Barstow, California
Encyclopedia
Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County
, California
, United States
. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census, up from 21,119 at the 2000 census. Barstow is located 55 miles (88.5 km) north of San Bernardino
.
Barstow is a major transportation center for the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area. Several major highways including Interstate 15
and Interstate 40
converge in the city. It is the site of a large rail classification yard
, belonging to the BNSF Railway
. The Union Pacific Railroad
also runs through town on trackage rights
on BNSF's main line to Daggett
10 miles (16.1 km) east, where it heads to Salt Lake City, then the BNSF heads to Chicago
. It is about 62 miles (99.8 km) to Baker, California
and 111 miles (178.6 km) to Primm, Nevada
. Barstow is almost exactly midway between Los Angeles, CA (150 miles west) and Las Vegas, NV (150 miles northeast).
Barstow is home to Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow
and is the closest city to Fort Irwin Military Reservation
.
. Every fall and winter, as the weather cooled, the rain produced new grass growth and replenished the water sources in the Mojave Desert
. People, goods and animal herds would move from New Mexico
and Utah
to Los Angeles
, along the Old Spanish Trail
from Santa Fe
, or from from Salt Lake City along the Salt Lake Road. Trains of freight wagons traveled back to Salt Lake City and other points in the interior. These travelers followed the course of the Mojave River past the site of Barstow. In 1859, the Mojave Road
followed a similar route to Fort Mojave
and eastward on the Beale Wagon Road across northern New Mexico Territory
to Santa Fe.
Indian troubles with the Paiute, Mojave and Chemehuevi
tribes followed and from 1860 Camp Cady, a U. S. Army post 20 miles (32.2 km) east of Barstow, was occupied sporadically until 1864, then permanently, by soldiers occupying other posts or patrolling in the region until 1871.
Barstow's roots also lie in the rich mining history of the Mojave Desert
following the discovery of gold and silver in the Owens Valley
and in mountains to the east in the 1860s and 1870s. Due to the influx of miners arriving in Calico and Daggett
, railroads were constructed to transport goods and people. The Southern Pacific built a line from Mojave, California
through Barstow to Needles
in 1883. In 1884, ownership of the line from Needles to Mojave was transferred to the Santa Fe Railroad. Paving the major highways through Barstow led to further development of the city. Much of its economy depends on transportation. Before the advent of the interstate highway system, Barstow was an important stop on both Routes 66 and 91. The two routes met in downtown Barstow and continued west together to Los Angeles.
Barstow is named after William Barstow Strong, former president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
. Some early Barstow names were Camp Sugarloaf, Grapevine, and Waterman Junction.
, the city has a total area of 107.2 km² (41.4 sq mi), 99.98% land and 0.02% water.
The average annual precipitation is 4.33 inches (11 cm), with more than half of it typically falling during the winter months. Snowfall is uncommon in winter, occurring every year or two. There are an average of 23 days annually with measurable precipitation.
The record high was 116 °F (46.7 °C) on July 14, 1972, and the record low as 3 °F (-16.1 °C) on January 13, 1963. The wettest year was 1918 with 10.99 inches (27.9 cm) and the dryest year was 1904 with 0.8 inches (2 cm). The most rainfall in one month was 4.22 inches (10.7 cm) in February 1998. The heaviest rainfall in 24 hours was 2 inches (5.1 cm) on November 23, 1906. The most snowfall in one month was 25 inches (63.5 cm) in January 1949, including 7 inches (17.8 cm) January 12; that month was one of the coldest and snowiest in southern California history.
http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim81/CAnorm.txt
shrubs such as creosote bush
. City residents have introduced many non-native plants, prominent among which are trees such as Aleppo pine
, Italian cypress, fan palm
, ailanthus
, ash
, palo verde
and redbud.
was 546.9 people per square mile (211.2/km²). The racial makeup of Barstow was 11,840 (52.3%) White, 3,313 (14.6%) African American, 477 (2.1%) Native American, 723 (3.2%) Asian, 278 (1.2%) Pacific Islander, 4,242 (18.7%) from other races
, and 1,766 (7.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9,700 persons (42.8%).
The Census reported that 22,271 people (98.4% of the population) lived in households, 195 (0.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 173 (0.8%) were institutionalized.
There were 8,085 households, out of which 3,196 (39.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,182 (39.4%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 1,619 (20.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 612 (7.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 701 (8.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 58 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,174 households (26.9%) were made up of individuals and 670 (8.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75. There were 5,413 families
(67.0% of all households); the average family size was 3.34.
The population was spread out with 6,739 people (29.8%) under the age of 18, 2,481 people (11.0%) aged 18 to 24, 5,723 people (25.3%) aged 25 to 44, 5,277 people (23.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,419 people (10.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.1 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
There were 9,555 housing units at an average density of 230.8 per square mile (89.1/km²), of which 3,964 (49.0%) were owner-occupied, and 4,121 (51.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 16.0%. 10,829 people (47.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 11,442 people (50.5%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 21,119 people, 7,647 households, and 5,253 families residing in the city. The population density
was 628.8 inhabitants per square mile (242.8/km2). There were 9,153 housing units at an average density of 272.5 per square mile (105.2/km2).
The racial makeup of the city was 57.1% White, 11.6% African American, 2.4% Native American, 3.1% Asian, 1.0% Pacific Islander, 18.4% from other races
, and 6.5% from two or more races. 36.5% of the population were Hispanic, Latino or Latin America
n of any race.
There were 7,647 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples
living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.3.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,069, and the median income for a family was $40,160. Males had a median income of $37,425 versus $25,380 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,132. About 15.6% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.8% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
In a 2006 state-funded economic survey, Barstow ranks among the 10 poorest cities in California. One third of residents receive public assistance and 4 out of 10 receive welfare and social security funds. Its long distance from major cities and urban centers has created economic problems, and Barstow is seeking projects to boost the economy. However, there are three casinos planned for the area. Numerous construction projects have been announced for Barstow, including a Wal-Mart distribution center, retail growth, and an increase in lodging accommodation.
Barstow has a series of mural
s along Main Street, depicting scenes from the city's history. These murals were created by Main Street Murals, a local non-profit organization.
Barstow Branch Library is located at 304 E. Buena Vista Street. It is a community venue, running various activities such as a summer reading program for children, story and craft sessions as well as a mystery book club.
Revolutions (formerly Beacon Bowl) is a 24-lane bowling alley and entertainment arcade center located at 750 E. Main Street. It also houses the Route 66 Sports Bar & Grill.
, the largest meteorite found in California and the second largest in the United States, is housed in the Desert Discovery Center.
