Apple Valley

History

For centuries, Apple Valley was populated by Shoshonean, Paiute, Vanyume, Chemehuevi, and Serrano who were attracted to the water and vegetation around the Mojave River. The Mojave people came later and were the tribal group encountered in 1542 by a detachment of Coronado's men. These were the first Spanish to come to the Mojave desert.

Pedro Fages came through the area in 1772, looking for deserters. Father Francisco Garcés spent time in the area in 1776. He was on good terms with local tribes. He killed one of his mules to feed a group of starving Vanyumes. Garcés established a trail across the Mojave to the Colorado River passing through the Apple Valley area.

The area was explored by various Spanish gold seekers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Jedediah Smith established the Old Spanish Trail through the southern Mojave and Cajon Pass. Smith was in the area in 1826 and again in 1827.

Throughout the 19th century, Apple Valley became a thoroughfare of people traveling to Southern California for various reasons. Ute horse thieves, led by Chief Walkara, brought through an estimated 100,000 horses from their raids on the Lugo Rancho and San Gabriel Mission.

In 1848, members of the Mormon Battalion, mustered out of the U.S. Army after constructing the first wagon road across the southwest to San Diego and up to Los Angeles, brought 135 mules and the first wagon through the Cajon Pass up through the Mojave River Valley on the way to the Salt Lake Valley. Battalion leader Jefferson Hunt and a crew of cowboys followed the trail with the first cattle drive from Southern California to hungry members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in present-day Utah. Hunt led a Latter-day Saint group of settlers to the San Bernardino Valley in 1851.

In 1885, the railroad came northward through the Cajon Pass and established a train stop, calling it Victor (Victorville) on the Mojave River in the area then known as Mormon Crossing. John Brown helped build some of the first roads through Apple Valley, opening up freight and stagecoach travel from the mining camps at Gold Mountain and Holcomb Valley to the railroad. In the 1860s, LaFayette Mecham built the wagon road, a short-cut across the desert, now known as Stoddard Wells Road. Over the next few decades, Victorville boomed as the commercial center of the area with gold refineries, quarries, and dance halls and saloons, while Apple Valley remained more pastoral with ranches and apple orchards.

Geography

Apple Valley is located at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert. It is bordered by the cities of Victorville on the west and Hesperia on the southwest sides, with the unincorporated community of Lucerne Valley a distance to the east and the city of Barstow about 30 miles (48 km) to the north. Apple Valley, along with Victorville, Hesperia, Adelanto, and immediate surrounding areas, are commonly known as the Victor Valley. The primary thoroughfare through Apple Valley is State Route 18, which was given the moniker "Happy Trails Highway" within Apple Valley town limits, after the theme song of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, who once resided on Outer Highway 18. The commercial area is split currently between State Route 18 and Bear Valley Road (the two roads are near parallel until they intersect in the east, outside of town). The Mojave River that borders the west side of Apple Valley flows south-to-north. The town is bounded on its southern edge by the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 73.5 square miles (190 km2), of which 73.2 square miles (190 km2) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), or 0.45%, is covered by water.

The elevation of Apple Valley is about 2,900 ft (880 m) above sea level.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Apple Valley has a semiarid climate (BSk). The city features cool winters and very hot, dry summers. Seasonal high winds occur occasionally in spring and fall.

On average, the warmest month is July.

The highest recorded temperature was 116 °F (47 °C) in 2002.

On average, the coolest month is December.

The lowest recorded temperature was −1 °F (−18 °C) in 1949.

The most precipitation typically occurs in February.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Apple Valley had a population of 75,791. The median age was 38.0 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.7 males age 18 and over.

95.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 4.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 25,928 households in Apple Valley, of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.1% were married-couple households, 15.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Of the town's households, 12,426 were occupied by families. 10,317 were married family units, 876 had a male householder with no spouse, and 1,233 had a female householder with no spouse.

There were 27,181 housing units, of which 4.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%. Average family size was 3.7 people, compared to 3.44 for the state of California. Homeownership rate was 65.5%, compared with 55.9% for California.

Income and poverty

16.7% were living under the poverty line, compared with 12.3% for the state of California. Median income was $63,031, compared with $84,907 for California.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, Apple Valley had a population of 69,135. The population density was 940.3 inhabitants per square mile (363.1/km2). The racial makeup of Apple Valley was 47,762 (69.1%) White (55.5% non-Hispanic White), 6,321 (9.1%) African American, 779 (1.1%) Native American, 2,020 (2.9%) Asian, 294 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 8,345 (12.1%) from other races, and 3,614 (5.2%) from two or more races. There were 20,156 residents of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, of any race (29.2%).

The census reported that 68,674 people (99.3% of the population) lived in households, 161 (0.2%) lived in noninstitutionalized group quarters, and 300 (0.4%) were institutionalized.

