Baker, California

For the community in Kern County with this name, see Baker, Kern County, California.
Baker, California
Census designated place

Aerial view of Baker looking north: I-15 jogs south around the town, leaving Baker Boulevard, the main street, to show where the pre-interstate highway (US 91 and US 466) went. Baker Airport sits just north of the city alongside northbound CA 127, the "Death Valley Road".
Baker, California

Location within the state of California

Coordinates: 35°16′33″N 116°03′57″W / 35.27583°N 116.06583°WCoordinates: 35°16′33″N 116°03′57″W / 35.27583°N 116.06583°W
Country  United States
State  California
County San Bernardino
Area[1]
 • Total 2.688 sq mi (6.962 km2)
 • Land 2.688 sq mi (6.962 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation[2] 942 ft (287 m)
Population (April 1, 2010)
 • Total 735
 • Density 270/sq mi (110/km2)
Time zone Pacific (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP codes 92309
Area codes 442/760
FIPS code 06-03512
GNIS feature IDs 238894, 2628708
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Baker, California

Baker is a census-designated place located in San Bernardino County, California, USA.[2] As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 735. Baker's ZIP Code is 92309 and the community is within area codes 442 and 760.

History

Baker was founded as a station on the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad in 1908, and was named after Richard C. Baker, business partner of Francis Marion Smith in building the railroad. Baker later became president of the T&T himself.[3][4]

Baker was established in 1929 by Ralph Jacobus Fairbanks (1857–1942), who was an American prospector, entrepreneur and pioneer who established several towns in the Death Valley area of California, including Fairbanks Springs (1904–05) and Shoshone (1910).

It was the site of a private prison operated by Cornell Corrections which experienced a major riot on December 2, 2003, four weeks before it was permanently closed.[5]

Geography and Climate

Baker is located at (35.265099, -116.074768). Baker is located in the Mojave Desert at the junction of Interstate 15 and SR 127 (Death Valley Road). Its elevation is approximately 930 feet (283.5 m) above sea level, which is much lower than either Barstow or Las Vegas, due to its location at the southern end of the Death Valley geological depression. The Cronese Mountains are located southwest of the community. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²), all of it land.

Climate data for Baker, California.
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 80
(27)		 92
(33)		 96
(36)		 106
(41)		 116
(47)		 119
(48)		 124
(51)		 124
(51)		 119
(48)		 110
(43)		 92
(33)		 82
(28)		 124
(51)
Average high °F (°C) 63.1
(17.3)		 68.6
(20.3)		 76.8
(24.9)		 84.3
(29.1)		 94.9
(34.9)		 104.8
(40.4)		 110.2
(43.4)		 107.9
(42.2)		 100.2
(37.9)		 87.1
(30.6)		 72.6
(22.6)		 62.4
(16.9)		 86.1
(30.1)
Average low °F (°C) 34.6
(1.4)		 39.4
(4.1)		 45.6
(7.6)		 51.7
(10.9)		 61.3
(16.3)		 70.2
(21.2)		 77.0
(25)		 75.4
(24.1)		 67.2
(19.6)		 54.7
(12.6)		 42.8
(6)		 33.9
(1.1)		 54.5
(12.5)
Record low °F (°C) 16
(−9)		 21
(−6)		 24
(−4)		 34
(1)		 38
(3)		 43
(6)		 53
(12)		 54
(12)		 42
(6)		 32
(0)		 23
(−5)		 14
(−10)		 14
(−10)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.47
(11.9)		 0.71
(18)		 0.51
(13)		 0.20
(5.1)		 0.11
(2.8)		 0.07
(1.8)		 0.27
(6.9)		 0.46
(11.7)		 0.41
(10.4)		 0.25
(6.4)		 0.31
(7.9)		 0.41
(10.4)		 4.19
(106.4)
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center[6]

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census[7] reported that Baker had a population of 735. The population density was 273.5 people per square mile (105.6/km²). The racial makeup of Baker was 302 (41.1%) White (26.5% Non-Hispanic White),[8] 1 (0.1%) African American, 5 (0.7%) Native American, 10 (1.4%) Asian, 14 (1.9%) Pacific Islander, 380 (51.7%) from other races, and 23 (3.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 502 persons (68.3%).

