View source for Ridgecrest, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the table at Template:Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of their usage.-->| name               = Ridgecrest, California
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| image_skyline      = Ridgecrest-CA.jpg
| image_caption      = College Heights Blvd., Ridgecrest
| image_seal         = Seal of Ridgecrest, California.png
| image_map          = Kern_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Ridgecrest_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Kern County, California|Kern County]] and the state of California
| pushpin_map        = USA California Southern#USA California#USA
| pushpin_label      = Ridgecrest
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|California}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Kern County, California|Kern]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Travis W. Endicott<ref name=CC>{{Cite web
 |url= https://www.ridgecrest-ca.gov/212/City-Council
 |title=Ridgecrest City Council
 |publisher=City of Ridgecrest
 |access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = [[California's 12th State Senate district|State senator]]
| leader_name1       = {{Representative|casd|12|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=https://senate.ca.gov/senators 
 |title=Senators 
 |access-date=October 13, 2025
|publisher=State of California}}</ref>
| leader_title2      = [[California's 32nd State Assembly district|Assemblymember]]
| leader_name2       = {{Representative|caad|32|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=https://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers
 |title=Members Assembly
 |access-date=October 13, 2025
|publisher=State of California}}</ref>
| leader_title3      = [[California's 20th congressional district|U. S. rep.]]
| leader_name3       = {{Representative|cacd|20|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|20|access-date=February 6, 2023}}</ref>
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = November 29, 1963<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 | title = California Cities by Incorporation Date
 | format = Word
 | publisher = California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s
 | access-date = April 12, 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130221091414/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 | archive-date = February 21, 2013
| url-status = dead
 }}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 21.51
| area_land_sq_mi    = 20.86
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.65
| area_total_km2     = 55.70
| area_land_km2      = 54.03
| area_water_km2     = 1.67
| area_water_percent = 3.00
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis>{{Cite GNIS|1652783|Ridgecrest}}</ref>
| elevation_ft       = 2290
| elevation_m        = 698
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|April 1, 2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 27959
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
| utc_offset         = −08:00
| coordinates        = {{coord|35|37|21|N|117|40|15|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −07:00
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 93555&ndash;93556
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| area_code          = [[Area codes 442 and 760|442 and 760]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|60704}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1652783}}, {{GNIS 4|2410944}}
| website            = {{URL|https://www.ridgecrest-ca.gov/}}
}}

'''Ridgecrest''' is a city in [[Kern County, California]], United States, along [[U.S. Route 395 in California|U.S. Route 395]] in the [[Indian Wells Valley]] in northeastern Kern County, adjacent to the [[Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake]] (NAWS, or China Lake). It was incorporated as a city in 1963. The population was 27,959 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], up slightly from 27,616 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], making it the third-largest city in Kern County.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovan |first=Jesse |date=2021-10-10 |title=Cities in Kern County - ? COMPLETE List of Kern County Cities with Population, Map, Data, Information & More! |url=https://mentorsmoving.com/blog/kern-county-ca-cities/#:~:text=Bakersfield%20population:%20403,455,hub%20for%20agriculture%20and%20energy. |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Mentors Moving & Storage |language=en-US}}</ref>

Ridgecrest is surrounded by four [[mountain]] ranges; the [[Sierra Nevada]] on the west, the [[Coso Range|Coso]] Range on the north, the [[Argus Range]] on the east, and the [[El Paso Mountains]] on the south. The most isolated community in Kern county, it is approximately {{convert|82|mi|sp=us}} from the [[Lancaster, California|Lancaster]]/[[Palmdale, California|Palmdale]] area, {{convert|110|mi|km|0|sp=us}} from [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]], and {{convert|120|mi|km|0|sp=us}} from [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]], the three nearest major urban centers. Private air travel in and out of the city is provided through the [[Inyokern Airport]]. There are currently no scheduled commercial flights.

The city has been near the epicenter of major [[earthquake]]s, including one in 1995 and [[2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes|a series of quakes in July 2019]].

