New Golf Course Home Tract in the Antelope Valley, California

</head> <body text="#000080" background="floorplan-bg.gif"> <center>Homes in Palmdale California <br><b><i><font face="Arial Black"><font size=+1> The Legends in California City, California</font></font></i></b> <p><b><i><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+2>Golf Course Community on Tierra Del Sol PGA Golf Course</font></font></i></b> <br><b><i><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+2>COMING Summer 2006!</font></font></i></b> <p><b><i><font color="#000000"><font size=+2>Showcase of Model Homes</font></font></i></b> <br><b><i><font color="#000000"><font size=+2>See the amenities that we offer with our development!</font></font></i></b></center> <br>  <center><table BORDER COLS=5 WIDTH="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFF00" > <tr> <td> <center><b><font size=+1>1,757 sq ft</font></b></center> </td> <td> <center><b><font size=+1>1,801 sq ft</font></b></center> </td> <td> <center><b><font size=+1>1,753 sq ft</font></b></center> </td> <td> <center><b><font size=+1>2,089 sq ft</font></b></center> </td> <td> <center><b><font size=+1>2,136 sq ft</font></b></center> </td> </tr> </table></center> <center> <p><b><i><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+2>MAKE YOUR RESERVATION FOR A BEAUTIFUL HOME</font></font></i></b> <br><b><i><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+2>IN UPSCALE NORTH LOOP ESTATES GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY!</font></font></i></b> <br><b><i><font color="#000000"><font size=+1>Whether you are looking for a beautiful weekend getaway, a retirement golf course home, or a permanent home in the country that can host several generations of your family. At North Loop Estates we offer a variety of real estate opportunities to meet your home buying needs. At North Loop Estates modern techniques and award winning design are put into each Home to insure the integrity of each North Loop Estate Home. This new 63 acre Golf Course Community will consist of 190 single family Homes with forty Premium lots along the Tierra Del Sol PGA Professional Golf Course for the golf enthusiast. North Loop Estates sales professionals will be happy to keep you informed of new releases that are scheduled for release in June 2006.</font></font></i></b> <br><b><i><font color="#000099"><font size=+2>CLICK HERE</font></font></i></b> <br><b><i><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+2>TO CONTACT US</font></font></i></b></center> <p> <hr color="#FF0000"> <center> <p><b><font size=+1>Our company was built on a promise to create superior housing and provide for customer satisfaction.</font></b> <br><b><font size=+1>"Build each home as if it were your own" is a creed we will always follow.</font></b></center> <p><br> <table BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 WIDTH="100%" > <tr> <td VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="85%"><b>North Loop Estates at Tiera Del Sol Golf Course - A luxurious California City Single Family Golf Community. Sub-division will have sidewalks, curbs, gutter, street lights, sewer, natural gas, cable tv, paved streets and access to the golf course. All homes will feature upgraded interiors and exteriors and included in the purchase price, tile roof, stucco exterior, front yard landscaping, block wall fence, interiors will feature, tile floors, upgraded carpet, granite counter tops, upgraded cabinets and more!!</b> <p><b>North Loop Estates at Tierra Del Sol golf course community are the perfect place for golfers regardless of your game. In addition to golf this award-winning community will have a full range of amenities to enrich every lifestyle. Here you will find the home of your choice whether it is a </b> <br><b>three or four bedroom home, on or near the golf course. The essence of The North Loop Estates</b> <br><b>is the careful blending of surrounding nature with quality homes. Ours is a residential country club community of attractive and stylish single family custom homes that are affordable compared to other areas of Southern California.</b> <p><b>Blended within a spectacular par 72 championship golf course designed by  Bruce Devlin and Robert Von Hagge, North Loop Estates at Tierra Del Sol is destined to be one of California City's most prestigious new home golf communities. Nearly every home site will have views of the community's golf course and Sierra mountains. This exciting new community will offer five luxurious, semi-custom one- and two-story single-family homes. </b> <p><b>Experience a life where the good life is your way of life. </b> <center><img SRC="sendemail.gif" BORDER=0 height=73 width=92><b><font size=+1>OR CALL (760) 373-4567, (760) 373-2662 or (661) 256-2744</font></b></center> </td> <td ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM WIDTH="15%"> <center><img SRC="tierradelsol-2" BORDER=3 height=234 width=312> <br><img SRC="tierradelsol-1.jpg" BORDER=3 height=234 width=312></center> </td> </tr> <tr> <td COLSPAN="2"> <center><img SRC="diamond.gif" height=19 width=15 align=TEXTTOP><b><i><font size=-1>1,757 Elevation and Floor Plan</font></i></b></center> </td> </tr> </table> <table BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH="100%" > <tr> <td ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="50%"><img SRC="diamond.gif" height=19 width=15 align=TEXTTOP><b><i><font size=-1>1,810 Elevation and Floor Plan</font></i></b></td> <td WIDTH="50%"><img SRC="diamond.gif" height=19 width=15 align=TEXTTOP><b><i><font size=-1>2,072 Elevation and Floor Plan</font></i></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="50%"><img SRC="diamond.gif" height=19 width=15 align=TEXTTOP><b><i><font size=-1>1,801 Elevation and Floor Plan</font></i></b></td> <td WIDTH="50%"><img SRC="diamond.gif" height=19 width=15 align=TEXTTOP><b><i><font size=-1>2,136 Elevation and Floor Plan</font></i></b></td> </tr> </table> <center><font color="#000000">New custom golf course homes in California City, Tehachapi, Palmdale, Lancaster, Rosamond CA and Rosamond, California - Custom homes by North Loop Estates LLC. Looking for a golf course community, golf course home or golf course real estate? Tierra Del Sol Championship PGA Golf Course at North Loop Estates LLC in California City features private, gated golf course communities, luxury golf homes, luxury golf communities and golf course communities that feature homes and homesites with golf views, water views, mountain views, nature preserve views, golf training facilities, golf estates and much more! Tierra Del Sol Championship PGA Golf Course is an exclusive private residential golf community, located in the High Desert and just a short drive from Lancaster and Palmdale. Tierra Del Sol Championship PGA Golf Course offers a select number of expansive quarter acre to large estate lots with city or mountain view estate home sites, a limited number of custom estate homes and private golf memberships for the championship Bruce Devlin and Robert Von Hagge 18-hole golf course. Recreational choices abound with hiking and biking trails, fishing and a variety of close winter sports including skiing and snowboarding in the Sierras. This premiere Sourthern California golf community offers the best of country club living with a luxury resort lifestyle, and all as an amenity to your own custom estate home.</font> <br><font color="#000000">California City the "Best kept secret in California"  (population 13,289), known as the "Land of the Sun" is located in the California High Desert, 36 miles north of Lancaster, California. California Citysupports economic development, but has managed to set aside land for open space (with more than 150 acres of parks and a PGA championship golf course and a Par three Executive golf course). The largest two-day street fair in the area, the "Tortoise Days, featuring more than 50 exhibitors is held on the first weekend of May, attracting crowds from Southern California. Along with the busiest single-runway airport in the High Desert, California City also is home to the internationally renowned Tierra Del Sol Championship PGA 18-hole professional golf course.</font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>The Antelope Valley expands over two counties, Los Angeles and Kern. The Antelope Valley offers affordable housing within a reasonable drive from Los Angeles and other metropolitan areas, making it an affordable option for those that get priced out of the expensive housing markets of Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange Counties. The Antelope Valley consists primarily of the cities/communities of Palmdale, Lancaster, Rosamond, Mojave, California City and Ridgecrest. National homebuilders have built huge housing developments in this area, which have contributed to the Antelope Valley being one of the strongest housing markets in the nation. Because of all the billion dollar aerospace companies in this region, the Antelope Valley has been called "Aerospace Valley." The Space Shuttle was built in Palmdale, and has landed at Edward's Air Force Base.  Lockheed-Martin, Northrop-Grumman, Rockwell and BAE Systems continue to win huge government defense contracts, which translate into jobs, housing and retail sales. The current population of the Antelope Valley has already swelled to over 300,000 residents with no slow down in sight. This population surge has brought many large shopping malls to the region that anchor national department stores. For example, the Antelope Valley Mall is home to Dillards, Harris Gottchalks, JC Penny, Mervyn's, Sears, and many other national retail chains. Across the street is the Palmdale Promenade that is home to Wal-Mart and Home Depot.</font></font> <br>  <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE ANTELOPE VALLEY FREEWAY BEGINS IN 2005</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> According to the L.A. Daily News, June 4, 2005, a section of the Antelope Valley Freeway is being widened by Caltrans to the south of Palmdale. The $41 million project has broken ground, and will add a lane in each direction for 6.2 miles and relieve a traffic bottleneck at the Pearblossom Highway interchange of the 14 Freeway. Completion is scheduled for Spring 2007. When the lanes are completed, motorists will be able to travel along 35.9 miles of car-pool lanes from Palmdale to the Interstate 5 interchange south of Santa Clarita. Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said he wants a further extension of the car-pool lanes to Avenue L, bringing them into Lancaster. "We know our transportation needs in the region will need that lane to Avenue L," Ledford said at Friday's ceremony, conducted in a Palmdale cul-de-sac with the freeway visible across vacant fields. Car-pool lanes are on 380 miles of Los Angeles County freeways and are planned on 70 more within five years. "All of the users will be able to benefit from the reduced congestion," Caltrans District 7 Director Doug Failing said. "It's very important we do everything we can to meet the needs of this exploding population."