The Census reported that 731 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 4 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 215 households, out of which 122 (56.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 106 (49.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 39 (18.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 23 (10.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 29 (13.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 28 households (13.0%) were made up of individuals and 4 (1.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.40. There were 168 families (78.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.74.

The population was spread out with 277 people (37.7%) under the age of 18, 80 people (10.9%) aged 18 to 24, 236 people (32.1%) aged 25 to 44, 121 people (16.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 21 people (2.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26.1 years. For every 100 females there were 113.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.

There were 303 housing units at an average density of 112.7 per square mile (43.5/km²), of which 116 (54.0%) were owner-occupied, and 99 (46.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 20.8%. 414 people (56.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 317 people (43.1%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Baker had a median household income of $33,068, with 9.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[9]

Economy

"World's tallest thermometer" in Baker, California

Baker's economy is based primarily on tourism. The town is frequently used as a rest stop by drivers on Interstate 15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Baker is approximately 90 miles (144.8 km) southwest of Las Vegas. It is the last town for those traveling on SR 127 north to Death Valley National Park or south to the Mojave National Preserve. Currently there is only one motel in Baker, the Wills Fargo Motel.

The town's most prominent feature is a 134-foot (41 m) thermometer, dubbed "the world's tallest thermometer". Visible for miles, it was not operational from 2012 to mid-2014 when it was relighted following restoration.[10] Its height commemorates the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth, 134 °F (56.7 °C), in nearby Death Valley on July 10, 1913.[11] Summer temperatures in Baker routinely exceed 110 °F (43.3 °C); 2007 saw a record of 125 °F (51.7 °C).

Baker Airport is a small facility owned by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management.

Baker is the starting point of the annual Baker To Vegas Challenge Cup relay race.

Appearances in films and television

In 1991 the town was the setting for a skit on Fox's comedy show Totally Hidden Video.

It is referenced in the film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as a stop for Raoul Duke on his way back from Las Vegas going to Los Angeles.

The surrounding desert areas in Disney's Dinosaur were shot here.

It is a major setting of the 2003 science-fiction film The Big Empty.

An episode of the Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives featured the Mad Greek's Diner in Baker.

Baker and the surrounding area were featured in two episodes of Gene Simmons Family Jewels when Gene Simmons broke down outside of Baker on Route 127. Episodes 5 and 6 of season 3 ran in March 2008 and featured the town.

Baker is referred to three times in the 1958 SciFi movie, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman; the title character's doctor is off in Baker, the local police contact the authorities in Baker, and they wait for the state troopers to come down from Baker.

Mars Rover Test Site

The Mars Laboratory Science Team tested an engineering model of the Curiosity Rover in the desert near Baker.[12][13]

Attractions

Transportation

Amtrak's Thruway Motorcoach had a stop located at a Jack in the Box restaurant and Shell gas station at 72352 Baker Blvd., and its Amtrak station code was BKR, but the stop was discontinued in November 2010. Low ridership and cost savings were cited as the reason for discontinuing the stop, but the Amtrak bus can still be seen driving down the freeway from the bus stop, even though it no longer stops.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files – Places – California". United States Census Bureau.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Baker Census Designated Place". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  3. ↑ Bright, William (1998). 1500 California Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 20. ISBN 0-520-21271-1.
  4. ↑ Hildebrand, George Herbert (1982). Borax Pioneer: Francis Marion Smith. San Diego: Howell-North Books. p. 89. ISBN 0-8310-7148-6.
  5. ↑ Prison Riot Investigation Underway, KLAS-TV, December 3, 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Baker CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010". American FactFinder. 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Community Facts: Baker CDP, California". American FactFinder. 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  10. ↑ Rocha, Veronica (12 July 2014). "World's tallest thermometer in Baker shines bright again". Los Angeles Times.
  11. ↑ Willon, Phil (24 December 2012). "Baker's giant thermometer, long on the blink, is taking heat". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ↑ Brennan, Lyle (May 11, 2012). "Mission to Mars: Nasa tests 'Curiosity' the next generation Rover destined for the Red Planet". Mail Online. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  13. ↑ "An Inside Look at the Mars Curiosity Rover". TIME. December 9, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Area". Bureau of Land Management, California. 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  15. ↑ "The Official Baker to Vegas Website". bakervegas.com. 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Baker (California).