==History==
[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes of the Paiute, [[Shoshone]], and [[Kawaiisu]] thrived in the Indian Wells Valley.<ref name=":0"/> The Shoshone tribe left behind petroglyphs in the Coso Range that can be found in [[Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons]]. Their petroglyphs and artwork are displayed in the Maturango Museum and Petroglyph Park.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Fascinating History of Ridgecrest: A Journey Through Time {{!}} Ridgecrest Guide |url=https://www.ridgecrestguide.com/blogs/history |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=www.ridgecrestguide.com |language=en}}</ref>

During the mid-1800s, travelers began crossing through the Indian Wells Valley. In 1826, [[Jedediah Smith|Jedediah Smith's]] beaver trappers arrived, followed in 1834 by Joseph Walker when he crossed [[Walker Pass]] into the Indian Wells Valley. Throughout the rest of the nineteenth century, [[mining]] booms brought more settlers to the valley. In the 1880s, Chinese railroad workers briefly settled in the area, giving local [[China Lake, Kern County, California|China Lake]] its name.<ref name=":0" />

Until the twentieth century, non-permanent settlers had arrived and traveled throughout the Indian Wells Valley. This changed, however, when the [[Los Angeles Aqueduct]] was built and finished from 1908–1913. This, plus the arrival of the [[Southern Pacific Railroad]] brought lasting settlers to the Indian Wells Valley.<ref name=":0" />

The settlement that eventually became Ridgecrest began as a farming community called Crumville in 1912,<ref name="CGN" /> honoring James and Robert Crum, local dairymen.<ref name="CGN" /> The first post office opened in 1941.  By 1943, Ridgecrest had grown to 115 homes and 196 residents.  The Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) was established in November 1943, providing a strong job base for the years to come.<ref name="CGN">{{California's Geographic Names|1096}}</ref>

Ridgecrest incorporated in 1963.<ref name="CGN" /> During this era the growth of Ridgecrest was governed by the continuing needs of the high tech industries coupled to the Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) programs for testing arms and guidance systems. Today, the city serves as an essential housing and business community for NAWS China Lake.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|21.5|mi2|km2|1}}, of which {{convert|20.9|mi2|km2|1|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|0.6|mi2|km2|1|abbr=on}} of it (3.00%) is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/> Ridgecrest is located in Indian Wells Valley, which is a southern extension of [[Owens Valley]], broken up by the volcanic [[Coso Range]].

===1995 earthquake===
The area, associated with the [[Walker Lane|Eastern California Shear Zone]], has in the past experienced numerous [[earthquake swarm]]s, groups of several thousand quakes under magnitude 6.0 or so, often with no obvious mainshock. The 1995 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence started on August 17, when a [[Richter magnitude scale|magnitude]] 5.4 quake, centered {{convert|18|km|sp=us}} north of the town of Ridgecrest, shook the area and spawned over 2,500 [[aftershocks]] over the course of the following five weeks. Then, on September 20, 1995, the second large quake struck the area: it measured [[Richter magnitude scale|magnitude]] 5.8, and was at that time the largest earthquake to hit [[southern California]] since the [[1994 Northridge earthquake]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ridgecrest Earthquake|url=http://scedc.caltech.edu/significant/ridgecrest1995.html|website=Southern California Earthquake Data Center|access-date=October 20, 2016}}</ref>

=== 2019 earthquakes ===
{{Main|2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes}}

Between July 4 and 5, 2019, the city of Ridgecrest and surrounding communities experienced a series of significant earthquakes, including the strongest to impact the area in decades—a magnitude 7.1 mainshock. The epicenter of the main earthquake was located approximately 10 miles northeast of Ridgecrest.<ref name="USGS_Mainshock">{{cite web |title=M 7.1 - 17km NNE of Ridgecrest, CA |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci38457511/executive |website=United States Geological Survey |access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref>

The sequence began on July 4 with a 4.0-magnitude quake approximately {{convert|11|km|sp=us}} southwest of [[Searles Valley, California|Searles Valley]]. Later that morning, at 10:33 A.M., a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck around {{convert|12|km|sp=us}} southwest of Searles Valley.<ref name="HarrietRyan">{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Harriet |title=Largest earthquake in decades hits Southern California, measuring 6.4 magnitude |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-earthquake-california-shake-quake-20190704-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> This initial sequence triggered over 1,400 aftershocks in the Ridgecrest and Searles Valley regions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci38443183 |title=M 6.4 - 12km SW of Searles Valley, CA |publisher=United States Geological Survey |access-date=July 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci38443191 |title=M 6.4 - 10km ENE of Ridgecrest, CA |publisher=United States Geological Survey |access-date=July 4, 2019}}</ref>

On July 5, 2019, at 8:19 P.M., the magnitude 7.1 mainshock, known as the Ridgecrest mainshock<ref>{{Cite web |title=Five Years After the Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence {{!}} U.S. Geological Survey |url=https://www.usgs.gov/news/featured-story/five-years-after-ridgecrest-earthquake-sequence#:~:text=The%20Mainshock%20-%208:19%20pm,the%20earthquake%20the%20day%20before. |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=www.usgs.gov}}</ref> occurred, significantly impacting the Ridgecrest area.<ref name="USGS_Mainshock" />

