Lancaster, California City of Lancaster Sunset over Lancaster, California Sunset over Lancaster, California Flag of Lancaster, California Location of Lancaster in California and Los Angeles County Location of Lancaster in California and Los Angeles County Lancaster is positioned in the US Lancaster - Lancaster Lancaster / l n.k st r/ is a charter town/city in northern Los Angeles County, in the Antelope Valley of the Mojave Desert in Southern California.

As of 2013, Lancaster was the 31st biggest city in California.

Lancaster is part of a twin town/city complex with its southern neighbor Palmdale and together they are the principal metros/cities inside the Antelope Valley region and California's High Desert.

Lancaster is positioned approximately 70 miles (110 km) north (by highway) of downtown Los Angeles, near the Kern County line.

The populace of Lancaster interval from 37,000 at the time of its incorporation in 1977 to over 156,000 in 2010.

According to the Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance report of 2015, Lancaster has a populace of 168,049. 2.5 The Los Angeles Slam of Lancaster 4.2 California State University, Bakersfield-Antelope Valley The region where Lancaster is now located, known as the Antelope Valley, was originally home to the Paiute Indians.

Lancaster's origins as a settlement start with the Southern Pacific Railroad, which is believed to first use the name Lancaster, where a station home, locomotive watering facilities and section gang housing were assembled when the barns laid track through the town's future location.

The origin of Lancaster's name is unclear, attributed variously to the surname of a barns station clerk, the moniker given by barns officials, or the former Pennsylvania home (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) of unknown settlers.

The following year, the Lancaster News started publication, making it the first weekly journal in the Antelope Valley.

Thanks to the five-year assembly of the 233-mile Los Angeles Aqueduct starting in 1908, Lancaster became a boom town by housing waterway workers.

The 1912 culmination of Antelope Valley Union High School allowed students from the burgeoning region to study locally freshwater moving to distant cities, and the school boasted the state's first dormitory fitness to accommodate students from outlying districts.

Lancaster was an unincorporated improve in Los Angeles County until 1977, when it was incorporated as a city, with Arnold Rodio serving as its first mayor.

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. Lancaster is now home to primary defense contractors such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, BAE, and government agencies, such as the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, which are all active in design, testing, and manufacturing of a range of military and commercial equipment.

In 2010, the town/city opened The BLVD, a one-mile revitalized stretch of Lancaster Boulevard between 10th Street West and Sierra Highway. Much of the city's transit framework including City Hall, small-town schools, and even their minor league baseball stadium are solar powered.

In March 2013, Lancaster became the first town/city in the US to require solar panels on all new homes in an accomplishment to make the improve more carbon neutral.

War Eagle Field is a former airfield positioned in the Mojave Desert, about 5 mi (8.0 km) west of central Lancaster.

After the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor, the flight school began training cadets for the United States Army Air Force on 28 July 1942, being directed by the Polaris Flight Academy as a contract basic flying school (phase 1).

In 2012, LA County closed the detention center. LA County is presently collaborating with the City of Lancaster, the faith-based community, and the non-profit improve to convert the facility into a winter shelter. The Hangar, home of the Lancaster Jet - Hawks The town/city has changed from a barns water stop of the 19th century to a town/city with many inhabitants and visitors.

The Western Hotel (1886) is the earliest standing structure in the town/city of Lancaster, which was converted to a exhibition under the California Historic Site program in 1992.

The town/city is also home to the Lancaster Aerospace Walk of Honor.

Established in 1990 by the Lancaster City Council, the Aerospace Walk of Honor jubilates test pilots who were associated with Edwards Air Force Base.

Today, the town/city has over 600 acres (2.4 km2) of advanced or prepared 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, positioned in West Lancaster, is a facility dedicated to preserving the pristine beauty of the High Desert and educating inhabitants about their surrounding through nature walks and educational programs at its unique Interpretive Center.

Forrest Hull Park, positioned near the southern border of the town/city on its west side and athwart the street from Paraclete High School, is a prominent dog park where small-town inhabitants incessantly gather to allow their dogs to play and exercise together.

