Recent History
1946 - First ready-mix plant started by Frank and Yvonne Lane.
1947 - Bob Hope's radio broadcast originated in Lancaster on May 18. Capt. Charles Yeager flew over the Valley from Muroc Air Base in a Bell XI aircraft, the first man to break the sound barrier. Lancaster started the first town-wide disposal system. The Community Concert Association was formed and the first concert was held in the fall.
1948 - First commercial installation of a television set by a local firm.
1949 - Heavy snow fell on Lancaster with 18 to 20 inches on the ground. Home U.S. mail delivery started in June.
1950 - The population of Lancaster was 3,600. KAVL, Lancaster's first radio station started operation. The Lancaster Cemetery District was formed Jan 31 to care for the old cemetery.
1951 - Natural gas supplied to Lancaster.
1952 - A strong earthquake did a lot of damage to the water tower and area. A new house number system began for Lancaster. Numbers going north start from Los Angeles County seat, going east and west they started from Division Street. Most east-west streets in town changed from numbers to names, but in the countryside the alphabet system started fro the county line (Avenue A) and goes south. The Antelope Valley Bar Association was formed. The Avenue I and 10th Street West shopping center was developed on an 8-acre site. Cost was $1,800,000. Clyde Wallace and Henry Schafer were appointed to the board of directors of the 50th District Agricultural Association by Gov. Earl Warren, sponsors of the Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival. A new unit was added to the high school to replace the old agricultural buildings that were to be torn down. When completed, there would be 32 units connected by covered passageways. Antelope Valley produced a heavy yield of cotton that surpassed that of the San Joaquin Valley.
1953 - Mrs. Ethel Milne Gilmore, mother of Judy Garland, formerly the wife of Frank Gumm, died in January. The Exposition Hall was built on the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. The Antelope Valley Bank opened at 665 W. Lancaster Boulevard.
1957 - The Antelope Valley Progress Association, Inc. was started in Lancaster, with Leo Seltzer as the first president. The organization is known today as the Antelope Valley Board of Trade.
1958 - The Antelope Valley Freeway plan was given the OK.
1959 - The Kern Antelope Historical Society, Inc. was founded, with many of the members from Lancaster.
1960 - The census taken this year showed a total of 29,019. It was the largest increase in a 10-year period, averaging over 2,500 per year.
1961 - Classes started at the new Antelope Valley College campus on Avenue K.
1962 - Twenty-four candidates were running for the first Antelope Valley College Board of Trustees. The five elected were: Ross Amspoker, Charlotte Rupner, Chester Wolowicz, Lou Massari and Glen Settle. Before this, the high school board carried on the duties. The Antelope Valley Administration Center started construction in Lancaster. The Antelope Valley branch of the county clerk's office opened with Supervisor Warren Dorn officiating. Antelope Valley Press Club installed new officers at the Antelope Valley Inn. Installed were Chuck Grina, KAVL, president; herb Comstock, also of KAVL, vice president, and Louise Johnson, Ledger Gazete as secretary-treasurer. Also re-elected were Jack Overlade and Elinor Burke
1963 - A 72-bed long-term care medical facility was built at 1642 West Avenue J.
1969 - California's Gov. Ronald Reagan (former President of the United States) came to Lancaster as the featured speaker for the Chamber of Commerce Installation banquet.
1970 - Population of Lancaster was 40,609.
1972 - Warren Dorn announced the dedication of Apollo Park, east of Fox Airport on 56 acres, which is the result of the AV Water Reclamation project of 1959. This is the first of its kind in the nation. The 8.7 mile section of the Antelope Valley Freeway between Avenue P-8 and Avenue I was opened. Jim Jackson was named honorary mayor.
1973 - The YMCA built a major facility at Avenue J-8 and 25th Street West.
1974 - The Antelope Valley College ''Marauder Football Team'' wins the state championship.
1976 - The Antelope Valley Poppy Park, which was first conceived in 1948 by the Lancaster organization of The Native Daughters of the Golden West, finally became a reality and was dedicated. The Lancaster Woman's Club spearheaded the drive. Lancaster's oldest landmark, the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, was destroyed by fire.
1977 - Lancaster, after an overwhelming majority at the polls, officially became a city. The first city councilmen elected were: Tim Hayes, Ron Jackson, Stan Kleiner, Forrest Hull and Fred Hann. Stan Kleiner was named the first mayor.
The nation's first space shuttle orbiter, built at Air Force Plant 42, moved through Lancaster on its way to Edwards Air Force Base.
Learn more about this city
City of LANCASTER official site
County of LOS ANGELES official site
City of LANCASTER chamber of commerce
City of LANCASTER general information
City of LANCASTER yellow pages
State of California official site