=== Climate ===
The weather in the [[Indian Wells Valley]] is predominantly influenced by its [[High Desert (California)|high desert]] location. The climate is characterized by hot days and cool nights with extremely arid conditions prevailing throughout the summer months. The mean annual maximum [[temperature]] for the Ridgecrest area is {{convert|75|°F}} while the mean annual minimum temperature is {{convert|48|°F}}. There are wide annual temperature fluctuations that occur from a high of {{convert|119|°F}} to a low of {{convert|1|°F}}. On average, annual rainfall is less than {{convert|5|in}} "equivalent rainfall" per year, which includes less than {{convert|2|in}} of [[snow]]. The area is known to have wind as high as {{convert|75|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. December is the coolest month with an average maximum temperature of {{convert|60|°F}} and an average minimum temperature of {{convert|30|°F}}. The all-time minimum temperature of {{convert|1|°F}} was recorded on December 23, 1963, and January 7, 1973.

July is the hottest month with an average maximum temperature of {{convert|103|°F}} and an average minimum temperature of {{convert|66|°F}}. The all-time maximum temperature of {{convert|119|°F}} was [[Public records|recorded]] on July 11, 2021, tied with July 1988 and July 1993.

{{Weather box
| location = China Lake NAF, California (normals 1981–2010, extremes 1945–2020, precipitation 1944–1973)
| single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 89
| Feb record high F = 91
| Mar record high F = 92
| Apr record high F = 104
| May record high F = 109
| Jun record high F = 118
| Jul record high F = 119
| Aug record high F = 119
| Sep record high F = 114
| Oct record high F = 103
| Nov record high F = 93
| Dec record high F = 81
| year record high F = 119
| Jan avg record high F = 72
| Feb avg record high F = 77
| Mar avg record high F = 85
| Apr avg record high F = 94
| May avg record high F = 102
| Jun avg record high F = 108
| Jul avg record high F = 113
| Aug avg record high F = 111
| Sep avg record high F = 106
| Oct avg record high F = 96
| Nov avg record high F = 83
| Dec avg record high F = 71
| year avg record high F = 113
| Jan high F = 60.3
| Feb high F = 64.4
| Mar high F = 71.1
| Apr high F = 77.8
| May high F = 87.9
| Jun high F = 96.9
| Jul high F = 103.3
| Aug high F = 101.7
| Sep high F = 93.9
| Oct high F = 81.5
| Nov high F = 68.9
| Dec high F = 59.0
| year high F = 80.6
| Jan mean F = 45.2
| Feb mean F = 49.8
| Mar mean F = 55.8
| Apr mean F = 62.1
| May mean F = 71.7
| Jun mean F = 79.8
| Jul mean F = 86.2
| Aug mean F = 84.5
| Sep mean F = 76.7
| Oct mean F = 64.7
| Nov mean F = 52.9
| Dec mean F = 44.3
| year mean F = 64.5
| Jan low F = 30.1
| Feb low F = 35.2
| Mar low F = 40.6
| Apr low F = 46.3
| May low F = 55.4
| Jun low F = 62.7
| Jul low F = 69.1
| Aug low F = 67.3
| Sep low F = 59.5
| Oct low F = 47.9
| Nov low F = 36.8
| Dec low F = 29.6
| year low F = 48.4
| Jan avg record low F = 20
| Feb avg record low F = 23
| Mar avg record low F = 29
| Apr avg record low F = 34
| May avg record low F = 44
| Jun avg record low F = 51
| Jul avg record low F = 60
| Aug avg record low F = 57
| Sep avg record low F = 49
| Oct avg record low F = 37
| Nov avg record low F = 24
| Dec avg record low F = 19
| year avg record low F = 18
| Jan record low F = 6
| Feb record low F = 12
| Mar record low F = 21
| Apr record low F = 27
| May record low F = 35
| Jun record low F = 42
| Jul record low F = 50
| Aug record low F = 51
| Sep record low F = 39
| Oct record low F = 20
| Nov record low F = 16
| Dec record low F = 8
| year record low F = 6
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.45
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.62
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.20
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.13
| May precipitation inch = 0.11
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.01
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.13
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.10
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.22
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.12
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.55
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.50
| year precipitation inch = 2.90
| Jan precipitation days = 2.0
| Feb precipitation days = 2.9
| Mar precipitation days = 1.4
| Apr precipitation days = 1.0
| May precipitation days = 0.8
| Jun precipitation days = 0.3
| Jul precipitation days = 0.7
| Aug precipitation days = 0.7
| Sep precipitation days = 0.8
| Oct precipitation days = 0.8
| Nov precipitation days = 2.0
| Dec precipitation days = 2.0
| year precipitation days = 
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web|url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=hnx|title=China Lake NAF - NWS Hanford CA NOAA Online Weather Data|access-date=February 10, 2021}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
| location = [[Inyokern, California]]
| single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 80
| Feb record high F = 86
| Mar record high F = 93
| Apr record high F = 100
| May record high F = 112
| Jun record high F = 114
| Jul record high F = 119
| Aug record high F = 114
| Sep record high F = 110
| Oct record high F = 105
| Nov record high F = 88
| Dec record high F = 84
| Jan high F = 59.6
| Feb high F = 64.8
| Mar high F = 70.3
| Apr high F = 77.7
| May high F = 87.0
| Jun high F = 96.7
| Jul high F = 102.7
| Aug high F = 101.2
| Sep high F = 94.2
| Oct high F = 83.2
| Nov high F = 69.0
| Dec high F = 59.7
| Jan low F = 30.8
| Feb low F = 34.6
| Mar low F = 38.7
| Apr low F = 44.3
| May low F = 52.9
| Jun low F = 60.5
| Jul low F = 66.2
| Aug low F = 64.6
| Sep low F = 58.1
| Oct low F = 48.2
| Nov low F = 37.3
| Dec low F = 30.2
| Jan record low F = 1
| Feb record low F = 9
| Mar record low F = 15
| Apr record low F = 21
| May record low F = 26
| Jun record low F = 38
| Jul record low F = 46
| Aug record low F = 45
| Sep record low F = 35
| Oct record low F = 20
| Nov record low F = 14
| Dec record low F = 5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.74
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.95
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.55
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.17
| May precipitation inch = 0.07
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.02
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.16
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.22
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.20
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.10
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.38
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.59
| Year precipitation inch = 
| Jan snow inch = 0.3
| Feb snow inch = 0.0
| Mar snow inch = 0.1
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.0
| Dec snow inch = 0.2
| source 1 = <ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca4278
|title=INYOKERN, CALIFORNIA (044278)
|access-date=June 2, 2016
|publisher=Western Regional Climate Center }}</ref>
| date = June 2016
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1950 = 2028
| 1960 = 5099
| 1970 = 7629
| 1980 = 15929
| 1990 = 27725
| 2000 = 24927
| 2010 = 27616
| 2020 = 27959
| estyear = 
| estimate = 
| estref = 
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020===
The [[2020 United States census]] reported that Ridgecrest had a population of 27,959. The population density was {{convert|1,340.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Ridgecrest was 65.9% [[White Americans|White]], 4.8% [[African Americans|African American]], 1.2% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 5.5% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.6% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 8.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 13.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 21.9% of the population.<ref name=DP1>{{cite web |title=Ridgecrest city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0660704 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=July 2, 2025}}</ref>

