City of Palmdale
Logo
Motto: Aerospace Capital of America
Location of Palmdale in Los Angeles County, California
Coordinates: 34°34′52″N 118°6′2″W / 34.58111, -118.10056
Country	United States of America
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Government
- Mayor	James C. Ledford Jr.[1]
- Mayor Pro Tem	Mike Dispenza[2]
- City Manager	Steve Williams[3]
Area
- City	105.1 sq mi (272.2 km²)
- Land	105.0 sq mi (271.8 km²)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.4 km²)
Population (2007)
- Density	1,111.6/sq mi (429.2/km²)
- Metro	589,043
	145,468 (city proper)
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code	93536, 93543, 93550-93553, 93590-93592
Website: Official City of Palmdale Web Site

Palmdale, the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city (on August 24, 1962), is located in the northeast reaches of Los Angeles County, California, United States, separated from Los Angeles by the San Gabriel Mountain range. As of the 2000 US census, the city had a total population of 116,670. As of spring 2007, the city proper has a total population estimate of 145,468 according to California state government sources. As of the 2007 population estimate, the Palmdale / Lancaster, CA Urbanized Area (a US Census Bureau defined term) has a population of 589,043. Palmdale, California city seal. ... A motto (from Italian) is a phrase or a short list of words meant formally to describe the general motivation or intention of an entity, social group, or organization. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Los Angeles County is a county in California and is the most populous county in the United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      The political units and divisions of the United States include: The 50 states, which are... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... The U.S. state of California is divided into 58 counties. ... Los Angeles County is a county in California and is the most populous county in the United States. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... The council-manager government is one of 2 main variations of representative municipal government (for contrast, also see Mayor-Council government). ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... PST is UTC-8, highlighted in red. ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Though DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Palmdale may refer to: In the United States: Palmdale - An incorporated city in Los Angeles County, California. ... A truck passes eastbound along the busy Highway 58 through the Antelope Valley. ... is the 236th day of the year (237th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Los Angeles County is a county in California and is the most populous county in the United States. ... d Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... The San Gabriel Mountains are located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, USA. The mountain range forms a barrier between the Greater Los Angeles Area and the Mojave Desert. ... This article is in need of attention. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... --> Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Lancaster, California, USA, is the eighth-largest city in Los Angeles County and the 10th fastest growing city in the United States. ...

Palmdale today

Over the last 25 years this city has consistently been ranked in the top 25 fastest growing cities in the United States (based on percentage change) and as of 2007 is the 25th fastest growing city. As of fall 2006, the population was estimated at nearly 150,000 making Palmdale the sixth largest city in Los Angeles County and thirty-third largest in California. For most of its existence it has had a small population; however it now is arguably the largest "desert city" (from an Angeleno viewpoint) in California. With 105 square miles (272 km²) of land in its incorporated boundaries, the city is in the top 100 largest cities in the United States in geographic area and as of 2005 ranks 150th by population in the U.S. --> Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... d Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The city has worked hard to maintain its image and upgrade its infrastructure during its rapid growth. A first-class medical campus called Palmdale Regional Medical Center is under construction (expected to open in 2008), which will include the region's largest emergency department, a helipad, medical office towers, and a senior housing complex. A new multi-modal transportation center, serving local and commuter bus and train services, opened in 2005. A voter-initiated and approved bond has funded major park and recreation expansions, including an earthen outdoor amphitheater (capacity 7,000), two new pools, other recreation buildings and a water park. Downtown revitalization includes hundreds of new senior housing units, a new senior center, and expanded open space. A new 48,000 sq. ft. sheriff station recently opened, the largest in Los Angeles County. Two new fire stations are being developed, one on the east side and one on the west side. Palmdale Regional Medical Center also known as Palmdale Hospital (PMC) is a private hospital that is under construction and located in Palmdale, California. ...

While Palmdale is still a part of Los Angeles County, the urbanized centers of Palmdale and Los Angeles are separated by the San Gabriel mountain range, which is about 40 miles (60 km) wide. This range forms the southern edge of the Antelope Valley portion of the Mojave Desert. Palmdale is the largest and principal city of the Antelope Valley, and the fourth largest city overall in the Mojave Desert by population, outstripped only by Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas, Nevada. For the indigenous American tribe, see Mohave. ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... Henderson is the fastest-growing large city (over 150,000 pop. ... North Las Vegas is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

History

This satellite image, looking toward the west, shows the Palmdale / Antelope Valley area in relation to Los Angeles with the San Gabriel Mountains separating them.

