Yucca Valley, California
Yucca Valley, California | ||
---|---|---|
View of Yucca Valley (left) and St. Mary of the Valley Church (right). | ||
FIPS code 06-87056 | | |
GNIS feature IDs | 2413524[4] | |
Website | yucca-valley.org |
Yucca Valley is an
History
Native Americans inhabited the area.[6]
Norman J. Essig was key in the late 1950s in working towards establishing Yucca Valley as a place for entertainment celebrities to come and live in privacy. He personally acquired hundreds of acres of land during this time and owned and ran Glenn Realty. He helped to put in the main roads that are running throughout the town off of Hwy 62. He was personal friends with Jimmy Van Heusen the composer and gave him prime real estate in Yucca Valley to build his house which can still be seen atop the highest hill in the center of the town.
In 1992, three large earthquakes occurred near the city, the magnitude 6.1 Joshua Tree earthquake on April 22, and on June 28 the 7.3 Landers and 6.5 Big Bear earthquakes.
The 7.1 magnitude
On July 11, 2006, a wildfire started by lightning raced through neighboring
Geography
Yucca Valley lies in the middle of the Morongo Basin at a base elevation of 3,300 feet. Joshua Tree National Park is adjacent to its southern border.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.0 square miles (104 km2). All of it is land and none of it is covered in water. Yucca Valley is located north of the Joshua Tree National Park, while the Little San Bernardino Mountains and many hills cover a large percentage of city area.
This High Desert community has an elevation (city hall) at 3,224 feet (983 m) above sea level. Snowfall occurs almost annually whenever the snow level drops to elevations under 4,000 feet (1,200 m). The area's terrain is prone to wildfires (such as the Pioneertown fire in July 2006), resulting from plant growth during the rainy seasons and flash floods. The plants within the town and among the chaparral in the mountains outside of the San Bernardino National Forest wilt and perish from the summer heat, providing ample fuel during a fire.
Yucca Valley has experienced high levels of seismic activity. Fault lines criss-cross the town and the Morongo basin.
Climate
According to the
Climate data for Yucca Valley, CA | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 61.1 (16.2) |
61.1 (16.2) |
69.1 (20.6) |
74.4 (23.6) |
86.3 (30.2) |
92.3 (33.5) |
102.0 (38.9) |
99.0 (37.2) |
95.8 (35.4) |
80.1 (26.7) |
70.1 (21.2) |
58.3 (14.6) |
79.13 (26.18) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 38.5 (3.6) |
38.8 (3.8) |
40.2 (4.6) |
44.4 (6.9) |
54.1 (12.3) |
59.9 (15.5) |
71.6 (22.0) |
67.5 (19.7) |
64.1 (17.8) |
52.8 (11.6) |
43.9 (6.6) |
36.3 (2.4) |
51.01 (10.56) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.7 (18) |
0.5 (13) |
0.4 (10) |
0.1 (2.5) |
0.2 (5.1) |
0 (0) |
0.3 (7.6) |
0.4 (10) |
0.4 (10) |
0.4 (10) |
0.6 (15) |
0.8 (20) |
4.8 (120) |
Source: Weatherbase[8] |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1970 | 3,893 | — | |
1980 | 8,294 | 113.0% | |
1990 | 13,701 | 65.2% | |
2000 | 16,865 | 23.1% | |
2010 | 20,700 | 22.7% | |
2020 | 21,738 | 5.0% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[9] |
2010
The
The Census reported that 20,481 people (98.9% of the population) lived in households, 166 (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 53 (0.3%) were institutionalized.
There were 8,274 households, out of which 2,512 (30.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,661 (44.2%) were
The population was spread out, with 4,937 people (23.9%) under the age of 18, 1,772 people (8.6%) aged 18 to 24, 4,676 people (22.6%) aged 25 to 44, 5,495 people (26.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,820 people (18.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
There were 9,558 housing units at an average density of 238.9 per square mile (92.2/km2), of which 5,256 (63.5%) were owner-occupied, and 3,018 (36.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.6%. 12,220 people (59.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 8,261 people (39.9%) lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Yucca Valley had a median household income of $42,962, with 17.0% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[11]
2000
As of the
There were 6,949 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 2.9.
In the town 25.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The average number in the US over 65 was 12.4%.[13] The median age was 42 years, at a time when the average age in the US was 35.3.[13] For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
Economy
Personal income
The median
Employment
Yucca Valley has the
Tourism
This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2011) |
Yucca Valley borders Joshua Tree National Park. Amenities include a bowling alley, various retail stores and an "Old Town" area. The Sky Village weekend open-air market is another popular attraction. On Grubstakes Day, held the day before Memorial Day, there is a parade.
Old Town Yucca Valley is located on Highway 62 at the intersection of Pioneertown Road.[15] The California Welcome Center is located at 56711 Twentynine Palms Highway in Yucca Valley; it provides information on where to stay, eat and play while in the area.
Yucca Valley is home to the Desert Christ Park sculpture garden, as well as the geoglyph "Atlatl", created by artist Andrew Rogers.
Government
Municipal
Yucca Valley is governed by a
Yucca Valley contracts its police and public safety services from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Fire suppression and ambulance services are provided by the San Bernardino County Fire Department and Cal Fire.
State and federal
In the
In the United States House of Representatives, Yucca Valley is in California's 23rd congressional district, represented by Republican Jay Obernolte.[18]
Education
Public education in Yucca Valley is under the administration of the Morongo Unified School District. Yucca Valley has three neighborhood elementary schools (Onaga Elementary, Yucca Mesa Elementary, and Yucca Valley [Hope] Elementary), one middle school (La Contenta Middle School), and two high schools (Yucca Valley High School and Black Rock Continuation High School).
Transportation
Yucca Valley has two major means of highway access;
Media
Yucca Valley is served by the bi-weekly Hi Desert Star newspaper.
There are several commercial radio stations with studios located in the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs) with local broadcast signals located in the Morongo Basin.
- 91.7 KHCS (Christian) broadcasts on 92.1,
- 92.1 KXCM (country) broadcasts on 96.3,
- 94.3 KNWZ "K-News" on 103.7 FM and 1250 AM,
- 106.9 KDGL (70s-90s hits)
- 106.1 KPLM (country)
There is one local station on 107.7 KCDZ (z107) with studios located in Joshua Tree.
There are several county run television repeaters (from Palm Springs, Riverside/San Bernardino and Greater Los Angeles) broadcasting from Pinto Mountain south of Twentynine Palms that can be received in the Yucca Mesa area but not in the city proper. Television service (and high speed cable internet) in town is provided by Charter Spectrum. WISP (wireless internet service provider) is offered from Mojave WiFi, Frontier and Flashbyte Digital.
References
- ^ "Yucca Valley". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Yucca Valley, California
- ^ "QuickFacts: Yucca Valley town, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ "The Heritage of Yucca Valley" (PDF).
- ^ "Climate Summary for Yucca Valley, California". WeatherBase.com. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ "Yucca Valley, California Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)".
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Yucca Valley town". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ a b "Yucca Valley (town), California". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ a b "Yucca Valley, California Census and Community Profile". November 17, 2009.
- ^ "Marines". United States Marine Corps. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ "Old Town Yucca Valley Antique Malls – California Welcome Center".
- ^ "Yucca Valley Town Council". Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ^ "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ^ "California's 23rd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
- ^ "Morongo Basin Transit Authority". The Basin Transit Authority (MBTA). Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- ^ "Yucca Valley.org". Retrieved November 12, 2014.