The census reported that 99.0% of the population lived in households, 0.8% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.2% were institutionalized.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 11,186 households, out of which 32.7% included children under the age of 18, 43.7% were married-couple households, 8.2% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 24.7% had a female householder with no partner present, and 23.4% had a male householder with no partner present. 29.8% of households were one person, and 10.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47.<ref name=DP1/> There were 7,010 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (62.7% of all households).<ref>{{cite web |title=Ridgecrest city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0660704 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=July 2, 2025}}</ref>

The age distribution was 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% aged 18 to 24, 29.7% aged 25 to 44, 22.3% aged 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 34.7{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 100.9 males.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 12,359 housing units at an average density of {{convert|592.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 11,186 (90.5%) were occupied. Of these, 61.3% were owner-occupied, and 38.7% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $88,107, and the [[per capita income]] was $40,173. About 7.7% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ridgecrest city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0660704 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=July 2, 2025}}</ref>

===2010===
The [[2010 United States census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0660704|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715032712/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0660704|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Ridgecrest city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Ridgecrest had a population of 27,616. The population density was {{convert|1,289.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Ridgecrest was 21,387 (77.4%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1,113 (4.0%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 341 (1.2%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1,209 (4.4%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 143 (0.5%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1,836 (6.6%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1,587 (5.7%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4,941 persons (17.9%).