Palmenthal, the first European settlement within the limits of Palmdale, was established as a village in 1886 by westward travelers from the American Midwest, mostly of German and Swiss descent. According to area folklore, the travelers had been told they would know they were close to the ocean when they saw palm trees. Never actually having seen palm trees before, they mistook the local Joshua trees for palms and so named their settlement after them. (Palmenthal is German for Palms Valley.) The village was officially established upon the arrival of a post office on June 17, 1888. Download high resolution version (965x401, 61 KB)Description: Landsat-7 imagery draped over digital elevation model for Palmdale, California, and environs Caption: This view looking west shows the relationship of Palmdale, California, to its surrounding geography. ... Download high resolution version (965x401, 61 KB)Description: Landsat-7 imagery draped over digital elevation model for Palmdale, California, and environs Caption: This view looking west shows the relationship of Palmdale, California, to its surrounding geography. ... Masouleh village, Gilan Province, Iran. ... The Midwest is a common name for a region of the United States of America. ... Genera Many; see list of Arecaceae genera Arecaceae (sometimes known by the names Palmae or Palmaceae, although the latter name is taxonomically invalid. ... Binomial name Yucca brevifolia Schott ex Torr. ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

By the 1890s (soon after the last of the indigenous antelopes, which the valley was named after, had died) farming families continued to migrate to Palmenthal and nearby Harold to grow grain and fruit. However, most of these settlers were unfamiliar with farming in a desert climate, so when the drought years occurred, most abandoned their settlement. By 1899, only one family was left in the original village. The rest of the settlers, including the post office, moved closer to the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. This new community was renamed Palmdale and was located where the present day civic center is. A railroad station was built along the tracks there. This railroad was operated by Southern Pacific and traveled between Los Angeles and San Francisco. There was also the Wells Fargo stagecoach line that ran between San Francisco and New Orleans that stopped there as well. The only remaining pieces of evidence of the original settlements of Palmenthal and Harold are the old cemetery located on the northeast corner of Avenue S and 20th Street East, and the old schoolhouse now relocated to McAdam Park. Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). ... This article is about arid terrain. ... The Southern Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting marks SP) was an American railroad. ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... d Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... Nickname: Location of the City and County of San Francisco, California Coordinates: , Country United States of America State California City-County San Francisco Founded 1776 Government  - Mayor Gavin Newsom Area  - City  47 sq mi (122 km²)  - Land  46. ... An older Wells Fargo branch, located in Berkeley, California Wells Fargos corporate headquarters and main branch Wells Fargo & Co. ... Nickname: Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States Coordinates: , Country United States State Louisiana Parish Orleans Founded 1718 Government  - Mayor Ray Nagin (D) Area  - City  350. ...

As the population of Palmdale began to increase after relocation, water became scarce, until November 5, 1913 when the California – Los Angeles Aqueduct system was completed finally by William Mulholland, bringing water from the Owens Valley into Los Angeles County. During this period, crops of apples, pears, and alfalfa became plentiful. The California Aqueduct is the concrete-lined aqueduct that transports water from Northern California to Southern California. ... For other uses, see Apple (disambiguation). ... Species Pyrus calleryana P. pyrifolia et al Pears are trees of the genus Pyrus and the edible fruit of that tree. ... Binomial name Medicago sativa L. Subspecies subsp. ...

In 1915, Palmdale’s first newspaper, the Palmdale Post, was published. Today its the conservative Antelope Valley Press. The Antelope Valley Press, colloquially referred to as the Valley Press by its staff and Antelope Valley residents, is a daily newspaper with emphasis on local news located in Palmdale, California USA. Its daily circulation is 26,065, with Sunday figures of 31,851 as of 2000 making it...

In 1921, the first major link between Palmdale and Los Angeles was completed, U.S. Highway 6, or Mint Canyon/Lancaster Road. Completion of this road caused the local agricultural industry to flourish and was the first major step towards defining the metropolis that exists today. Presently this road is known as Sierra Highway. Sierra Highway is a road in Southern California, United States. ...

In 1924, the Littlerock Dam and the Harold Reservoir, present day Lake Palmdale, were constructed to assist the agricultural industry and have enough water to serve the growing communities.