</font></font> <br>  <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>LANCASTER'S FOX FIELD ATTRACTS MAJOR INDUSTRY</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> In 1996 the City of Lancaster created the Fox Field Industrial Corridor Specific Plan, in order to encourage the development of major distribution centers in Lancaster. In 1997 Michael's Stores built a $19,000,000, 432,000 square foot west coast distribution center in the Fox Field Industrial Area. The construction of the Michael's Distribution Center was just the beginning. The Lancaster Redevelopment Agency was able to secure the $60 million, 1,000,000 square foot Rite Aid Distribution Center to Fox Field. In addition, the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds built its new facility at Fox Field, offering a turf club, concerts and more. Rite Aid, Michael's and the AV Fairgrounds are all located at Ave. H and the 14 Freeway. Fox Field continues to attract industry. According to the Antelope Valley Journal, May 28, 2004, Lancaster city officials announced that Regent Aerospace would be another manufacturing company to set up shop in the Fox Field Industrial Corridor. Regent is the world's largest independent company that specializes in the refurbishing of commercial aircraft seats. Regent will build up to 6 plants at the corner of Ave. G and 50th Street West. Initially Regent will occupy a 75,000-square-foot facility. Additional high-end office park buildings ranging from 250,000 square feet to 275,000- square-foot will be built to accommodate Regent's future growth and will be available for lease or sale to other companies. Regent will initially employ 300 people at the Fox Field facility. To add icing to the cake, Larwin Commercial has plans to build 210,000 square feet of speculative buildings, ranging in size from 7,000 square feet to 18,000 square feet at the northwest corner of Ave. G and 45th Street West. According the Larwin's Vice-President, Greg St. Clair: "Our major commitment to more than 20 new buildings in Fox Field is a testament to our confidence in the community." Any jobs we create in the Antelope Valley are good, but these high-paying manufacturing jobs at Fox Field are excellent," said Lancaster City Councilman, Ed Sileo. The growth of industry in the Fox Field area is also good news for nearby Rosamond. It is obvious that Rosamond's close proximity and affordable home prices would be very attractive to employees who work at the Fox Field Industrial Corridor in Lancaster.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>ANTELOPE VALLEY BUILDING PERMITS INCREASED 87% IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF 2004</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> According to the Antelope Valley Journal, April 16, 2004, the number of residential permits that were pulled in the Antelope Valley in January and February 2004 increased 87 percent compared to the same period last year and may signal a record year for the local building industry. According to Gutierrez, Director of the AV Business Industry Association, 489 permits were issued in January and February 2004, compared to 261 in January and February 2003. The number of permits that are pulled is a reliable indicator of the number of homes that will be built, she said, because developers don’t normally apply for permits until their building plans are concrete. In 2002, 1,588 residential permits were issued in the AV. In 2003, 2,225 permits were issued. If the local housing market continues on its current course, Gutierrez said, approximately 3,000 permits will be issued in 2004. An example of the Antelope Valley’s burgeoning housing market is Anaverde. The first phase of the master-planned Anaverde project began last year. Anaverde represents a development on 2000 lavishly landscaped acres. Within the various neighborhoods at Anaverde, Southern California's finest builders are crafting architecturally varied houses that will provide an array of housing options to homebuyers. Upon completion, Anaverde will include 5,000 homes, schools, parks and a golf course. Anaverde is located in southwest Palmdale. While Anaverde will be a first class development, its expected home prices could price many homebuyers out of the Palmdale Housing Market. The Rosamond area offers a lower cost housing option to new residents of the Antelope Valley.</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>THE STRONG ANTELOPE VALLEY HOUSING MARKET OF 2005</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> According to the L.A. Daily News, June 1, 2005, Antelope Valley home prices are skyrocketing. For example, in Palmdale, typical sale prices on homes have climbed above $300,000. Going up twice as fast sale prices of homes in Los Angeles County as a whole, the median for new and resale homes in Palmdale hit a record $310,000 in April 2005, up 33 percent from the same month a year ago and up from $305,000 in March 2005, according to the California Association of Realtors. In Lancaster, home prices were up 33.7 percent over the year - to a record $274,000 in April 2005. In March 2005, the median price was $267,500 in Lancaster. In nearby Rosamond, the median sales price in April 2005 was $231,000, up 37.4 percent from April 2004.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>ROSAMOND IS LOCATED JUST 11 MILES NORTH OF LANCASTER IN THE ANTELOPE VALLEY</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Rosamond is located 11 miles north of Lancaster in Kern County, just north of Ave A, the Los Angeles-Kern County border. It is a community with some impressive residential and commercial developments. The Town of Rosamond experiences all 4 seasons.</font></font> <br>  <br>  <br>  <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>ROSAMOND’S POPULATION IS PROJECTED TO DOUBLE IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> According to the Antelope Valley Press, October 30, 2005, experts say Rosamond's population is going to double in the next 10 years. With that in mind, members of the Rosamond Community Services District (“RCSD”) decided they needed to come up with a long-term plan for the development of parks in the area. In August 2005, the RCSD hired a consulting firm. Then they put together a committee of community members to work on the project. They posed some hypothetical questions: What kind of parks do they want? Baseball fields? What equipment do they want in the parks?</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>This plan is important because Rosamond has some catching up to do, said Roy Imai, a senior project manager for Foothill Associates, the consulting firm that the RCSD hired a couple months ago. After mapping out the community's resources, Imai said Rosamond's population could be 40,000 by 2015. The community needs a master plan, Imai said, to work with developers to accommodate that population boom.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>The master plan could help Rosamond get park funding from another source as well. Once it has been adopted by the RCSD, the organization will present the plan to Kern County along with a budget request. For example, to prepare for development, land needs to be acquired and set aside for parks and recreation facilities. After the plan is adopted, developers will have to adhere to building standards outlined in the plan. They may also have to pay an "impact fee" to help offset the cost of park construction in the area.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>ROSAMOND HAS IMPRESSIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> High profile homebuilders, such as Barratt Homes and Kaufman & Broad, have built impressive homes in Rosamond. Kaufman & Broad developed Westpark, which is a master planned community of about 600 homes on 7000 square foot lots. Westpark has a junior high school and a park, and is located on 40th St West; south of Rosamond Blvd. Homes in Westpark sell in the $200,000 range.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Rosamond also has the Tropico housing development and custom homes in the central area of town; west of town, and estate sized country homes on large acreage parcels. Skypark is one of the most interesting housing developments in Rosamond. Rosamond Skypark was developed in 1986 as a fly-in community with upscale homes on half-acre lots, featuring backyard airplane hangars and taxiway connections to the Rosamond Airport. Homes in Skypark sell for about $500,000. Rosamond Airport has a surfaced 3,600-foot runway with a self-service gas station for airplanes.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>KERN COUNTY APPROVES THE 600-ACRE, 1201-UNIT COPA DE ORO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND GOLF COURSE IN ROSAMOND</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> According to the Antelope Valley Press, May 10, 2004, the largest housing development ever to hit Rosamond should soon be under way. The 1,201-unit Copa de Oro, which will span more than 600 acres between Avenue A and Gaskell Road and between 110th and 120th streets west, was approved unanimously by the Kern County Board of Supervisors on April 27, 2004. An 18-hole golf course, part of the Copa de Oro community, was the focus of much of the concern over how much water would be required to maintain it. After working with developer R.L. Abbott, the two parties came to an agreement last fall that a mitigated negative declaration would be sufficient to determine the impact on present and future water supply as growth continues in the district, DeLano said. The development will have its own service district, treating its own sewage and providing its own water or purchasing it from the Delta near Sacramento. Although the district has just begun the Local Agency Formation Commission process to extend its boundaries to 110th Street West, it still covers about 33 square-miles, extending to 60th Street West. At completion, the project would reinforce the Rosamond area's position as Southeast Kern's most populous community. Lancaster is located approximately 11 miles south of Rosamond and already has a population today of over 120,000 and growing. Lancaster can grow to the east and to the west, but Rosamond can’t grow too far to the east, because that’s where Edward’ s Air Force Base begins. According to this article, the Copa de Oro development is expected to increase the Rosamond area's population from about 18,000 residents to about 22,500, which would be a 25% increase. With the strong demand for affordable housing in the Antelope Valley, what could Rosamond’s population grow to in the next 10 years?</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>RETAIL DEVELOPMENT HAS FLOURISHED IN ROSAMOND</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>This explosive residential growth has spurred commercial development. In the early 1990's Albertson's Market agreed to be the anchor tenant in a new shopping center, just west of the 14 Freeway. Since that time, Rite Aid and Radio Shack have opened locations also. Antelope Valley Bank has also located in Rosamond. As more and more affordable housing developments come to Rosamond, the need for expanded retail and commercial development may be seen in Rosamond.