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Lancaster, California

"Aerospace Capital"

A high desert city in the Antelope Valley that went from dusty frontier outpost to aerospace testing hub — where the sound barrier was first broken.

Founded 1876 | Population 164,543 | Peak 164,543 (2024) | County Los Angeles County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Lancaster, California

1947Sound Barrier Broken: Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier at nearby Edwards Air Force Base in the Bell X-1, launching the era of supersonic flight.

1876Railroad Town Founded: The Southern Pacific Railroad established Lancaster as a stop in the Antelope Valley.

1942Edwards AFB Expands: The military airfield expanded into a major flight test center, making the Antelope Valley the epicenter of American aerospace testing.

1990LA Suburb Boom: Lancaster's population surged as LA workers sought affordable housing in the Antelope Valley.

2015Solar Capital: Lancaster became one of the first U.S. cities to require solar panels on new homes.

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Complete Historical Timeline

1876 Transport

Railroad town founded

1942 Government

Edwards AFB expands nearby

1947 Science

Sound barrier broken at Edwards

1977 Science

Space Shuttle tested at Edwards

1990 Government

Suburban population boom

2015 Science

Solar mandate for new homes

2023 Government

Exceeds 164,000

Did You Know?

Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier at Edwards AFB near Lancaster on October 14, 1947 — and kept it classified for months.

The Space Shuttle landed at Edwards AFB near Lancaster on its first orbital missions before switching to Cape Canaveral.

Lancaster was one of the first U.S. cities to mandate solar panels on all new residential construction.

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