Victorville, California

The city is in the High Desert, an area known for its unique and moderate weather patterns. The National Weather Service has maintained a weather station in Victorville since 1917. Official records show that Victorville has a cool arid climate (Köppen BWk) with four distinct seasons. Due to the higher elevation and inland location of the High Desert, the climate tends to be more extreme than in the Los Angeles Basin and other Southern California lowland regions.

Winter is the region's wet season, when Victorville receives the most storms. Due to the rain shadow effect caused by the San Bernardino Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains, the rainfall received is less than in the Los Angeles basin or even the San Bernardino Valley. Temperatures tend to be cool, with overnight low temperatures dropping to or below freezing on average. While the high temperatures average around a pleasant 60 °F or 15.6 °C, there are periods in which the high temperature fails to reach 50 °F (10 °C) or even 45 °F (7.2 °C). Low temperatures can dip below 25 °F (−3.9 °C) on occasion, with very cold temperatures possible; the record lowest temperature was −1 °F or −18.3 °C.[18] Snowfall and other wintry precipitation is also possible, although any snowfall tends to be very light and melt quickly; significant snowstorms as seen in the San Bernardino Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains are very rare.[19][20] Black ice is also possible during the winter.[21]

Summer days are generally hot to sweltering, with average high temperatures approaching 100 °F or 37.8 °C. It is also the time of year in which Victorville, and Southern California as a whole, receives the least precipitation. The higher elevation prevents the temperatures from matching the extreme heat seen in lower desert cities such as Palm Springs or Needles. However, heat waves can still raise the temperature to 110 °F or 43.3 °C, with the all-time record high being 116 °F or 46.7 °C.[22] Also unlike lower desert communities, the diurnal temperature variation is greater, allowing substantial relief to occur at night with average low temperatures approaching 60 °F or 15.6 °C. In the later part of the season, the average precipitation amount experiences an uptick due to the North American Monsoon bringing possible thunderstorms to the region. These thunderstorms can cause flash flooding, lightning, hail, and bring relief from the very hot summer days.[23][24]

Spring is a transitional season, with warm high temperatures and low temperatures remaining quite cool. Summer-like weather usually begins to appear in May while rainfall tapers off. Autumn also has generally warm to very warm high temperatures on average, with temperatures falling from hot in September to pleasant in November, and rainfall rates increasing. Winter-like weather usually begins to appear by late November. High wind events are common in Victorville year-round and particularly during the spring; they can down power lines and cause dust storms that reduce visibility.[25]

There are an average of 109 days with highs of 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher and an average of 79 days with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower. The average annual rainfall in Victorville is 6.27 inches (159 mm). There is an average of 28 days annually with measurable rain. The wettest “rain year” recorded was from July 1982 to June 1983 with 12.89 inches (327.4 mm) and the driest from July 1960 to June 1961 with 1.26 inches (32.0 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 5.45 inches (138.4 mm) in February 1944. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 3.00 inches (76.2 mm) on February 24, 1998. Snowfall in Victorville averages only 1.4 inches or 0.036 metres annually. The most snowfall in one month was 38.0 inches (0.97 m) in January 1949, including 31.0 inches (0.79 m) on January 14.[26][27]

The 2010 United States Census[31] reported that Victorville had a population of 115,903. The population density was 1,571.8 inhabitants per square mile (606.9/km²). The racial makeup of Victorville was 56,258 (48.5%) White (28.3% Non-Hispanic White),[6] 19,483 (16.8%) African American, 1,665 (1.4%) Native American, 4,641 (4.0%) Asian, 489 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 26,036 (22.5%) from other races, and 7,331 (6.3%) from two or more races. There were 55,359 Hispanic or Latino residents of any race (47.8%).

The Census reported that 110,800 people (95.6% of the population) lived in households, 341 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 4,762 (4.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 32,558 households, out of which 17,256 (53.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 17,036 (52.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 6,487 (19.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,397 (7.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2,478 (7.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 258 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 5,081 households (15.6%) were made up of individuals, and 1,954 (6.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.40. There were 25,920 families (79.6% of all households); the average family size was 3.77.

The population was spread out, with 38,023 people (32.8%) under the age of 18, 12,136 people (10.5%) aged 18 to 24, 33,479 people (28.9%) aged 25 to 44, 22,853 people (19.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 9,412 people (8.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

There were 36,655 housing units at an average density of 497.1 per square mile (191.9/km²), of which 20,137 (61.8%) were owner-occupied, and 12,421 (38.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 11.1%. 66,600 people (57.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 44,200 people (38.1%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–13, Victorville had a median household income of $50,034, with 25.3% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[6]

In 2000,[32] the city was estimated to contain 64,029 people, 20,893 households, and 15,883 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 61.1% White (47.5% Non-Hispanic White), 11.9% African American, 1.1% Native American, 3.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 16.3% from other races, and 6.0% from two or more races. 33.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 20,893 households, out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 19.4% 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 3.03 and the average family size was 3.47.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $66,763, and the median income for a family was $66,866. Males had a median income of $40,149 versus $26,138 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,731. 19.24% of the population and 16.03% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.6% of those under the age of 18 and 10.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

According to the city's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[33] the top employers in the city are:

The city of Victorville operates with a council-manager form of government.

The current city council members and city manager are:[34]

• Mayor: Debra Jones [35][36]
• Mayor pro tem: Leslie Irving [34]
• City council members: Elizabeth Becerra, Blanca Gomez [34]
• City manager: Keith C. Metzler [37]

This is a list of Victorville mayors by year. The mayor is appointed in December.

• 1974–1976 Terry E. Caldwell
• 1978–1980 Terry E. Caldwell
• 1986–1988 Terry E. Caldwell
• 1990–1992 Terry E. Caldwell
• 1994–1996 Terry E. Caldwell
• 1998–2000 Terry E. Caldwell
• 2002–2004 Terry E. Caldwell [38]
• 2010–2012 Ryan McEachron[39][40]
• 2012–2013 Jim Cox [39]
• 2014–2020 Gloria Garcia – First Hispanic woman mayor.[41][42]

In the California State Legislature, Victorville is in the 21st Senate District, represented by Republican Scott Wilk, and in the 33rd Assembly District, represented by Republican Devon Mathis.[43]

In the United States House of Representatives, Victorville is in California's 23rd congressional district, represented by Republican Jay Obernolte.[44]

The Victor Valley Daily Press is published in Victorville.[46]

Old Town Victorville Veteran's Memorial

A revitalization project started in 1995 in the ten square blocks along Historic Route 66. After years of setbacks in developing Old Town, the city, with input from residents and local business owners, created an Old Town Strategic Action Plan in 2007. In 2008, demolition of hazardous and dilapidated buildings began. In 2010, as the economy declined, the state eliminated Redevelopment Agencies which had funded the project and further work was put on indefinite hold.[51] As of 2012, the area still had problems with crime and homelessness, and many buildings remain boarded up.[52]

Projects include the Veteran's Memorial on the corner of Seventh Street and Forrest Avenue, the Route 66 Museum, the Transportation Center, and the Old Victor School. Several large murals have been painted on the sides of buildings in Old Town.[53]