north side of the Antelope Valley College campus. Many bachelor's and master's degrees are offered on this campus.

West Coast Baptist College
Lancaster is also home to West Coast Baptist College, an accredited independent Baptist Bible College offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in pastoral studies, evangelism, missions, church ministries, music, Christian education, youth ministry, and secretarial studies. West Coast opened in 1995.

University of Antelope Valley
Formerly known as Antelope Valley Medical College, University of Antelope Valley is a private, for-profit institution approved by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WSCUC). In June 2009, the institution received approval from the United States Department of Education to offer Associates, Bachelors, and master's degrees.

Newspapers

 * AV News
 * Antelope Valley Press
 * AV Political Observer
 * Los Angeles Times

AM

 * KAVL 610 Sports
 * KTPI 1340 Adult Standards
 * KOSS 1380 News/Talk
 * KUTY 1470 Mexican Oldies

FM

 * KCRY 88.1 FM NPR (KCRW Santa Monica)
 * KTLW 88.9 FM Religious/Christian
 * KLXP 89.7 FM Religious/Christian (simulcast of Hollister KHRI 90.7)
 * K211EY 90.1 FM Religious/Christian (simulcast of Victorville KHMS 88.5)
 * K216FA 91.1 FM Religious/Christian (simulcast of Twin Falls KAWZ 89.9)
 * KWTD 91.9 FM Religious/Christian (simulcast of Bishop KWTW 88.5)
 * KQAV 93.5 FM Old School
 * KTPI-FM 97.7 FM Country
 * KKZQ 100.1 FM The Quake (Rock)
 * KRAJ 100.9 FM The Heat Hip Hop
 * KSRY 103.1 FM Modern Rock (simulcast of Los Angeles KYSR 98.7)
 * KGBB 103.9 FM Adult Hits
 * KEPD 104.9 FM Country
 * KVVS 105.5 Kiis FM (simulcast of Los Angeles KIIS 102.7)
 * KGMX 106.3 FM Adult Contemporary
 * KMVE 106.9 FM Light Rock
 * ((KLOS)) 95.5  FM Classic Rock

Television stations
Directory of locally based TV stations, otherwise they get all Los Angeles area on cable TV and sometimes, through the airwaves.
 * KPAL 38 Home Shopping/ Christian programming.
 * KILM 64 Independent, based in Victorville, 40 mi away.
 * KAVTV Time Warner Cable News on Channel 3
 * KCAL CBS News on Channel 9

Airport
General William J. Fox Airfield (also known as Fox Field) is the local airport serving Lancaster. Fox Field previously had scheduled passenger air service primarily to Los Angeles (LAX) but no longer has airline flights.

Rail
Lancaster station is the northern terminus of the Antelope Valley Line on the Metrolink commuter rail network. The line runs south from Lancaster through multiple cities in Los Angeles County, such as Palmdale, Santa Clarita, Burbank, and Glendale down to Los Angeles Union Station, which is located in Downtown Los Angeles and connects to multiple local Los Angeles Metro Rail lines.

Health care
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Antelope Valley Health Center in Lancaster.

Law enforcement
Law enforcement in Lancaster is provided by contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD). The LASD operates the Lancaster Station in Lancaster.

The city also makes use of technology in law enforcement, allowing citizens to file police reports with the Sheriff's Department through the city's website. These and other programs are reducing response times to law enforcement incidents. In August 2012, the city also launched the use of a Cessna 172 aircraft equipped with a remote control camera for use in patrolling the city. Initially, aircraft surveillance was carried out in a single ten-hour shift daily, but its use has been expanded to nighttime hours, as well.

