Roads/Distances Between Towns/Cities
The roadways running by the City of Palmdale are Highways 14 and 138. Nearby are Interstates 5 and 15. The residents of the Antelope Valley area share the Sierra Highway, Angeles Forest Highway, Angeles Crest Highway, and the Antelope Valley Highway.
Within ten miles of Palmdale are Lancaster and Quartz Hill. Rosamond, Edwards Air Force Base, and San Bernardino are less than 60 miles away. The major metropolis of Los Angeles is roughly 40 miles from Palmdale.
Airports
The major airports closest to Palmdale are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) that is roughly 46 miles from Palmdale and San Bernardino International Airport that is close to 64 miles away. Smaller airports in the Palmdale area include Bob Hope-Burbank Airport, Rosamond Sky Park, and the Palmdale Regional Airport.
Terrain
The City of Palmdale is located in the Antelope Valley that is part of the Mojave Desert. The Mojave Desert stretches from the Antelope Valley, down to Joshua Tree National Park in Palm Springs, and up to an area northeast of Las Vegas. The Mojave Desert is in the southeastern portion of California. The Mojave Desert is at a higher elevation than the Colorado Desert. The Mojave and Colorado Desert boarders meet in Joshua Tree National Park. The Mojave Desert is acknowledged for its California Poppies, sagebrush, Joshua Trees, coyotes, and desert tortoises.
Palmdale is surrounded by the San Gabriel Mountain Range. The range has several peaks reaching over 9,000 feet with the highest being Mount San Antonio. Lake Palmdale in Palmdale is fed by Little Rock Creek. Palmdale is also the home to Una Lake, Carr Canyon, and Hunt Canyon. The city has a land area of approximately 105 square miles.
Population
The population in the City of Palmdale is close to 117,000. The 2002 estimation of population for Palmdale was roughly 125,000 (2000 Census).
Jobs
The major employment sectors for the City of Palmdale are education, health, and social services employing close to 20% of the work force population. Also included are manufacturing and retail trade that employs roughly 30% of the labor force.
A few of the top employers throughout Palmdale and the Antelope Valley are Edwards Air Force Base, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Palmdale Elementary School District, and the Antelope Valley Hospital.
The median household income is approximately $50,000 (2000 Census).
Colleges/Universities
Within 15 miles from the City of Palmdale is Antelope Valley College. Within 50 miles are Los Angeles Mission College, Pasadena City College, Glendale Community College, Azusa Pacific University, College of the Canyons, and Citrus College.
Housing
In the City of Palmdale, the options of housing are abundant. There are older single-family homes, newer model homes, and acreage for development. Also available are townhouses, apartments, condos, and multi-family homes.
The average sales price is close to $290,500 in Palmdale. There are approximately 37,140 housing units throughout the City (2000 Census).
Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
Melville J. Courson Park offers a heated outdoor swimming pool, 4 basketball courts, picnic benches, and a gazebo. The Melville J. Courson Park is a great place to stop during a busy business day and enjoy a relaxing lunch. There is a playground for the children that include slides, climbers, fire poles, and swings.
Marie Kerr Park is close to 18 acres in size and provides a picturesque walking and jogging trail that goes around the park. There are curved grassy areas and beautiful views of the nearby mountains and hillsides. The Marie Kerr Park includes a recreation building, softball field, 2 soccer fields, children’s playground, sand volleyball court, 2 tennis courts, and 2 covered picnic areas with barbecues. There is also a skate park for those who enjoy skateboarding, quad-skating, or inline skating. The Marie Kerr Park is home to the Starlight Concert Series.
The Rancho Vista Golf Club has previously won the Best Golf Course title in Antelope Valley. The Course also includes a pro shop and practice area. The Club offers Golf school, junior golf, and business programs. The Rancho Vista Golf Club is available for weddings, fundraisers, and banquets.
The Lake Elizabeth Golf and Ranch Club has an 18-hole championship course. The Club has been rated as a new Coast to Coast Full Family Recreation Resort. The resort offers a “home-on-the-range” friendly atmosphere for all to enjoy. Also conveniently located in the Resort is a restaurant that offers catering as well.
Special Attractions/Events
The annual Palmdale Fall Festival is an award-winning festival in the Antelope Valley. There is fun for the whole family with new attractions, fireworks, and extraordinary entertainment. The Fall Festival is a great place to create new memories of fun and excitement.
The Annual Children’s Festival is a weekend meant just for kids. The festival is held at the Playhouse in Palmdale. Activities include hands-on art activities, children’s theatre, chalk on the walk, Riki Tiki the clown, and story time. The Children’s Festival is a creative, fun, and educational opportunity for the young residents and visitors of Palmdale.
Thursday Night on the Square in Palmdale is an event where the whole family can enjoy a farmers market that carries fresh fruit and vegetables, live entertainment, tasty food, arts and crafts, and free activities for the children. There is music in the gazebo, a bubble garden, storytelling, face painting, and Riki Tiki the Clown. Thursday Night on the Square is held from late June through early September.
At the Children’s Springfest and Egg Hunt, kids have the option of participating in the Egg Hunt for children under 12, a teen & parent Egg hunt, Candyland Adventure, and Kiddie Rides. Also included for enjoyment are a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, and silly “wabbit” games. The children, residents or visitors, are sure to have an “egg-cellent” time.
Interesting Facts
On August 24, 1962, Palmdale became the first community within Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city.
Palmdale was once called Palmenthal and is also referred to as "The Aerospace Capital of the World".
The City of Palmdale was also the filming location for the 1998 movie "Hard Rain".
The Boeing building at Plant 42 /Palmdale Regional Airport is one of the largest buildings in the world. This building was where the 2004 movie “The Terminal” with Tom Hanks was filmed. It was used to house the duplicate JFK terminal set since it was the only building in the Southland area big enough to produce the movie.
- NUMBER1EXPERTS™ 