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>ROSAMOND IS THE GATEWAY TO EDWARD'S AIR FORCE BASE</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> Rosamond is often referred to as the Gateway to Edward's Air Force Base. This close proximity to Edward’s has resulted in some service men living off base in Rosamond. This has generated new housing construction. Edward’s hosts an annual Air Show that attracts about 200,000 to 300,000 people annually. During the base closures of the 1990's, Edward’s Air Force Base actually grew in population from absorbing other base closures. Edward’s Air Force Base has an approximate civilian and military daytime work force of 20,600 that has a combined annual payroll of about $500 million, making it one of the largest employers in the High Desert. Due to its enormous 530 square mile size, location, weather (360 flying days per year), and accessibility to aerospace contractors (in Palmdale), EAFB is a vital link in the testing of the nation's next generation of aircraft and weapon systems. The Jet Propulsion Lab, now called the Astronautics Lab, is located in the southeastern corner of EAFB. Edward's Air Force Base is where the Space Shuttle has been launched, and the home of NASA and a myriad of private companies and industries. Edward’s encompasses portions of San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Kern Counties. No doubt that the proximity of Rosamond to such a Goliath as Edward’s Air Force Base could only help the growth of this town in the 21st Century.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>ROSAMOND HAS MODERN SCHOOLS, PARKS AND A MODERN LIBRARY</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> There are currently four schools in the Rosamond area that include 2 elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Rosamond takes great pride in its Rosamond High School that is a modern School that can boast about having a first rate athletic field. These schools in the Rosamond area are part of the Southern Kern Unified School District. Rosamond’s College Students can attend the Antelope Valley College that is located about 11  miles away in Lancaster, and now provides some 4-year courses of study through Cal State University Bakersfield. The Antelope Valley College has a student enrollment of over 12,000. These schools can be a catalyst for new home construction for many families that are interested in locating in the Rosamond area. Rosamond has two public parks, one with a pool, and another that provides fields for sports activities. The parks include play equipment for children and picnic areas. The Rosamond Library shown above is also important for new families with school age children.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>ROSAMOND’S WILLOW SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> Rosamond is also famous for its Willow Springs International Raceway that is located to the north of Rosamond Blvd on Raceway Lane that is located between 70th St. West and 80th St. West.  It holds all types of races, including various types of stock cars; formula cars and can attract about 25,000 people in a weekend. The Raceway has four tracks that would permit 4 different events to occur at the same time.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>THE AVAILABILITY OF WATER IS A KEY FACTOR IN THE GROWTH OF ROSAMOND AND KERN COUNTY</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> The Antelope Valley East Kern Water Agency (AVEK) gets its water from the California Aqueduct. The California Aqueduct was built at a cost of $3.7 billion. The Aqueduct provides supplemental water to approximately 20 million Californians and about 660,000 acres of irrigated farmland, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Twenty-two State Water Projects (SWP) dams and reservoirs are used to capture and store run-off from Northern California Mountains and Valleys. The bulk of the water imported by AVEK is treated and distributed to customers throughout its service area through the Domestic-Agricultural Water Network (DAWN) Project facilities. A $71 million bond issue has been completely repaid, which financed the development of the DAWN Project. The Dawn Project consists of more than 100 miles of water distribution pipelines; four Water Treatment Plants; and four 8 million gallon water storage reservoirs near Rosamond and Mojave. According to the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency Website, the Rosamond Water Treatment Plant was established to support the needs of consumers in southeastern Kern County, an area that includes Rosamond and Mojave.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>MOJAVE IS HOME TO 140 COMPANIES THAT EMPLOY OVER 1300 PEOPLE AT THE MOJAVE AIRPORT</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> Mojave is located about 13 miles to the north of Rosamond and 24 miles to the north of Lancaster. It is situated at the junction of California Highways 14 and 58 that already have a large traffic count. Mojave is considered a gateway to the fertile San Joaquin Valley, the popular ski resorts of Mammoth, the Eastern Sierras, Las Vegas and the Los Angeles Basin. Mojave is also home to the Mojave Airport. The Mojave Airport is home to 140 companies that employ over 1300 people, making it one of southeastern Kern County’s largest employment centers. The Mojave Airport offers cutting edge aviation, high-tech manufacturing and light industrial enterprises at one of Southern California's best transportation hubs. Mojave is well located for industry, offering both the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and the Union Pacific Railway that serve the rail transportation requirements of companies and mining operations located in the Mojave area.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>THE MOJAVE AIRPORT’S LIST OF 140 COMPANIES INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING FIRMS</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>  Avtel Services, Inc.</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Scaled Composites</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Mojo Jets</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>National Test Pilot School</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Flight Research</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>XCOR</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Progress Rail Services</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>HPE Flight Control Systems</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>HPE High Plains Engineering</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Derringer Aircraft Company</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Mercy Air</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Scroggins Aviation</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Interorbital Space Systems</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Translunar Research</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Fiberset</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>ASB Avionics</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Tellair International</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Space Launch Corporation</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Pocket Rocket Society</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Derringer Aircraft Company</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>EVA</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Mellor Printing</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>BAE Systems</font></font> <br>  <br>  <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>BAE SYSTEMS HAS WORLDWIDE SALES OF $20 BILLION AND IS NOW AT THE MOJAVE AIRPORT</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> According to the Los Angeles Daily News, April 26, 2004, BAE Systems has reached a tentative agreement with one of its Mojave Airport neighbors to acquire a large hangar to accommodate future growth. BAE Systems Integrated Defense Solutions plans to acquire from Avtel Services Inc. a complex that includes a 73,000-square-foot hangar and several adjacent buildings. Under the proposed agreement, Avtel Services, an aircraft maintenance and aircraft storage company, will lease one of BAE Systems' hangars to continue its current operations at Mojave Airport. Bob Swanson, BAE Systems' IDS president, said the sale was undertaken to facilitate the growth of the Mojave operations by providing the facilities to perform a wider range of aircraft modifications. "We believe this facility promotes expansion of our business and allows us to pursue new opportunities we have not been able to accommodate in our current facilities," Swanson said. BAE Systems, which employs about 180 people, anticipates 10 percent annual growth at the Mojave Airport. "The airline industry has suffered the past few years, and we are optimistic that it is on the upswing," said Paul Nafziger, vice president and general manager of the Mojave operations, in the announcement. "Mojave is the ideal location for our customers -- we have the people, weather and facilities to service their needs." The Mojave plant's main source of business now is the conversion of Vietnam-era F-4 jet fighters into target drones for the U.S. military. On April 12, the Pentagon announced the awarding of a $17.1 million contract to provide 13 QF-4 aerial target drones and associated technical support. The new target drone contract runs through July 2006. The company is also a subcontractor on the F-35 joint strike fighter program. The company is modifying a Boeing 737 jetliner for Lockheed Martin to serve as a test bed for electronic equipment for that program. BAE Systems is an international company with major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company employs more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of more than $20 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations. BAE Systems' Integrated Defense Solutions unit, headquartered in Austin, Texas, employs more than 1,000 people.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>FAA APPROVES THE MOJAVE AIRPORT AS THE NATION'S FIRST INLAND SPACEPORT</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> According to Desert News, June 26, 2004, the FAA approved the Mojave Airport as the first inland commercial spaceport in the U.S.A. This approval grants the Mojave Airport the right to support "suborbital reusable launch vehicle" missions to take-off and land at Mojave Airport like the flight of SpaceShipOne. Joann Painter, President of the East Kern Airport District, said the Spaceport offers great economic benefits to East Kern County. "I really believe this is the beginning of a new era - civilian space travel is going to open-up opportunities for new businesses and jobs, and I think the whole community, East Kern, and the Antelope Valley will benefit from this," Painter said. "We have seven rocket companies at the Mojave Airport- you have an inland spaceport — we have a bid right here on my desk from a company that wants to build a spaceport and wants to do a $100 million project at Mojave this year. This will open up the spaceport frontier to the commercial sector.” FAA spokesman Hank Price said the Mojave’s Spaceport License gives the Airport the ability to conduct space flights by companies holding current launch licenses. Scaled Composites and XCOR currently hold such launch licenses. XCOR's license differs somewhat from the first license issued to Scaled Composites in that it authorizes a rocket vehicle take-off from the ground. Scaled Composites' SpaceShipOne, in contrast, is air-launched from a carrier aircraft. Announcement of these licenses at the Mojave Airport has drawn interest in these Companies and their efforts from around the world. The FAA has issued five other spaceport licenses. Mojave’s license is the first for a commercial spaceport located away from a coast, and the first that is not located on a federal government site. The other three commercial spaceports licensed by FAA are at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Cape Canaveral, Wallops Island, Virginia, and on Kodiak Island, Alaska.