In 1996, the town/city assembled Lancaster Municipal Stadium (now The Hangar).

It has been home to the Lancaster Jet - Hawks, a California League Class A Advanced minor league baseball team, for the last twenty years.

The Lancaster Performing Arts Center provides a varied array of fine arts from improve theatre productions to classical music and various forms of dance.

Lancaster has the first musical road in the United States.

The overall intent of the Master Plan of Trails and Bikeways is to guide the planning and design of pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian facilities in a elected manner throughout Lancaster.

Each spring, the California Poppy Festival draws upward of 60,000 guests to Lancaster City Park to jubilate springtime.

The California Poppy Reserve, 20 miles (32 km) west of Lancaster, boasts one of California's most abundant crops of the state flower, and the Poppy Festival has turn into a prominent event not only for Lancaster residents, but also for visitors from around the world.

In October 2009, the town/city launched the first annual Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix, a experienced go-kart racing event, in downtown Lancaster.

This show usually takes place the last weekend of April at the Lancaster High School grounds.

The Miss Lancaster pageant takes place every year in June.

The winner represents her improve 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.

The Lancaster Jet - Hawks are a minor league baseball team of the California League positioned in Lancaster, California.

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

The town/city has taken an active part in education through its Lancaster CARES after-school program created in collaboration with the Lancaster School District.

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 positioned 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.

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 presently homes 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, 3 - D simulations); Agriculture and Environmental Science at Littlerock High School; Health Careers Academy and Falcon Academy of Sustainable Technology (FAST) (PLTW pre-engineering, automotive, construction, 3 - D simulations) at Palmdale High.

In addition, STEM longterm position 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 elected site.

There are also a several private schools in the town/city including Bethel Christian School (K-12), Desert Christian School, Grace Lutheran Christian School, Sacred Heart School (TK - 8th grades) and Paraclete High School, Antelope Valley Christian, Lancaster Baptist School, Pinecrest School, Desert Montessori Academy, Antelope Valley Adventist School, Country Christian School, and Desert Vineyard Christian School.

AV Learning Academy, Desert Sands Charter High School, i - LEAD Innovation Studios High School, i - LEAD Lancaster Charter School, Learn4 - Life Concept Charter School, Life Source International Charter School Lancaster is home to the University of Antelope Valley, Antelope Valley College as well as a satellite ground of California State University, Bakersfield.

The town/city has spearheaded the evolution of the Lancaster University Center to furnish small-town students with a chance to receive a first-rate education in engineering and technology.

The $3.5 million ongoing standard of Challenger Hall, positioned at the old Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, gave the new ground 13 classrooms, two of which are high tech distance learning rooms and 2 of which are lab classrooms, as well as office space.

Previously California State University, Fresno offered two Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering in association with the Lancaster University Center.

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 is the earliest institution of higher learning in the Antelope Valley.

It was established in 1929 on the ground of Antelope Valley High School.

California State University, Bakersfield-Antelope Valley (CSUB-AV) is positioned on the north side of the Antelope Valley College campus.

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

Formerly known as Antelope Valley Medical College, University of Antelope Valley is a private, for-profit institution allowed by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WSCUC).

According to the United States Enumeration Bureau, the town/city has a total region of 94.5 square miles (245 km2), of which, 94.3 square miles (244 km2) of it is territory and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) of it (0.29%) is water.

Lancaster's altitude is 2,350 feet (720 m) above sea level on a high, flat valley surrounded by pristine mountain peaks.

Some metros/cities and communities inside the trading region of Lancaster include Palmdale, Rosamond, Lake Los Angeles, Quartz Hill, Ridgecrest, and Santa Clarita.

Residents of these desert metros/cities and unincorporated communities share Sierra Highway, Angeles Forest Highway, Angeles Crest Highway (State Route 2), and the Antelope Valley Freeway (State Route 14) for commutes to the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles Basin.

The region inside Lancaster is veiled by shrublands (80%), forests (8%), grasslands (7%), lakes and rivers (2%), and croplands (2%). The average daytime high in the summertime is around 95 F (35 C) and the average winter daytime highs are in the upper 50s (15 C).

The record high temperature in Lancaster was 115 F (46 C) on June 30, 2013.

Climate data for Lancaster, California The Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance describes five areas as company and industrialized parks in the town/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 primary company operations to the region such as SYGMA, Rite Aide, Micheals, Bank of America, and many more.

In 2012 the state of California abolished all small-town redevelopment agencies.The city's economic evolution 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 town/city was the revitalization of Downtown Lancaster.

Introduced to the City of Lancaster by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and his wife, Christine, BYD was looking to break into the United States vehicle manufacturing market.

Lancaster's partnership with BYD began with the innovative "Home of the Future," in which KB Home utilized BYD's cutting-edge energy efficiency and storage technology to construct the first affordable near net-zero homes in the U.S.

In May 2013, BYD Auto announced not one, but two manufacturing facilities to be positioned in Lancaster.

The 2010 United States Enumeration reported that Lancaster had a populace of 156,633.

The populace was spread out with 47,160 citizens (30.1%) under the age of 18, 18,607 citizens (11.9%) aged 18 to 24, 42,575 citizens (27.2%) aged 25 to 44, 35,632 citizens (22.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 12,659 citizens (8.1%) who were 65 years of age or older.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Lancaster had a median homehold income of $50,193, with 21.5% of the populace living below the federal poverty line. Lancaster is a charter town/city which utilizes a City Council/City Manager fitness of government.

The Lancaster City Council consists of an propel Mayor and four propel Council Members.

As the city's legislative and policy entity, the Mayor and Council Members are responsible to the inhabitants of Lancaster for all municipal programs and services as well as for any legislative matters concerning the city.

It appoints the City Manager and City Attorney as well as members of commissions and citizen advisory committees that furnish broad perspective in the decision-making process.

Members of the Council also serve as administrators of the Lancaster Redevelopment Agency, the Financing Authority and the Housing Authority.

With supervision 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 precarious and implement a long-term vision for town/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.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Antelope Valley Health Center in Lancaster. Law enforcement in Lancaster is provided by contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD).

The town/city also makes use of technology in law enforcement, allowing people 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 town/city also launched the use of a Cessna 172 airplane equipped with a remote control camera for use in patrolling the city.

In the California State Legislature, Lancaster is in the 21st Senate District, represented by Republican Scott Wilk, and in the 36th Assembly District, represented by Republican Tom Lackey. In the United States House of Representatives, Lancaster is split between California's 23rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin Mc - Carthy, and California's 25th congressional district, represented by Republican Steve Knight. Lancaster Commerce Center Shopping Center West Lancaster Plaza Shopping Center "California Cities by Incorporation Date" (Word).

City of Lancaster.

City of Lancaster.

"Lancaster (city) Quick - Facts".

City of Lancaster 1876-1910: The Beginning First Inmates Arrive at New Prison - Lancaster's 252 acre State Facility to Hold 2,200.

City of Lancaster's BLVD Transformation Completed Lancaster Performing Arts Center in Beautiful Downtown Lancaster, CA University of Antelope Valley.

Lancaster, California: University of Antelope Valley "in-house publishing" Retrieved, Sunday, April 15, 2012 from https://www.uav.edu/modules/Show - Document.aspx?documentid=184 "Lancaster Library" County of Los Angeles Public Library Official Website "Lancaster Performing Arts Center" Official Website plant in Lancaster in October" Los Angeles Times "2010 Enumeration Interactive Population Search: CA - Lancaster city".

"Lancaster (city) Quickfacts".

Li, Shan and Sewell, Abby (October 27, 2013) "Lancaster Mayor R.

"Lancaster Station." City of Lancaster : Home Lancaster Hotel Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lancaster, California.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lancaster, California.

Antelope Valley Community History in Words and Pictures: Los Angeles County Public Library Lancaster, California Municipalities and communities of Los Angeles County, California, United States Mayors of metros/cities with populations exceeding 100,000 in California

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Lancaster, California - 1977 establishments in California - Antelope Valley - Cities in Los Angeles County, California - Cities in the Mojave Desert - Incorporated metros/cities and suburbs in California - Populated places established in 1977