The Casa Del Desierto
, built in 1911 as a Harvey House
hotel and train station, now houses the Route 66 Mother Road Museum, the Western America Railroad Museum
and still functions as an (unstaffed) Amtrak
station. The Barstow Chamber of Commerce sponsors an annual sandcastle contest in the dry riverbed across from the Harvey House.
. The site includes a number of gift shops, an ice cream parlour, a Panda Express
, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits
, KHWY radio station and a Greyhound
ticket terminal.
The McDonald's
restaurant at Barstow Station consists of three side-by-side railroad cars—a reference to Barstow's railroad heritage. In September 1986, the restaurant was destroyed by fire when a customer's car crashed into the wood-framed construction and burst into flames. In June 1997, the re-built restaurant received national attention when a gunman opened fire during a botched robbery, injuring several people and killing a nine-year-old girl. The gunman was mortally wounded by an off-duty police officer after the ensuing gun battle and later died in hospital.
Other casual dining options include: Starbucks
, IHOP
, Denny's
and Jack in the box
. The oldest franchise of Del Taco
restaurant can be found at 401 N. First Street.
The town has an enclosed shopping mall, Barstow Mall
, which was renovated in 2010 and is attracting new tenants including the County of San Bernardino's new social service office for the Transition Assistance Department and Children and Family Services.
Barstow also has a branch of Walmart, Vons
, 99 Cents Only
and Ace Hardware
located on the east side of town.
's Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex
are located at the nearby Fort Irwin Military Reservation
, north of Barstow. The Goldstone Complex includes the Pioneer Deep Space Station
, which has been designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark
.
Calico Ghost Town is one of the few remaining original mining
towns of the western United States, now preserved as a museum by Walter Knott (founder of Knott's Berry Farm
).
Rainbow Basin
is an Area of Critical Environmental Concern
due to landscape features and paleontological resources in the area. Located 8 miles (12.9 km) north of Barstow, its diverse landscape, multi-colored rock formations and scenic canyons are popular with photographers, hikers and campers keen to experience the area's natural beauty. The fossil
iferous Barstow Formation
(Miocene
) is well exposed there. Rainbow Basin is managed by the Bureau of Land Management
's Barstow Field Office.
Coyote Dry Lake is a 30 square mile dry lake
located 15 miles (24.1 km) northeast of Barstow.
Lava tube
s offer spelunking
opportunities.
The city offers adult basketball and softball leagues.
Barstow Community College's athletics department offers six competitive intercollegiate sports programs: Men's and Women's Basketball
, Men's and Women's Cross Country
, Baseball
and Softball
.
The city also has the Dana Park Community Center open on weekdays, the Cora Harper Fitness Center and Tennis Courts open Monday to Saturday, and the outdoor Eda Henderson Pool open Tuesdays to Sundays throughout the school summer holidays.
Founded in the 1970s by two local residents, the thriving Barstow Senior Center serves Barstow's seniors. In addition to daily, weekly and monthly activities, there is also an onsite thrift store and lunches are served every weekday. The center is funded via annual membership fees and sponsorship.
, Barstow is located in the 18th Senate
District, represented by Republican
Roy Ashburn
, and in the 34th Assembly
District, represented by Republican Connie Conway
. Federally, Barstow is located in California's 25th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +7 and is represented by Republican Buck McKeon
.
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
The Barstow Youth Advisory Council (BYAC) was established in March 2009. Thirteen teen advocates advise Barstow City Council members on the needs of young people in the city and promote youth community involvement through voluntary activities.
Grades 7-8 are taught at Barstow Junior High School and grades 9–12 are taught at Barstow High School
.
Barstow Community College
is the only college in the area, and its primary objective is to enable students to transfer to a four-year college or university.
Park University
has a campus located at the Marine Corps Logistics Base, which accepts local civilian students as well as military personnel and their dependents.
is Barstow's local newspaper. The newspaper has a daily circulation of 3,259 and was awarded second place for Sports Page Design, Opinion Page Design and Editorial Comment at the 2008 Better Newspapers Contest, hosted by the California Newspaper Publishers Association
.
Barstow's main radio station is KDUC
, which plays adult contemporary music and also serves Victorville
, Apple Valley
, Hesperia
.
, Courage Under Fire (1996)
, From Dusk till Dawn (1996)
, Gattaca (1997)
, Erin Brockovich (2000)
and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Other notable mentions of Barstow include the movie Leaving Barstow (2008), which tells the story of a high school senior who must choose between his ambitions to leave Barstow or stay in the city to care for his mother. The fictional Brian O'Conner in 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
grew up in Barstow and travels to the city to persuade a former childhood friend to join him in an FBI
operation.
composed by Bobby Troup
. Sheryl Crow
's "Leaving Las Vegas
" mentions spending the night in Barstow.
Harry Partch
wrote Barstow, inspired by eight pieces of graffiti written by hitchhikers on highway railings in Barstow.
The The Residents
' song "Death in Barstow," tells the story of two friends who visit and fall asleep in Barstow. One of the friends awakes to find that his friend has died.
, Yermo
, Daggett
, and Newberry Springs
. The county services operate on a fixed route with a deviation zone and a flexible time schedule. When requested in advance, the county bus travels off the fixed route to pick up or drop off passengers within the deviation zone. Unless passengers hold a monthly or day pass, there is an additional charge for this service. All city and county buses connect at Barstow City Hall Transport Center.
The Harvey House Railroad Depot
is served twice daily by Amtrak
's Southwest Chief
, from Chicago to Los Angeles and reverse. Connections can also be made on multiple Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach bus services to Las Vegas
and other destinations.
Rail freight is provided by BNSF and Union Pacific.
Barstow-Daggett Airport
is a 56-bed hospital serving the surrounding High Desert community. Opened in 1958, the hospital was named one of the "100 Top Hospitals in the Nation" for two consecutive years in the late 1990s.
, which serves the unincorporated areas around the city, including Newberry Springs
, Trona, Baker
and Ludlow
.
Fire prevention and paramedic services are provided by the Barstow Fire Protection District.
On November 19, 2010 Barstow residents were warned that the area water system was contaminated. A local area military base, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow
notified Golden State Water that samples taken from their water system showed the chemical perchlorate
at levels above the maximum contaminant level of 6 parts per billion. Perchlorate is found in rocket propellant, fireworks, explosives, flares, matches and industrial byproducts. Golden State Water Co. handed out free bottled water to residents. The "Do Not Drink" water advisory ended five days later on November 24, 2010.
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census, up from 21,119 at the 2000 census. Barstow is located 55 miles (88.5 km) north of San Bernardino
San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California is a large city in the Inland Empire Metropolitan Area of Southern California.San Bernardino may also refer to:-Landforms:*San Bernardino , a torrent that flows through the Italian province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola...
