Ridgecrest, California

Ridgecrest is a city in Kern County, California, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 395 in the Indian Wells Valley, close to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. The city was officially created, or incorporated, in 1963.

At the time of the 2020 census, Ridgecrest had a population of 27,959 people, a small increase from the 2010 census count of 27,616. It is the third-largest city in Kern County.

Ridgecrest is surrounded by four mountain ranges: the Sierra Nevada to the west, the Coso Range to the north, the Argus Range to the east, and the El Paso Mountains to the south. Because of this, Ridgecrest is the most isolated community in Kern County. It is about 82 miles from the Lancaster/Palmdale area, 110 miles from Bakersfield, and 120 miles from San Bernardino. Small airplanes can land at the Inyokern Airport, but there are no regular airline flights.

The city has been close to the center of big earthquakes, including one in 1995 and a series of quakes in July 2019.

History

Native American tribes like the Paiute, Shoshone, and Kawaiisu lived in the Indian Wells Valley long ago. The Shoshone left behind special rock drawings called petroglyphs in the Coso Range, which can still be seen today in Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons. These drawings are also shown in the Maturango Museum and Petroglyph Park.

In the mid-1800s, travelers began using the valley as a path. Famous explorer Jedediah Smith came through with his beaver trappers in 1826, and Joseph Walker crossed Walker Pass into the valley in 1834. Later, during the 1800s, mining helped bring more people to the area. Chinese railroad workers who came in the 1880s gave China Lake its name.

Ridgecrest started as a small farming place called Crumville in 1912. The first post office opened in 1941, and by 1943, it had grown to 115 homes and 196 people. A big job base came when the Naval Ordnance Test Station was set up in 1943. Ridgecrest officially became a city in 1963 and continued to grow, supporting the important work at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.

Geography

Ridgecrest is a city in Kern County, California. It is located in a valley called the Indian Wells Valley, which is part of a larger valley named Owens Valley. The city sits next to a place called the Coso Range.

The city covers an area of 21.5 square miles, with most of it being land and a small part being water. The weather there is very dry, especially in the summer. Summers are hot, with temperatures sometimes reaching 119 °F, while winters can be quite cool, with temperatures sometimes dropping to 1 °F. The area gets very little rain, usually less than 5 inches a year, and sometimes has strong winds.

1995 earthquake

In 1995, the Ridgecrest area experienced many earthquakes. The first big one happened on August 17 and measured 5.4 in strength. Then, on September 20, another big earthquake struck, measuring 5.8. This was the largest earthquake in southern California since a big quake in 1994.

2019 earthquakes

In 2019, Ridgecrest had another series of strong earthquakes. The first big one happened on July 4 and measured 6.4. Then, on July 5, an even bigger earthquake struck, measuring 7.1. This was the strongest earthquake in the area in many years.

Climate

Ridgecrest has a dry, desert climate. Summers are very hot, with temperatures often reaching over 100 °F, while winters are cool but can get very cold at night. The area gets very little rain, usually less than 5 inches a year, and sometimes has strong winds.

The hottest month is July, with temperatures often above 100 °F, and the coolest month is December, with temperatures often around 60 °F during the day and much colder at night. The highest temperature ever recorded was 119 °F in July 2021, and the coldest was 1 °F in December 1963 and January 1973.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

Ridgecrest had 27,959 people living there in 2020. Most people lived in homes, and only a tiny number lived in group homes or special places. Almost all people lived in town areas.

There were about 11,000 homes. Over half of these homes were owned by the people living there, and the rest were rented. Most families had two parents and children living together.

2023 estimate

In 2023, the average family made about $88,000 each year, and most people had enough money to live well.

2010 census

In 2010, Ridgecrest had 27,616 people. Most people were White, but there were also many people from other backgrounds, including African American, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic or Latino.

Most people lived in homes with families, and many had both a mom and dad. Some homes had only one parent taking care of the children.

2000 census

In the year 2000, Ridgecrest had 24,927 people. Most people lived in homes with families. Many families had both a mom and dad, but some had only one parent.

Most people were White, but there were also people from other backgrounds, including Black or African American, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic or Latino.

There were many young people, and the average age was about 36 years old.

The city had a mix of people with different levels of education and jobs. Some people went to college, and some worked in different jobs.

Economy

Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWS China Lake) is an important place for testing and training with airplanes and weapons. It is right next to Ridgecrest and gives jobs to many people. In 2018, it provided almost 8,000 jobs, including work for the government, military, and private companies.

AltaOne Federal Credit Union has its main office in Ridgecrest. There is also a big plant called Searles Valley Minerals near the town of Trona, California, which is about thirty miles east of Ridgecrest.

