Roads/Distances Between Towns/Cities
Running north and south in front of Lancaster is Highway 14 and running northwest and southeast is Highway 138. Close to 35 miles away are I-210 and I-5. I-405 is roughly 40 miles south of Lancaster. Approximately 50 miles southeast is I-15 that turns into I-215 going south. The residents of the Antelope Valley area share the Sierra Highway, Angeles Forest Highway, Angeles Crest Highway, and the Antelope Valley Highway.
The nearest towns and cities to Lancaster that are less than 20 miles include Palmdale and Rosamond. The City of Los Angels is roughly 40 miles away, San Bernardino is close to 60 miles from Lancaster, and Burbank is approximately 40 miles south.
Airports
The major airports closest to Lancaster are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) that is 53 miles away and San Bernardino International Airport 70 miles from Lancaster. Smaller airports near the city of Lancaster include Bob Hope-Burbank Airport, Palmdale Regional Airport, and the Rosamond Sky Park.
Terrain
The City of Lancaster 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.
Lancaster 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. Lancaster is within a reasonable distance of Lake Palmdale in Palmdale. The land area of the city of Lancaster is roughly 94 square miles (2000 Census).
Population
The population of the city of Lancaster is close to 120,000 and the nearest city with a population of over 1,000,000 is Los Angeles. The estimated population of Lancaster in 2003 was to be roughly 125,000 (2000 Census).
Jobs
The major employment sectors for Lancaster include education, health, and social services that employs close to 23% of the work force population. Manufacturing and retail trade employ roughly 25% of the labor force as well.
A few of the major employers for Lancaster and the surrounding area include the Lancaster School District, Edwards Air Force Base, The Boeing Company, and Lockheed Aeronautics Company.
The median household income for the residents in Lancaster is approximately $41,000 (2000 Census).
Colleges/Universities
Within the City of Lancaster are Antelope Valley College, Lancaster Beauty School, and Page Antelope Valley Beauty School. Less than 45 miles away are College of the Canyons, Pasadena City College, Azusa Pacific University, and California State University-Los Angeles (CSU-LA).
Housing
The City of Lancaster offers housing options of various styles and sizes. Available are older single-family homes, newer model homes, acreage for development, and multi-family homes. Also included are ranch homes, townhouses, apartments, and condos.
The average sales price for Lancaster is close to $300,000. There are approximately 42,000 housing units throughout Lancaster (2000 Census).
Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
The Big 8 Softball Complex in Lancaster offers 8 fields, covered dug-outs, lighting in each field, electronic scoreboards, and concession area.
The Lancaster National Soccer Center is a year-round venue that is perfect for youth, adult, amateur and pro leagues. There are games, tournaments, exhibitions, special events, summer camps, and training sessions that take place in the Soccer Center. The center is served by a professional staff.
For the golf enthusiast there are several options available in Lancaster and the surrounding area. Golf Courses and Clubs include the Lancaster Golf Center, Meadowlark Golf Course, Rancho Vista Golf Club, and Lake Elizabeth Golf and Ranch Club.
The Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve is a 1,745 acre reserve that contains fields of wildflowers and the California state flower, the Poppy. The flowers throughout the fields bloom beautifully in spring and the duration of life of the flowers varies from year to year. The AVCPP is located near the city of Lancaster.
The Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park is in the city of Lancaster and contains roughly 566 acres. The purpose of the Park is to preserve the native Joshua’s and Junipers.
Special Attractions/Events
The California Poppy Festival in Lancaster provides favorable attractions that include over 200 unique fine art displays. Also included are arts and crafts vendors featuring handmade, high-quality items. There is a colorful flower garden that complements the farmers' market. There are children's activities, virtual reality rides, and interactive displays.
The Lancaster Aerospace Walk of Honor pays tribute to the distinguished Edwards Air Force Base test pilots. The Walk of Honor presents their achievements in the field that have been outstanding. At the celebration there are autographs available, souvenirs, and live music. Aircraft displays are the main attraction.
Interesting Facts
Lancaster is ranked the ninth-largest city in Los Angeles County.
Lancaster, California is the largest city named Lancaster in the world.
The City of Lancaster was the filming location for the 1992 movie "Lethal Weapon 3" and 1991 movie "Terminator 2: Judgment Day".
- NUMBER1EXPERTS™ 