The Census reported that 27,420 people (99.3% of the population) lived in households, 109 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 87 (0.3%) were institutionalized.[[Image:RidgecrestCA.JPG|thumb|Overview shot of Ridgecrest, from the west on CA-178]]There were 10,781 households, out of which 3,901 (36.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,211 (48.3%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 1,352 (12.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 609 (5.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 681 (6.3%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 64 (0.6%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 2,978 households (27.6%) were made up of individuals, and 1,001 (9.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54. There were 7,172 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (66.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.10.

The population was spread out, with 7,544 people (27.3%) under the age of 18, 2,654 people (9.6%) aged 18 to 24, 7,157 people (25.9%) aged 25 to 44, 6,844 people (24.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,417 people (12.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males.

There were 11,915 housing units at an average density of {{convert|556.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 6,525 (60.5%) were owner-occupied, and 4,256 (39.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.2%. 16,520 people (59.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 10,900 people (39.5%) lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
[[Image:Sunset in Ridgecrest, CA.jpg|thumb|Sunset in Ridgecrest, California|left]]
According to the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 24,927 people, 9,826 households, and 6,691 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1179.9|PD/sqmi}}. There were 11,309 housing units at an average density of {{convert|535.3|PD/sqmi|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the city was 82.02% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 3.53% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.08% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 3.88% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.58% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.93% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.98% from two or more races. 12.04% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 9,826 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,971, and the median income for a family was $52,725. Males had a median income of $46,993 versus $29,558 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $21,312. About 10.2% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

{{col-float}}
*Crime index: 40.0% safe city
*High school or higher: 87.4%
*Bachelor's degree or higher: 24.4%
*Graduate or professional degree: 8.5%
*Unemployed: 6.8%
*Mean travel time to work: 14.9 minutes
{{col-float-break}}
*Never married: 22.1%
*Now married: 56.7%
*Separated: 2.6%
*Widowed: 6.6%
*Divorced: 12.1%
{{col-float-break}}
*Males: 12,924 – (49.9%)
*Females: 12,971 – (50.1%)
*Median resident age: 35.5 years
*California median age: 33.3 years
{{col-float-break}}
People in group quarters:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Ridgecrest-California.html|title=City-data – People in group quarters / Ridgecrest, California|work=analyzed data from numerous sources|access-date=March 7, 2009}}</ref>
*987 people in military barracks, etc.
*87 people in nursing homes
*33 people in other non-institutional group quarters
*22 people in state prisons
{{col-float-end}}

==Economy==
[[File:U.S Rte. 395 south.jpg|thumb|China Lake Blvd]]
[[Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake]] (NAWS China Lake) is an airborne weapons testing and training range located adjacent to Ridgecrest and operated by the [[United States Navy]] and its contractors. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake provides the majority of employment in the city at just under 8,000 jobs in 2018. This includes the government civilian workforce, active duty military personnel and private contractors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ridgecrest-ca.gov/uploadedfiles/Departments/Finance/2018_Ridgecrest_CAFR_FINAL_SECURED.pdf|title=Ridgecrest 2018 CAFR|access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref>

AltaOne Federal Credit Union has its corporate headquarters in Ridgecrest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://altaone.org/contact-us|title=AltaOne FCU corporate headquarters|website=AltaOne FCU|access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref>

The [[Searles Valley Minerals]] plant is located adjacent to the [[Searles Dry Lake]] near the town of [[Trona, San Bernardino County, California|Trona, California]], about thirty miles east of Ridgecrest.

===Top employers===
The principal employers in Ridgecrest in 2020 were:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ridgecrest-ca.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1451|title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30 2020|date=November 15, 2021|website=City of Ridgecrest}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank
! Employer
! Employees
|-
|1
|[[Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake|NAWS China Lake]]
|7,995
|-
|2
|[[Ridgecrest Regional Hospital]]
|840
|-
|3
|[[Searles Valley Minerals]]
|700
|-
|4
|[[Sierra Sands Unified School District]]
|527
|-
|5
|[[Walmart]]
|333
|-
|6
|[[Albertsons]]
|173
|-
|7
|[[Cerro Coso Community College]]
|152
|-
|8
|Alta One Federal Credit Union
|123
|-
|9
|City of Ridgecrest
|116
|-
|10
|[[Home Depot]]
|116
|}

==Local features and activities==
[[File:Desert flowers in the Ridgecrest Area.jpg|thumb|Wildflowers in Ridgecrest, California]]