Agriculture continued to be the foremost industry for Palmdale and its northern neighbor Lancaster until the outbreak of World War II. In 1933, the United States government established Muroc Air Base (from an original founder name, Effie Corum, spelled backwards) six miles north of Lancaster in Kern County, now known as Edwards Air Force Base. They also bought Palmdale Airport in 1952 and established an aerospace development and testing facility called United States Air Force Plant 42. One year later, in 1953, Lockheed established a facility at the airport. After this point in time, the aerospace industry took over as the primary local source of employment, where it has remained ever since. Today the city is even referred to as the “Aerospace Capital of America” because of its rich heritage in being the home of many of the aircraft used in the United States military. Lancaster, California, USA, is the eighth-largest city in Los Angeles County and the 10th fastest growing city in the United States. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Edwards Air Force Base is a base located on the border of Kern County and Los Angeles County, California in the Antelope Valley, northeast of Lancaster, at 34°57′ N 117°52′ W. An airbase since 1933, Edwards has long been a home for flight research and testing... Kern County is a county located in the southern Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. ... Edwards Air Force Base (IATA: EDW, ICAO: KEDW) is a United States Air Force airbase located on the border of Kern County and Los Angeles County, California in the Antelope Valley, 7 miles (11 km) due east of Rosamond. ... Sign by one of the gates into Plant 42. ... The Lockheed SR-71 was remarkably advanced for its time and remains unsurpassed in many areas of performance. ...

In 1956, Palmdale’s first high school, Palmdale High School, was established, making it easier for youths to not have to travel to Antelope Valley High School in nearby Lancaster.

In August 1962, the township of Palmdale officially became the city of Palmdale with the incorporation of 2 square miles (5 km²) of land around the present day civic center.

In 1963, the Antelope Valley Freeway, or State Highway 14, was completed as a link between Palmdale and Los Angeles. The freeway at this time ran all the way to present day Technology Drive. It was at this time that talk about the future Palmdale Intercontinental Airport was seen as the way of the future. By 1965 the new city had annexed an additional 20 square miles (52 km²) of land and industry was thriving. Talk of the future commercial airport had many investors buying up large quantities of land. The Antelope Valley Freeway is a freeway in Los Angeles and Kern counties in southern California. ...

In 1970, the City of Los Angeles went forward with buying 17,500 acres (71 km²) of land east of the city for its proposed commercial airport. However, the United States Air Force desired to put a hold on the construction of this new facility until the existing airport reached its commercial capacity. So under a joint use agreement with the military, the Los Angeles Department of Airports, now called Los Angeles World Airports, built a 9,000 square foot (800 m²) terminal on leased land that opened in 1971, creating present day Palmdale Regional Airport. Los Angeles World Airports or LAWA is the airport oversight and operations department for the city of Los Angeles, California. ... Palmdale Regional Airport (IATA: PMD, ICAO: KPMD), also United States Air-Force Plant 42, is an airport in the city of Palmdale in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ...

By 1974, the Antelope Valley Freeway construction ended at the southern border of Mojave in Kern County. In 1977, Palmdale built its first municipal building, the Palmdale City Library. This was the same year that its northern neighbor Lancaster incorporated itself into a city. Since the 1920s, Lancaster had been the much larger and principal community of the Antelope Valley, as well as the rest of California's Mojave Desert, and Palmdale had always played second fiddle to it. Mojave is a town located in Kern County, California. ... A truck passes eastbound along the busy Highway 58 through the Antelope Valley. ... For the indigenous American tribe, see Mohave. ...

The 1980s and 1990s were the decades that really started to define the two Antelope Valley cities. Affordable housing in the area caused a dramatic spike in the population. The city became a bedroom community for those employed in Los Angeles. Palmdale's population continued to approach Lancaster's. Throughout the eighties and even the nineties, Palmdale was the fastest growing city in California and second fastest growing city in the nation. In 1980, Palmdale's population was 12,177. By 1990, it had soared to 68,842. During that same year the Antelope Valley Mall opened at Avenue P (Rancho Vista Blvd.) and 10th Street West, presently the busiest intersection in the entire Mojave Desert. In 1991, the Palmdale Auto Center complex opened. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, central Palmdale has become the commercial center of the California High Desert. In 2000, the city's population was 116,670. In 2002, Palmdale's population finally eclipsed its northern neighbor Lancaster. With over 145,000 residents today, the City Planning Commission continues to attempt a form of managed growth in the early part of 21st century. There's a growing perception is that the seemingly endless supply of clean fresh water from the north to residential, commercial and agricultural customers is slowly becoming a pressing problem. Affordable housing is a dwelling where the total housing costs are affordable to those living in that housing unit. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Antelope Valley Mall is a shopping mall in Palmdale, California. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

Education

Kindergarten - Grade 12 schools

The City of Palmdale has three separate elementary school districts and one high school district:

• The Palmdale School District is one of the largest elementary school districts in the nation consisting of 27 schools and over 23,000 students. This school district covers the majority of the city’s Kindergarten through 8th grade students. One of the best parts of the original school district was its practice of naming schools after local flora and fauna. For instance, there is Tumbleweed, Juniper, and Sage schools.