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>MICROSOFT FOUNDER INVESTS $20 TO $30 MILLION IN MOJAVE AIRPORT SPACESHIP</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> According to the Los Angeles Daily News, 5-1-04, Burt Rutan's financial backer for SpaceShipOne is Microsoft's Co-Founder, Paul Allen. Aerospace observers estimate that Paul Allen will invest between $20 million to $30 million in the project. In the international competition to win the $10 million X Prize for the first privately financed and reusable spaceship, eyes are turned toward Mojave's famed aircraft designer Burt Rutan. Rutan's company, Scaled Composites, appears to be the X Prize space race front-runner. On SpaceShipOne's latest flight test, on April 8, it hit a top speed of about 1,000 mph and climbed to over 105,000 feet. SpaceShipOne is a 25-foot-long rocket-powered craft that can accommodate three people. Scaled Composites received the nation’s first space license issued to a private company. To win the $10 million X Prize, a spacecraft must make two suborbital flights within two weeks. During each flight, the spacecraft has to reach an altitude of 100 kilometers -- 62 miles above Earth. Mojave Airport officials are developing plans to accommodate visitors for the launch and the X Prize Foundation is planning to conduct a Webcast of the flight. "It's a big deal for the nation, a big deal for California, and a big deal for Mojave," said Mojave Airport Manager, Stu Witt.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>U.S. COMMERCE DEPARTMENT APPROVES THE MOJAVE AIRPORT AS A FOREGN TRADE ZONE</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>According to the Antelope Valley Press, 2-11-04, the U.S. Department of Commerce has approved the Mojave Airport as a foreign trade zone. A foreign trade zone allows goods to be imported without the typical federal excise taxes and custom duties. This is a major edge for international trade. Foreign goods can be admitted without dealing with any formal customs entry or duties till the assembled goods leave the foreign trade zone. It's possible for carriers to transport from one foreign trade zone to another or to a foreign country and save a lot of money. There are 230 foreign trade zones in the 50 states with goods valued at $175 billion annually. These foreign trade zones support over 365,000 jobs throughout the United States. Mojave Airport's approval as a foreign trade zone could prove to be a major benefit to existing businesses and new businesses that locate at the Airport. A significant benefit will be in fuel sales to customers. For example, to save as much as 30 cents per gallon in taxes, airline companies previously would send 747 jetliners and other planes maintained at Mojave Airport elsewhere to fill up. In the long run, the foreign trade zone could prove to be a major incentive for many more new businesses to locate at the Mojave Airport. This puts the Mojave Airport in a position to be the next economic driver for the Antelope Valley and East Kern County.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>CALIFORNIA CITY IS THE 3RD LARGEST CITY IN CALIFORNIA, ENCOMPASSING 204 SQUARE MILES</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>California City has a population of about 11,000 residents, and lies north of Mojave and south of Ridgecrest in the Kern County portion of the Antelope Valley. The California City limits run east to Highway 395, south to Highway 58 and west to the 14 Freeway. California City is the third largest city in California, encompassing 204 square miles or 130,200 acres. It has an elevation of approximately 2,400 feet above sea level. As one of the fastest-growing regions in Southern California, California City has been undergoing significant change. More people are moving into California City, because they have discovered affordable housing prices, excellent weather, clean air, good schools, safe streets, shopping, a Central Park and a professionally designed PGA 18-hole golf course.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>California City also has an evolving and diverse business base. One of the more recent additions is the $60 million, 4300-acre Hyundai KIA Proving Grounds, which recently opened in California City. The Proving Grounds include a 6.4-mile oval track, a 2 million square-foot Vehicle Dynamics Area (VDA), a 2.75-mile winding track, a 3.3-mile hill road, and various special surface roads constructed to duplicate U.S. highways. The facility also includes a 30,000 square-foot office complex for its staff members. “The Hyundai-Kia Motors California Proving Grounds will ensure that Hyundai and Kia continue to develop the highest quality vehicles,” said Dong Jin Kim, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Company. “Hyundai and Kia are committed to the U.S., and this facility will help us design vehicles that appeal to consumers in this market as well as worldwide.”</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Other recent additions to California City include a McDonald’s restaurant, a Rite Aid store, and a planned 40-acre industrial park near the California City Municipal Airport. The City owns and runs the California City Airport, which contains a 6,030-foot lighted runway with terminal facilities and a restaurant. The Airport also has 20,000 sq. ft. of privately owned industrial buildings.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>According to the Antelope Valley Press, June 16, 2005, City leaders and developers say they were well received recently at the International Council of Shopping Centers annual conference in Las Vegas. "We got some good leads" on businesses that may be interested in locating in the city, he said. One of those making a push to bring more businesses to California City is San Diego-based developer Michael Ellison, who is working on bringing his Ellison Plaza shopping center to fruition in California City. Ground has been broken on one cornerstone of the plaza, the Microtel Inns and Suites Hotel. Future plans for the center include a grocery store, retail stores, restaurants, a bowling alley and gas station.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>THE CITY OF RIDGECREST ALREADY HAS 27,000 RESIDENTS</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>The city of Ridgecrest is in the Kern County portion of the Antelope Valley, and has a population of about 27,000 residents. It encompasses about 21 square miles. It is situated about 40 miles north of California City, about 80 miles north of Lancaster, and about 125 miles northeast of Bakersfield. Traveling to all of these nearby urban centers from Ridgecrest is easy, because of the proximity of U.S. Highway 395, Highway 178 and the 14 Freeway.</font></font> <br>  <br>  <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>The Inyokern Airport serves Ridgecrest, and lies about 8 miles to the west. In a strong indication of the city’s residential growth in recent years, Home Depot arrived in late 2003. Other major retail companies are keeping a close eye on Ridgecrest, and the city’s industrial base continues to expand. Also opening is a new business and technology park to accommodate the city’s growing number of locally grown businesses and defense contractors. The China Lake Naval Air Weapons Division at China Lake further serves Ridgecrest with a large number of armed service personnel who contribute to the consumer base of the city. China Lake is also important to the country’s national defense.</font></font> <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>The city of Ridgecrest can also take pride in its Ridgecrest Regional Hospital that is a state of the art hospital with plans for major expansion, which include a new cafeteria, a new entrance and lobby, a new Outpatient Services Center, and a 3-story tower that will contain a new surgery suite, ICU/CCU, inpatient beds, and pediatric beds.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>WHY IS EASTERN KERN COUNTY GROWING?</font></font> <br><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Government Regulations</font></font> <br>  <br>  <br>  <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>The answer is prohibitive government regulations and expensive land costs in the larger cities are pushing companies and new residents to the Eastern Kern County region of the Antelope Valley.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>In Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties, businesses have to deal with all the requirements of the South Coast Air Quality Management Agency (SCAQMD) and other agencies, where it could take up to 2 years to get a permit to begin development. In Eastern Kern County, businesses can expand with the friendly, cooperative Kern County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and other government agencies that have a reputation for being very, very pro-business.</font></font> <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Affordable Land</font></font> <br>  <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1> In Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange Counties, the median priced home has soared to an average of about $600,000. In Eastern Kern County, the median comparable new home sells for about $200,000. With homes being offered in Lancaster and Palmdale at prices over $300,000, the communities in Eastern Kern County offer a more affordable housing option. In Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange Counties, undeveloped commercially zoned land parcels sell from about $20.00 to $60.00 per square foot, which is about $870,000 to $2.6 million per acre. Even in Lancaster and Palmdale, undeveloped land prices have already become expensive. Commercially zoned vacant land in Lancaster and Palmdale may be priced from about $7 to $20 per square foot or about $305,000 to $870,000 per acre, and many residentially zoned vacant land parcels in these cities have already gone through the roof. On the other hand, the communities of Eastern Kern County offer reasonably priced property in a dynamic growing region.</font></font> <br>  <br>  <br>  <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Antelope Valley Home and Land Specialists specializes in choice, close in land parcels in prime locations in the Eastern Kern County Region of the Antelope Valley. Many of these properties are zoned residential, industrial or commercial. Prime acreage parcels can be purchased with affordable long term financing.