The most notable feature in the nearby area is the [[Coso People]] [[rock art]] in [[Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons]]. The Coso People were prolific artists and traded with distant tribes using tools crafted of stone. [[Archeological]] recovery at coastal [[Chumash people|Chumash]] sites in California indicates considerable trade with the [[Coso People]].<ref>{{cite web|author=The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map |url=http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18502 |title=C.Michael Hogan (2008) ''Morro Creek'', ed. by A. Burnham |publisher=Megalithic.co.uk |access-date=November 5, 2011}}</ref>

Other activities in the area are:
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Hunting]] and [[shooting]]
*[[Hiking]]
*[[Horseback riding]]
*[[Off-roading]] and [[dirt biking]]
*[[Golf]]
*[[Road cycling]]
*[[Camping]]
*[[Aviation|Flying]] and [[gliding]] 
{{div col end}}

===Maturango Museum===
{{Main|Maturango Museum}}
[[Image:MaturangoMuseum.JPG|thumb|The front of the Maturango Museum]]
The '''Maturango Museum''' is located in Ridgecrest. The museum is best known for the guided tours to Little Petroglyph Canyon on China Lake Naval Weapons Station (NAWS).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maturango.org/|title=Maturango Museum Home Page|access-date=March 28, 2009}}</ref> The museum offers [[Art exhibition|exhibits]] and displays featuring both the [[natural]] and the [[cultural]] [[history]] and [[Biodiversity|diversity]] of the [[Mojave Desert|Northern Mojave Desert]] with exhibits of [[plants]], [[animals]], [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] artifacts, [[geology]] and contemporary arts and crafts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/mar/poi/feb_matmuseum.html|title=The Maturango Museum|work=data from Desert USA|access-date=March 28, 2009}}</ref>

===Coso Rock Art District===
[[Image:Coso archaic.jpg|thumb|Archaic abstract curvilinear-style petroglyphs near Ridgecrest, CA]]
{{Main|Coso Rock Art District}}
'''Coso Rock Art District''', sometimes equated with the '''[[Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons]]''' is a site containing over 20,000 Native American [[petroglyphs]]<ref name = nhl_summary>{{cite web| title = Coso Rock Art District| work = National Historic Landmarks Quioklinks| publisher = [[National Park Service]]| url = http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=115&ResourceType=Site| access-date = March 18, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121008091654/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=115&ResourceType=Site| archive-date = October 8, 2012| url-status = dead}}</ref> now located within [[Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake]], near [[China Lake, Kern County, California|China Lake]] and Ridgecrest, California. In fact, there are several other distinct canyons to the Coso Rock Art District besides the Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons. The most popular subjects are bighorn sheep, deer, and antelope.{{citation needed|date=May 2012}} Big and Little Petroglyph Canyons were declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1964. In 2001, they were incorporated into a larger [[National Historic Landmark District]], called Coso Rock Art District. In 2014, the [[Ridgecrest Petroglyph and Heritage Festival|Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival]], a celebration of the petroglyphs, native culture, and Ridgecrest as a California tourist destination was created as an annual event. It was named as one of [[Groupon]]'s "10 Most Unique Autumn Festivals in the Country"<ref>{{Cite web|title = Fall Festivals: The 10 Most Unusual Fests Across the Country|url = https://www.groupon.com/articles/fall-festivals-the-10-most-unusual-fests-across-the-country-al|website = Groupon|access-date = September 2, 2015}}</ref>

===Walker Pass===
{{Main|Walker Pass}}

'''Walker Pass''' (elevation {{convert|5250|ft|km|abbr=on}}) is a [[mountain pass]] by [[Lake Isabella]] in the southern [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] mountains. It is located in northeastern [[Kern County, California|Kern County]], approximately {{convert|53|mi|abbr=on}} ENE of [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]] and {{convert|10|mi|abbr=on}} WSW of Ridgecrest. The pass provides a route between the [[San Joaquin Valley]] on the west and the [[Mojave Desert]] on the east.{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}

===Trona Pinnacles===
{{Main|Trona Pinnacles}}

'''Trona Pinnacles''' featured in many notable films are located near Ridgecrest.

===Red Rock Canyon State Park===
{{Main|Red Rock Canyon State Park (California)}}

'''Red Rock Canyon State Park''' is also very close to Ridgecrest and provides the community with hiking and camping opportunities.