Top employers

According to the city's report in 2024, the biggest places that employ people in Ridgecrest were:

Local features and activities

The area around Ridgecrest has many interesting features and fun activities. One of the most famous spots is the rock art made by the Coso People in Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons. These ancient artists created many drawings and traded with other tribes far away.

There are lots of things to do nearby, such as hunting, shooting, hiking, horseback riding, off-roading, dirt biking, golf, road cycling, camping, flying, and gliding.

Maturango Museum

Main article: Maturango Museum

The Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest is well-known for its guided tours to Little Petroglyph Canyon at China Lake Naval Weapons Station. The museum has exhibits and displays about the natural and cultural history of the Northern Mojave Desert, including plants, animals, Native American artifacts, geology, and modern arts and crafts.

Coso Rock Art District

Main article: Coso Rock Art District

The Coso Rock Art District, which includes Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons, has over 20,000 Native American drawings called petroglyphs. These canyons were named a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and became part of a larger National Historic Landmark District in 2001. Every year, Ridgecrest holds a festival to celebrate these drawings and its rich culture.

Walker Pass

Main article: Walker Pass

Walker Pass is a mountain pass near Lake Isabella in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It sits at an elevation of 5,250 feet and connects the San Joaquin Valley with the Mojave Desert.

Trona Pinnacles

Main article: Trona Pinnacles

The Trona Pinnacles, which have appeared in many films, are located near Ridgecrest.

Red Rock Canyon State Park

Main article: Red Rock Canyon State Park (California)

Red Rock Canyon State Park is close to Ridgecrest and offers great spots for hiking and camping.

Education

Sierra Sands Unified School District serves Ridgecrest and nearby areas. It includes several elementary schools such as Las Flores Elementary and Faller Elementary, as well as middle schools like James Monroe Middle School. The main high school is Sherman E Burroughs High School, with an alternative option at Mesquite High School. There is also a special charter school called Ridgecrest Elementary Academy for Language, Music, and Science (REALMS) for younger students.

Cerro Coso Community College, part of the Kern Community College District, was established in 1973. Its large Indian Wells Valley Campus is near Ridgecrest in the Mojave Desert and serves many people from the surrounding communities.

The Ridgecrest Branch Library is a part of the Kern County Library system and serves Ridgecrest and nearby areas.

Public safety

Ridgecrest has its own police department and a regional station of the Kern County Sheriff's Department. The Kern County Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services. In 2008, there were 56 full-time law enforcement employees, including 41 officers.

In 2011, the Ridgecrest Police Department reported various types of crimes. There was a total of 899 crimes that year, which was a 9% decrease from the previous period. There were 33,440 calls for service.

Notable people

Ridgecrest has been home to many interesting people. Some well-known individuals from the city include Rebekka Armstrong, who worked as a model and spoke out about health issues. There is also Mark Hoppus, the co-lead singer and bassist of the popular rock band Blink-182. Another famous person is Lacy Barnes-Mileham, who won track and field championships and competed in the Olympic Games.

Media

Ridgecrest has one television station, KZGN-LD, owned by Wiknich Broadcasting Corp. It has 3 channels and serves the whole Indian Wells Valley. KZGN gives local news, weather, sports, and a daily interview show called Ridgecrest Talk.

The city is served by two newspapers, The Daily Independent and the News Review, plus many local broadcast stations and repeaters from radio and television stations in Los Angeles and Bakersfield. These repeaters are run by the IWV TV Booster. Local radio stations include KRSF 89.3 with Christian music from Radio 74; KZFX 93.7 with classic rock and news from ABC; KSSI (FM) 102.7 with rock music and local updates; KLOA (AM) 1240 with CBS Sports Radio; KZIQ 92.7 with adult contemporary music; KRAJ The Heat 100.9 FM with hip-hop; and K296AI 107.1 with KCNV classical music.

Television repeater K05FO channel 5 rebroadcasts KTLA, and K35HO-D channel 35 rebroadcasts KBAK.

In popular culture

In 1996, a Sony commercial called Ridgecrest the "Earthquake Capital of the World."

The movie Holes from 2003 was mostly filmed in Ridgecrest.

Transportation

Ridgecrest is where California State Route 178 and U.S. Route 395 meet. The city runs a shuttle bus called Ridgecrest Transit that goes to and from Inyokern. This shuttle connects with buses from the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority that go to Bishop and Mammoth Lakes in the north, and to Lancaster (Metrolink station) in the south, where you can travel to the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles. Kern Transit also links Ridgecrest to Lake Isabella and Mojave.