Notable people

 * Raymond Allen, television actor
 * Kevin Appier, former MLB player
 * Chris Avalos, professional boxer
 * Pancho Barnes, aviator
 * Priscilla Barnes, actress
 * Lon Boyett, NFL player
 * Steve Buechele, baseball player
 * Aaron Carter, singer and actor
 * Dewayne Dedmon, NBA player
 * John "Drumbo" French, musician, author
 * Judy Garland, singer, actress
 * Donald Glover, actor, writer, comedian and musician; born on nearby Edwards AFB
 * Noah Gray-Cabey, actor
 * Buddy Hackett, actor, comedian
 * Sandy Hackett, actor and son of Buddy Hackett
 * Edmond Hamilton, science fiction writer
 * Bob Hannah, professional motorcycle racer and seven-time Motocross National Champion
 * Jon Howard, musician
 * Miguel Ibarra, professional soccer player
 * Al Krueger, professional football player, attended high school in Lancaster and died in Lancaster
 * John McKibbin, politician and businessman
 * Dwayne Murphy, Major League Baseball player and coach
 * Vinc Pichel, professional UFC mixed martial artist
 * James Richards, professional football player
 * George Runner, politician who currently represents 1/4 of California on the California State Board of Equalization
 * Sharon Runner, California state senator
 * Dick Rutan, retired airforce pilot
 * Burt Rutan, aerospace engineer
 * James Sakoda, psychologist and pioneer in computational modeling
 * Chaz Schilens, former NFL player
 * Wesley Swift, most prominent of the early popularizers of the Christian Identity movement
 * Bruce Van Dyke, former football guard
 * Don Van Vliet, musician (as Captain Beefheart), painter
 * Frank Zappa, musician, composer, satirist
 * Patrick Watson, musician
 * Adam Wheeler, Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler
 * Joshua Kelley, NFL player

In popular culture
The Two Pines Church in Lancaster is a chapel used by Quentin Tarantino in many scenes of his film, Kill Bill.

Lancaster was also used to film spots in Rob Zombie's film, The Devil's Rejects.

Sister cities
Lancaster is a sister city with Namie, Fukushima, Japan.

title: Lancaster, California


text:
Lawndale, California

Lawndale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 32,769 at the 2010 census, up from 31,712 according to the 2000 census. The city is in the South Bay region of the Greater Los Angeles Area.

History
Native Americans of the Tongva tribe lived in the area.

From the 1780s onward, the area that is now Lawndale was part of the Rancho Sausal Redondo, a land grant given by the Spanish colonial government that includes much of what is now the South Bayshore region. In 1905, Charles B. Hopper first subdivided the area and named it after the Chicago neighborhood of the same name. Lots sold slowly and different promotions were tried, such as promoting Lawndale as a chicken raising area. The first railway to run through Lawndale was the Inglewood Division of the Redondo Railway which would later become part of the Pacific Electric "Red Car" system. It ran down the middle of Railway Avenue (now Hawthorne Boulevard) until 1933. In 1927, the Santa Fe railroad arrived. After World War II, the immense demand for housing from returning veterans and California newcomers resulted in Lawndale's formation as a bedroom community. On December 28, 1959, it was incorporated as a city.

Starting in the 1970s, Lawndale's relatively low housing prices but more desirable location relative to its neighboring cities attracted absentee landlords and a substantial portion of its residents increasingly became renters.

For a time in the 1980s, with new cycle of expansion of defense industry nearby, many young people who wished to live in the Beach Cities found that they simply could not afford to do so, and settled in less glamorous inland cities such as Lawndale. But with the contraction of this industry after the Cold War, Lawndale reverted to its previous pattern. Lawndale has attempted to attract more owner–residents, as well as tourists, with the 2003 completion of the "Beautify Lawndale" urban renewal project along the city's stretch of Hawthorne Boulevard (State Route 107), a major South Bay thoroughfare.

A large electronic billboard was installed and began running advertising in 2004 until it was realized that the sign violated a city ordinance prohibiting advertising of out-of-town businesses on signs of that nature. For its first 18 months, the sign was sponsored by Fox and promoted upcoming television shows and movies under the Fox label. It later gained and lost a sponsorship with Acura before its current sponsorship for Los Angeles radio station 100.3 – The Sound. The billboard is said to generate Lawndale $200,000 annually. In 2012, the Lawndale community center opened its doors.

Top employers
According to the city's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Media
Lawndale Community Cable Television on Channel 22 is a Public-access television cable TV station. The City of Lawndale's Cable Television Department is funded by the Lawndale Cable Usage Corporation and the City of Lawndale through Local Access Fees and Cable television franchise fee provided by the local cable company, Time Warner Cable. The Lawndale Cable Usage Corporation is the non-profit, California corporation that receives these fees, and provides for the development of Lawndale Community Cable Television.

