Ridgecrest, California

For other uses, see Ridgecrest (disambiguation).

Ridgecrest, California
City
College Heights Blvd., Ridgecrest
College Heights Blvd., Ridgecrest
Official seal of Ridgecrest, California
Seal
Location in Kern County and the state of California
Location in Kern County and the state of California
Ridgecrest is located in southern California
Ridgecrest
Ridgecrest
Location in the United States
Ridgecrest is located in California
Ridgecrest
Ridgecrest
Ridgecrest (California)
Ridgecrest is located in the United States
Ridgecrest
Ridgecrest
Ridgecrest (the United States)
Coordinates: 35°37′21″N 117°40′15″W / 35.62250°N 117.67083°W / 35.62250; -117.67083
Country United States
State California
CountyKern
IncorporatedNovember 29, 1963[1]
Government
 • MayorEric A. Bruen[2]
 • State senatorMelissa Hurtado (D)[3]
 • AssemblymemberTom Lackey (R)[4]
 • U. S. rep.Vince Fong (R)[5]
Area
[6]
 • Total
21.53 sq mi (55.76 km2)
 • Land20.88 sq mi (54.08 km2)
 • Water0.65 sq mi (1.69 km2)  3.04%
Elevation
[7]
2,290 ft (698 m)
Population
 (April 1, 2020)
 • Total
27,959
 • Density1,300/sq mi (500/km2)
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−07:00 (PDT)
ZIP Codes
93555–93556
Area codes442 and 760
FIPS code06-60704
GNIS feature IDs1652783, 2410944
Websitewww.ridgecrest-ca.gov

Ridgecrest is a city in Kern County, California, United States, along U.S. Route 395 in the Indian Wells Valley in northeastern Kern County, adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWS, or China Lake). It was incorporated as a city in 1963. The population was 27,959 at the 2020 census, up slightly from 27,616 at the 2010 census.

Ridgecrest is surrounded by four mountain ranges; the Sierra Nevada on the west, the Cosos on the north, the Argus Range on the east, and the El Paso Mountains on the south. It is approximately 82 miles (132 km) from the Lancaster/Palmdale area, 110 miles (177 km) from Bakersfield, and 120 miles (193 km) from San Bernardino, the three nearest major urban centers. Private air travel in and out of the city is provided through the Inyokern Airport. There are currently no scheduled commercial flights.

The city has been near the epicenter of major earthquakes, including one in 1995 and a series of quakes in July 2019.

  1. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on February 21, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  2. ^ "Ridgecrest City Council". City of Ridgecrest. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  3. ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  4. ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  5. ^ "California's 20th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  6. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  7. ^ "Ridgecrest". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.