Lancaster, California
Lancaster, California is located approximately 70 miles north of Los Angeles in Southern California's Antelope Valley in Los Angeles County. Although not formally incorporated until November 22, 1977, Lancaster, California was settled in the late 1800's as a stop on the Southern Pacific Railroad. The discovery of both gold and borax in the area fueled Lancaster's early growth. Home to an estimated 152,184 residents in 2008 (U.S. Census), Lancaster's continuing growth is contributed to the nearby Edwards Air Force Base and the many employees of Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, each of which have manufacturing facilities at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 which is south of the Lancaster city limits. Air Force Plant 42 is the Antelope Valley's second-largest employer, after Edwards Air Force Base.
Law enforcement in Lancaster is provided, by contract, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Typically, a Lancaster resident's first and only dealings with the California Judicial Branch are in one of the 58 trial courts, called Superior Courts. These courts are located in each county of the state. The Los Angeles County Superior Court has one branch in Lancaster, CA, the Alfred J. McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center. Superior courts hear civil and criminal cases including felonies, as well as family, probate, and juvenile cases. The Courts of Appeal are the next highest judicial authority within California. The Courts of Appeal review contested decisions of the superior courts. The Supreme Court of California has the highest judicial authority within the California judicial Branch and reviews decisions from the Courts of Appeal, especially decisions when the death penalty is imposed. The California Courts' Online Self-Help Center provides California residents with helpful information regarding the California Judicial Branch. In Lancaster, California, personal injury cases are decided in the civil courts.
The Lancaster School District provides public education for Lancaster's children. For Lancaster residents interested in higher education, the city is home to the University of Antelope Valley, West Coast Baptist College, Antelope Valley College, and a satellite campus of California State University, Bakersfield. Two separate hospitals serve the residents of Lancaster, California: Antelope Valley Hospital, a 420-bed acute care hospital, and Lancaster Community Hospital, which features a busy 24-hour emergency care department.
The Antelope Valley in northern Los Angeles County, where Lancaster, CA is located, constitutes the western tip of the famed Mojave Desert. In recent years the valley has become a bedroom community to the Greater Los Angeles area, consisting of mainly residential and suburban communities. Both Lancaster and neighboring Palmdale have experienced rapid population growth. Highlights of the many attractions for residents and visitors in Lancaster include the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, the Lancaster Museum and Art Gallery, and the Prime Desert Woodland Preserve.
A wide variety of transportation options exist for Lancaster, CA residents. Air transportation is available at the nearby Palmdale Regional Airport. The Antelope Valley Transit Authority provides local bus service. Commuter rail service is available to Santa Clarita, the San Fernando Valley and L.A. basin cities by Metrolink. Major roadways serving Lancaster, CA include the Antelope Valley Freeway (State Route 14) and Highways 138 and 58.
Lancaster, CA is home to the annual California Poppy Festival. Each spring, the event draws tens of thousands of Lancaster residents and visitors from around the world to celebrate the state flower. The Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, located 20 miles west of Lancaster, boasts one of California's most abundant poppy crops.