The Lawndalian a citywide newsletter that informs the residents about programs and events happening in the City of Lawndale. The Lawndalian is now available Online at the city's website.

The Lawndale Tribune is the community paper for the City of Lawndale.

Municipal government
Harold Hofmann served as mayor for 23 years, due to there not being city term limits and running unopposed in most elections.

State and federal representation
In the California State Legislature, Lawndale is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Lawndale is in California's 43rd congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +26 and is represented by.

Infrastructure
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Lennox Station in Lennox, serving Lawndale. In addition the agency operates the City of Lawndale Sheriff's Department Service Center.

The United States Postal Service Lawndale Post Office is located at 4320 Marine Avenue.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Curtis Tucker Health Center in Inglewood, serving Lawndale.

The County of Los Angeles Public Library Lawndale Library is located 14615 Burin Ave.

Education
Lawndale Elementary School District
 * Will Rogers Middle School serving 6th, 7th and 8th grades
 * Jane Addams Middle School serving 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.
 * F.D.R. Elementary School
 * William Anderson Elementary School
 * William Green Elementary School
 * Mark Twain Elementary School
 * Billy Mitchell Elementary School
 * Lucille J. Smith Elementary School

Centinela Valley Union High School District
 * Lawndale High School
 * Leuzinger High School
 * Hawthorne High School
 * Lloyde High School

Environmental Charter High School is a charter school in Lawndale serving grades 9 through 12.

In 2009, the renovated Lawndale Public Library of the County of Los Angeles Public Library, which is located adjacent to the Lawndale City Hall, re-opened.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 sqmi, all land.

Lawndale is bordered by Redondo Beach on the west and southwest, Hawthorne on the north, Torrance on the southeast, and the unincorporated area of El Camino Village (also known as Alondra Park) on the east.

Lawndale is serviced by Interstate 405, Hawthorne Boulevard (State Route 107), and by Artesia Boulevard (State Route 91), which becomes a freeway farther east. Lawndale is 5.7 miles southeast of Los Angeles International Airport.

Lawndale is serviced by following public transit: the Lawndale Beat, the Gardena Bus 1, Metro Green Line and by Metro buses 211, 40 and 740, the latter two of which are operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Lawndale Beat bus has been suspended until further notice.

The weather is warm all year long. In the winter, there are moderate rains. Because of the formation of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and its proximity to the beach, the city gets effects of the marine layer on almost identical, if not slightly lower, levels of nearby beach cities such as Manhattan Beach and El Segundo.

2010
At the 2010 census Lawndale had a population of 32,769. The population density was 16,599.0 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Lawndale was 14,274 (43.6%) White (16.2% Non-Hispanic White), 3,320 (10.1%) African American, 301 (0.9%) Native American, 3,269 (10.0%) Asian, 367 (1.1%) Pacific Islander, 9,374 (28.6%) from other races, and 1,864 (5.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20,002 persons (61.0%).

The census reported that 32,594 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 158 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 17 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 9,681 households, 4,516 (46.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 4,467 (46.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,813 (18.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 881 (9.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 722 (7.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 64 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,758 households (18.2%) were one person and 442 (4.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.37. There were 7,161 families (74.0% of households); the average family size was 3.84.

The age distribution was 8,927 people (27.2%) under the age of 18, 3,744 people (11.4%) aged 18 to 24, 10,541 people (32.2%) aged 25 to 44, 7,301 people (22.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,256 people (6.9%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 31.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.

There were 10,151 housing units at an average density of 5,141.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 3,326 (34.4%) were owner-occupied and 6,355 (65.6%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.8%. 11,606 people (35.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 20,988 people (64.0%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Lawndale had a median household income of $47,769, with 16.7% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 31,711 people in 9,555 households, including 7,022 families, in the city. The population density was 16,036.7 PD/sqmi. There were 9,869 housing units at an average density of 4,990.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 42.24% White, 12.61% African American, 0.99% Native American, 9.63% Asian, 0.91% Pacific Islander, 27.07% from other races, and 6.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 52.08%.