</font></font> <p>he two largest incorporated cities in the Antelope Valley are Palmdale and Lancaster. Other incorporated cities include California City, Ridgecrest and Tehachapi. The remaining communities are considered unincorporated communities governed by their respective counties, either Los Angeles or Kern. <br>Greater Antelope Valley Region <br>Square Miles: 2,200 <br>Population: ?446,342 (2007 estimate) <br>2005-2010 Projected: 477,263 (+8.98%) <br>Population Forecast: 780,504 by 2020 <p>Lancaster <br>?Motto: It’s Perfectly Clear <br>Elevation: 2,450 ft. <br>Square Miles: 94.2 <br>Population: 145,243 (2008 estimate) <br>(118,718 in 2000 Census) <p>Meetings: Lancaster City Council, 44933 Fern Ave., second and fourth Tuesdays, 7 p.m. Lancaster Redevelopment Agency, second and fourth Tuesdays, 6 p.m. Planning Commission, third Monday, 7 p.m. Antelope Valley Chambers of Commerce (Lancaster and Rosamond), monthly business luncheons, 11:30 a.m. <p>Information: 661/723-6000 <p>Lancaster is a bustling community with a growing number of industries, affordable housing, employment, schools, recreational opportunities and excellent smog-free weather 300 days or more a year. It is the ninth-largest city in Los Angeles County and the third-fastest growing. Los Angeles is a short one-and-a-half hour drive on Highway 14. Bakersfield, San Bernardino, and coastal communities are easy commutes, too. <p>In 1876, the Southern Pacific railroad made Lancaster one of its stops. That milestone sparked growth in the Antelope Valley. Most of the early settlers in Lancaster were farmers who established homesteads in outlying areas. Their main shopping was done in Old Lancaster, which today is located on East Lancaster Boulevard near Cedar Avenue. There, you will see the historic Western Hotel (first built in the 1800s) and a number of original buildings dating back to the 1930s. Among those are old county buildings and a post office. <p>Thanks to the Lancaster Old Town Site Board (LOTS), “The Boulevard,” as it is fondly called by old-timers, has been renewed and well maintained. Trees and antique light standards line both sides of the street, which give the area a special ambience. <p>The city encourages citizens to get involved with the formation of its new Downtown Lancaster Specific Plan, which will revitalize the downtown the district. <p>The heart of the city is home to the 758-seat Lancaster Performing Arts Center and Los Angeles County’s largest regional library, which services nearly 100,000 cardholders. Downtown Lancaster has become the major financial center of the Antelope Valley, the site of a new $25 million sheriff’s station and a state-of-the-art fire station. <p>?Lancaster’s 2008 population is estimated at 145,243. The city’s long list of move-in incentives for new businesses and available commercial land for expansion make it an attractive place for Los Angeles-area entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. Lancaster has experienced significant growth in business over the past decade, with the establishment of large distribution centers for national companies such as Rite Aid, Michaels and Sygma, as well as smaller local businesses and national restaurant chains. <p>Lancaster also is home to Clear Channel Stadium (formerly The Hangar), the city’s 6,850-seat municipal baseball stadium and home to the Arizona Diamondback-affiliated Lancaster JetHawks baseball team. The stadium opened in 1996. When not attracting sellout crowds for baseball, the facility hosts a variety of special events such as concerts, fireworks festivities, car shows and amateur athletics. <p>One of the major attractions in Lancaster is the annual Antelope Valley Fair, which has relocated to new quarters on 135 acres north of Avenue H and west of the Antelope Valley Freeway. Groundbreaking was held in 1999. New facilities include two exhibit halls, a Watch & Wager building, an RV park with restrooms and showers, a grandstand with 7,000 seats, a show arena and other assorted structures. <p>?And, every spring the California Poppy Festival draws tens of thousands of guests to Lancaster City Park to celebrate springtime. Lancaster boasts one of California’s most abundant crops of the state flower, and the Poppy Festival has become a popular event for residents and visitors alike. The California Poppy Festival began as an Earth Day celebration and has grown into an event with more than 55 acres of activities and extensive wildflower information. <p>Palmdale <br>?Motto: Aerospace Capital of America <br>Elevation: 2,655 ft. <br>Square Miles: 105 <br>Population: 147,897 (2008 estimate) <br>(116,670 in 2000 Census) <p>Meetings: Palmdale City Council, 38300 Sierra Hwy., Suite B, second Wednesday of month, 6 p.m. Planning Commission, first and third Thursdays, 7 p.m. Palmdale Chamber of Commerce hosts monthly (third Wednesday) business luncheons at 11:30 a.m. <p>Information: 661/267-5100. <p>?The Palmdale economy is growing, and, despite the nationwide economic slowdown, the city continues to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. To give this growth some perspective, from April 1, 1990 to April 1, 2000, Palmdale mushroomed by 76.4 percent, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. Employment is up and crime statistics are down. Like Lancaster and other neighboring communities, home values rose dramatically during the first half of this decade. Home sales have since leveled off. <p>Covering an area of more than 100 square miles, Palmdale now has more than 143,000 residents, according to city sources. It was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city, doing so on Aug. 24, 1962. The city has consistently ranked in the top-10 fastest-growing cities in the nation over the last 20 years. It is the sixth largest city in Los Angeles County. <p>At the heart of the city is the Palmdale Cultural Center at Palmdale Boulevard and Sierra Highway. Styled in a Spanish motif, the Cultural Center has undergone a major renovation. Adjacent to the Cultural Center is the Palmdale City Library. <p>Poncitlan Square, a beautiful park fashioned after a similar one in Palmdale’s sister city, Poncitlan, Mexico, was built in 1998. A new development service building and a Palmdale Courthouse were completed in 2000 and 2001, respectively. The renovated 22-year-old Larry Chimbole Cultural Center is located in the Civic Center area and is bounded by Sierra Highway and Palmdale Boulevard. The 21,800-square-foot building features an upstairs auditorium that can accommodate 350 people in theater seating or 250 for dinner, and three meeting rooms for 40 to 50 people. These new facilities are a part of the city’s downtown revitalization plan. The city also opened a brand-new sheriff’s station in July 2006. <p>Palmdale is home to some of the world’s top aerospace companies, as well as a continually growing number of high-tech manufacturers. Top aerospace companies such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrop Grumman continue to have a strong presence at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale. Although space shuttle modification has been transferred to Florida, there’s a lot of important work going on here. Work continues on such programs as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the unmanned Global Hawk reconnaissance aircraft, the B-2 stealth bomber, the X-45A unmanned combat air vehicle and the unmanned X-37 space plane. <p>?United Airlines offers several flights a day to San Francisco from Palmdale Regional Airport, which is owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) under a joint-use agreement with the U.S. Air Force. The airport is located on a 61-acre site on the property of Air Force Plant 42. Geographically, it is one of the world’s largest airports. The terminal at 41000 North St. East first opened on June 29, 1971. Since then, LAWA has acquired an additional 17,750 acres of adjacent property for the airport’s eventual development into a large commercial airport. The airport is poised to accommodate increased future air travel if and when Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) reaches capacity. <p>With more than 2,000 companies making Palmdale home, the city embraces an entrepreneurial spirit. Palmdale offers a wealth of leased space, spec buildings and land available for construction. Land costs in Palmdale are very attractive, often half that found in other areas of California. <p>Moreover, a number of key incentives can help reduce the cost of doing business in Palmdale. The city is part of the Antelope Valley Enterprise Zone and hosts its own Foreign-Trade Zone. Hiring, training and investment incentives are also available to qualified firms.?Health care has taken a major step forward in Palmdale, which is one of the largest U.S. cities without a hospital. That unfortunate status is expected to change soon. Construction of the Palmdale Regional Medical Center began in 2005 and is expected to be completed in 2009. The 250,000-square-foot facility is being built by Universal Health Services (UHS) on 37 acres near Tierra Subida and Palmdale Boulevard. The new hospital will feature OB/GYN services, cardiac-catheterization labs, pediatrics, general medical care and a 35-bed emergency room, the latter of which will be the largest ER in the area and double the number of ER beds throughout the valley. The hospital will open with 171 beds, to be composed of 32 intensive care beds; 108 medical surgical, telemetry and pediatric beds; 25 obstetrics beds, and six neonatal intensive care beds. UHS plans to eventually add 32 more intensive care and 36 medical surgical beds, giving the hospital a total of 239 beds. It will ultimately have a capacity for 250 beds. <p>Filling Palmdale’s health-care gap until the new hospital opens is an urgent-care clinic, part of the South Valley Medical Center, which was built by Antelope Valley Hospital, as well as a Kaiser Permanente medical office building. <br>  <br>  <br>  <p>New recreational facilities are a big part of the city’s vision for the future. March 25, 2004, marked the beginning of construction of the “Vision for the Future” park projects. The $42 million project – funded in part by a $31.4 million bond assessment passed by Palmdale residents – paid for a new recreation center, swimming pool and water park on the east side of Palmdale and a new recreation center, swimming pool, amphitheater and softball complex on the west side. The city’s DryTown Water Park & Mining Co. opened at Palmdale Oasis Park in 2006. It features a six-acre Old West mining town-themed aquatic park with a 925-foot lazy river; a 35-foot tower with three water slides and a splash pool; 6,000-square-foot children’s water playground; a food and beverage snack bar with patio area; a merchandise store; covered picnic area; large grassy area for group outings, and a community room. The budget for Palmdale Oasis Park, which includes DryTown Water Park, was $27.6 million. In addition to the new water park, this site also includes the Palmdale Oasis Park Recreation Center, a 4.5-acre landscaped area designed for community events and a 12-acre flood retention basin that will be landscaped to accommodate soccer and football. <p>And, a competition-size pool opened at Marie Kerr Park in 2006. The city oversaw a 40-acre expansion of Marie Kerr Park at 30th Street West and Rancho Vista Boulevard (Avenue P). In 2005 the park received a stunning outdoor amphitheater that is the site of summer concerts, movies and other events. <p>The city also has undertaken a traffic signal-installation program and other transportation projects. The city also has committed more than $10 million to improve some of its busiest surface streets. The city completed its Avenue S Corridor Improvement Project in June 2006. <p>Another major project is the $14 million Palmdale Transportation Center, which opened in 2005. The