==Education==
[[Image:Cerro Coso Community College-iwv.jpg|thumb|Cerro Coso Community College]]

[[Sierra Sands Unified School District]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssusd.org/|title=Sierra Sands Unified School District|access-date=March 10, 2009}}</ref> which serves the city of Ridgecrest, Inyokern, and the surrounding communities, includes the following elementary schools: Las Flores Elementary, Faller Elementary, Richmond Elementary currently displaced to Vieweg Elementary due to damage in recent earthquakes,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ridgecrestca.com/news/20190724/richmond-elementary-operations-being-transferred-to-vieweg|title=Richmond Elementary operations being transferred to Vieweg|last=Barnwell|first=Jack|date=July 24, 2019|website=Ridgecrest Daily Independent|language=en|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> Gateway Elementary, Pierce Elementary, and Inyokern Elementary. For middle-schoolers the [[school district]] includes James Monroe Middle School, and Murray Middle School. The district's primary [[High school (North America)|high school]], [[Sherman E Burroughs High School]], serves Ridgecrest, China Lake NAWC, [[Inyokern, California|Inyokern]], Buttermilk Acres, Red Mountain, and [[Randsburg, California|Randsburg]]. There is also an [[Alternative school#Alternative high school|alternative high school]], Mesquite High School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mesquite.ssusdschools.org/home.aspx|title=Mesquite High School|access-date=March 11, 2009}}</ref>
Ridgecrest Elementary Academy for Language, Music, and Science ([http://www.rcrealms.org REALMS])is a public charter school sponsored by the Kern County Office of Education. Opened in 2019, the school educates children from Transitional K to the 6th grade. The school campus was formerly a Transitional K to 8th grade school which operated from 2001 to 2018 under the name Ridgecrest Charter School. 
{| class="wikitable"
|+Sierra Sands Unified School District
!Grades
!School
!City
|-
| rowspan="7" |[[K-5 (education)|K-5]]
|Faller Elementary School
| rowspan="2" |Ridgecrest
|-
|Gateway Elementary School
|-
|Inyokern Elementary School
|[[Inyokern, California|Inyokern]]
|-
|Las Flores Elementary School
| rowspan="3" |Ridgecrest
|-
|Pierce Elementary School
|-
|Richmond Elementary School
|-
|Rand Elementary School
|[[Johannesburg, California|Johannesburg]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Middle school|6-8]]
|James Monroe Middle School
| rowspan="4" |Ridgecrest
|-
|Murray Middle School
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[High school|9-12]]
|[[Sherman E. Burroughs High School]]
|-
|Mesquite High School ([[Alternative school|alternative]])
|}

===College===
{{Main|Cerro Coso Community College}}
Cerro Coso Community College, a part of the [[Kern Community College District]], was established in 1973 and has a full-time enrollment of 2,347.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cc.cc.ca.us/|title=Cerro Coso Community College – Main website|access-date=March 25, 2009}}</ref> The {{convert|420|acre|km2|sp=us}} Indian Wells Valley Campus (IWV) is located in the upper [[Mojave Desert]] near Ridgecrest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cerrocoso.edu/iwv/|title=Indian Wells Valley Campus|access-date=March 25, 2009}}</ref> The IWV Campus is the largest of the Cerro Coso campuses. It serves a population of about 50,000. The college serves the communities of Ridgecrest, [[China Lake]], [[Inyokern]], and [[Trona, San Bernardino County, California|Trona]].

===Public library===
Ridgecrest Branch Library, a branch of the [[Kern County Library]], serves Ridgecrest, Inyokern, China Lake, Trona and surrounding communities.

==Public safety==
[[File:RidgecrestCACityHall.png|300px|thumbnail|right|Ridgecrest City Hall and Police Headquarters]]

Ridgecrest has its own police department, as well as a regional station of the [http://www.co.kern.ca.us/sheriff/ Kern County Sheriff's Department]. The Kern County Fire Department<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kerncountyfire.org/|title=Kern County Fire Department|access-date=March 10, 2009}}</ref> provides fire protection and emergency medical services. Full-time law enforcement employees in 2008 numbered 56 (41 officers).

