Apple Valley, California
| Town of Apple Valley | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Nickname(s): Apple of the Desert | |
| Motto: A Better Way of Life! | |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Bernardino |
| Incorporated (city) | 1988-11-28 [1] |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Peter Allan |
| Area | |
| - Total | 73.62 sq mi (190.69 km2) |
| - Land | 73.33 sq mi (189.93 km2) |
| - Water | 0.29 sq mi (0.76 km2) 0.40% |
| Elevation | 2,946 ft (898 m) |
| Population (2008) | |
| - Total | 72,922 |
| - Density | 920.59/sq mi (355.43/km2) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP Code | 92307, 92308 [2] |
| Area code(s) | 760 [3] |
| FIPS code | 06-02364 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1660259 |
| Website | http://www.applevalley.org/ |
The Town of Apple Valley is located in the Victor Valley of San Bernardino County, in the U.S. state of California. It was incorporated on November 14, 1988, and is one of the twenty-two incorporated municipalities in California that uses "town" in its name instead of "city." As of 2006, the population was estimated to be 67,507.[4] The town is 10 miles (20 km) east of neighboring Victorville, 37 miles (60 km) south of Barstow and 46 miles (74 km) north of San Bernardino through the Cajon Pass.
Apple Valley is governed by a town council, whose current mayor is Peter Allan. The Mayor changes each December by a vote of the five-member Council.[5]
Apple Valley was home to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, whose museum was first established in Apple Valley (in 1967) before the museum was relocated to Victorville in 1976. Since 2003, the museum has been in Branson, Missouri. The move was made in hopes of reaching more fans;[6] however, the museum closed for financial reasons on December 12, 2009.[7]
Apple Valley is the final resting place for both Roy and Dale. There are reminders of the Rogers family everywhere including roads and highways. Roy and Dale created St. Hillary's Episcopal Church, founded a home for boys, and took in some 20-40 children and raised them as their own.
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Geography
Apple Valley is located at (34.511486, -117.212010)[8].
Apple Valley is located at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert. It is bordered by Victorville on the west and Hesperia on the south sides. These three towns, along with Adelanto, are commonly known as the Victor Valley. The primary thoroughfare through Apple Valley is State Route 18, which is known locally as the "Happy Trails Highway," named after the theme song of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Its downtown area is split currently between State Route 18 and Bear Valley Road (both roads are parallel until they intersect in the east outside of town).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 190.7 km² (73.6 mi²) of which 189.9 km² (73.3 mi²) is land and 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²), or 0.39%, is water.
The elevation of Apple Valley is approximately 2,900 feet (880 m) above sea level.
History
For centuries, Apple Valley was populated by Shoshonean, Paiute, Vanyume, Chemehueve and the Serrano who were attracted to the water and vegetation around the Mojave River. The Mojave people came later and were the tribal group encountered in 1542 by a detachment of Coronado's men. These were the first Spanish to come to the Mohave desert.
Pedro Fages came through the area in 1772, looking for deserters. Father Garces spent time in the area in 1776. He was on good terms with local tribes. He killed one of his mules to feed a group of starving Vanyumes. Garces established a trail across the Mohave to the Colorado River passing through the Apple Valley area.
The area was explored by various Spanish gold seekers in the 1700s and 1800s. Jedediah Smith established the Old Spanish Trail through the southern Mojave and Cajon Pass. He was in the area in 1826.[9]
Throughout the 1800s, Apple Valley became a thoroughfare of people traveling to Southern California for various reasons. Ute horse thieves brought through an estimated 100,000 horses from their raids on the Lugo Rancho and San Gabriel Mission. In the early years there were multiple apple and orange trees later to be taken out for houses.
In 1848, members of the Mormon Battalion mustered out of Los Angeles. They brought 135 mules and the first wagon through the Cajon Pass up through the Mojave river valley on the way to Salt Lake. Battalion leader Jefferson Hunt retraced the trail several times with cattle drives from Southern California to hungry Mormons in Utah. Hunt lead a Mormon group of settlers to the San Bernardino valley in 1851.
In 1885, the railroad came north through the pass and established a train stop and called it Victor(ville) on the opposite side of the Mojave. John Brown built the first graded road in the area on the Apple Valley side to haul freight to the railroad. For the next few decades, Victorville boomed with gambling halls and saloons. Apple Valley became more pastoral with ranches, quarries and apple orchards.