Of the 9,555 households 45.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, and 26.5% were non-families. 18.8% of households were one person and 4.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.31 and the average family size was 3.80.

The age distribution was 31.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 35.8% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.6% 65 or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

The median household income was $39,012 and the median family income was $37,909. Males had a median income of $29,033 versus $29,025.00 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,702. About 14.3% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Since Lawndale has a large amount of elderly residents, the city provides free trips for seniors on its city bus: The Lawndale Beat. The city also provides a meals on wheels program as well as a seniors travel club.

Mexican (34.7%) and Vietnamese (4.2%) were the most common ancestries. Mexico (47.6%) and Vietnam (9.1%) were the most common foreign places of birth.

Notable people

 * Fred Dryer, NFL player and actor, raised in Lawndale in the 1950s, Lawndale High School alumnus.
 * Russell Westbrook, NBA player, attended high school in Lawndale Leuzinger High School.
 * Traci Lords, actress.
 * Roy Rogers, famed actor and singer in Western-themed movies, radio programs and television shows.
 * Tiran Porter, bass player for the Doobie Brothers and Moby Grape was raised in Lawndale and attended Leuzinger High School.

Sister cities
Cagayan de Oro, Philippines (1986)

title: Lawndale, California


text:
Lennox, California

Lennox is a census-designated place (CDP) in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 22,753 at the 2010 census, down from 22,950 at the 2000 census.

Geography
Lennox's boundaries are Century Boulevard to the north (along with neighboring cities of Inglewood and Los Angeles), Interstate 405 (the San Diego Freeway) to the west, and Interstate 105 (the Glenn Anderson Freeway) to the south. Hawthorne Boulevard and Prairie Avenue make up portions of its eastern boundary with Inglewood.

The CDP sits underneath the flight path of passenger jets landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Inglewood is on one side of Lennox, and Hawthorne is on the other.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.1 sqmi, all land.

2010
At the 2010 census Lennox had a population of 22,753. The population density was 20,809.4 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Lennox was 8,623 (37.9%) White (1.9% Non-Hispanic White), 765 (3.4%) African American, 199 (0.9%) Native American, 177 (0.8%) Asian, 188 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 11,811 (51.9%) from other races, and 990 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21,162 persons (93.0%).

The census reported that 22,741 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 12 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 5,250 households, 3,297 (62.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,866 (54.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,049 (20.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 608 (11.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 456 (8.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 29 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 510 households (9.7%) were one person and 128 (2.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 4.33. There were 4,523 families (86.2% of households); the average family size was 4.49.

The age distribution was 7,553 people (33.2%) under the age of 18, 2,765 people (12.2%) aged 18 to 24, 6,926 people (30.4%) aged 25 to 44, 4,291 people (18.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,218 people (5.4%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 27.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.5 males.

There were 5,487 housing units at an average density of 5,018.3 per square mile, of the occupied units 1,569 (29.9%) were owner-occupied and 3,681 (70.1%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%. 7,805 people (34.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 14,936 people (65.6%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Lennox had a median household income of $37,659, with 32.3% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 22,950 people, 5,049 households, and 4,382 families in the CDP. The population density was 21,257.5 PD/sqmi. There were 5,235 housing units at an average density of 4,848.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 3.17% White, 4.15% African American, 1.02% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 1.39% Pacific Islander, 5.61% from other races, and 4.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino make up 89.77%.

Of the 5,049 households 63.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.2% were non-families. 9.2% of households were one person and 2.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 4.55 and the average family size was 4.70.

The age distribution was 39.0% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 12.7% from 45 to 64, and 3.6% 65 or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.

The median household income was $28,273 and the median family income was $27,991. Males had a median income of $19,235 versus $16,564 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $8,499. About 31.5% of families and 31.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.7% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.

1980s
By 1985 people in the Los Angeles area referred to Lennox as "Little Tijuana" due to the size of the Hispanic community, and by that year there were a significant number of newly arrived immigrants. Many had lived in single-family houses that contained two or more families at a time.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Lennox is in, and in.