facility near Sierra Highway and 6th Street East just south of Technology Drive will be the transportation hub of the Antelope Valley. Site improvements include a Spanish-style station terminal, plaza area, Metrolink station platform, parking lot and 45-foot clock tower. The center features a Metrolink commuter rail station, bus service, van-pool and park-n-ride services with future provisions for high-speed rail and airport service. Bicycle and pedestrian paths plus landscaping complement the new center. <p>?The Antelope Valley Mall recently underwent an expansion that brought a new 16-screen, stadium-style movie theater and a variety of new restaurants and stores. The single-level indoor mall features around 140 stores, with six anchor stores. <br>  <p>Surrounding Communities <p>Acton <br>Elevation: 2,700 ft. <br>Square Miles: 77 <br>?Population: 9,175 (estimated) <br>(2,390 in U.S. Census, 2000) <br>  <p>Meetings: The Acton Town Council meets on the first and third Mondays (7:30 p.m.) at the Acton Community Club, 3742 Nickels St. The Acton Chamber of Commerce, located at 32039 N. Crown Valley Road, meets regularly at various locations. Information: 661/269-5785. <p>Acton was founded in 1887 by gold miners working in the nearby Red Rover Mine. The unincorporated community was named after Acton, Mass. by one of the miners. Henry Gage, who served as California governor from 1899 to 1903, owned the Red Rover Mine and unsuccessfully tried to relocate the state capitol to Acton. Today, Red Rover Mine Road, a familiar exit off Highway 14, is the only vestige of those “golden days” of yesterday. <p>Acton is known as “The Gateway to the Antelope Valley.” There is an element of the Old West apparent when you drive through this rural community. Gold, copper and titanium ore were mined near Acton in the 1800s. In those early days, a large copper deposit was mined at the Mount Emma Mine near Parker Mountain. <p>The rugged Sierra Pelona Mountains to the north and the San Gabriel Mountains to the south ring the Acton area. Located seven miles south of Palmdale, Acton is commonly referred to by locals as the Beverly Hills of the Antelope Valley, in large part because many of its homes are expensive mansion and ranch-style properties on large lots. On the valley floor, horse corrals sandwiched between custom and semi-custom homes create a remarkable equestrian panorama. <p>Acton has its own Metrolink train station, which is themed in an Old West style and frequently used in movies, TV shows and commercials. Riders on the Metrolink trains can often spot large wild animals grazing in the fields of the Shambala Preserve, operated by actress Tippi Hedren. <p>On Third Street in downtown Acton there is a western-style saloon called The 49er, which was built in 1889. The saloon, which is still open, has had a cafe added to it. <p>Agua Dulce <br>Elevation: 2,400 to 4,000 ft. <br>Square Miles: 25 <br>Population: 4,000-plus (estimated) <p>If you like movie sets, stuntmen, horses and rugged, rocky landscapes, Agua Dulce is for you. The Agua Dulce area, about 25 miles southwest of Palmdale and 44 miles north of Los Angeles, is a favorite filming location for commercials and movies because of its reddish, towering rock formations and canyons. Moviemakers love the authentic-looking backgrounds that the monolithic Vasquez Rocks create for westerns and science fiction films. Vasquez Rocks is the community’s most recognizable landmark. <p>The hillsides of Agua Dulce are dotted with million-dollar mansions where Los Angeles commuters, stuntmen and Hollywood executives live side-by-side. Residents there appreciate the country style, picturesque environment and easy commute to jobs in the city. <p>Agua Dulce, which means “sweet water” in Spanish, was first inhabited by the Tataviam Indians. The Vasquez Rocks formations were a favorite shelter for the tribe. <p>Between 1857 and 1875, Vasquez Rocks served as a hiding place for the famous horse thief and bank robber, Tiburcio Vasquez. The California State Legislature put a $15,000 bounty on the infamous bandit’s head, and he was finally captured on May 13, 1874, and hanged on March 19, 1875. The area’s high school now bears his name. <p>In the 1880s, farmers created the “Soledad Township,” which was Agua Dulce’s original name. Today, street names such as Wagon Wheel Road, Yucca Hills, Zorro Way, Coyote Trail and Durango Lane remind us of the rich Old West heritage of the area. <p>If you are a pilot, you will appreciate the 190-acre Agua Dulce Airpark. The fraternity of flyers is very organized and has many activities for private pilots. <p>Boron <br>Elevation: 2,499 ft <br>Square Miles: 13.9 <br>Population: 2,025 (U.S. Census, 2000) <p>Meetings: Boron Chamber of Commerce, second and fourth Monday. <p>Boron is a small community, and people here like it that way. U.S. Borax, one of Boron’s two major employers, operates California’s largest mine here and is one of the state’s oldest companies. The Air Force is the second largest employer and provides jobs for most of the working people in Boron. It has been like that for 30 or 40 years. <p>While there is not a lot of growth in Boron, there is a concern for preserving the history of the area. In the center of town, on Twenty Mule Team Road, you will find the Twenty Mule Team Museum and the Vernon P. Saxon Jr. Memorial Aerospace Museum. Each contains historical items, such as mining displays, railroad memorabilia and jet fighters from former wars. <p>California City <br>Elevation: 2,437 ft. <br>Square Miles: 203.6 <br>Population: ?12,659 (2006 estimate) <br>(8,385 in 2000 Census) <p>Meetings: California City’s City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month. City Hall is located at 21000 Hacienda Blvd. <p>Information: 760/373-8661 <p>As one of the fastest-growing regions in Southern California, California City has been undergoing significant change. It has an evolving and diverse business base. Recent developments include Ellison Plaza, which addresses the city’s need for shopping, entertainment, dining and lodging. Microtel Inns & Suites, a 103-unit hotel, opened in 2006. Developed by homebuilder Michael Ellison, the commercial center is designed to help California City attract retailers, the most important of which is a major grocery store. Ellison builds homes ranging in size from 1,525 to 6,250 square feet, with prices starting in the low $200,000s. <p>Other developments include a $50 million Hyundai Kia Motor Co. test track and facility, which opened in 2004 and created new jobs for the area. The facility is expected to eventually employ about 100 people. The car company chose California City primarily because of its dry, warm and sunny desert climate, which is ideal for stress-testing new cars and improving automotive design. <p>A new high school and elementary school are under construction, more than $30 million in new construction and home-building permits have been issued, and a new gated golf course community was in development. <p>The city also is home to the California City Correctional Center, a 2,305-bed prison that employs 551 people; a McDonald’s restaurant, and a Rite Aid store. A 40-acre industrial park near the California City Municipal Airport is in the works. <p>More people are moving into California City because they have discovered what residents here have enjoyed for a long time. Home and land prices are very affordable. Not only that, you can add excellent weather, clean air, good schools and safe streets. While this charming little community of about 11,000 is relatively new, it has all the enhancements of larger towns – including incorporation. There is easy shopping, a wonderful Central Park and a professionally designed PGA 18-hole and par-3 golf course. <p>Developer N.K. “Nat” Mendelsohn had a dream of building a large master-planned leisure community in the area as early as 1956. He envisioned converting M&R Ranch, a 208-square-mile stretch of land northeast of Mojave, into a residential area that would house up to 1 million people by the turn of the century. Mendelsohn’s planned community was premature, but he created a lot of hope and enduring loyalty in California City’s residents. Like Mendelsohn, many of them still think their town is a “sleeper.” <p>California City also is a favorite destination for off-road enthusiasts. From Cal City dirt bikers and ATVers fan out across the expansive desert and ride into the Red Rock area and old mining towns such as Randsburg, population 77. <p>Lake Los Angeles <br>Elevation: 2,664 ft. <br>Square Miles: 282 <br>Population: Approximately 13,000 <br>(11,523 in 2000 Census) <p>Meetings: Lake Los Angeles Rural Town Council, monthly at Vista San Gabriel Elementary School, third Wednesday, 7 p.m. <p>Lake Los Angeles is located about 10 miles east of Lancaster off Avenue J. The town is surrounded by rolling hills and large, rocky buttes. Mother Nature has sprinkled a generous helping of Joshua trees into the mix to make the landscape even more interesting. <p>The name Lake Los Angeles may be misleading. “Los Angeles Buttes” would be a more descriptive name for this community of 12,800 people. <p>Before the 1960s, Lake Los Angeles did not exist. The only people who lived in the area were a few ranch families. Then, in 1967, a group of developers bought a 4,000-acre parcel of land there. They subdivided it into 4,465 lots and created a man-made lake to help spur home sales. <p>People all over the world bought the lots, but by 1971 only 14 houses had been built. After that, home building fizzled in Lake L.A. until the early 1980s. The town came alive again because many people were back working in the aerospace industry. However, Lake L.A.’s period of prosperity was short-lived. A few years later, the economy softened and development slowed. <p>The water supply for the lake was shut off in 1981 and the lake dried up. People tried to restore the water, but failed. Eventually, the lake was converted into a community park. <p>As in other parts of the Antelope Valley, the area is undergoing growth. Movie producers have found Lake Los Angeles a wonderful spot for location shooting. One of the favorite places for filming is Club Ed on 150th Street East, just south of Avenue K. Another location is a fairly new “Four Aces” set on Avenue Q and 145th Street East. <p>The Antelope Valley Indian Museum is the biggest attraction for tourists in Lake Los Angeles. In addition, Saddleback Butte State Park and the Alpine Butte Wildlife Preserve attract outdoor enthusiasts. <p>Lake Elizabeth/Lake Hughes <br>Elevation: 3,200 ft. <br>Square Miles: 139 <br>Population: Approximately 3,000 <p>Meetings: The Lakes Town Council, monthly, first Saturday, 8:30 a.m., in the Lake Hughes Community Center. <p>Picture this: Green rolling hills, picturesque farmhouses and barns, winding fences and two beautiful blue lakes. Only two miles apart, the lakes cover about 235 acres of water and are a favorite haven for swimmers, fishermen and picnickers. <p>The 3,000 or so residents who live here call their home “The Lakes” because it’s easier than saying Lake Elizabeth and Lake Hughes. A true delight for those who love a pastoral setting, “The Lakes” is just 20 miles west of Palmdale. <br>In the late 1800s, resident farmers grew hay and grapes in “The Lakes” area. By the 1920s, resort development had begun. The first housing development came in 1922. In the years that followed, the area evolved slowly to what it is today. <p>You cannot fish or swim in half of Elizabeth Lake because it is privately owned. The other half is owned by the U.S. Forest Service, and the public is invited. You cannot water ski on the lake, but powerboats are permitted, provided engines are no more powerful than 10 h.p. <p>To access Lake Hughes, you have to enter through a resort there. The resort offers developed campsites, with all of the necessary conveniences, including hot showers. <p>Leona Valley <br>Elevation: 2,900 ft. <br>Population: Approximately 2,200 <br>Leona Valley, a small, unincorporated community of about 2,200 people, is one of the Antelope Valley’s best-kept secrets. Located 12 miles southwest of Palmdale, the desert landscape changes to green farmland. Instead of Joshua trees, you will find rolling hills, cherry orchards and horse barns. It is known primarily for its agriculture, which is highlighted during the annual Leona Valley Cherry Festival. <p>This valley is a long narrow valley separated from the Antelope Valley by Ritter Ridge, along the San Andreas Fault. The valley is about a mile wide and 25 miles long. Around Leona Valley, large homesteads were sold and sub-divided by developers. What you see now are large, custom houses with lots of acreage. <p>Littlerock <br>Elevation: 3,000 ft. <br>Square Miles: 1.5 <br>Population: 1,402 (2000 Census CDP area) <p>Meetings: Littlerock Town Council, monthly, second Thursday, 7 p.m., Alpine Grange Hall, 87th Street East and Avenue T-8. <p>As you drive through Littlerock on Highway 138, fruit stands are everywhere. There are great fresh-off-the-tree bargains. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you can pick your own at the U-Pick orchards. Either way, people return every year to buy fruit or pick it. At last count, there were more than 700 acres of deciduous fruit trees in this Rockwell-esque community. <p>If you are an antique enthusiast, Littlerock should whet your appetite. There are numerous little antique shops lining the main street. “Oldies but Goodies” can be bought in Littlerock – well below prices in other areas. <p>In 1870, Littlerock was a scheduled stop for the Butterfield Stage Coach Line. Nowadays, it has an estimated population of 12,003, which has tripled since 1991 when only 4,000 residents lived here. <p>People who want acreage and horses love Littlerock because large lots are inexpensive and zoning allows animals. <p>There are not a lot of sidewalks because residents like the rural influence. It is better for riding horses through town. <p>Littlerock’s Everett Martin Park, located at 92nd Street East and Avenue U, features a summer swimming pool, basketball court, playground areas, and picnic tables and barbecues. <p>Mojave <br>Elevation: 2,787 ft. <br>Square Miles: 75 <br>Population: 3,751 (3,836 in 2000 Census) <p>Meetings: Mojave Town Council, monthly, third Wednesday, 7 p.m., in the Mojave Veterans Building. Mojave Chamber of Commerce, monthly, fourth Thursday 7:30 a.m. <p>At the junction of Highways 14 and 58, in East Kern County, Mojave is a welcome oasis for tired travelers, truckers and commuters. Fast-food restaurants and service stations line both sides of the highway. It is located at the northwest corner of the Mojave Desert. <p>Mojave is home of the Mojave Spaceport, America’s first inland spaceport and location of the first private space flight. The spaceport drew international attention when SpaceShipOne took off from here on June 21, 2004. SpaceShipOne was the first privately funded, built and operated manned craft to reach space. It was built by Burt Rutan’s Scaled Composites, which was awarded the $10 million Ansari X Prize after the craft repeated the feat twice within a two-week window in October 2004. After winning the prize, Rutan remarked that the isolation of Mojave fosters such invention. “Innovation is what we do here because there’s not much else to do in Mojave,” he said. Rutan, also known as the designer and builder of the famous Voyager aircraft that flew around the world non-stop with his brother Dick at the controls, exemplifies the strong aerospace spirit that thrives here. <p>Mojave has experienced other aviation milestones, as well. As home to Edwards Air Force Base, it was the site of the first supersonic flight and the first landing of the space shuttle. As motorists who drive through Mojave can attest, the Mojave Airport also serves as a vast storage yard for hundreds of commercial airliners, which are flown and parked here because of its aviation-friendly climate. <p>With a population of just under 4,000, Mojave is small but probably the most important transportation center in the High Desert. According to Caltrans estimates, more than 30,000 vehicles pass through the main intersection of Highways 58 and 14 every day. That total will increase to 61,600 vehicles by the year 2020 – just during weekdays. <p>Since 1876, Mojave has continued to be an important hub of transportation activity. In its early days, it was a freight stop for 20-mule team freight wagons hauling borax from Death Valley to the railroad. Then, Mojave experienced a sudden boom period. <p>Gold was discovered in 1876 and continued to support the town’s economy, in a boom-to-bust fashion, until the beginning of World War II. At that time, gold prices fell, and mining operations closed. <p>Luckily, the Marines built an auxiliary pilot training base in Mojave during the war years, which bolstered the dwindling economy. In addition, the Army’s bombing range nearby and Muroc Army Air Field, 18 miles east of town, brought in more money. In 1958, the Marine base was turned over to Kern County. Then, in 1972, the base became the East Kern Airport District and grew into a large aviation/aerospace industrial complex. With that growth came a name change. The Mojave Airport District, as it is called today, employs people from all parts of the Antelope Valley. <p>As you drive out of Mojave on your way to Bakersfield, you will see rows and rows of wind-machine propellers flashing rhythmically in the sun. They represent another large industry for Mojave – wind power. While this relatively new enterprise does not share the rich history of mining and transportation in the area, it does bring employment and income to its residents. <p>Pearblossom <br>Elevation: 2,570 ft. <br>Square Miles: 40 <br>Population: 2,435 <p>Always make sure you have a full tank of gas before driving out into the desert. Pearblossom is a last-chance fill-up spot if you are traveling between Palmdale and San Bernardino on Highway 138. If you want a snack, you can get that, too, in this delightfully small “wide place in the road.” <p>If you drive fast through Pearblossom, you will have to be alert, or you may miss a large part of the town. Pearblossom is located 15 miles southeast of Palmdale on Pearblossom Highway. Its boundaries cover a 40-square-mile area, from 106th Street East to 155th Street East, then north to Avenue S and south to Fort Tejon. <p>About 2,400 people live in Pearblossom. Founded in 1928, Pearblossom was originally called Mertel. It was a place where people came to retire. That changed when people started moving in from Los Angeles. <p>There are about 20 to 25 businesses in Pearblossom and just one elementary school. The hot spot in town is the Town & Country Market, where residents shop and meet friends. Indeed, there is a unique friendliness inside the store that passes through to the rest of the town. <p>Quartz Hill <br>Elevation: 2,405 ft. <br>Square Miles 4.5 <br>Population: Approximately 25,000 <p>Meetings: Quartz Hill Town Council, monthly, third Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. Quartz Hill Chamber of Commerce hosts monthly luncheons at 11:30 a.m. <p>Quartz Hill is exactly that – a hill filled with quartz. This community of about 25,000 people takes its name from a small hill at 45th Street and Avenue M that contains a large amount of silicone dioxide, or quartz. Primarily a residential area, Quartz Hill covers an estimated 4.5 square miles. <p>Residents pride themselves in the rustic qualities of the town, where zoning ordinances still allow horses. In addition to the equestrian properties, there are large developments of custom and semi-custom homes that have beautiful views from half-acre and full-acre hillside lots. <p>Fishing in the California Aqueduct nearby and horseback riding on the many horse trails offer leisure-time activities for residents. <p>Quartz Hill was once a top almond-producing area for the United States. In the 1950s, there were more than 2,000 acres of almond orchards there. Home developments were added over the years, and the orchards gradually disappeared. The 50-year-old Almond Blossom Festival and Parade, held annually in the spring, is all that is left of the almond era. <p>Ridgecrest <br>Elevation: 2,400 ft. <br>Square Miles: 21 <br>Population: Approximately 25,850 (24,927 in 2000 Census) <p>There is one place in the Antelope Valley where the Air Force does not leave the biggest employment footprint. That place is Ridgecrest, where the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) and Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) Weapons Division is located. China Lake plays an important role in the Ridgecrest economy, although the city is fast becoming a more diverse community. <p>In a strong indication of the city’s growth, new buildings have begun to sprout at the Ridgecrest Business Park, the Downtown Merchants Association was formed, Cerro Coso College opened a digital library and media center, and new restaurants opened. Home Depot arrived in late 2003. Other major retail companies are keeping a close eye on Ridgecrest, and the city’s industrial base continues to expand. Also opening is a new business and technology park to accommodate the city’s growing number of locally grown businesses and defense contractors. <p>Ridgecrest, an incorporated city with nearly 26,000 residents, is 80 miles northeast of the Lancaster/Palmdale area. Bakersfield is about 125 miles north, and San Bernardino is roughly the same distance to the south. Traveling to all of these nearby urban centers is easy because of the proximity of major highways and the Inyokern Airport. <p>The beautiful Sierra Nevadas border Ridgecrest to the west, the Cosos to the north, the Argus Range to the east, and the El Paso Mountains to the south. Some of the peaks in these nearby mountain ranges rise to an elevation of 6,000 feet. Farther away, Mt. Whitney and other peaks tower as high as 14,000 feet. <p>Prior to the boom in 1943, the small mountainous community of Ridgecrest was called “Crumville.” Only a few scattered farms and homesteads existed at the time. Over the years, the population of Ridgecrest grew at a steady rate. Between 1980 and 1989, Ridgecrest’s population increased dramatically because of the Naval Air Weapons Station being annexed to the city of Ridgecrest. With that came a shift in population from housing on the base to military housing located in the city. <p>Ridgecrest is conveniently located two hours from Death Valley National Park, three hours from Los Angeles and four hours from Las Vegas and San Diego, just off major routes 395, 14 and 178. United Express has three daily flights to Inyokern Airport. <p>As for Ridgecrest’s future, everything seems positive. In 1995, an action taken