• The Westside Union School District covers the schools on the far west-side of Palmdale and its western suburbs. This school district has over 7,500 students and 11 schools for K-8 education.

• The Keppel Union School District covers the schools on the far east-side of Palmdale and its eastern suburbs. This school district has 6 schools and nearly 3,000 students for K-8 education.

• The Antelope Valley Union High School District covers all of the 9-12th grade education for the entire metropolitan area. It has 12 schools with over 25,000 students. Including the three original high schools: Palmdale High, home of the Falcons, Antelope Valley High, home of the Antelopes, and Quartz Hill High, home of the Rebels.

The Palmdale School District is a school district that serves a major part of the city of Palmdale, California (USA). ... Antelope Valley Union High School District (AVUHSD) is located in the Antelope Valley of California, 70 miles north of Los Angeles. ...

Colleges and universities

• The Antelope Valley Community College District currently has a satellite campus in Palmdale with a student population of about 500. This temporary campus was set up until a permanent community college campus could be established within the city, which is being planned for the south within the foothills bordering the San Gabriel mountain range. Local residents have raised concerns about the project due to its proximity to the San Andreas fault. The district has one full service campus in nearby Lancaster with about 20,000 students.
• The California State University system also has a satellite campus from its Bakersfield facility in nearby Lancaster at the Antelope Valley College main campus.
• Chapman University has a satellite campus in Palmdale.
• University of La Verne has a satellite campus in Palmdale.
• University of Phoenix has a satellite campus in nearby Lancaster.
• The AERO Institute at the Palmdale Institute of Technology is a facility in Palmdale at the Civic Center. It is operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the City of Palmdale, and distance learning through a number of universities is available. This specialized school offers graduate and undergraduate education in aerospace science, engineering, and technical skills.

Antelope Valley College is a community (junior) college located in Lancaster, California, USA. It is also a satellite branch of California State University, Bakersfield. ... Lancaster, California, USA, is the eighth-largest city in Los Angeles County and the 10th fastest growing city in the United States. ... The California State University (CSU) is one of three public higher education systems in the state of California, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College System. ... Nickname: Location of Bakersfield, California Coordinates: , Country United States State California County Kern County Founded 1869 Government  - Mayor Harvey Hall Area  - City  131 sq mi (339. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The University of La Verne is a private university in La Verne, California -- about 35 miles east of Los Angeles -- comprised of a main campus, seven satellite campuses throughout Southern California, a law school, and two military regional campuses at Point Mugu NAS and Vandenberg AFB. The university offers traditional... University of Phoenix (UOP) is a for-profit educational institution specializing in adult education, with campuses located throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. ... NASA Logo Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from the revision dated 2005-09-01, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... City nickname:Aerospace Capital of America County Los Angeles County, California Area  - Total  - Water 272. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In some educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a Bachelors degree. ...

Sites of interest

• Big Rock Creek Camp
• Devil's Punchbowl a county protected natural hiking preserve along Big Rock Creek similar to a miniature Grand Canyon.
• Dry Town Waterpark on Avenue S opened May 2006.
• Hammack Activity Center and Roller Hockey Rink
• Joshua Ranch Trail a natural preservation area.
• Littlerock Dam and Recreation Area
• Los Angeles County Raceway
• Mountain High ski resort in nearby Wrightwood.
• Palmdale Amphitheater is a 7,000 seat theater hosting the “Starlight Concert Series” with world famous performers on evenings in the summer.
• Palmdale Civic Center – (Poncitlan Square)
• Palmdale Fall Festival is an annual festival said to be one of the best in California held every October at Marie Kerr Park.
• Palmdale Heritage Airpark and next-door Blackbird Airpark show off displays of various aircraft built or tested at Palmdale Air Force Plant 42.
• Palmdale Playhouse and Art Gallery
• Palmdale Schoolhouse at McAdam Park. The only remaining building of the original village in the 1800’s.
• Rancho Vista Golf Course Palmdale’s only PGA class golf course.
• Tippi Hedren's Shambala Preserve
• Antelope Valley Mall Holds the first escalator in Palmdale history

, Devils Punchbowl, elevation 4,750 ft (1450 m), is one of the most fantastic, colorful jumble of rocks in Los Angeles County. ... Christmas Day 2006, South Rim The Grand Canyon is a very colorful, steep-sided gorge, carved by the Colorado River in the U.S. state of Arizona. ... Los Angeles County Raceway (or LACR) is a motorsport facility in Southern California. ... Mountain High resort is a winter resort in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County in California. ... Wrightwood is a census-designated place located San Bernardino County, California. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Sign by one of the gates into Plant 42. ... Nathalie Kay Tippi Hedren (born January 19, 1930)[1] is an American actress with a career spanning six decades. ... Antelope Valley Mall is a shopping mall in Palmdale, California. ...

