North Edwards, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
North Edwards
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The corner of Lamel St. and Glendower Ave. in North Edwards
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Location in Kern County and the state of California
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 North Edwards, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Kern |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.746 sq mi (33.012 km2) |
| • Land | 12.746 sq mi (33.012 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 2,293 ft (699 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,054 |
| • Density | 82.69/sq mi (31.928/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
93523
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| Area codes | 442/760 |
| FIPS code | 06-51812 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1661115 |
North Edwards is a small community in Kern County, California, located in the Mojave Desert. It used to be called Edgemont Acres and North Muroc. It's about 7.2 miles (11.6 km) northeast of Edwards Air Force Base and sits about 2,293 feet (699 meters) above sea level. In 2010, about 1,058 people lived here. North Edwards is a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a special area identified by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistics.
Contents
History of North Edwards
In June 1955, a developer announced plans to build homes on Clay Mine Road. This area was close to the north gate of a military base. Soon, other builders started construction too.
By March 1960, the Boron Enterprise newspaper reported that over 1,000 people lived in this "bustling community." It had several neighborhoods. The next year, the community was officially named North Edwards.
Community Growth
A group called the chamber of commerce was started in October 1958. This group aimed to help the community grow in good ways. They wanted to improve businesses, industries, and social life. They also hoped to guide the community's growth carefully.
By August 1957, volunteer firefighters were building a fire station. They also received training from Kern County firefighters. The county even gave the volunteers a fire engine.
Construction for the first part of a shopping center began in March 1959. It was ready for business by October of that year. Thomas Stovall opened a supermarket, and other stores soon joined him.
Over time, several local water companies joined together. Eventually, two main companies served the community. These were the Edgemont Acres Mutual Water Company (started in 1960) and the North Edwards Water District (formed in 1987).
Community Events and Services
In May 1967, the Chamber of Commerce hosted a community event called Western Silver Days. It featured a parade with floats and marching groups. Food was served at the firehouse, and local businesses gave away prizes.
The First Southern Baptist Church was built in June 1959. Other churches later became part of the community too.
In November 1964, the Muroc Joint Unified School District approved a new school. When it opened in November 1966, it taught students from kindergarten to third grade.
Before a post office could open, residents needed to agree on a name. This was difficult, so they started with a "Contract Branch" of the Edwards Post Office in September 1959. In June 1961, the Chamber of Commerce held a postcard election. Everyone agreed to accept the winning name, which was North Edwards. The post office officially opened in September 1961.
In January 1963, the Kern County Planning Commission officially recognized North Edwards as a town.
Important Leaders
North Edwards was special because it was the first town to have a woman as president of its Chamber of Commerce. Her name was Ann L. Campen. She served until her death in August 1973.
Ann Campen helped get Clay Mine Road paved. She also helped bring telephone service to Aerial Acres, California. She was a representative for Barry Goldwater Jr. and helped organize an annual community parade for North Edwards and Boron, California. She even brought famous people to be Grand Marshals in the parades.
Modern North Edwards
Over the years, some businesses in North Edwards have closed. This was often because it was hard for them to stay open financially. Places like a cafe, a bar, a pizza place, a hardware store, a movie rental store, and a bowling alley (which closed due to a fire) are no longer there. The local elementary school, Richard B. Lynch, also closed.
Today, North Edwards mainly serves as a "bedroom community." This means many people who live there travel to work in nearby places. They might work at Edwards Air Force Base or at the U.S. Borax mine in Boron, California.
Geography and Climate
North Edwards is located at 35°01′00″N 117°49′58″W / 35.01667°N 117.83278°W.
The community covers a total area of about 12.746 square miles (33.012 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Local Climate
North Edwards has a semi-arid climate. This means it's usually dry, but not a full desert. It gets some rain, but not a lot. On climate maps, this type of weather is called "BSk."
Population Information
Here's a look at the population of North Edwards based on past census information.
2010 Census Details
In 2010, North Edwards had a population of 1,058 people. The population density was about 83 people per square mile (32 people per square kilometer).
Most residents were White (80.1%). There were also African American (4.1%), Native American (2.5%), Asian (1.9%), and Pacific Islander (0.1%) residents. About 5.7% were from other races, and 5.8% were from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 16.9% of the population.
There were 417 households in North Edwards. About 31.7% of these households had children under 18 living in them. The average household had about 2.54 people. The average family size was about 3.16 people.
The median age in North Edwards was 41.0 years old. This means half the people were younger than 41, and half were older.
2000 Census Details
In 2000, there were 1,227 people living in North Edwards. There were 472 households and 336 families. The population density was about 96 people per square mile (37 people per square kilometer).
The racial makeup was similar to 2010, with most people being White (85.98%). About 7.42% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The median income for a household was $40,547, and for a family it was $44,125. About 13.9% of the population lived below the poverty line.
See also
In Spanish: North Edwards para niños
