Muroc, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Muroc
|
|
|---|---|
|
Former settlement
|
|
Mojave Desert, 1929, including Muroc along the Santa Fe rail line
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Kern County |
| Elevation | 2,283 ft (696 m) |
Muroc was once a small community in the Mojave Desert in Kern County, California. It was also known by other names like Rogers, Rod, Yucca, and Rodriguez. Today, the area where Muroc used to be is part of Edwards Air Force Base, a very important place for testing airplanes.
Where Was Muroc?
Muroc was located on the edge of Rogers Dry Lake. This is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) east of where Edwards is now. The area is in the desert, about 2,283 feet (696 meters) above sea level.
Around 1929, Muroc was one of several small "post office" communities. These places helped connect people living on scattered ranches in the desert. People could reach these communities by car, using roads that led from the Antelope Valley into the desert.
A Place for New Ideas
Muroc continued to appear on maps even in 1942. After World War II, the area around Muroc became very important for testing new aircraft. It was here, in 1947, that a famous pilot named Chuck Yeager made history. He flew an experimental plane and became the first person to break the sound barrier. This was a huge step forward in aviation!
How Muroc Got Its Name
Muroc had its own post office for many years, from 1910 until 1951. The name "Muroc" has a fun origin. It was created by spelling the last name of early settlers, Ralph and Clifford Corum, backwards!
