Lancaster is the ninth-largest city in Los Angeles County and the third-fastest growing. Lancaster is located in the Palmdale / Lancaster Urbanized Area, bordering the northern edge of Palmdale. Lancaster is the second largest desert city in California after Palmdale.



Lancaster, California is the largest city named Lancaster in the world, and it possibly named after Lancaster, Pennsylvania via Lancaster, England [1]. For a list of others, see Lancaster.

Founded in 1876 along the route of the Southern Pacific Railroad (now merged into the Union Pacific Railroad), Lancaster was originally a commercial and social center primarily for Antelope Valley farmers. During World War II, the city was home to the Polaris Flight Academy at War Eagle Field, the only civilian school offering basic flight training for army cadets. After the war, Lancaster's population saw a noticeable increase due to its proximity to Edwards Air Force Base (formerly known as Muroc Army Air Field) and U.S. Air Force Plant 42. In the 1990s and 2000s, Lancaster has seen another housing boom as developers seek to build new housing in formerly undeveloped land across the southwest U.S.

The Single-A Baseball Lancaster JetHawks of the California League call the city home.

Like Palmdale, Lancaster is a contract city, in which the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement services. It is served by Lancaster station.

Geography

Lancaster is located at 34'41'13" North, 118'9'15" West (34.686980, -118.154062)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 243.9 km? (94.2 mi?). 243.5 km? (94.0 mi?) of it is land and 0.5 km? (0.2 mi?) of it is water. The total area is 0.19% water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 118,718 people, 38,224 households, and 27,674 families residing in the city. The population density was 487.6/km? (1,263.0/mi?). There were 41,745 housing units at an average density of 171.5/km? (444.1/mi?). The racial makeup of the city was 62.82% White, 16.01% African American, 1.02% Native American, 3.81% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 11.11% from other races, and 5.00% from two or more races. 24.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 38,224 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.41.

In the city the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,127, and the median income for a family was $48,276 (Based on Merrit Research. Males had a median income of $40,710 versus $27,619 for females ( +/- $3,000 per year). The per capita income for the city was $16,935. 16.4% of the population and 13.8% of families were below the poverty line. 21.9% of those under the age of 18 and 7.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.