As it is an unincorporated area, no municipal government exists.

In the United States House of Representatives, Lennox is in.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors governs over Lennox like a city council, and is part of Supervisorial District 2, by the leadership of Holly Mitchell.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office has a substation in the area as of 1985.

Homelessness
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority surveyed the unsheltered homeless population by City/Community and reported as of January 24, 2018, Lennox has an unsheltered homeless population of 175. The homeless population does not include the youth from ages 18–24, LAHSA reports the youth count by Council District(CD), Service Planning Area(SPA), and Supervisorial District(SD). In 2018 there were: 36(20.6%) unsheltered persons in cars, 3(1.7%) unsheltered persons in makeshift shelters, 33(18.9%) unsheltered persons in RVs/Campers, 40(22.9%) unsheltered persons in tents, 28(16%) unsheltered persons in vans, and 35(20%) unsheltered persons on the street. In 2017 there was an unsheltered homeless population of 143. The unsheltered homeless count in 2017 was: 38(26.6%) unsheltered persons in cars, 17(11.9%) unsheltered persons in makeshift shelters, 25(17.5%) unsheltered persons in RVs/Campers, 0(0%) persons in tents, 22(15.4%) unsheltered persons in vans, and 41(28.7%) unsheltered persons on the street. In 2016 Lennox had an unsheltered homeless population of 139. The unsheltered homeless count in 2016 was: 26(18.7%)unsheltered persons in cars, 0(0%) unsheltered persons in makeshift shelters, 24(17.3%) unsheltered persons in RVs/Campers, 0(0%) unsheltered persons in tents, 14(10.1%) unsheltered persons in vans, 75(53.9%) unsheltered persons on the street. Between 2016 and 2017 there was a 3.12% increase in unsheltered persons, and between 2017 and 2018 there was a 21.58% increase in unsheltered persons.

Education
The Lennox Elementary School District and the Centinela Valley Union High School District serve the CDP; combined they do so through 10 schools, two early education centers, five elementary schools, one middle School, and several high schools:
 * Lennox Mathematics, Science & Technology Academy
 * Animo Leadership Charter High School

The Centinela Valley district operated Lennox High School until 1982.

Public services
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the South Los Angeles Station in West Athens, serving Lennox.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Curtis Tucker Health Center in Inglewood, serving Lennox.

Flight path air pollution
In 2014, an air quality study found harmful ultrafine particles from the takeoffs and landings at Los Angeles International Airport to be much greater magnitude than previously thought.

title: Lennox, California


text:
Littlerock, California

Littlerock is a census-designated place in California United States. The population was 1,377 at the 2010 census, down from 1,402 at the 2000 census. The Littlerock, and Sun Village community, which is typically referred to as Littlerock, has a population around 15,000. According to the Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance report of 2009, the Palmdale / Lancaster urban area has a population of 483,998, which Littlerock is a part of.

Littlerock is named after the Little Rock Wash that passes through the area and is known as "The Fruit Basket of the Antelope Valley." There were orchards of fruit trees such as almonds, apples, peaches, and pears, along the side of the roads around Highway 138.

Geography
Littlerock is located 11 mi southeast of Palmdale's Civic Center. It is surrounded by Palmdale to the northwest, Pearblossom to the southeast, Sun Village to the north, and the San Gabriel Mountains to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Littlerock has a total area of 1.8 sqmi, over 99% of it land.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Littlerock had a population of 1,377. The population density was 747.0 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Littlerock was 808 (58.7%) White (35.5% Non-Hispanic White), 75 (5.4%) African American, 16 (1.2%) Native American, 24 (1.7%) Asian, 11 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 373 (27.1%) from other races, and 70 (5.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 745 persons (54.1%).

The Census reported that 1,375 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 2 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 417 households, out of which 193 (46.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 224 (53.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 61 (14.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 34 (8.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 28 (6.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 4 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 77 households (18.5%) were made up of individuals, and 24 (5.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.30. There were 319 families (76.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.69.