.
Barstow is a major transportation center for the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area. Several major highways including Interstate 15
Interstate 15 in California
In the U.S. state of California, Interstate 15 is a major north–south route through the San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego Counties, and it has a length of in the state. It is a major thoroughfare for traffic between Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as points beyond...
and Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
converge in the city. It is the site of a large rail classification yard
Classification yard
A classification yard or marshalling yard is a railroad yard found at some freight train stations, used to separate railroad cars on to one of several tracks. First the cars are taken to a track, sometimes called a lead or a drill...
, belonging to the BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
. The Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
also runs through town on trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
on BNSF's main line to Daggett
Daggett, California
Daggett is an unincorporated town located in San Bernardino County, California in the United States. The town is located on Interstate 40 ten miles East of Barstow. The town has a population of about 200. The ZIP code is 92327 and the community is inside area code 760.-History:The town was...
10 miles (16.1 km) east, where it heads to Salt Lake City, then the BNSF heads to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. It is about 62 miles (99.8 km) to Baker, California
Baker, California
Baker is a census-designated place located in San Bernardino County, California, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 735.Baker was founded as a station on the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad in 1908,...
and 111 miles (178.6 km) to Primm, Nevada
Primm, Nevada
Primm is a tiny community in Clark County, Nevada, United States, primarily notable for its position straddling Interstate 15 where it crosses the border between California and Nevada...
. Barstow is almost exactly midway between Los Angeles, CA (150 miles west) and Las Vegas, NV (150 miles northeast).
Barstow is home to Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow
Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow
Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow is a United States Marine Corps supply and maintenance installation located east of Barstow, California. Its mission is to rebuild and repair ground-combat and combat-support equipment and to support installations on the West Coast of the United States...
and is the closest city to Fort Irwin Military Reservation
Fort Irwin Military Reservation
Fort Irwin & the National Training Center is a major training area for the United States Military and is a census-designated place located in the Mojave Desert in northern San Bernardino County, California. Fort Irwin sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Fort Irwin's...
.
History
The settlement of Barstow began in the late 1840s in the Mormon CorridorMormon Corridor
The Mormon Corridor is a term for the areas of Western North America that were settled between 1850 and approximately 1890 by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , who are commonly known as Mormons....
. Every fall and winter, as the weather cooled, the rain produced new grass growth and replenished the water sources in the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
. People, goods and animal herds would move from New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, along the Old Spanish Trail
Old Spanish Trail (trade route)
The Old Spanish Trail is a historical trade route which connected the northern New Mexico settlements near or in Santa Fe, New Mexico with that of Los Angeles, California and southern California. Approximately long, it ran through areas of high mountains, arid deserts, and deep canyons. It is...
from Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, or from from Salt Lake City along the Salt Lake Road. Trains of freight wagons traveled back to Salt Lake City and other points in the interior. These travelers followed the course of the Mojave River past the site of Barstow. In 1859, the Mojave Road
Mojave Road
The Mojave Road or Mojave Trail is a historic route and present day 'four-wheel drive road' across what is now the Mojave National Preserve in the Mojave Desert of California, United States.-History:...
followed a similar route to Fort Mojave
Fort Mojave
Fort Mohave was originally named Camp Colorado when it was established on April 19, 1859 by Lieutenant Colonel William Hoffman during the Mohave War...
and eastward on the Beale Wagon Road across northern New Mexico Territory
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
to Santa Fe.
Indian troubles with the Paiute, Mojave and Chemehuevi
Chemehuevi
The Chemehuevi are a federally recognized Native American tribe enrolled in the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe of the Chemehuevi Reservation. They are the southernmost branch of Paiutes.-Reservation:...
tribes followed and from 1860 Camp Cady, a U. S. Army post 20 miles (32.2 km) east of Barstow, was occupied sporadically until 1864, then permanently, by soldiers occupying other posts or patrolling in the region until 1871.
Barstow's roots also lie in the rich mining history of the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
following the discovery of gold and silver in the Owens Valley
Owens Valley
Owens Valley is the arid valley of the Owens River in eastern California in the United States, to the east of the Sierra Nevada and west of the White Mountains and Inyo Mountains on the west edge of the Great Basin section...
and in mountains to the east in the 1860s and 1870s. Due to the influx of miners arriving in Calico and Daggett
Daggett, California
Daggett is an unincorporated town located in San Bernardino County, California in the United States. The town is located on Interstate 40 ten miles East of Barstow. The town has a population of about 200. The ZIP code is 92327 and the community is inside area code 760.-History:The town was...
, railroads were constructed to transport goods and people. The Southern Pacific built a line from Mojave, California
Mojave, California
Mojave is a census-designated place in Kern County, California, United States. Mojave is located east of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 2762 feet...
through Barstow to Needles
Needles, California
Needles is a city located in the Mojave Desert on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in the Mohave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95...
in 1883. In 1884, ownership of the line from Needles to Mojave was transferred to the Santa Fe Railroad. Paving the major highways through Barstow led to further development of the city. Much of its economy depends on transportation. Before the advent of the interstate highway system, Barstow was an important stop on both Routes 66 and 91. The two routes met in downtown Barstow and continued west together to Los Angeles.
Barstow is named after William Barstow Strong, former president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
. Some early Barstow names were Camp Sugarloaf, Grapevine, and Waterman Junction.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 107.2 km² (41.4 sq mi), 99.98% land and 0.02% water.
Climate
Barstow experiences four seasons. Summer days are very hot, with highs typically exceeding 100 °F (37.8 °C). Winter, in contrast, is characterized by cold mornings, with lows near 30 °F (-1.1 °C). Daily temperature ranges are large as a result of the low atmospheric moisture, typically between 30 and 35 F (16-18.5 C) difference. In January, the normal high temperature is 62 °F (16.7 °C) with a low of 34 °F (1.1 °C). In July, the normal high temperature is 103 °F (39.4 °C) with a low of 69 °F (20.6 °C). There are an average of 132 days with highs of 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher and an average of 39 days with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower.The average annual precipitation is 4.33 inches (11 cm), with more than half of it typically falling during the winter months. Snowfall is uncommon in winter, occurring every year or two. There are an average of 23 days annually with measurable precipitation.
