Wheeler Ridge, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wheeler Ridge
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Wheeler Ridge, and the Wheeler Ridge Interchange, viewed along SR 99 looking north from the Tejon Pass.
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 Wheeler Ridge
Location in California
Wheeler Ridge
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Kern |
| Elevation | 955 ft (291 m) |
Wheeler Ridge is a small, unincorporated community in Kern County, California. It's located in the southwestern part of the San Joaquin Valley. This area is special because it sits right where the flat valley floor meets the Tehachapi Mountains.
Where is Wheeler Ridge?
This community is found at a major road junction called the Wheeler Ridge Interchange. This is where two big highways, State Route 99 and Interstate 5, meet.
Wheeler Ridge is about 4.25 miles (6.84 km) south of Mettler. It is also southwest of Arvin. The elevation here is about 955 feet (291 meters) above sea level.
If you're sending mail, addresses east of Interstate 5 use "Arvin, CA 93203." Addresses west of Interstate 5 use "Lebec, CA 93243." The local phone area code is 661.
A Glimpse into History
Wheeler Ridge once had its own post office. It was open for many years, from 1923 until 1972.
Before the Grapevine area grew, Wheeler Ridge was an important stop. It was the last place to get services when traveling south on U.S. Route 99 and I-5. After Wheeler Ridge, travelers faced a steep 3,000-foot (910 m) climb up Tejon Pass. Old Route 99 used to go right through Wheeler Ridge before the highways were renumbered in 1964.
Earthquakes: Shaking Things Up
Wheeler Ridge is located in an area known for earthquakes.
The center of a very strong earthquake, the magnitude 7.3 1952 Kern County earthquake, was right here. This earthquake happened on a crack in the Earth's crust called the White Wolf Fault.
The community is also north of the famous San Andreas Fault. This huge fault line runs through the Sierra Pelona Mountains near Tejon Pass. The last major earthquake on the San Andreas Fault in this area was the magnitude 7.9 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake.
More recently, on April 16, 2005, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck near Wheeler Ridge. It also happened on the White Wolf Fault.