The population was spread out, with 419 people (30.4%) under the age of 18, 160 people (11.6%) aged 18 to 24, 345 people (25.1%) aged 25 to 44, 344 people (25.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 109 people (7.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

There were 461 housing units at an average density of 250.1 /sqmi, of which 269 (64.5%) were owner-occupied, and 148 (35.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.3%. 867 people (63.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 508 people (36.9%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Littlerock had a median household income of $42,617, with 9.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,402 people, 426 households, and 331 families residing in the census-designated place (CDP). The population density was 967.3 PD/sqmi. There were 470 housing units at an average density of 324.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.68% White, 4.78% African American, 1.07% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 19.76% from other races, and 2.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.73% of the population.

There were 426 households, out of which 49.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.71.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 38.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,000, and the median income for a family was $50,357. Males had a median income of $46,667 versus $45,625 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,557. About 19.7% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.

Mapping L.A.
According to Mapping L.A., Mexican and German were the most common ancestries in 2000. Mexico and El Salvador were the most common foreign places of birth.

Politics
In the state legislature Littlerock is located in the 17th State Senate district and the 36th State Assembly district. Federally, Littlerock is located in California's 25th congressional district, which has an Even Cook PVI.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Antelope Valley Health Center in Lancaster, serving Littlerock.

Transportation
By road, the community is served by California State Route 138. Public transit service is provided by the Antelope Valley Transit Authority.

Littlerock has motorcoach feeder service to Amtrak California's San Joaquin trains, available at the MB Grocery Discount.

title: Littlerock, California


text:
Lomita, California

Lomita (Spanish for "Little hill") is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 20,921 at the 2020 census, up slightly from 20,256 at the 2010 census.

History
The Gabrielino were the first to settle in the area.

The Spanish Empire had expanded into this area when the Viceroy of New Spain commissioned Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to explore the Pacific Ocean in 1542–1543. In 1767, the area became part of the Province of the Californias (Provincia de las Californias).

In 1784, the Spanish Crown deeded Rancho San Pedro, a tract of over 75,000 acre, to soldier Juan José Domínguez. The rancho changed in size over the years, as Domínguez's descendants partitioned the land amongst family members, sold parcels to newly arriving settlers, or relinquished some when validating their legal claim with the Mexican government in 1828, and with the United States government in 1858. The Domínguez family name is still applied throughout the area, including the Dominguez Rancho Adobe historical landmark, in the unincorporated community of Rancho Dominguez, located northeast of Lomita.

Lomita was incorporated as a city on June 30, 1964, to prevent further annexation by neighboring cities and in an attempt to curtail the development of high-rise apartment buildings.

Lomita established a sister city relationship with Takaishi, Osaka, Japan, in October 1981.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.9 sqmi, all of which is land.

Lomita originally spanned 7 sqmi. However, over time, much of this area was annexed by neighboring cities. A notable example is "Lomita Fields", now Zamperini Field (the Torrance Municipal Airport).

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Lomita has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

2010
At the 2010 census Lomita had a population of 20,256. The population density was 10,601.3 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Lomita was 11,987 (59.2%) White (43.4% Non-Hispanic White), 1,075 (5.3%) African American, 174 (0.9%) Native American, 2,923 (14.4%) Asian, 140 (0.7%) Pacific Islander, 2,680 (13.2%) from other races, and 1,277 (6.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6,652 persons (32.8%).

The census reported that 20,089 people (99.2% of the population) lived in households, 57 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 110 (0.5%) were institutionalized.

There were 8,068 households, 2,479 (30.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,409 (42.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,160 (14.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 481 (6.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 491 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 55 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,420 households (30.0%) were one person and 822 (10.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49. There were 5,050 families (62.6% of households); the average family size was 3.12.

The age distribution was 4,378 people (21.6%) under the age of 18, 1,743 people (8.6%) aged 18 to 24, 5,699 people (28.1%) aged 25 to 44, 5,904 people (29.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,532 people (12.5%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

There were 8,412 housing units at an average density of 4,402.5 per square mile, of the occupied units 3,738 (46.3%) were owner-occupied and 4,330 (53.7%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.4%. 9,183 people (45.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 10,906 people (53.8%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Lomita had a median household income of $60,398, with 12.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 20,046 people in 8,015 households, including 5,033 families, in the city. The population density was 10,572.7 PD/sqmi. There were 8,295 housing units at an average density of 4,375.0 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 66.16% White, 4.18% African American, 0.70% Native American, 11.41% Asian, 0.52% Pacific Islander, 10.79% from other races, and 6.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.20%.