The naming of Apple Valley is usually associated with Ursula M. Poates. One account claims Poates planted three apple trees in her yard in the early 1900s to help convince prospective land-owners that fruit could be grown in the desert and is single handedly responsible for the name.[10] But by 1902 the area was already known for its apples. Various orchard owners sold apple juice at stands with signs advertising "Apple Juice from Apple Valley."
Poates was a great civic cheerleader for the area. She made several attempts at naming her hometown in order to help focus attention to it. She finally settled on "Apple Valley" hoping to associate the name with John F. Appleton, a hero of the American Civil War. But the high quality apples proved much more widely known than Colonel.[9]
The Apple Valley name was officially recognized when a post office was established in 1949.[10]
One well known apple orchard was owned by Max Ihmsen, publisher of the Los Angeles Examiner newspaper. In 1915, he developed 320 acres of apples and pears. The fame of Apple Valley spread as his fruit won many agricultural awards.[11]
The apple orchards started to decline about the time Ihmsen Ranch fruit was at its acme. Water rates shot up with a switch to electric pumps. World War I took owners and workers away with the draft. During the Great Depression many families left the mostly agricultural area looking for work. Washington and British Columbia apple growers were able to cut prices because they relied on river transportation rather than overland needed to ship Apple Valley apples. The death knell was a series of outbreaks of a virulent fungus infections coupled with frost, heat and hail in 1944, 1945 and 1946.[9]
A small orchard was maintained on the grounds of the Apple Valley Inn until it closed in 1986. But the last commercially grown apples in Apple Valley had all but disappeared before the US Post Office officially recognized the name.
Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 6,702 |
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| 1980 | 14,305 | 113.4% | |
| 1990 | 46,079 | 222.1% | |
| 2000 | 54,239 | 17.7% | |
| Est. 2008 | 72,922 | 34.4% | |
As of 2008, the population was estimated to be 72,922.[4] Apple Valley has the 2nd smallest population of the quad-city part of the Victor Valley.
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 54,239 people, 18,557 households, and 14,363 families residing in the town. The population density was 285.6/km² (739.6/mi²). There were 20,163 housing units at an average density of 106.2/km² (275.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.42% White, 7.89% African American, 0.98% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 7.92% from other races, and 4.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.56% of the population.
There were 18,557 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,421, and the median income for a family was $45,070. Males had a median income of $41,144 versus $30,249 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,830. About 13.3% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
In addition to the latest census from 2000, the 2008 estimated population, of 72,922, includes 24,641 households of which 18,904 are family households. Approximately 70% of all housing units are owner occupied. The estimated racial make-up of the town includes 70.5% White, 10.0% African American, 0.96% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 10.3% from other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race now make up approximately 25% of the population.
Out of 24,641 households, 42.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them. Of that figure, 65.5% are married couples living together, and 24.5% have a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 18.1% are made up of individuals. The average household size is 2.94.
The age of the population is spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33.4 years. For every 100 females there are currently 94 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $49,202, and the median income for a family is $56,810. The per capita income for the town is $21,777. About 13.5% of families are below the poverty line.
Public safety
Law enforcement is provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
Fire, rescue, and paramedic services are provided by the Apple Valley Fire Protection District.
American Medical Response provides patient transportation via Paramedic / EMT ambulances.
Politics
In the state legislature Apple Valley is located in the 17th Senate District, represented by Republican George Runner, and in the 59th Assembly District, represented by Republican Anthony Adams. Federally, Apple Valley is located in California's 41st congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +9[13] and is represented by Republican Jerry Lewis.
Schools
Apple Valley Unified School District operates 4 high schools (9-12), 5 middle schools and 12 elementary schools (K-5). High Schools:
- Apple Valley High School, Apple Valley, CA
- Granite Hills High School (Apple Valley, California)
- Willow Park High School
- Alternate Education Center
- Academy for Academic Excellence (K-12)
- Apple Valley Middle School
- Sitting Bull Middle School
- Vista Campana Middle School
- Vanguard Prep (K-8)
- Desert Knolls Elementary
- Mariana Elementary
- Mojave Mesa Elementary
- Rancho Verde Elementary
- Rio Vista Elementary
- Sandia Elementary
- Sitting Bull Elementary
- Saint Timothy's Preparatory School (Independent)
- Sycamore Rocks Elementary
- Yucca Loma Elementary
Sports
The Apple Valley High School, Apple Valley, CA football team has been very successful over the last six years, nearly nabbing a CIF title in 2006 and coming close again in 2009.