Law and government

Palmdale is a general law City governed under the council / manager form of local government. The mayor is elected every two years for a two-year term. Also every two years, two of the four council members are elected to serve four-year terms. Palmdale has no term limits for mayor. The current mayor James C. Ledford is serving his seventh term in office. Local governments are administrative offices that are smaller than a state or province. ... Management (from Old French ménagement the art of conducting, directing, from Latin manu agere to lead by the hand) characterises the process of leading and directing all or part of an organization, often a business, through the deployment and manipulation of resources (human, financial, material, intellectual or intangible). ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... A councillor is a member of a council (such as a city council), particularly in the U.K. and its former colonies. ...

The city also has an appointed Planning Commission divided into four separate districts. The Planning Commission was organized to help with the planning, zoning, and development of various city areas in different districts and to give the residents of those particular districts a greater voice in what is built on that land.

The city provides a number of municipal services, including a Parks and Recreation Department, a Film Convention and Visitors Bureau, Aviation and Aerospace Commission, Public Library System, Senior Citizens Center, Cultural Center, and a Public Works Department.

The city is policed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department under a formal contract with the County of Los Angeles and has its municipal judicial system intertwined with the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Palmdale has the largest Sheriff's Station in Los Angeles County. Memorial to fallen deputies. ... Los Angeles County is a county in California and is the most populous county in the United States. ...

The city is served by the Los Angeles County Fire Department for its fire and paramedic services through the Fire District. Palmdale downtown Station #37 is one of the busiest fire stations in the United States. The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including the City of La Habra, in Orange County. ...

Utility services within the city are provided by several public and private agencies. Water service is primarily provided by Palmdale Water District (separate public agency) and LA County Waterworks (part of the County Public Works); sewer service is provided by the County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (separate public agency); electrical service is provided by Southern California Edison; natural gas service is provided by Southern California Gas; cable television service is provided by Time Warner Cable; telephone service is provided by SBC and Verizon; refuse pickup and disposal service is provided by Waste Management, Inc of the Antelope Valley under a franchise agreement with the city. Waste Management, Inc. ...

Geography

Palmdale is located at 34°34′52″N, 118°06′02″W (34.581005, -118.100603).^GR1 It has an elevation of 2,655 feet above sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 272.2 km² (105.1 mi²). 271.8 km² (105.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water (the size of man-made Lake Palmdale, the most visible and scenic part of the municipal water supply system) . The total area is 0.13% water. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

The city lies in close proximity to the infamous San Andreas Fault, making it, like many other regions of California, prone to strong earthquakes. This faultline cuts across the Antelope Valley Freeway just north of the Avenue S off-ramp; running westward along the old Butterfield Stage Line (now Elizabeth Lake Road) into Leona Valley. The Antelope Valley Freeway is a freeway in Los Angeles and Kern counties in southern California. ...

Panoramic photo of Palmdale from the west, taken March 2000

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x140, 53 KB) Summary Photo of Palmdale, CA, from the West. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x140, 53 KB) Summary Photo of Palmdale, CA, from the West. ...

ZIP codes

The city currently has a total of eight ZIP codes:

• 93536 – Most of Quartz Hill (district and adjacent town). Shared with cities and towns of Lancaster (westside), Neenach, Del Sur, and Antelope Acres.
• 93543 – Parts of Sun Village. Shared with town of Littlerock.
• 93550 – Downtown Civic Center, Harold, Vincent-Grade, and Barrel Springs.
• 93551 – Central City, Anaverde, Rancho Vista, City Ranch, Desert-View Highlands, Portal Ridge, Leona Valley (district and adjacent town), and parts of Quartz Hill (district). Some P.O. boxes.
• 93552 – Pearland, parts of Palmdale East, and parts of Sun Village.
• 93553 – Parts of Sun Village. Shared with town of Pearblossom. Some P.O. boxes.
• 93590 – Palmdale Regional Airport, USAF Plant 42, and most of Palmdale's P.O. boxes.
• 93591 – Lake Los Angeles (district and adjacent town), parts of Palmdale East, and some P.O. boxes.