Of the 23,598 households, 9,169 (38.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 12,647 (53.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,550 (15.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, and 1,513 (6.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. The city had 1,582 (6.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships and 177 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships; 4,743 households (20.1%) were one person and 2,429 (10.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.91, with 17,710 families (75.0% of households); the average family size was 3.32.

The age distribution was 19,306 people (27.9%) under 18, 6,494 people (9.4%) 18 to 24, 15,068 people (21.8%) 25 to 44, 17,602 people (25.5%) 45 to 64, and 10,665 people (15.4%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 37.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The 26,117 housing units averaged 355.2 per square mile; of the occupied units, 16,297 (69.1%) were owner-occupied and 7,301 (30.9%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%, and 45,483 people (65.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 23,191 people (33.5%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Apple Valley had a median household income of $48,432, with 20.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

German, Irish, English, Italian and European are the most common ancestries. Spanish and Tagalog are the most common non-English languages.

Economy

Top employers

According to Apple Valley's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the town's largest employers are:

Government

Apple Valley is governed by a town council. The mayor changes each December.

In the California State Legislature, Apple Valley is in the 19th senatorial district, represented by Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, and in the 34th Assembly district, represented by Republican Tom Lackey.

In the United States House of Representatives, Apple Valley is in California's 23rd Congressional District, represented by Republican Jay Obernolte.

Education

Apple Valley Unified School District operates two comprehensive high schools (9–12) five TK–8 schools, and five TK–6 schools. One charter school offers transitional kindergarten to grade 12, and one private school offers preschool to grade 12.

High schools (9–12)

Apple Valley High School

Granite Hills High School

High Desert Premier Academy (9–12)

Middle schools (K–8)

Mariana Academy

Phoenix Academy

Sandia Academy

Sitting Bull Academy

Vanguard Preparatory

Elementary schools (K–6)

Desert Knolls Elementary

Rancho Verde Elementary

Rio Vista Elementary

Sycamore Rocks Elementary

Yucca Loma Elementary

Charter Schools

Academy for Academic Excellence - also known as "Lewis Center for Educational Research" (K–12)

Private schools

Apple Valley Christian Academy (Pre–12)

Infrastructure

Public safety

Law enforcement is provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Fire, rescue, and paramedic services are provided by the Apple Valley Fire Protection District. American Medical Response provides patient transportation via paramedic/EMT ambulances.

Cemeteries

The Sunset Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary was opened in 1995 on Waalew Road. Dale Evans and Roy Rogers are buried there.

Utilities

The town council started the process to take over the private water system in 2016.

Notable people

Michelle Alozie, American-born Nigerian professional footballer

Pearl Bailey, singer-actress, and her husband, Louie Bellson, lived in Apple Valley for nearly a decade

Earl W. Bascom, inventor, artist, sculptor, actor, Rodeo Hall of fame inductee, "Father of Modern Rodeo"

Newton T. Bass, Reserve Oil and Gas Company executive, developer of Apple Valley Ranchos

Chayce Beckham, singer, winner of American Idol (season 19)

Louie Bellson, jazz drummer/VP of Remo, lived in Apple Valley for nearly a decade with wife, Pearl Bailey.

Chris Blais, off-road motorcycle rider

Angel Blue, soprano opera singer

Victor Buono, actor, lived and died in Apple Valley.

Billy Casper, professional golfer

Jeff Chandler, actor, Broken Arrow; first Jewish man to purchase land in Apple Valley despite CC&R restrictions

Van Conner, musician from rock band Screaming Trees

Marty Dodson, singer-songwriter/producer, was born in Apple Valley

Dock Ellis, MLB pitcher, was hospitalized at St. Mary's Hospital just prior to his death.

Don Ferrarese, former MLB pitcher, owner of Apple Valley Land Company

In popular culture

Apple Valley has a long and storied relationship with Hollywood production studios, and has been a filming location for many award-winning feature films, TV shows/movies, and commercials:

Feature films

The Bronze Buckaroo (1939), starring Herb Jeffries, was filmed at Murray's Dude Ranch.

Column South (1953), starring Audie Murphy, was filmed in Apple Valley and nearby Victorville.

Divorce Invitation (2012)

Eagle Eye (2008), starring Shia LaBeouf

Four Guns To The Border (1954), starring Rory Calhoun and Walter Brennan

Foxfire (1955), starring Jane Russell, was filmed at Apple Valley Inn.

The Hard Ride (1971) was filmed at Oro Grande Wash and in nearby Lucerne Valley.

Harlem on the Prairie (1937), starring Herb Jeffries, was filmed at Murray's Dude Ranch.

Harlem Rides the Range (1939), starring Herb Jeffries, was filmed at Murray's Dude Ranch.

Highway Dragnet (1954), written by Roger Corman, starring Richard Conte and Joan Bennett, was filmed at Apple Valley Inn.

The Hills Have Eyes (1977), was filmed in Apple Valley and nearby Victorville.

Ordinary People (1980), winner of four Oscars, starring Mary Tyler Moore, golf scenes were filmed in Apple Valley.