Get to know Palmdale, CA

The city of Palmdale is a bedroom community of Los Angeles.  European settlers from the Midwest established the original settlement of Palmenthal in 1886.  They mistook the Joshua trees for palm trees and named the settlement after them.  The village was officially established in 1888 when a post office was built.  A drought in the 1890’s forced most settlers to leave.  The remaining settlers and the post office moved closer to the Southern Pacific Railroad and established the new community of Palmdale.  The completion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct allowed crops to flourish, including apples, pears, and alfalfa.  Agriculture continued to drive the economy until World War II brought the defense industry to the area.  Today it is known as the Aerospace Capital of America.  The city was incorporated in 1962.  The aerospace industry is the economic base for Palmdale, although recent years have seen more manufacturing come to the city.  The largest employers are Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

Quick Facts

Population: 156,672

Median Household Income: $52,392

Median Property Value: $188,300