The record high was 116 °F (46.7 °C) on July 14, 1972, and the record low as 3 °F (-16.1 °C) on January 13, 1963. The wettest year was 1918 with 10.99 inches (27.9 cm) and the dryest year was 1904 with 0.8 inches (2 cm). The most rainfall in one month was 4.22 inches (10.7 cm) in February 1998. The heaviest rainfall in 24 hours was 2 inches (5.1 cm) on November 23, 1906. The most snowfall in one month was 25 inches (63.5 cm) in January 1949, including 7 inches (17.8 cm) January 12; that month was one of the coldest and snowiest in southern California history.
http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim81/CAnorm.txt
Vegetation
The native vegetation is dominated by low desertDesert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
shrubs such as creosote bush
Creosote bush
Larrea tridentata is known as Creosote bush as a plant, chaparral as a medicinal herb, and as "gobernadora" in Mexico, Spanish for "governess," due to its ability for inhibiting the growth of nearby plants to have more water. In Sonora, it is more commonly called "hediondilla." It is a flowering...
. City residents have introduced many non-native plants, prominent among which are trees such as Aleppo pine
Aleppo Pine
Pinus halepensis, commonly known as the Aleppo Pine, is a pine native to the Mediterranean region. Their range extends from Morocco and Spain north to southern France, Italy and Croatia, and east to Greece and northern Tunisia, and Libya, with an outlying population in Syria, Lebanon, southern...
, Italian cypress, fan palm
Fan palm
Fan palm as a descriptive term can refer to any of several different kinds of palms in various genera with leaves that are palmately compound...
, ailanthus
Ailanthus
Ailanthus is a genus of trees belonging to the family Simaroubaceae, in the order Sapindales . The genus is native from east Asia south to northern Australasia....
, ash
Ash tree
Fraxinus is a genus flowering plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae. It contains 45-65 species of usually medium to large trees, mostly deciduous though a few subtropical species are evergreen. The tree's common English name, ash, goes back to the Old English æsc, while the generic name...
, palo verde
Palo Verde
-Botany:*Palo Verde trees, several species of the genus Parkinsonia **Mexican Palo Verde **Blue Palo Verde **Yellow or Foothill Palo Verde gay-Places:...
and redbud.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Barstow had a population of 22,639. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 546.9 people per square mile (211.2/km²). The racial makeup of Barstow was 11,840 (52.3%) White, 3,313 (14.6%) African American, 477 (2.1%) Native American, 723 (3.2%) Asian, 278 (1.2%) Pacific Islander, 4,242 (18.7%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1,766 (7.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9,700 persons (42.8%).
The Census reported that 22,271 people (98.4% of the population) lived in households, 195 (0.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 173 (0.8%) were institutionalized.
There were 8,085 households, out of which 3,196 (39.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,182 (39.4%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 1,619 (20.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 612 (7.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 701 (8.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 58 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,174 households (26.9%) were made up of individuals and 670 (8.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75. There were 5,413 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(67.0% of all households); the average family size was 3.34.
The population was spread out with 6,739 people (29.8%) under the age of 18, 2,481 people (11.0%) aged 18 to 24, 5,723 people (25.3%) aged 25 to 44, 5,277 people (23.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,419 people (10.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.1 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
There were 9,555 housing units at an average density of 230.8 per square mile (89.1/km²), of which 3,964 (49.0%) were owner-occupied, and 4,121 (51.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 16.0%. 10,829 people (47.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 11,442 people (50.5%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 21,119 people, 7,647 households, and 5,253 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 628.8 inhabitants per square mile (242.8/km2). There were 9,153 housing units at an average density of 272.5 per square mile (105.2/km2).
The racial makeup of the city was 57.1% White, 11.6% African American, 2.4% Native American, 3.1% Asian, 1.0% Pacific Islander, 18.4% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 6.5% from two or more races. 36.5% of the population were Hispanic, Latino or Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n of any race.
There were 7,647 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.3.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,069, and the median income for a family was $40,160. Males had a median income of $37,425 versus $25,380 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,132. About 15.6% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.8% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
In a 2006 state-funded economic survey, Barstow ranks among the 10 poorest cities in California. One third of residents receive public assistance and 4 out of 10 receive welfare and social security funds. Its long distance from major cities and urban centers has created economic problems, and Barstow is seeking projects to boost the economy. However, there are three casinos planned for the area. Numerous construction projects have been announced for Barstow, including a Wal-Mart distribution center, retail growth, and an increase in lodging accommodation.
- In 2005, the median house price was $115,276, significantly below California state average.
- 10.4% unemployment is above state average.
- 9.1% of Barstow's population have a bachelor's degree or higher, significantly below the state average.
- Crime index: 445.9 (U.S. average is 330.6).
Arts and culture
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s along Main Street, depicting scenes from the city's history. These murals were created by Main Street Murals, a local non-profit organization.
Barstow Branch Library is located at 304 E. Buena Vista Street. It is a community venue, running various activities such as a summer reading program for children, story and craft sessions as well as a mystery book club.
Entertainment
Skyline Drive-In, located in the north-east outskirts of the city at 31175 Old Highway 58, is one of the last operating drive-in theatres in San Bernardino County. It has two screens; each screen shows two movies every night. Hollywood Theatre Barstow Cinema 6 is the city's indoor cinema. It has six screens and can be found at 1503 East Main Street, in the east side of the city. As of 30 September 2011, Skyline Drive-In took over Hollywood Theatre, changing its name back to Barstow Station Cinema. Most of the Hollywood Theatre staff were not retained. The company plans to train current Skyline Drive-In staff and new staff to work at both locations. Since the takeover, prices at Barstow Station Cinema were lowered to be similar to Skyline's.Revolutions (formerly Beacon Bowl) is a 24-lane bowling alley and entertainment arcade center located at 750 E. Main Street. It also houses the Route 66 Sports Bar & Grill.
Museums
Barstow has a number of museums: Mojave River Valley Museum, Route 66 Mother Road Museum, the Western America Rail Museum, and the Desert Discovery Center. Once a year a family opens their Black History collection to the public and nearby Fort Irwin is home to the 11 Cavalry and ACR Museum. The Old Woman meteoriteOld Woman Meteorite
The Old Woman Meteorite is the largest meteorite found in California and the second largest in the United States. It was discovered in the Old Woman Mountains in southern California in late 1975. It is 38 inches long, 34 inches high, and 30 inches wide...
, the largest meteorite found in California and the second largest in the United States, is housed in the Desert Discovery Center.
The Casa Del Desierto
Harvey House Railroad Depot
The Harvey House Railroad Depot, known as the Casa del Desierto - its original name, is a former Fred Harvey Harvey House located in Barstow, in the Mojave Desert within San Bernardino County, California...