Quartz Hill is a census-designated place located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Lancaster, California, USA, is the eighth-largest city in Los Angeles County and the 10th fastest growing city in the United States. ... Neenach is a town located in northern Los Angeles County, California. ... Del Sur is a town located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Antelope Acres is an unincorporated community located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Note: this article is about Littlerock, California, not to be confused with Little Rock, Arkansas. ... Pearblossom is a town located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Palmdale Regional Airport (IATA: PMD, ICAO: KPMD), also United States Air-Force Plant 42, is an airport in the city of Palmdale in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... Sign by one of the gates into Plant 42. ... Lake Los Angeles is a census-designated place located in Los Angeles County, California. ...

Nearby Mojave Desert communities

Other cities and towns in the Palmdale vicinity include:

Acton is an unincorporated Census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California near the Antelope Valley. ... Adelanto is a city located in San Bernardino County, California about 9 miles northwest of Victorville. ... Agua Dulce, Spanish for sweet water, is a town located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Antelope Acres is an unincorporated community located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Apple Valley is a town located in the Victor Valley of San Bernardino County, California, incorporated on November 14, 1988. ... Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. ... Boron is a census-designated place located in Kern County, California. ... California City, incorporated in 1965, is a city located in the northern Antelope Valley in Kern County in the U.S. state of California. ... Daggett is a town located in San Bernardino County, California. ... Del Sur is a town located in Los Angeles County, California. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Helendale is a town located in San Bernardino County, California, on historic U.S. Route 66 west of the Mojave Freeway, between Barstow and Victorville, in the Victor Valley. ... The City of Hesperia is part of San Bernardino County, California located in the Mojave Desert 75 miles northeast of Los Angeles. ... Hinkley is a town in the Mojave Desert in California, 10 miles west of Barstow, 45 miles east of Mojave, and 50 miles northeast of Palmdale. ... Lake Hughes is a census-designated place located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Lake Los Angeles is a census-designated place located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Lancaster, California, USA, is the eighth-largest city in Los Angeles County and the 10th fastest growing city in the United States. ... Lenwood is a census-designated place located in San Bernardino County, California. ... Leona Valley is a town located in the geographic Leona Valley of Los Angeles County, California. ... Note: this article is about Littlerock, California, not to be confused with Little Rock, Arkansas. ... Llano is a town located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Mojave is a town located in Kern County, California. ... Neenach is a town located in northern Los Angeles County, California. ... North Edwards is a census-designated place located in Kern County, California. ... Oro Grande lies in the Victor Valley, California which lies immediately north of the Sierra Madre. ... Pearblossom is a town located in Los Angeles County, California. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Pinon Hills is a town in San Bernardino County, California. ... Quartz Hill is a census-designated place located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Randsburg is a census-designated place located in Kern County, California. ... Ridgecrest, (formerly an area known as Crumville) was incorporated as a city in 1963 and is located in the Indian Wells Valley in northeastern Kern County, California adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. ... Rosamond is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, USA, 20 miles North of Palmdale, in the Antelope Valley, the westernmost desert valley of the Mojave Desert. ... Wind Turbines in the mountains Tehachapi (IPA: ) is a city incorporated in 1909 located in its namesake Tehachapi Mountains between Bakersfield and Mojave in Kern County, California. ... Valyermo is a town located in Los Angeles County, California. ... Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of western San Bernardino County, California, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureaus 2000 census, the city has a total population of 64,029. ... Yermo is a town in San Bernardino County, California. ...

Neighborhoods and districts

The city is unofficially divided up into 11 separate areas: Downtown or Old Town Palmdale (civic center), Trade & Commerce Center (the main shopping district), Desert-View Highlands (old county area), Anaverde (west end-formerly City Ranch), Rancho Vista (old Bolz Ranch), Ritter Ranch (far west end),Sun Village (far east end-part County), Harold (old settlement near Lake Palmdale-part County),Quartz Hill (northwest end-part County), Lake Los Angeles (farthest east end-part County), and Leona Valley (farthest west end-part County).

Unlike nearby Santa Clarita or Los Angeles, the residents of Palmdale usually do not use the name of their particular areas to have their mail addressed to for the most part. This is mostly due to the very easily navigated local street system, which is almost completely alphabetized and numeric. Location of Santa Clarita in California and Los Angeles County Coordinates: , Country United States State California County Los Angeles Incorporated December 15, 1987 Government  - Mayor Marsha McLean  - Mayor Pro-Tem Bob Kellar  - City Council Frank Ferry Laurene Weste TimBen Boydston  - City Manager Ken Pulskamp Area  - City  47. ... d Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ...

Street System

The street system is set out in a grid. Each lettered east-westbound avenue is one mile from the next letter. (Example: Avenue R is one mile north from Avenue S.) In between each whole letter avenue, there are 15 sub avenues labeled -1 thru -15. Along with the whole letter avenues, the -8 avenues are also major throughfares. (Example: Avenue R-8 is a major road just like Avenue R and Avenue S). Sometimes the -8 avenues are renamed to other names such as Avenue Q-8 which has been renamed Palmdale Boulevard and Avenue P-8 that has been renamed Technology Drive or Bulldog Avenue depending on which stretch you're on.