Crime statistics for 2011 (reported by the Ridgecrest Police Department):<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ci.ridgecrest.ca.us/police-department/ridgecrest-crime-statistics|title=Uncategorised - City of Ridgecrest}}</ref>
{{div col |colwidth=18em}}
*[[Homicide]]: 1
*Manslaughter by negligence: 0
*[[Robbery]]: 15
*[[Rape]]: 11
*Assault: 337
*[[Burglary]]: 192
*[[Theft]]: 292
*Auto theft: 37
*[[Arson]]: 14
*Total violent crimes: 364
*Total [[property crime]]s: 535
*Total crimes: 899
*[[Percentage]] change since prior period: -9%
*Calls for service: 33,440
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
Notable natives include:
*[[Rebekka Armstrong]], [[Playboy Playmate]] and [[HIV|HIV/AIDS]] activist<ref>{{cite journal|last=Jerome|first=Richard|title=Object Lesson|journal=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=April 7, 1997|volume=47|issue=13|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20121774,00.html|access-date=April 10, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Ted Bachman]], former American football [[defensive end]], attended Burroughs High.
*[[Lacy Barnes-Mileham]], (b. 1964), graduated Burroughs High (1983) and Fresno State (1988). Won U.S.A. Track and Field discus championships in 1999 and 1991, and competed in the [[1996 Atlanta Olympics]].
*[[Jerome Davis (sprinter)|Jerome Davis]], sprinter
*[[Mark Hoppus]], co-lead singer and bassist of the rock band [[Blink-182]]<ref>{{Citation|last = Binelli| first = Mark|title = Q&A: Blink-182's Mark Hoppus|journal=[[Rolling Stone]]|issue = 821| date =September 16, 1999|url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/mark-hoppus-of-blink-182-20040205|access-date=June 27, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Mark Hoppus: Biography, Latest News & Videos|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/mark-hoppus/198399|magazine=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=June 27, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Jason Monks]], politician and member of the [[Idaho House of Representatives]]
*[[Sabaa Tahir]], author
*[[Thin White Rope|Guy Kyser]], singer/songwriter of the rock band [[Thin White Rope]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-10 |title=Thin White Rope |url=https://bhammershaug.com/tag/thin-white-rope/ |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=The Big Beast |language=en}}</ref>

==Media==
[[File:Looking south in Ridgecrest, CA.jpg|thumb|375px|Looking south in Ridgecrest]]

Ridgecrest has one [[television station]], KZGN-LD, owned by Wiknich Broadcasting Corp., that has 3 channels serving the entire Indian Wells Valley over the air and on Mediacom Cable. KZGN provides local news, weather and sports. KZGN also provides a daily local interview program, ''Ridgecrest Talk''. Ridgecrest is served by two newspapers, ''[[The Daily Independent (Ridgecrest)|The Daily Independent]]'' and the ''News Review'', as well as a mixture of local broadcast stations and [[broadcast translator|repeaters]] from [[radio station|radio]] and television stations based in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] and [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]]. The repeaters are operated by the IWV TV Booster. Radio stations in the area include [[KRSF]] 89.3 a Christian radio format with [[Radio 74]]; [[KZFX]] 93.7 a classic rock format with ABC and California news and weather; [[KSSI (FM)]] 102.7, broadcasting rock music, local news and weather; [[KLOA (AM)]] 1240, broadcasting [[CBS Sports Radio]]; KZIQ 92.7, featuring adult contemporary music; KRAJ The Heat 100.9 FM, featuring a hip-hop format; and K296AI the 107.1, with [[KCNV]] [[classical music]] feed. KRCK-1360, "Ridgecrest Radio", went off the air in the 1970s.  Television repeater K05FO 5 rebroadcasts [[KTLA]]; and K35HO-D 35 rebroadcasts [[KBAK-TV|KBAK]].

== In popular culture ==
{{external media
| float  = right
| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k8f2gJjXkQ Sony - No More Shakes],<br /> YouTube video
}}
In a 1996 Sony commercial, Ridgecrest is known as the "Earthquake Capital of the World..."

== Transportation ==
Ridgecrest is located at the junction of highways [[California State Route 178]] and [[U.S. Route 395]] (business route).

The city of Ridgecrest provides the Ridgecrest Transit shuttle bus service to and from Inyokern, connecting with the [[Eastern Sierra Transit Authority]] bus that serves [[Bishop, California|Bishop]] and [[Mammoth Lakes]] to the north, and [[Lancaster (Metrolink station)]], with connections to the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles, to the south. [[Kern Transit]] connects Ridgecrest to [[Lake Isabella]] and [[Mojave, California|Mojave]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ridgecrest-ca.gov/Public-Works/Transit-Division/Page-1|title=City of Ridgecrest|first=Garry|last=Heimsoth|website=Ridgecrest}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Ridgecrest Regional Hospital]]
*[[Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ridgecrest, California|<br>Ridgecrest, California}}
{{wikivoyage|Ridgecrest}}
* {{Official website|https://www.ridgecrest-ca.gov/|Official City of Ridgecrest website}}
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Ridgecrest-California.html City-data.com: Ridgecrest, California]
* [https://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Maps/118-36.html USGS.gov: Recent Earthquakes in Ridgecrest, California]

{{Kern County, California|state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ridgecrest, California| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Kern County, California]]
[[Category:Cities in the Mojave Desert]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1912]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]