Of the 8,015 households 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 30.6% of households were one person and 9.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.13.

The age distribution was 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median household income was $51,360 and the median family income was $53,003. Males had a median income of $41,582 versus $31,353 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,748. About 9.3% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Mexican (19.4%) and German (10.3%) were the most common ancestries. Mexico (35.0%) were Korea (11.2%) are the most common foreign places of birth.

Government and infrastructure
Fire protection in Lomita is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department with ambulance transport by McCormick Ambulance.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Lomita Station in Lomita.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Torrance Health Center in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, near Torrance and serving Lomita.

In the California State Legislature, Lomita is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Lomita is in.

The United States Postal Service Lomita Post Office is located at 25131 Narbonne Avenue.

Politics
The city of Lomita supported the Republican candidates for president in 1984 and 1988, but has since become a predominantly Democratic city in more recent years. The city of Lomita has supported the Democratic candidate in the past seven consecutive presidential elections. In the eight presidential elections since 1988, the percentage of the vote received by the Democrat has increased from the previous election.

Landmarks

 * Lomita Railroad Museum, opened in 1966 by Irene Lewis, is a small museum in Lomita devoted to the steam-engine period of railroading. Mrs. Lewis, along with her husband Martin, operated "Little Engines of Lomita", which sold kits for live steam-engine locomotives. Her engines also appeared in movies, including "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1952) and "Von Ryans Express" (1965). This operation inspired Mrs. Lewis to earn a mechanical engineering degree late in life and to build the museum as a showplace for her products. When built, the museum was the first of its kind West of Denver. The museum was designed to replicate the Boston & Maine's Greenwood Station in Wakefield, Massachusetts. The Museum was donated by Mrs. Lewis to the City of Lomita in honor of her late husband, Martin Lewis, in 1967. On display are a 1901 Baldwin Locomotive, a whaleback Southern Pacific tender, a 1910 Union Pacific caboose, and a 1949 Santa Fe caboose. The Museum also houses a full-size replica of a 1920s water tower that was constructed in 2000. The museum also incorporates a small public park, which accommodates a 1913 Union Pacific boxcar and a 1923 Union Oil tank car. The Museum is open Friday through Sunday, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Mrs. Lewis's little engines were featured on a Lawrence Welk show saluting senior citizens. Mary Lou Metzger operated the train, and a song about railroading.

Education
Lomita residents are within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The area is within Board District 7. As of 2008 Dr. Richard Vladovic represents the district.

Elementary schools that serve Lomita include:
 * Eshelman Avenue Elementary School
 * Lomita Math/Science Magnet (Kindergarten zoned only - 1-5 is magnet only)
 * President Avenue Elementary School (1–5) (in Los Angeles)

For a two-year period prior to 1991 Lomita attempted to secede from the LAUSD, but by that year abandoned its efforts.

Nishiyamato Academy of California, a Japanese elementary and junior high school, is located in Lomita. The school opened in April 1993; at the time it was located in Rolling Hills Estates. It was founded by Ryotaro Tanose, a former Japanese Diet member, as a sister school of the Nishiyamato Gakuen Junior and Senior High School (Nishiyamato Academy) in Kawai, Nara Prefecture, Japan.

Notable people

 * Ted Lilly, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher
 * Nikki Hornsby, musician
 * Deane McMinn, figure skating judge and USFS team manager, killed in the crash of Sabena Flight 548
 * Erv Palica, Major league pitcher, born to Montenegrin Serb parents
 * Chad Qualls, Colorado Rockies pitcher
 * Jim Thorpe, Native American athlete
 * Edward O. Thorp, mathematics professor, author, hedge fund manager, and blackjack player
 * Milo Aukerman, Punk rock

title: Lomita, California