Major streets which run north to south are numbered inside their direction i.e. 10th Street West and 10th Street East. Each 0 and 5 street is a major throughfare with each 0 street being 1 mile from the previous 0 street. (Example: 30th Street East is one mile west of 40th Street East.) The east-west dividing line is Division Street in downtown, which would be the eqivalent of 0th Street East/West.

All the addresses on east-west street correspond to this numbering system. For instance, if you were looking for 6066 West Avenue M-2, you would know to go to second street between Avenues M and N just past 60th Street. Avenue M, is the general border of the connected population between Palmdale and Lancaster. Avenue L is actually the longer border between the two cities, east of Challenger Way, but is not as heavily populated. Avenue M has recently been named Columbia Way out of respect for the astronauts onboard the Space Shuttle Columbia that disintegrated on re-entry in 2003. 10th Street East north of Columbia Way was renamed Challenger Way back in 1987 in honor of those lost in the Challenger Disaster. All of the shuttles were built in Palmdale. Space Shuttle Columbia (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-102) was the first spaceworthy space shuttle in NASAs orbital fleet. ... STS-51-L was the 25th launch of a Space Shuttle and the tenth launch of the Challenger. ...

Climate

Palmdale is located in the high (altitude) desert, where the summers are very hot and dry, and winters are cold and windy. Palmdale has over 300 days of sunshine per year. The same weather pattern that brings the marine layer stratus and afternoon sea breeze to the Los Angeles Basin brings gusty winds to Palmdale, especially near the foothills on the south side. Except during Santa Ana (northeast) wind events (usually fall and winter), gusty southwest winds blow over Palmdale almost every afternoon and evening all year round. The wind is so reliable that wind turbines are used to generate electricity. Altitude is the elevation of an object from a known level or datum. ... Horizontal-axis wind turbine, the Enercon model E-66 wind energy converter, in Germany. ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ...

Winter – Relatively cold, wet, and windy. Temperatures have gone into the single-digits at times. The wind chill factor can be below zero. This is Palmdale's rainy season and is prone to flash flooding during this time. On occasion, it will snow. Average day time highs are in the upper 50s to low 60s while being in the low to mid 30s overnight. Wind chill is the apparent temperature felt on the exposed human (or animal) body due to the combination of air temperature and wind speed. ...

Spring – Moderate temperatures. Still occasionally wet. Very windy. Transitional period from winter to summer temperatures is very short. Average daytime highs are in the upper 70s to low 80s while being in the upper 40s to low 50s overnight.

Summer – Very hot, dry heat with little or no precipitation. Temperatures frequently soar into triple-digits. However, the high desert where Palmdale is located allows for the temperatures to cool down somewhat at night, unlike the low desert cities of Palm Springs and Blythe. Average day time highs are in the upper 90s while dropping into the mid to upper 70s after midnight. Local electrical bills spike during this period with air-conditioning units running day and night, until early October. Although the hot temperature, it is very common to experience "summer storms" in which temperatures are consistent but there is heavy rain and thunderstorms. Palm Springs is a famed Riverside County, California, desert resort city, approximately 110 miles east of Los Angeles. ... Blythe is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Palo Verde Valley, an agricultural area along the Colorado River. ...

Fall – Moderate temperatures with little or no precipitation. Transitional period from summer to winter temperatures is very short. As a result, the deciduous trees in Palmdale will lose their leaves very rapidly, seemingly overnight, with a short color change. Average day time highs are in the upper 70s and low 80s while dropping into the mid 40s to mid 50s overnight. Deciduous means temporary or tending to fall off (deriving from the Latin word decidere, to fall off). ... Leaves are an Icelandic five-piece alternative rock band who came to prominence in 2002 with their debut album, Breathe, drawing comparisons to groups such as Coldplay and Doves. ...

• Annual Average High Temperatures: 98°F (summer) 59°F (winter)
• Annual Average Low Temperatures 66°F (summer) 33°F (winter)
• Highest Recorded Temperature: 113°F (2007)
• Lowest Recorded Temperature: 6°F (1963)
• Warmest Month: July
• Coolest Month: December
• Highest Precipitation: February
• Annual Precipitation: 7.36 inches

Economy

The most important industry for Palmdale is the aerospace industry. However in recent times, other manufacturing companies have relocated to Palmdale seeking more affordable land, close proximity to Palmdale Airport, and special tax breaks. Look up aerospace in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Manufacturing (from Latin manu factura, making by hand) is the use of tools and labor to make things for use or sale. ... Palmdale Regional Airport (IATA: PMD, ICAO: KPMD), also United States Air-Force Plant 42, is an airport in the city of Palmdale in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ...