Apple Valley is also in talks with the Golden Baseball League for an expansion team, though it will probably go to nearby Adelanto due to the probable moving of the High Desert Mavericks to a planned ballpark in Apple Valley.
They also have a rugby team in the SCRFU, the Finlander Rugby Club.
The Granite Hills High School swim team has done very well since the opening of the school. At least one swimmer each year has gone on to CIF in an individual event, and in the last 4 years relay teams have also made it to CIF. This year however, 2008, the girls 4x100, and Medley relay both made it to CIF, while the medley made second alternates the 4x100 relay made it to finals placing 12th.
The Granite Hills wrestling team has also done very well; the team placed second overall in the 2005 CIF team finals. The school has had many placers in the CIF individual wrestling finals in its short history and has even had two wrestlers, brothers Gary and Gabriel Moore, place at the California State Wrestling Championships. Gary Moore- 5th, 125 lbs (2003), Gabriel Moore- 5th, 275 lbs (2004), 3rd, 275 lbs (2005).
Filming history
Apple Valley has been featured as a hot filming spot for many movies, TV shows, and commercials, including the late 1950s show "Sky King", several commercials for companies such as GoDaddy.com and celebrities such as Danica Patrick, and the movie Eagle Eye, starring Shia LaBeouf.
Notable locations
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Notable residents of Apple Valley (past and present)
- Earl W. Bascom, inventor, artist/sculptor, actor, Rodeo Hall of fame inductee, "Father of Modern Rodeo"
- Chris Blais, race-car driver
- Victor Buono, actor
- Van Conner, musician from the rock band Screaming Trees
- Doc Ellis was hospitalized at St. Mary's Hospital just prior to his death.
- Don Ferrarese, MLB pitcher
- Cuba Gooding, Jr., actor
- Dan Henderson, UFC Champion
- John W. Henry, owner of the Boston Red Sox.
- Miko Hughes, actor, noted for suing his father.
- Dave Lombardo, drummer for the heavy metal band, Slayer
- Richard Nixon spent 3 months at the home of founder Newton T Bass in 1961 writing his first book, "Six Crises"[14]
- Tug McGraw, former MLB pitcher
- Erik Robertson, Football Player
- Roger Robinson, Football Player [15]
- Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, singers
- Chris Smith, MLB player for the Milwaukee Brewers
- Scout Taylor-Compton, actress in Rob Zombie's Halloween
- Jason Thompson, former Major League Baseball first baseman
- Colin Thomas, musician, producer and frontman of rock band, This Allure
- Jason Vargas, pitcher for the Seattle Mariners
- Skip Young (1930–1993), actor: The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
References
- ↑ "Incorporation Dates of California Cities". http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/20457.IncorpDateLO.doc. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
- ↑ "USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results". http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_1_results.jsp?visited=1&pagenumber=0&state=ca&city=Apple%20Valley. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
- ↑ "Number Administration System - NPA and City/Town Search Results". http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_city_query_step2.do?method=displayData&cityToNpaModel.stateAbbr=CA&cityToNpaModel.city=Apple%20Valley. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 State of California, Department of Finance, "E-1 Population Estimates for Cities, Counties and the State with Annual Percent Change—January 1, 2005 and 2006." Sacramento, California, May 2006. Retrieved April 24, 2007.
- ↑ "Town of Apple Valley - Town Council". http://www.applevalley.org/index.aspx?page=308. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
- ↑ Victor Valley Daily Press. February 14, 2009 http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/museum_10892___article.html/roy_rogers.html?orderby=TimeStampDescending&oncommentsPage=2&showRecommendedOnly=0#slComments
- ↑ Special Announcement from Roy Rogers Jr. http://www.royrogers.com/announcement.html
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Apple Valley-Crossroads of the Desert by Ellsworh A Sylvester, San Bernardino County Museum Commemorative Edition, Allen=Greendale Publishers, Redlands, CA. 1974, pg 125
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Gudde, Erwin; William Bright (2004). California Place Names (Fourth ed. ed.). University of California Press. pp. 15. ISBN 0-520-24217-3.
- ↑ http://www.applevalley.org/Index.aspx?page=587
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Nixon’s legacy remains in Apple Valley
- ↑ http://archive.vvdailypress.com/2005/111460753394487.html
External links
- Town of Apple Valley
- Apple Valley Unified School District
- The Daily Press
- Apple Valley Fire Protection District
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