, built in 1911 as a Harvey House
Fred Harvey Company
The origin of the Fred Harvey Company can be traced to the 1875 opening of two railroad eating houses located at Wallace, Kansas and Hugo, Colorado on the Kansas Pacific Railway. These cafés were opened by Fred Harvey, then a freight agent for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad...
hotel and train station, now houses the Route 66 Mother Road Museum, the Western America Railroad Museum
Western America Railroad Museum
The Western America Railroad Museum is a railroad museum located in Barstow, California.The museum collects, preserves and shares the history of railroading in the Pacific Southwest...
and still functions as an (unstaffed) Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
station. The Barstow Chamber of Commerce sponsors an annual sandcastle contest in the dry riverbed across from the Harvey House.
Restaurants
Opened in 1975 and operating 365 days a year, Barstow Station serves 20,000 tour buses a year and is a popular stop for travelers on Interstate 15Interstate 15
Interstate 15 is the fourth-longest north–south Interstate Highway in the United States, traveling through the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and Montana from San Diego to the Canadian border...
. The site includes a number of gift shops, an ice cream parlour, a Panda Express
Panda Express
Panda Express is a fast casual restaurant chain serving American Chinese cuisine. It operates mainly inside the United States, in casinos, shopping malls, supermarkets, airports, train stations, strip plazas, theme parks, stadiums, college campuses and The Pentagon...
, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits
Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits
Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits is a chain of fried chicken fast food restaurants, owned since 1993 by the Sandy Springs, Georgia-based AFC Enterprises, which was originally America's Favorite Chicken Company...
, KHWY radio station and a Greyhound
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
ticket terminal.
The McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurant at Barstow Station consists of three side-by-side railroad cars—a reference to Barstow's railroad heritage. In September 1986, the restaurant was destroyed by fire when a customer's car crashed into the wood-framed construction and burst into flames. In June 1997, the re-built restaurant received national attention when a gunman opened fire during a botched robbery, injuring several people and killing a nine-year-old girl. The gunman was mortally wounded by an off-duty police officer after the ensuing gun battle and later died in hospital.
Other casual dining options include: Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
, IHOP
IHOP
IHOP may refer to:* IHOP, a restaurant chain, formerly known as The International House of Pancakes* International House of Prayer, a Christian 24/7 prayer center in Kansas City, Missouri...
, Denny's
Denny's
Denny's is a full-service coffee shop/family restaurant chain. It operates over 1,500 restaurants in the United States , Canada, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan , Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Denny's is known for always being...
and Jack in the box
Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box is an American fast-food restaurant founded by Robert O. Peterson in 1951 in San Diego, California, where it is still headquartered today. In total, the chain has 2,200 locations, primarily serving the West Coast of the United States...
. The oldest franchise of Del Taco
Del Taco
Del Taco is a North American fast food restaurant chain which specializes in American-style Mexican cuisine as well as American foods such as burgers, fries, and shakes...
restaurant can be found at 401 N. First Street.
Shopping
Located southwest of the town is the upscale Tanger Outlet Center, which is well known as a popular stop for tourists travelling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. An older shopping center, the Barstow Factory Outlet is located opposite the Tanger Outlet Center.The town has an enclosed shopping mall, Barstow Mall
Barstow Mall
Barstow Mall is a shopping mall in Barstow, California. It opened in 1975 with two anchor stores: Sears and Kmart. Kmart moved outside the mall in the early 1990s and its building was never re-tenanted. The Sears building was later occupied by a Big Lots discount store, which closed in 2003.In...
, which was renovated in 2010 and is attracting new tenants including the County of San Bernardino's new social service office for the Transition Assistance Department and Children and Family Services.
Barstow also has a branch of Walmart, Vons
Vons
Vons is a southern California and southern Nevada supermarket chain and a division of Safeway Inc. It is headquartered in Arcadia, California, and operates stores under the Vons and Pavilions banners.-Beginning:...
, 99 Cents Only
99 Cents Only Stores
99 Cents Only Stores is a price-point retailer chain based in Commerce, California. The store offers products at $0.9999 or less. Founded by David Gold in 1982, most of the stores are located in Southern California, with others in Nevada, Arizona and Texas...
and Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware Corporation is a hardware cooperative based in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States. ACE Hardware Corporation, with 4,444 stores, does over $3 billion in retail hardware sales annually down from its peak of $12.5 billion in 2007.-History:...
located on the east side of town.
Near Barstow
The United States Military's National Training Center (NTC) and NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex
Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex
The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex — commonly called the Goldstone Observatory — is located in California's Mojave Desert. Operated by ITT Corporation for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, its main purpose is to track and communicate with space missions. It includes the Pioneer...
are located at the nearby Fort Irwin Military Reservation
Fort Irwin Military Reservation
Fort Irwin & the National Training Center is a major training area for the United States Military and is a census-designated place located in the Mojave Desert in northern San Bernardino County, California. Fort Irwin sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Fort Irwin's...
, north of Barstow. The Goldstone Complex includes the Pioneer Deep Space Station
Deep Space Network
The Deep Space Network, or DSN, is a world-wide network of large antennas and communication facilities that supports interplanetary spacecraft missions. It also performs radio and radar astronomy observations for the exploration of the solar system and the universe, and supports selected...
, which has been designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
.
Calico Ghost Town is one of the few remaining original mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
towns of the western United States, now preserved as a museum by Walter Knott (founder of Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
).
Rainbow Basin
Rainbow Basin
Rainbow Basin is a geological formation in the Calico Peaks range, located approximately eight miles north of Barstow in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California....
is an Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern is a conservation ecology program in the western United States, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The ACEC program was conceived in the 1976 Federal Lands Policy and Management Act , which established the first conservation ecology mandate for the BLM...
due to landscape features and paleontological resources in the area. Located 8 miles (12.9 km) north of Barstow, its diverse landscape, multi-colored rock formations and scenic canyons are popular with photographers, hikers and campers keen to experience the area's natural beauty. The fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
iferous Barstow Formation
Barstow Formation
The Barstow Formation is a series of limestones, conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones and shales exposed in the Mojave Desert near Barstow, California. It is early to middle Miocene in age, and lends its name to the Barstovian North American land mammal age...
(Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
) is well exposed there. Rainbow Basin is managed by the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
's Barstow Field Office.
Coyote Dry Lake is a 30 square mile dry lake
Dry lake
Dry lakes are ephemeral lakebeds, or a remnant of an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts. Dry lakes are also referred to as alkali flats, sabkhas, playas or mud flats...
located 15 miles (24.1 km) northeast of Barstow.
Lava tube
Lava tube
Lava tubes are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow, expelled by a volcano during an eruption. They can be actively draining lava from a source, or can be extinct, meaning the lava flow has ceased and the rock has cooled and left a long, cave-like...
s offer spelunking
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
opportunities.
Sports
Barstow is home to the Barstow Riffians, a developmental semi-professional football team. The Barstow Riffians are members of the UFAL.The city offers adult basketball and softball leagues.