The special tax breaks granted for companies that relocate to Palmdale is due to the city having the Antelope Valley Enterprise Zone and the Palmdale Federal Foreign Trade Zone. These are special zoning areas within the city that are given various state and federal tax breaks and municipal grant incentives to relocate their business there. These zones were put in effect to help Palmdale and nearby Lancaster draw more jobs to the area so that they would be less dependent on the Los Angeles Basin area for employment, thus relieving pollution and traffic congestion, and stabilizing the local economy on several industries instead of just aerospace which is known for it’s “feast or famine” seasons. Urban Enterprise Zones (UEZs) also known as Enterprise Zones encourage development in blighted neighborhoods by offering entrepreneurs and investors tax and regulatory relief if they start businesses in the area. ... A free port (porto franco) or free zone (US: Foreign-Trade Zone) is a port or area with relaxed jurisdiction with respect to the country of location. ...

Palmdale refers to itself with the nickname the "aerospace capital of the United States", and has been the site of research, development, final assembly, flight testing and/or servicing/modifications of the Space Shuttle, X-15, B-2 Spirit & F-117 Nighthawk, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, SR-71 Blackbird, Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, and many other aircraft that have been used in the United States Air Force, NASA and air forces and airlines around the world. USAF Plant 42, where the aforementioned aerospace projects occurred / occur is home to major operations of the following aerospace companies: Boeing, Lockheed Martin and its famed Skunk Works, Northrop Grumman, and BAE Systems. The Boeing building (formerly North American Rockwell) at Plant 42 / Palmdale Regional Airport is one of the largest buildings in the world. It was used in the Tom Hanks movie The Terminal to house the duplicate JFK terminal set since it was the only building in the Southland area large enough to house it. Look up aerospace in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For the current Space Shuttle mission, see STS-117 NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... Description Role: Research Aircraft Crew: one, pilot Dimensions Length: 50. ... The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth bomber able to drop conventional and nuclear weapons. ... This article is about the stealth fighter. ... The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a military fighter aircraft designed by the United States and the United Kingdom. ... The Lockheed SR-71 was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed YF-12A and A-12 aircraft by the Lockheed Skunk Works. ... The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, commonly referred to as just L-1011 (pronounced ell-ten-eleven), was the third widebody passenger jet airliner to enter operation, following the Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an agency of the United States federal government, responsible for the nations public space program. ... U. S. Air Force Plant 42 is a federally-owned military aerospace facility in Palmdale, California where aerospace contractors share a common runway complex, and either lease building space from the Air Force, or own their own building outright. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is a major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William Boeing. ... Lockheed/BAE/Northrop F-35 Lockheed Trident missile C-130 Hercules; in production since the 1950s, now as the C-130J Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is an aerospace manufacturer formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. ... A modern Skunk works project leverages an older: LASRE and SR-71 Blackbird. ... The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is an aerospace and defense conglomerate that is the result of a 1994 merger between Northrop and Grumman. ... BAE Systems plc is the worlds fourth largest defence contractor,[3] the largest in Europe and a commercial aerospace manufacturer. ... Palmdale Regional Airport (IATA: PMD, ICAO: KPMD), also United States Air-Force Plant 42, is an airport in the city of Palmdale in Los Angeles County, California, United States. ... Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is a two-time Academy Award-winning American film actor, Emmy-winning director, voice-over artist and movie producer. ... The Terminal (2004) is a movie about a man trapped in the JFK International Airport Terminal when he is denied entry into the United States and at the same time cannot return to his native country due to a revolution. ... For the urban complex straddling the United States-Mexico border, see Bajalta California. ...

Major companies with a presence in Palmdale

BAE Systems plc is the worlds fourth largest defence contractor,[3] the largest in Europe and a commercial aerospace manufacturer. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is a major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William Boeing. ... Kaiser Permanente is an integrated health maintenance organization (HMO), based in Oakland, California, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield. ... Lockheed/BAE/Northrop F-35 Lockheed Trident missile C-130 Hercules; in production since the 1950s, now as the C-130J Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is an aerospace manufacturer formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. ... The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is an aerospace and defense conglomerate that is the result of a 1994 merger between Northrop and Grumman. ... The Ryan Aeronautical Company was founded by T. Claude Ryan in San Diego, California, USA in 1934. ... Universal Health Services, Inc. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ...