Victorville is a city located in San Bernardino County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 64,029.

Geography

Victorville is located at 34°31'14" North, 117°20'40" West (34.520459, -117.344525)¹.

Victorville is located at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert, about 97 miles northeast of Los Angeles, 45 miles east of Palmdale, and 35 miles north of San Bernardino on Interstate 15.

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.

The city is the third largest city in the Palmdale Metropolitan Area.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 64,029 people, 20,893 households, and 15,878 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 61.05% White, 11.92% African American, 1.11% Native American, 3.48% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 16.26% from other races, and 5.98% from two or more races. 33.46% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 20,893 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.

History

About 1895 the town was named Victor after railroad pioneer Jacob Nash Victor. In 1901, the United States Postal Service changed the name to Victorville to avoid confusion with the town of Victor, Colorado.

In 1926, Route 66 was established and passed through Victorville.

Victorville Army Airfield was constructed in 1941 and later named George Air Force Base. In 1992, the base was deactivated and is now Southern California Logistics Airport.

The city was incorporated on September 21, 1962.

On August 14, 1977, Ron Haydock was struck and killed while hitch-hiking near here.

External links

• City of Victorville website (http://ci.victorville.ca.us/)
• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=34.520459&longitude=-117.344525&zoom=6)
  • Topographic map from Topozone (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.520459&lon=-117.344525&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100)
  • Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver (http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-117.344525&lat=34.520459&w=750&h=500)