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Victorville, California
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Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of western San Bernardino County, California, US. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2000 census, the city has a total population of 64,029. The May 1, 2008 population estimate released by the state of California for Victorville is 107,721.
orville is located at 34°31'14" North, 117°20'40" West (34.520459, -117.344525).
Victorville is located at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert, northeast of Los Angeles, south of Barstow, east of Palmdale, and north of San Bernardino through the Cajon Pass on Interstate 15.
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Encyclopedia
Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of western San Bernardino County, California, US. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2000 census, the city has a total population of 64,029. The May 1, 2008 population estimate released by the state of California for Victorville is 107,721.
Geography
Victorville is located at 34°31'14" North, 117°20'40" West (34.520459, -117.344525).
Victorville is located at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert, northeast of Los Angeles, south of Barstow, east of Palmdale, and north of San Bernardino through the Cajon Pass on Interstate 15. Victorville has the Mojave Desert branch of the San Bernardino county government offices.
It is bordered by Apple Valley on the east, Hesperia on the south, and Adelanto on the west. The Mojave River flows through Victorville. The elevation at City Hall is approximately above sea level. The summer climate for this area in the Mojave Desert may be hotter than the Los Angeles basin or the Inland Empire, but actually 10 or 15 degrees cooler than in the Colorado Desert.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 189.8 km² (73.3 mi²). 188.5 km² (72.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.71% water.
Demographics
In 2005, the city was estimated to contain 186,473 people, 130,000 households, and 21,000 families residing in the city. The population density is 339.7/km² (879.7/mi²). There are 22,498 housing units at an average density of 119.4/km² (309.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 51.92% White, 11.05% African American, 1.11% Native American, 1.48% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 16.26% from other races, and 5.98% from two or more races. 45.46% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 30,000 households out of which 43.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% are married couples living together, 16.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% are non-families. 19.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.03 and the average family size is 3.47.
In the city the population is spread out with 34.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $36,187, and the median income for a family is $39,988. Males have a median income of $40,149 versus $26,138 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,454. 18.7% of the population and 15.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.6% of those under the age of 18 and 10.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
For the year ending July 2007, Victorville experienced the second-highest population growth rate in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That year, the population rose 9.5%, to 107,221.
Politics
In the state legislature Victorville is located in the 17th Senate District, represented by Republican George Runner, and in the 36th Assembly District, represented by Republican Steve Knight. Federally, Victorville is located in California's 25th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +7 and is represented by Republican Buck McKeon.
History
In 2001, Christopher Lee Hyde was appointed Mayor of Victorville, he has since led the city of Victorville.
In 1858 an Aaron G Lane came to the High Desert and created Lane's Crossing for many years. He provided shelter and supplies for folks making the trip across the desert to the southern valley known as San Bernadino. Lane's Crossing was on the Mojave River just north of where the river crosses interstate 15. Captain A G Lane, how he was known, was a Mexican-American war veteran. He suffered from malaria during that war. Originally he migrated west to join the gold rush but found out it was better to sell supplies to the miners than pan for the gold. He settled in Ione near Sutter's mill during those years. He then migrated to San Bernardino in 1857. Although his health did not improve he found that the dry desert air was beneficial to him. So here he settled in 1858. He was also a rancher and became very involved in the Mojave Valley. Actually he donated his home for the first polling booth here. That first year 10 citizens cast their vote rather than making the long trip to San Bernardino. He sold his ranch and got involved in mining in the local areas.
About 1895 the town was named Victor after California Southern Railroad General Manager Jacob Nash Victor. In 1901, the United States Post Office Department changed the name to Victorville to avoid confusion with the town of Victor, Colorado.
In 1926, U.S. Route 66 was established and passed through Victorville. Today, the former route is the primary road through oldtown Victorville, forming Seventh Street.
In 1940, Herman J. Mankiewicz and John Houseman wrote the first two drafts of Citizen Kane in Victorville. Orson Welles sent the two of them to write in seclusion due to Mankiewicz's legendary drinking habits.
Victorville Army Airfield was constructed in 1941 and later named George Air Force Base.
In 1992, George AFB was deactivated and is now Southern California Logistics Airport. The former base housing is now vacant, forming a ghost town that is used for military training purposes by troops from Fort Irwin Military Reservation.
On November 19, 1954, Sammy Davis, Jr. almost died in an automobile accident in Victorville on a return trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Davis lost his left eye as a result, and wore a glass eye for the rest of his life.
The city was incorporated on September 21, 1962.
On August 14, 1977, actor Ron Haydock was struck and killed while hitch-hiking near Victorville. Ron Haydock is also remembered for his hit rockabilly 45 rpm single "99 Chicks".
In 2003, the was moved away from Victorville to Branson, Missouri.
On November 3, 2007, Victorville hosted the DARPA Urban Challenge, a 6 hour autonomous robot driving contest through the streets of what was formerly George Air Force Base now the Southern California Logistics Airport. The Carnegie Mellon team, known as Tartan Racing, took the US$2 million first prize, while the Stanford Racing Team received a $1 million check for finishing second. Team Victor Tango, made up of faculty and students from Virginia Tech, whose vehicle number was 32 in honor of the 32 students killed in the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, received $500,000 for taking third place. “Robots sometimes stun the world, inspire a lot of people and change the belief of what is possible,” said William “Red” Whittaker, a Carnegie Mellon robotics professor and team leader of the university’s Tartan Racing team. “We’ve seen that here and once the perception of what’s possible changes it never goes back. This is a phenomenal thing for robotics.”
Victorville is also home to the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds.
Transportation
Public safety
The City of Victorville contracts with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for police services. The new Victorville Regional Station is located on Amargosa Rd. near the California Highway Patrol Station. This station provides full service law enforcement for the City of Victorville(and neighboring Apple Valley, Hesperia and Adelanto). Many residents often confuse this station with the nearby old Victor Valley Station adjacent to the court house. The original Victorville Station provides law enforcement services mainly to the unincorporated areas of the Victor Valley such as Phelan, Lucerne Valley, Spring Valley Lake, and the numerous other county areas.
Victorville's own full-service fire department was contracted to the San Bernardino County Fire Department. This became effective on July 5, 2008 upgrading to a paramedic program in the process, leaving the Apple Valley Fire Protection District as the only municipal fire department left in the entire Victor Valley. Mutual aid is provided from the surrounding County Fire stations in Adelanto and Hesperia as well as from the Apple Valley FPD.
Notable people from Victorville
- Earl W. Bascom, Hall of Fame cowboy, international artist and sculptor.
- Dresta, rapper.
- Dan Henderson, welterweight champion, was born in August 24, 1970 and went to Victor Valley High School but resided in Apple Valley, where he was born.
- John W. Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, who graduated from Victor Valley High and attended Victor Valley College while residing in nearby Apple Valley.
- T. J. Houshmandzadeh, wide receiver for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals.
- Al Jury, NFL Referee.
- Trever Keith, guitarist, vocalist, and founding member of the punk band Face to Face, formed in Victorville in 1991.
- Dave Lombardo, drummer of thrash metal band, Slayer.
- Mike Mangold, 2005 Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion.
- Prem Reddy, MD, FACC, FCCP, Cardiologist, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist.
- Matt Riddle, former bassist of Face to Face and current bassist for the punk band No Use for a Name.
- Joe Stevenson, ultimate fighter who attended Silverado High School.
- Lorene Drive, a rock band formed in 2002.
- Bryan Herman, a professional skateboarder
- Dj Scotty Boy , Night Club Dj
- Harrison Gaines, current mens basketball player, University of Pennsylvania (only 3 time Daily Press Boys Basketball Player of the Year (2005-07)- Serrano HS)
- Karl Walrus, bass player in the all homosexual band 10 Hour Lunch.
- Nick Mazzone ,Actor and Model/Entertainer,Graduated from Victor Valley High School.
- Celine Lau, Victorville visionary
- Christian Liu, Victorville developer
- Naveen Jalota, MD
- Trent Brendon, Wake Forest Tennis Player
- Bethany Brendon, UC Riverside Tennis Player, Writer, and Model (younger sister of Trent Brendon)
Places of interest
Victorville is the current home of the California Route 66 Museum and the San Bernardino County Fair.
The United States Penitentiary, Victorville, located north of I-15 just off US Highway 395 has been home to many notables, including John Walker Lindh, the so-called "American Taliban" fighter.
Notable locations
- Adobe Corners
- Apple Valley Gun Club
- Green Tree Country Club
- Kemper Campbell Ranch
- Mojave State Fish Hatchery
- West Wind Golf Course
- Victorville Branch San Bernardino County Library
- Victorville Activities Center.
- Victorville Municipal Golf Course
- Victor Valley Country Club
Shopping Centers
- Hi Desert Plaza Shopping Center
- Bear Valley Plaza Shopping Center
- Liberty Village Shopping Center
- The Village Center Shopping Center
- Valley Center Shopping Center
- Victor Plaza Shopping Center
- Victor Valley Town Center Shopping Center
- Victor Valley Home Center Shopping Center
- Victor Valley Shopping Center
- Victor Plaza Shopping Center
Churches
- Holy Faith Baptist Mission
- Seventh Day Adventist Church of Green Tree
- First Assembly of God Church
- First Missionary Baptist Church
- Desert Love Christian Center
- United Pentecostal Church
- Victor Valley Baptist Church
- Victor Valley Bible Church
- Victorville Church of God in Christ
Parks
- Avalon Park
- Center Street Park
- Eva Dell Park
- Hook Park
- Hesp Crest Desert Ecological Study Area
- Pebble Beach Park
- Forrest Park
- Rockview Park
- Village Park
Filming location
Victorville has been used for film shoots:
- The Harvey Girls (1942), partially filmed at Iverson Ranch.
- It Came From Outer Space (1953), filmed in Victorville and the surrounding desert; Victorville served as the setting for the fictional town of "Sand Rock, Arizona".
- Grand Theft Auto (1977), starring Ron Howard.
- The Hills Have Eyes (1977). However, the 2006 version was filmed in Morocco.
- Lethal Weapon (1987) filmed at El Mirage Dry Lake west of Victorville
- Face/Off (1997), portions filmed at Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville
- Breakdown (1997) starring Kurt Russell, filmed in downtown Victorville.
- Contact (1997), also partially filmed in Victorville, with some local residents used as extras.
- Play It to the Bone (1999) filmed partly in The New Reflections concert venue in Downtown.
- Terminator III: Rise of the Machines (2003) filmed at Desert View Memorial Park and parts of downtown.
- Foo Fighters - Times Like These (2002) filmed on D Street between Victorville and Apple Valley
- Kill Bill Volume 2 (2004) filmed in The New Reflections as well.
- The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), partially filmed in Victorville.
External links
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