Ridgecrest

City in Kern County, California

View of Ridgecrest, California
Photo: Michael93555 at English Wikipedia · Public domain

Ridgecrest is a city in Kern County, California, with 27,959 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 2,290 ft (698 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Ridgecrest Heights, 2.9 miles SW.

About Ridgecrest

Ridgecrest is a city in Kern County, California, United States, along U.S. Route 395 in the Indian Wells Valley in northeastern Kern County, adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWS, or China Lake). It was incorporated as a city in 1963. The population was 27,959 at the 2020 census, up slightly from 27,616 at the 2010 census, making it the third-largest city in Kern County.

Ridgecrest is surrounded by four mountain ranges; the Sierra Nevada on the west, the Coso Range on the north, the Argus Range on the east, and the El Paso Mountains on the south. The most isolated community in Kern county, it is approximately 82 miles (132 km) from the Lancaster/Palmdale area, 110 miles (177 km) from Bakersfield, and 120 miles (193 km) from San Bernardino, the three nearest major urban centers. Private air travel in and out of the city is provided through the Inyokern Airport. There are currently no scheduled commercial flights.

The city has been near the epicenter of major earthquakes, including one in 1995 and a series of quakes in July 2019.

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ridgecrest weather: 7-day forecast

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Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).

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Living in Ridgecrest

Median household income
$89,250
Median home value
$253,900
Median rent
$1,186/mo
Median age
33.4
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Map of Ridgecrest

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Ridgecrest Street View

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Ridgecrest, CA population

Ridgecrest had 27,959 residents in the 2020 Census.

2020 Census27,959
Density1,340 per sq mi (517 per km²)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.

Ridgecrest at a glance

StateCalifornia (CA)
CountyKern County
TypeCity
Population27,959 (2020)
Land area20.86 sq mi (54.0 km²)
Water area0.65 sq mi (1.67 km²)
Elevation2,290 ft (698 m)
Coordinates35.6285° N, 117.6640° W
ZIP code93555
Official websiteridgecrest-ca.gov
Census code (GEOID)0660704

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.

Towns near Ridgecrest

Straight-line distance between town centers.

Frequently asked questions about Ridgecrest

What county is Ridgecrest in?

Ridgecrest is in Kern County, California.

What is the population of Ridgecrest, CA?

27,959 people lived in Ridgecrest at the 2020 Census.

What is the ZIP code of Ridgecrest, CA?

The ZIP code of Ridgecrest is 93555.

What is the elevation of Ridgecrest?

2,290 feet (698 m) above sea level.

What towns are near Ridgecrest?

Ridgecrest Heights (2.9 mi), China Lake Acres (5.8 mi), Inyokern (8.9 mi), Johannesburg (17.8 mi), Searles Valley (17.9 mi).

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