by the Base Realignment and Closure group in Washington reaffirmed the importance of the Naval Air Weapons Division at China Lake to the country’s national defense. <p>Rosamond <br>Elevation: 2,415 ft. <br>Population: Approximately 16,000 (14,349 in 2000 Census) <p>Rosamond, located 15 miles west of Edwards Air Force Base and 20 miles north of Palmdale, is an unincorporated community in southeastern Kern County. With an estimated population of nearly 16,000 people, Rosamond is one of the fastest-growing communities in the Antelope Valley. Home prices are lower in Rosamond than they are in Palmdale and Lancaster, and the commute to Los Angeles is not that much farther. <p>Although Rosamond demonstrates a robust growth profile, the community offers a slower pace than Lancaster or Palmdale and is a wonderful place to raise children. The downtown area remains small because new shopping centers have been built in the outlying areas close to housing developments. <p>Rosamond was originally established in 1877 as a community owned by Sothern Pacific Railroad. It was named ‘Rosamond’ after the daughter of one of the railroad company’s officials. Two historical influences may be seen in Rosamond – gold mining and the air base. Gold, which was discovered in Rosamond in 1894, accounted for the majority of Rosamond’s early economic growth. The old Tropico Gold Mine, originally called the Lida Mine and still standing on a Rosamond hillside, employed many of the town’s residents. Meanwhile, Muroc Army Air Corps Base, as it was called in the ‘40s and early ‘50s, provided additional income for the community. Renamed Edwards Air Force Base in 1956, the installation has become Rosamond’s largest employer and an economic mainstay for the entire Antelope Valley. Many of Rosamond’s residents commute to points south. <p>Two of Rosamond’s main attractions – Willow Springs International Raceway and the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound – bring lots of visitors each year. Another outstanding feature is Rosamond Sky Park, an upscale housing development that offers pilots an opportunity to park their airplanes in backyard hangars. The park has runway access to Rosamond Airport. <p>Sun Village <br>Elevation: 3,000 ft. <br>Population: Approximately 8,200 <p>Originally, Sun Village was an all-black development that was started after World War II by a white woman known only as Mrs. Marble. Her company was called the Sun Village Land Corp. This predominantly ethnic community is located near 90th Street East and Palmdale Boulevard. <p>Although Sun Village has its own chamber of commerce now, it continues to battle for its identity as a full-fledged town. There are only two visible markers showing the community’s boundaries – two signs put up by county supervisor’s office in 1993. On paper, the community’s boundaries have been defined by the Los Angeles County Water District and the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office. <p>In the 1950s, Frank Zappa’s first band, “The Blackouts,” played in the Sun Village area. <p>A colorful woman activist named Daisy Gibson was responsible for much of Sun Village’s early progress. With a small group of spirited individuals, she fought for many of the things most people took for granted: paved roads, fire hydrants and water. Part of Gibson’s early campaigns was waged as a talk-show hostess on Palmdale’s radio station, KUTY. <p>On June 16, 1965, Jackie Robinson Park was dedicated after its baseball hall-of-fame namesake. With the help of L.A. County, a softball field was built, including tetherball courts and a sand play area. A large multipurpose center was also built. <p>Tehachapi <br>Elevation: 4,000 ft. <br>Square Miles: 90 <br>Population: 30,486 <p>Meetings: City Council meets monthly on first and third Monday, Tehachapi City Hall, 115 S. Robinson St., 6 p.m. <p>Tehachapi, a general-law city in Kern County, is the ultimate place for those who want to escape the hubbub of a large city. The basic essentials for a comfortable lifestyle, including ample shopping, two urgent-care clinics and a hospital, are available there. Large tracts of land with oak trees and hillside lots beckon retirees to Tehachapi. If you compare prices, you will discover that you really can buy more house for your money here. <p>Like most areas of Southern California, Tehachapi has grown and achieved significant progress in recent years. The Tehachapi Village Market Place opened, as did the second phase of Tehachapi Crossing Commercial Center. Best Western Country Park Hotel opened a new upscale prototype with 60 executive suites, and 1,000 new single-family residential lots were approved for construction in four subdivisions. <p>Located in a mountain valley about 20 miles north of Mojave, Tehachapi is not far off Highway 58. The Greater Tehachapi area is comprised of about 50,000 acres of level land in the Tehachapi, Brite, Cummings and Bear valleys. Nearly 30,000 residents live in Tehachapi, including the nearly 6,000 inmates in the California Correctional Institution (CCI) in Cummings Valley. CCI is Tehachapi’s largest employer. <p>Other area features include clean air, good water, a great 18-hole golf course and country club. For those who like four seasons, you will find that, too. If you want to travel to Los Angeles on business or to shop, there are two airports and easy access to major highways. <p>Like Ridgecrest, Tehachapi was a significant area for the Native American Kawaiisu tribe. You may see a unique display in the Tehachapi Museum of historical artifacts left behind by these early inhabitants. <p>In 1876, the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railways were introduced into the Tehachapi Valley. The famous “Tehachapi Loop” facilitated rail travel between the San Joaquin Valley and Tehachapi, as well as to other destinations such as Mojave, Barstow and Los Angeles. The Loop, one of the great engineering feats of the 19th century, was recognized as a state historic landmark in 1953. <p>The city of Tehachapi, well established by that time, was incorporated in 1909. <p>Apples were an important part of Tehachapi’s economy in the past and continue to be today. At one time, large commercial apple growers thrived, but that has given way to family “U-pick” orchards and roadside fruit stands. <p>Tourists flock to the Tehachapi area because of attractions such as the Mountain Festival and Rodeo, a Cowboy Museum and a Native American Pow Wow. Besides the festivals and museums, antiques are another important tourist lure. <p>Wind energy is another important commodity in Tehachapi. An estimated 5,000 wind turbines may be seen on the rims of mountains throughout the greater Tehachapi area. According to estimates, about a third of California’s wind turbines are in Tehachapi and produce approximately 1 percent of the state’s electricity. <p>Wrightwood <br>Elevation: 6,000 ft. <br>Population: 3,837 (2000 Census) <p>On the western edge of the Antelope Valley, you will find one of the best mountain resort areas in Southern California. In contrast to the desert floor below, there are pine trees, summer cabins and a popular skiing area called Mountain High. <p>From the Palmdale/Lancaster area, Wrightwood is a quick 35-mile drive on Highway 138. The highway is two lanes through the desert, then joins with Scenic Route 2 and winds up into the Angeles National Forest. <p>During most of the year, about 3,300 permanent residents live in Wrightwood and operate businesses there. In the snow season, the town fills with skiers and other winter sports enthusiasts. These welcome guests provide the city’s main source of income. When the snow melts, there are still plenty of leisure activities available in this mountaintop community. Hiking, fishing, and picnicking are the favorites during the warmer months. <p>Post Offices and ZIP Codes <br>Post offices are conveniently located throughout the Antelope Valley. Many of the offices’ architectural styles reflect their locations. Lancaster takes pride in its historic landmark post office at Lancaster Boulevard and Cedar Avenue. The 1930s-style building is near the Western Hotel and across the street from Lancaster’s original group of city and county buildings. <p>Worshiping in the Antelope Valley <br>Church attendance is strong in the Antelope Valley. Hundreds of different faiths are represented, among them Apostolic, Baha’i, Baptist, Bible, Christian, Christian Science, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Disciples of Christ, Evangelical, Islam’s, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jewish, Islamic, Lutheran, Methodist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Religious Science, Science of the Mind, Seventh Day Adventist, Unitarian/ Universalist and The Vineyard. Click here for a list of places to worship. <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <p><font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Adelanto Apple Valley Barstow Hesperia Victorville Antelope Valley</font></font> <br>  <p><b><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+3>California City Real Estate</font></font></b> <br><b><font color="#000000">"Your California City Home and Land Specialists"</font></b> <br><b><font color="#000000">6508 California City Blvd., California City CA 93505</font></b> <br><b><font color="#000000">Tel (760) 373-2662 Fax (760) 373-2663</font></b> <br><b><font color="#000000">20301 California City Blvd., California City CA 93505</font></b> <br><b><font color="#000000">Tel (760) 373-4567 Fax (760) 373-4444</font></b> <br><b><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+3>Rosamond Properties</font></font></b> <br><b><font color="#000000">"Your Antelope Valley Real Estate, Home and Land Specialists"</font></b> <br><b><font color="#000000">4401 Rosamond Blvd. Suite #4, Rosamond, CA 93560</font></b> <br><b><font color="#000000">Tel (661) 256-2744  Fax (661) 256-2497</font></b> <p><b><font color="#000000">Cal City Real Estate</font></b> <br><b><font color="#000000">Cal City Realty</font></b> <br><b><font color="#000000">California City Realty</font></b> <p><font size=-1><font color="#000099">Seller reserves the right to change prices, floor plans, features and specifications without notice or obligation. All square footages of these new homes are approximate. Expected opening date or house features may change or vary.  </font>All information provided to and by California City Real Estate is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. Any property offered for sale in this website is subject to errors, omissions, price change, prior sale, and  withdrawal from the market without notice ! No warranty or representation is made as to the investment merit or profit potential, the market value, the resale potential, or the potential for future zoning, use or development of all or any portion of any improved or unimproved property.  Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Conduct your own independent investigation on any property, all measurements and figures are approximate.</font> <p>©2006 The High Desert Legends - All Rights Reserved <br><b>CONTACT US</b> <br><b><font size=-1><font color="#000000">This website created and maintained by</font> <a href="http://www.ilovecaliforniacity.com">NorthLoopEstates.com</a></font></b></center> <p><br> </body> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> </html>