Barstow Community College's athletics department offers six competitive intercollegiate sports programs: Men's and Women's Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, Men's and Women's Cross Country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, Baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and Softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
.
Parks and recreation
Barstow has two main parks: the Barstow Skate Park, a 12,000 square-foot skate park, and the Robert A. Sessions Memorial Sportspark, which includes six lighted ball fields, three soccer fields, volleyball courts, batting cages as well as basketball courts. The Robert A. Sessions Memorial Sportspark also plays host to regional softball tournaments.The city also has the Dana Park Community Center open on weekdays, the Cora Harper Fitness Center and Tennis Courts open Monday to Saturday, and the outdoor Eda Henderson Pool open Tuesdays to Sundays throughout the school summer holidays.
Founded in the 1970s by two local residents, the thriving Barstow Senior Center serves Barstow's seniors. In addition to daily, weekly and monthly activities, there is also an onsite thrift store and lunches are served every weekday. The center is funded via annual membership fees and sponsorship.
Politics
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
, Barstow is located in the 18th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Roy Ashburn
Roy Ashburn
Roy Arthur Ashburn is an American politician from Kern County, California. A Republican, he served as a California State Senator from 2002 to 2010 representing the 18th district. He previously served three terms in the California State Assembly, representing the 32nd district and 12 years on the...
, and in the 34th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Republican Connie Conway
Connie Conway
Connie Conway is a Republican politician from California. She is currently in the California State Assembly and is the Assemblymember from the 34th district which takes in many parts of California's Central Valley and High Desert areas. Prior to serving in the Assembly, Conway served as a Tulare...
. Federally, Barstow is located in California's 25th congressional district
California's 25th congressional district
California's 25th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that covers part of Los Angeles County and extends out to broad stretches of interior California along the Nevada border. It includes the cities of Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, and the...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R +7 and is represented by Republican Buck McKeon
Howard McKeon
Howard Philip "Buck" McKeon is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
.
Local government
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $33.1 million in revenues, $37.2 million in expenditures, $149.8 million in total assets, $25.3 million in total liabilities, and $52.6 million in cash and investments.The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
| City Department | Director |
|---|---|
| City Manager | Charles C. Mitchell |
| Assistant City Manager | Oliver Chi |
| Police Chief | Dianne Burns |
| Fire Chief | Darrell Jauss |
| Director of Community Services | Vacant |
| Director of Community and Economic Development | Ron Rector |
| Director of Finance | Cindy Prothro |
| City Clerk | JoAnne Cousino |
The Barstow Youth Advisory Council (BYAC) was established in March 2009. Thirteen teen advocates advise Barstow City Council members on the needs of young people in the city and promote youth community involvement through voluntary activities.
Top employers
According to the City's official website, in 2010, the top employers in the city were:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ft. Irwin National Training Center | Military: 4765 Civil Service: 900 |
| 2 | Marine Corps Logistics Base Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow is a United States Marine Corps supply and maintenance installation located east of Barstow, California. Its mission is to rebuild and repair ground-combat and combat-support equipment and to support installations on the West Coast of the United States... |
Military: 107 Civil Service: 1845 |
| 3 | Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over... |
1152 |
| 4 | BNSF Railroad | 1000 |
| 5 | Barstow Unified School District | 617 |
| 6 | Raytheon Tech Services Raytheon Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007... |
498 |
| 7 | IAP World Service | 412 |
| 8 | Tanger Outlet Stores | 400 |
| 9 | San Bernardino County | 300 |
| 10 | Barstow Community Hospital Barstow Community Hospital Barstow Community Hospital is a hospital in Barstow, California, United States. It is part of the Community Health Systems system.... |
290 |
| 11 | Silver Valley Unified School District Silver Valley Unified School District Silver Valley Unified School District is located in the High Desert of Southern California, between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The district covers an area of approximately , equivalent in size to the combined states of Rhode Island and Delaware... |
287 |
| 12 | Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000... |
230 |
| 13 | Barstow Community College Barstow Community College Barstow Community College is a community college in Barstow . Enabling students to transfer onward to a four-year college or university is a priority for the school.- Accreditation :... |
200 |
| 14 | ITT Industries Systems - Goldstone Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex — commonly called the Goldstone Observatory — is located in California's Mojave Desert. Operated by ITT Corporation for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, its main purpose is to track and communicate with space missions. It includes the Pioneer... |
165 |
| 15 | City of Barstow | 154 |
| 16 | Veterans Home of California - Barstow | 145 |
| 17 | Travel Centers of America | 107 |
| 18 | Barstow Outlet Store | 104 |
| 19 | Stater Bros Stater Bros. Stater Bros. Markets is a privately held supermarket chain, based in San Bernardino, California, consisting of over 167 stores located throughout Southern California. Founded in Yucaipa, California in 1936 by Cleo and Leo Stater , it consisted of 167 stores as of February 23, 2009... |
95 |
| 20 | Home Depot | 84 |
Education
Barstow Unified School District has 8 elementary schools (grades 1–6):- Cameron Elementary School
- Crestline Elementary School
- Henderson Elementary School
- Hinkley Elementary School (Hinkley, California)
- Lenwood Elementary School
- Montara Elementary School
- Skyline North Elementary School
- Thomson Elementary School
Grades 7-8 are taught at Barstow Junior High School and grades 9–12 are taught at Barstow High School
Barstow High School
Barstow High School is a public high school located in Barstow, California. Founded in 1915, the school soon expanded and relocated to its current location in 1938. The school serves about 3,000 students in grades 9 to 12 from across the city, as well as outlying areas...
.
Barstow Community College
Barstow Community College
Barstow Community College is a community college in Barstow . Enabling students to transfer onward to a four-year college or university is a priority for the school.- Accreditation :...
is the only college in the area, and its primary objective is to enable students to transfer to a four-year college or university.
Park University
Park University
Park University is an independent, private institution of higher education based in Parkville, Missouri. Established in 1875 as a small church-related college, it has now expanded into an electronic learning institution and provider of education courses for the U.S...
has a campus located at the Marine Corps Logistics Base, which accepts local civilian students as well as military personnel and their dependents.
Newspaper and Radio
Founded in 1910 and renamed in 1958, the Desert DispatchDesert Dispatch
The Desert Dispatch is a newspaper in the town of Barstow, California, founded in 1910. It is owned by Freedom Communications, who bought the paper in 1995 in a swap with Thomson Newspapers....
is Barstow's local newspaper. The newspaper has a daily circulation of 3,259 and was awarded second place for Sports Page Design, Opinion Page Design and Editorial Comment at the 2008 Better Newspapers Contest, hosted by the California Newspaper Publishers Association
California Newspaper Publishers Association
The California Newspaper Publishers Association is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1888 that represents the daily and weekly newspapers of California. Its diverse membership consists of over 500 newspapers that elect 35 individuals to its governing board of directors...
.
Barstow's main radio station is KDUC
KDUC
KDUC is a commercial radio station in Barstow, California, serving the immediate Barstow area, the Victor Valley area, and along the I-15 to Baker area on 94.3 FM.KDUC airs a Top 40 music format branded as "The Duck"....
, which plays adult contemporary music and also serves Victorville
Victorville, California
Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of southwestern San Bernardino County, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 census, the city had a population of 115,903, up from 64,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:...
, Apple Valley
Apple Valley, California
-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was in 2002.*On average, the coolest month is December.*The lowest recorded temperature was in 1949.*The most precipitation on average occurs in February.-History:...
, Hesperia
Hesperia, California
Hesperia is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located in the Mojave Desert north of San Bernardino. The locals refer to the surrounding area as the High Desert...
.
Movies and television
Barstow City Council has a dedicated film office, which acts as a point of liaison and resources for film locations, equipment and accommodation for filmmakers and their crews. A number of major motion pictures were shot in the city, including Broken Arrow (1996)Broken Arrow (1996 film)
Broken Arrow is a 1996 American action film directed by John Woo, written by Graham Yost, and starring John Travolta and Christian Slater. The original music score was composed by Hans Zimmer, and features guitarist Duane Eddy. It deals with the theft of an American nuclear weapon.The film received...
, Courage Under Fire (1996)
Courage Under Fire
Courage Under Fire is a 1996 film directed by Edward Zwick, and starring Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips and Matt Damon. It is one of the first films to depict the 1991 Gulf War.-Plot:...
, From Dusk till Dawn (1996)
From Dusk Till Dawn
From Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino and Juliette Lewis.-Plot:...
, Gattaca (1997)
Gattaca
Gattaca is a 1997 science fiction film written and directed by Andrew Niccol. It stars Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Jude Law with supporting roles played by Loren Dean, Ernest Borgnine, Gore Vidal and Alan Arkin....
, Erin Brockovich (2000)
Erin Brockovich (film)
Erin Brockovich is a 2000 biographical film directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film is a dramatization of the story of Erin Brockovich, played by Julia Roberts, who fought against the US West Coast energy corporation Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Roberts won the Academy Award, Golden Globe,...
and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Kill Bill Volume 2
Kill Bill Volume 2 is a 2004 action thriller film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It is the second of two volumes that were theatrically released several months apart. Kill Bill was originally scheduled for a single theatrical release, but with a running time of over four hours, it was...
Other notable mentions of Barstow include the movie Leaving Barstow (2008), which tells the story of a high school senior who must choose between his ambitions to leave Barstow or stay in the city to care for his mother. The fictional Brian O'Conner in 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
2 Fast 2 Furious
2 Fast 2 Furious is a 2003 street racing action film directed by John Singleton. It is the second film in The Fast and the Furious film series following The Fast and the Furious . It stars Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Eva Mendes, Devon Aoki, and Chris Bridges; and was directed by John Singleton. The...
grew up in Barstow and travels to the city to persuade a former childhood friend to join him in an FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
operation.
Music
Barstow is mentioned in the lyrics of Route 66Route 66 (song)
" Route 66", often rendered simply as "Route 66", is a popular song and rhythm and blues standard, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. It was first recorded in the same year by Nat King Cole, and was subsequently covered by many artists including Chuck Berry in 1961, The Rolling...
composed by Bobby Troup
Bobby Troup
Robert William "Bobby" Troup Jr. was an American actor, jazz pianist and songwriter. He is best known for writing the popular standard " Route 66", and for his role as Dr...
. Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
's "Leaving Las Vegas
Leaving Las Vegas (song)
"Leaving Las Vegas" is a rock song by Sheryl Crow that appears on her debut album Tuesday Night Music Club, and was Crow's first single in the U.S.Sheryl Crow performed the song on her live album Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live from Central Park....
" mentions spending the night in Barstow.
Harry Partch
Harry Partch
Harry Partch was an American composer and instrument creator. He was one of the first twentieth-century composers to work extensively and systematically with microtonal scales, writing much of his music for custom-made instruments that he built himself, tuned in 11-limit just intonation.-Early...
wrote Barstow, inspired by eight pieces of graffiti written by hitchhikers on highway railings in Barstow.
The The Residents
The Residents
The Residents is an American art collective best known for avant-garde music and multimedia works. The first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and the group has since released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects and ten DVDs....
' song "Death in Barstow," tells the story of two friends who visit and fall asleep in Barstow. One of the friends awakes to find that his friend has died.
Transportation
Barstow Area Transit (BAT) is the local transportation system. It covers the city of Barstow and the surrounding areas in San Bernadino County. BAT operates three fixed city bus routes on an hourly schedule, a dial-a-ride service for seniors and persons with disabilities and two county routes serving HinkleyHinkley, California
Hinkley is an unincorporated community in the Mojave Desert in California, U.S., northwest of Barstow, east of Mojave, and north of Victorville. It sits just north of California State Highway 58....
, Yermo
Yermo, California
Yermo is a town in San Bernardino County, California. Its name is derived from the Spanish word for wilderness. It is located 13 miles east of Barstow in the Mojave Desert on Interstate 15, just south of the Calico Mountains...
, Daggett
Daggett, California
Daggett is an unincorporated town located in San Bernardino County, California in the United States. The town is located on Interstate 40 ten miles East of Barstow. The town has a population of about 200. The ZIP code is 92327 and the community is inside area code 760.-History:The town was...
, and Newberry Springs
Newberry Springs, California
Newberry Springs is an unincorporated area in the western Mojave Desert of Southern California, located at the foot of the Newberry Mountains in San Bernardino County, California, USA...
. The county services operate on a fixed route with a deviation zone and a flexible time schedule. When requested in advance, the county bus travels off the fixed route to pick up or drop off passengers within the deviation zone. Unless passengers hold a monthly or day pass, there is an additional charge for this service. All city and county buses connect at Barstow City Hall Transport Center.
The Harvey House Railroad Depot
Harvey House Railroad Depot
The Harvey House Railroad Depot, known as the Casa del Desierto - its original name, is a former Fred Harvey Harvey House located in Barstow, in the Mojave Desert within San Bernardino County, California...
is served twice daily by Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Southwest Chief
Southwest Chief
The Southwest Chief is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 2256-mile BNSF route through the Midwestern and Southwestern United States. It runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, passing through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California...
, from Chicago to Los Angeles and reverse. Connections can also be made on multiple Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach bus services to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and other destinations.
Rail freight is provided by BNSF and Union Pacific.
Barstow-Daggett Airport
Barstow-Daggett Airport
Barstow-Daggett Airport is a county-owned public-use airport in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located four nautical miles east of the central business district of the town of Daggett, and east of the city of Barstow...
Healthcare
Barstow Community HospitalBarstow Community Hospital
Barstow Community Hospital is a hospital in Barstow, California, United States. It is part of the Community Health Systems system....
is a 56-bed hospital serving the surrounding High Desert community. Opened in 1958, the hospital was named one of the "100 Top Hospitals in the Nation" for two consecutive years in the late 1990s.
Public safety
Barstow has its own police department, plus a regional station of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's DepartmentSan Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department serves San Bernardino County, California, which is geographically the largest county in the lower 48 states. SBSD provides law enforcement services to the unincorporated areas of the county and contract law enforcement services to 14 of the county's...
, which serves the unincorporated areas around the city, including Newberry Springs
Newberry Springs, California
Newberry Springs is an unincorporated area in the western Mojave Desert of Southern California, located at the foot of the Newberry Mountains in San Bernardino County, California, USA...
, Trona, Baker
Baker, California
Baker is a census-designated place located in San Bernardino County, California, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 735.Baker was founded as a station on the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad in 1908,...
and Ludlow
Ludlow, California
Ludlow is a small town in the Mojave Desert on Interstate 40, located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The older remains of the ghost town are along historic Route 66.-Geography:...
.
Fire prevention and paramedic services are provided by the Barstow Fire Protection District.
On November 19, 2010 Barstow residents were warned that the area water system was contaminated. A local area military base, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow
Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow
Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow is a United States Marine Corps supply and maintenance installation located east of Barstow, California. Its mission is to rebuild and repair ground-combat and combat-support equipment and to support installations on the West Coast of the United States...
notified Golden State Water that samples taken from their water system showed the chemical perchlorate
Perchlorate
Perchlorates are the salts derived from perchloric acid . They occur both naturally and through manufacturing. They have been used as a medicine for more than 50 years to treat thyroid gland disorders. They are used extensively within the pyrotechnics industry, and ammonium perchlorate is also a...
at levels above the maximum contaminant level of 6 parts per billion. Perchlorate is found in rocket propellant, fireworks, explosives, flares, matches and industrial byproducts. Golden State Water Co. handed out free bottled water to residents. The "Do Not Drink" water advisory ended five days later on November 24, 2010.
Famous people from Barstow
- Nick BarnettNick BarnettNicholas Alexander Barnett is an American Football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. A graduate of Fontana A.B...
, NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player for the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Raquel BeezleyRaquel BeezleyRaquel Roxanne Beezley is a beauty queen from Barstow, California who has competed in the Miss USA 2008 pageant.Beezley competed in the Miss California USA 2008 pageant on November 23, 2007 and initially placed second runner-up to Cristina Silva...
, Miss California USA 2008 - Jeanne CrainJeanne CrainJeanne Elizabeth Crain was an American actress.-Early life:Crain was born in Barstow, California, to George A. Crain, a school teacher, and Loretta Carr; she was of Irish heritage on her mother's side, and of English and distant French descent on her father's...
, actress. - Jeremy GableJeremy GableJeremy Joseph Gable is an American playwright living in Philadelphia.Gable was born in Lakenheath, Suffolk, England. He grew up in Post Falls, Idaho...
, playwright - T. J. HoushmandzadehT. J. HoushmandzadehT. J. Houshmandzadeh, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon State. Houshmandzadeh is of mixed...
, football player. - Mark JohnsonMark Johnson (golfer)Mark William "Beer Man" Johnson is an American professional golfer who plays on the Champions Tour.Johnson was born in Barstow, California. He decided to forgo college and turned pro directly out of high school in 1972; he played on mini-tours around Southern California for two years, a decision...
, golfer - Gloria J. Romero, majority leader, California State Senate
- Stan RidgwayStan RidgwayStanard 'Stan' Ridgway is an American multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter known for his distinctive voice, dramatic lyrical narratives, and eclectic solo albums and was the original lead singer of the band Wall of Voodoo...
, musician, founder of Wall of VoodooWall of VoodooWall of Voodoo was an American New Wave group from Los Angeles best known for the 1983 hit "Mexican Radio". The band had a sound that was a fusion of synthesizer-based New Wave music with the spaghetti western soundtrack style of Ennio Morricone.-Formation:... - Ross RobinsonRoss RobinsonRoss Robinson, son of Byron Katie, is an American multi-platinum music producer, who has discovered successful acts such as Korn, At the Drive-In, Glassjaw, Repeater, Slipknot and Limp Bizkit. Robinson has also worked with Machine Head, Vanilla Ice, The Cure, Sepultura and many others...
, music producer - Paul SalopekPaul SalopekPaul Salopek is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning writer. Salopek was raised in central Mexico.-Life:Salopek received a degree in environmental biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1984...
, journalist - Byron KatieByron KatieByron Kathleen Mitchell , better known as Byron Katie, born December 6, 1942,is an American speaker and author who teaches a method of self-inquiry known as "The Work of Byron Katie" or simply as "The Work."-Biography:...
, author, speaker
See also
- Mojave DesertMojave DesertThe Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
- Mojave National PreserveMojave National PreserveMojave National Preserve is located in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California, USA, between Interstate 15 and Interstate 40. The preserve was established October 31, 1994 with the passage of the California Desert Protection Act by the US Congress...
- Death Valley National ParkDeath Valley National ParkDeath Valley National Park is a national park in the U.S. states of California and Nevada located east of the Sierra Nevada in the arid Great Basin of the United States. The park protects the northwest corner of the Mojave Desert and contains a diverse desert environment of salt-flats, sand dunes,...
- Marine Corps Logistics Base BarstowMarine Corps Logistics Base BarstowMarine Corps Logistics Base Barstow is a United States Marine Corps supply and maintenance installation located east of Barstow, California. Its mission is to rebuild and repair ground-combat and combat-support equipment and to support installations on the West Coast of the United States...
- Solar One
- Calico Ghost Town
- Lake Dolores Waterpark
- Route 66U.S. Route 66U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
- Interstate 15Interstate 15Interstate 15 is the fourth-longest north–south Interstate Highway in the United States, traveling through the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and Montana from San Diego to the Canadian border...
- Interstate 40Interstate 40Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
- Harry PartchHarry PartchHarry Partch was an American composer and instrument creator. He was one of the first twentieth-century composers to work extensively and systematically with microtonal scales, writing much of his music for custom-made instruments that he built himself, tuned in 11-limit just intonation.-Early...
, Barstow: Eight Hitchhikers' Inscriptions