Ridgecrest, California

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Ridgecrest, California
Location in Kern County and the state of California
Location in Kern County and the state of California
Coordinates: 35°37′15″N 117°40′33″W / 35.62083, -117.67583
Country United States
State California
County Kern
Government
 - Mayor Chip Holloway
 - Senate Roy Ashburn (R)
 - Assembly Jean Fuller (R)
 - U. S. Congress Kevin McCarthy (R)
Area
 - Total 20.0 sq mi (51.8 km²)
 - Land 20.0 sq mi (20.0 km²)
 - Water 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
Elevation 2,290 ft (698 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 24,927
 - Density 1,164.8/sq mi (449.1/km²)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 - Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP codes 93555-93556
Area code(s) 760
FIPS code 06-60704
GNIS feature ID 1652783

Ridgecrest was incorporated as a city in 1963. Formerly known as Crumville. It is located in the Indian Wells Valley in northeastern Kern County, California adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. Ridgecrest is the only incorporated city along US 395 in Kern County. The population was 24,927 at the 2000 census.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20 square miles (55.6 km²), of which, 14 square miles (54.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (1.54%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 24,927 people, 9,826 households, and 6,691 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,179.9 people per square mile (455.5/km²). There were 11,309 housing units at an average density of 535.3/sq mi (206.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.02% White, 3.53% Black or African American, 1.08% Native American, 3.88% Asian, 0.58% Pacific Islander, 4.93% from other races, and 3.98% from two or more races. 12.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,826 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,971, and the median income for a family was $52,725. Males had a median income of $46,993 versus $29,558 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,312. About 10.2% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

Sierra Sands Unified School District includes the following elementary schools: Las Flores Elementary, Faller Elementary, Richmond Elementary, Gateway Elementary, and Pierce Elementary. For middle-schoolers, the school district includes James Monroe Middle School, and Murray Middle School. The district's primary high school, Burroughs High School, serves Ridgecrest, China Lake NAWC, Inyokern, Buttermilk Acres, Red Mountain, and Randsburg. There is also an alternative high school, Mesquite High School.

Ridgecrest Charter School is a public charter school unaffiliated with the district. Private schools include Saint Ann Elementary and Middle School, serving students K-8; Immanuel Christian School, covering pre-K to high school; and Adventist Christian School, which serves grades 1–8. There is also an independent study charter school, Opportunities For Learning, for students in grades 7–12.

[edit] Public Safety

Ridgecrest has its own police department, as well as a regional station of the Kern County Sheriff's Department. And the Kern County Fire Department providing fire protection and Emergency Medical Services.

[edit] Media

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

[edit] Radio

[edit] AM

[edit] FM

[edit] Television

[edit] References

  1. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links


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Municipalities and communities of
Kern County, California
County seat: Bakersfield
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Unincorporated communities