Yucca Valley, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Yucca Valley, California | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Bernardino |
| Area | |
| - Total | 40 sq mi (103.7 km²) |
| - Land | 40 sq mi (103.7 km²) |
| - Water | 0 sq mi (0 km²) |
| Elevation | 3,369 ft (1,027 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 16,865 |
| - Density | 421.6/sq mi (162.6/km²) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP codes | 92284-92286 |
| Area code(s) | 760 |
| FIPS code | 06-87056 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1667939 |
Yucca Valley is an incorporated town located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 16,865 at the 2000 census. However, the town's highway sign lists the current population at 25,500. Yucca Valley lies 17 miles west of Twentynine Palms, 37 miles north of Palm Springs, 89 miles south of Barstow via State Route 247, 45 miles southeast of Lucerne Valley and 55 miles east of the main city San Bernardino, California.
Bordered in the west by the San Bernardino Mountains and in the south by the Joshua Tree National Park, the Yucca Valley community is located 3,300 feet above sea level. Clean air, low humidity and moderate temperatures make Yucca Valley a pleasant place for travelers and residents.
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[edit] Government
[edit] Local
Yucca Valley is governed by a town council whose mayor as of 2008 is Robert Leone. Yucca Valley contracts its public safety services from San Bernardino County. Police services in Yucca Valley are provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Fire suppression and ambulance services are provided by the San Bernardino County Fire Department.
[edit] State and federal
In the state legislature Yucca Valley is located in the 31st Senate District, represented by Republican Robert Dutton, and in the 65th Assembly District, represented by Republican Paul Cook. Federally, Yucca Valley is located in California's 41st congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +9[1] and is represented by Republican Jerry Lewis.
[edit] Education
There are several schools in Yucca Valley. Public education in Yucca Valley is under the administration of the Morongo Unified School District. Yucca Valley has 3 neighborhood elementary schools--Onaga Elementary, Yucca Mesa Elementary (K-8) and Yucca Valley Elementary; one middle school--La Contenta Middle School; and two high schools--Yucca Valley High School and Sky Continuation High School. Private schools in Yucca Valley include Our Lady of the Desert, a Christian school for K-12; Joshua Springs Christian School, non-denominational affiliation for PK-12; Grace Christian School, Brethren affiliation for K-12; Hi-Desert SDA Elementary, a 1-6, Seventh Day Adventist affiliation school; and Yucca Valley Christian School, affiliated with The Assembly of God, for PK-12. Adult tutoring is also available in Yucca Valley, with tutoring information available at the Yucca Valley Public Library.
[edit] Recreation
You can shoot a round at the public golf course, take a walk in Old Town shopping district or relax in one of the many town parks. Yucca Valley is often known for the many talented musicians and you can find blues, jazz, rock, country and blue-grass music being played in small clubs and coffee houses in the area. The town is home to one bowling alley, and one movie theater. Nearby Joshua Tree National Park provides many outdoor activities, such as rock climbing, camping and hiking.
Yucca Valley also has many youth and adult sports programs offered to their residents. These include Youth Team Tennis, Tri-Valley Little League, Amateur Boxing, BMX Bicycle Motocross, and Adult Spring Softball.
[edit] Grubstakes Day
Grubstakes Day is a local festival celebrated on the day before Memorial Day. On that day there is a parade, a carnival, and a rodeo.
[edit] Transportation
Yucca Valley has three major means of access; State Route 62 (Twentynine Palms Highway) runs east-west and is the main thoroughfare through town. State Route 247 (Old Woman Springs Road) begins in Yucca Valley and extends north though Apple Valley and Victorville. Interstate access is south-west 17 miles to I-10 or north approximately 55 miles to I-15. The closest major airport is Palm Springs International and is approximately 25 miles from Yucca Valley. The Basin Transit Authority (MBTA)[2] serves the area with scheduled bus service around town and to the lower desert.[3]
[edit] Geography and terrain
Yucca Valley is located at (34.126041, -116.416463)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.0 square miles (103.7 km²). 40.0 square miles (103.7 km²) 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.
The "high desert" community has an elevation (city hall) at 3,224 feet above sea level. Snowfall occurs almost annually whenever the snow level drops to elevations under 4,000 feet. The area's terrain is prone to wildfires (such as the Pioneertown fire in July 2006), especially after vegetation dries that grew from rainy seasons and flash floods.
Yucca Valley has experienced high levels of seismic activity. In 1992, three earthquakes shook the city (6.4 on April 22, 7.3 and 6.5 on June 28) from the community of Landers, California. There was an earthquake (7.1) on Oct. 16, 1999 with an epicenter 30 miles north of there. Fault lines criss-cross the city and the Morongo basin, 15 miles (10 km.) north of the San Andreas fault, is predicted for an earthquake to register 7+ on the Richter scale.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 16,865 people, 6,949 households, and 4,489 families residing in the town. The population density was 421.3 people per square mile (162.7/km²). There were 7,952 housing units at an average density of 198.7/sq mi (76.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.26% White, 2.25% African American, 1.35% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.30% Pacific Islander, 4.58% from other races, and 2.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.40% of the population.
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 2.38 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% 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 median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males. The Yucca Valley area is a popular destination for retirees to give it a large senior citizen population.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,420, and the median income for a family was $36,650. Males had a median income of $35,037 versus $25,234 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,020, lower than most of Southern California. About 16.2% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Reference/external links
- ^ Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?. Campaign Legal Center Blog. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
- ^ Morongo Morongo Basin Transit Authority
- ^ Yucca Valley.org
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- Yucca Valley, California is at coordinates Coordinates:
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