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California City, CA

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California City, CA

California City is a city located in northern Antelope Valley in Kern County, California, United States. It is 100 miles (160 km) north of the city of Los Angeles, and the population was 14,973 at the 2020 census. Covering 203.63 square miles (527.4 km2), California City has the third-largest land area of any city in the state of California (behind San Diego and Los Angeles), and is the largest city in California, by land area, that is not a county seat. It is the 43rd-largest city in the United States by land area.

Much of the workforce of Edwards Air Force Base, which is located 18 miles (29 km) southeast of the city, is made up of city residents. Other major employers are the California City Correctional Center (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation), Mojave Air and Space Port (and its flight test facility), and the Hyundai/Kia Proving Grounds, located in the rural southwestern part of the city. California City also has a park, a PGA golf course, and a municipal airport.

The city was formed in 1958 when developers purchased 82,000 acres (33,000 ha) of western Mojave Desert. The new city was aggressively marketed. Developers pitched the city as a northern alternative to Los Angeles, which the developers argued could not handle the post-war population boom, and the region needed other communities to share the increase. Instead of being built piecemeal, the whole city would be developed simultaneously. The city was designed to be a planned community. The master plan was prepared by Smith and Williams and architect Garrett Eckbo at the behest of real estate developer and sociology professor Nat Mendelsohn. The city included a central park with a 26-acre (11 ha) manmade lake, two golf courses, and a new Holiday Inn. Mendelsohn was then president of a corporation called the California City Development Company. There were conflicting reports that the city was built over a large aquifer. The city was originally designed to accommodate 400,000 people, with a downtown center capable of holding 80,000-100,000, and satellite suburbs housing the rest.

A post office opened in 1960, and the city was incorporated in 1965 when it had 158 square miles (410 km2) of land, 5,900 landowners, 817 residents, and 232 homes.

Although one of California's smaller cities in terms of population, California City is the third largest city in California by land area. Satellite photos underscore its claim to being California's third-largest city by land area (40th largest in the United States). Located in the northern Antelope Valley in Kern County, California, the city is 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Edwards Air Force Base, 28 miles (45 km) east of Tehachapi, 40 miles (64 km) north of Lancaster, 49 miles (79 km) southwest of Ridgecrest, 67 miles (108 km) east of the city of Bakersfield, and 101 miles (163 km) north of the city of Los Angeles.

California City focuses on health and wellness. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the California City Recreation and Community Services Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. 345 Fit is a state-of-the-art facility furnished with a full range of exercise equipment to improve your cardiovascular and muscular fitness. Massage Therapy Center facilitates deep, long-lasting results in a wide range of modalities, peeling away layers of stress, restoring mobility to injured muscle tissue, and easing stiffened joints and hot spots of pain. Healing Corner incorporates the healing properties of plants, herbs, cremes, oils, and minerals from around the world into a variety of unmatched spa services designed to reduce stress and enhance balance. A popular option is Cal City Fitness Center. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around California City, such as Mount Islip and Mount Baden-Powell. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

The top sites in California City, CA are Red Rock Canyon State Park, Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, and California Living Museum. 

Population: 15,127 (2022). ZIP Code: 93505. Area: 527.6 km². Area code: 760. Elevation: 2,405 ft (733 m). 

FAQs

Is California City, CA a good place to live?

Living in California City offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In California City, there are a lot of parks. Many families live in California City and residents tend to lean conservative.

What is California City, CA history?

The city was officially born in 1958 when an ambitious developer named Nat Mendelsohn and his California City Development Company purchased approximately 80,000 acres of land in the Kern County desert. Mendelsohn was the city’s chief dreamer, salesperson, and evangelist. Mendelsohn was no stranger to designing communities. Before California City, he developed the Arlanza Village neighborhood in Riverside. He later helped subdivide the desert community of Hesperia outside LA. But California City was Mendelsohn’s first (and last) project of such an ambitious scope. 

Is California City, CA expensive?

The median home price in California City is $469,900 with a median price per sqft of $133. The cost of living index for housing estimates the cost of housing in California City to be 99.7% of the national average. This makes it an average US city.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of California City

California City Recreation and Community Services Department

Cal City Fitness Center

Mount Islip 

345 Fit

Massage Therapy Center

Healing Corner 

Mount Baden-Powell

Griffith Park

Disney California Adventure Park

Borax Visitor Center

Niche

Sfgate

Zero Down

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