Hesperia, California

Hesperia is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is found about 35 miles north of downtown San Bernardino in an area called Victor Valley. This place is surrounded by the Mojave Desert, but because it sits at a higher elevation, it has its own special kind of weather, often called the High Desert.

The name Hesperia means "western land," which fits because it lies in the western part of the country. In the year 2020, more than 99,000 people lived there, making it a lively community in this beautiful, high-lying desert area.

History

The area now known as Hesperia was originally home to the Serrano people and their subgroup, the Desert Serrano Vanyume. Their village of Wá’peat, along with others near the Mojave River, was an important community until the early 1800s.

Hesperia began as a Spanish land grant in 1781 called Rancho San Felipe, Las Flores, y el Paso del Cajon. After the Mexican-American War in 1848, the area became part of the United States. In 1869, Max Stobel bought a large amount of land from the U.S. government and used it mainly for growing raisin grapes.

The town was officially mapped out in 1891 by developers from the Santa Fe Railroad, who named it after Hesperus, the Greek god of the West. Though they had big plans, only about 1,000 people settled there. Growth picked up after roads like Routes 66 and Interstate 15 were built. In the 1980s, many new families moved in, turning Hesperia from a small town of 5,000 into a city with over 100,000 people by 2020.

Geography

Hesperia is a city in the Mojave Desert, and the California Aqueduct runs through the area. The land around Hesperia has plants like junipers, joshua trees, and sagebrush. The city sits between 3,200 feet and 4,000 feet above sea level.

Hesperia is close to Victorville, Oak Hills, and Apple Valley. The Mojave River flows through the eastern part of the city, and the California Aqueduct passes through from north to south on its way to Silverwood Lake. The city covers about 72.8 square miles, most of which is land with a small amount of water.

Climate

Hesperia has a cold desert climate. Winters are cool during the day but cold at night, with average temperatures around 60 °F during the day and near freezing at night. This is also the time of year when the area gets most of its rain, though the mountains around Hesperia block a lot of the rainfall. The city usually gets about 6 inches of rain each year and a little snow.

Summers in Hesperia are very hot, often reaching nearly 100 °F. Even though it gets very hot during the day, nights are cooler. Sometimes in late summer, storms can bring heavy rain and cause local flooding.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

According to the 2020 census, Hesperia had a population of 99,818 people. The racial makeup included 40.3% White, 5.6% African American, 1.9% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 33.9% from other races, and 15.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 58.8% of the population.

Most people lived in households, with only a tiny fraction in group homes or institutions. Nearly all residents lived in urban areas, with just a small number in rural spots.

2023 ACS 5-year estimates

In 2023, the median household income was estimated at $68,971, and the average income per person was $25,683. About 14.3% of families and 17.5% of all people lived below the poverty line.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded 90,173 people in Hesperia. The racial makeup was 61.1% White, 5.8% African American, 1.2% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 24.5% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people were 48.9% of the population.

Most people lived in households, with a few in group homes or institutions. The median household income was $46,027, and about 23.1% of the population lived below the federal poverty line.

Economy

The main jobs and workplaces in Hesperia come from many different places. Here is a list of some of the biggest employers in the city:

Arts and culture

Hesperia has a manmade lake called Hesperia Lake Park on the southeastern edge of the town. This lake is used for many fun activities, including the annual Hesperia Day events. People can go camping, fishing, and enjoy day camps and sports leagues there.

Just south of Hesperia Lake Park is the Radio Control Model Aircraft Park, where members of the Victor Valley R/C Flyers can fly their model planes every day. Hesperia also has a famous golf course with narrow paths and quick greens. Long ago, in the 1950s and 1960s, professional golfers played there as part of the PGA Tour. To the east of Hesperia, the Mojave River flows north, usually hidden underground but sometimes appearing above ground after heavy rain. The city is next to Victorville to the north and Apple Valley to the east. Hesperia is home to Cal-Earth, a group that shows and teaches a special way to build homes called Superadobe.

Parks and recreation

The Hesperia Recreation and Park District helps people have fun and stay active. It started in 1957 and has places both inside buildings and outside where people can play. There is also a baseball league for adults over 28 years old who live in Hesperia.

Government

State and federal

In the California State Legislature, Hesperia is in the 23rd senatorial district, represented by Republican Suzette Martinez Valladares. It is split between the 34th Assembly district, represented by Republican Tom Lackey, and the 39th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Juan Carrillo.

In the United States House of Representatives, Hesperia is in California's 23rd congressional district, represented by Republican Jay Obernolte.

Municipal

As of 2025^[update], Allison Lee is the mayor of the city, with Cameron Gregg as the mayor pro tem. The other three council members are Chris Ochoa, Brigit Bennington, and Josh Pullen.

Hesperia has advisory committees such as the City Council Advisory Committee, Planning Commission, and Public Safety Advisory Committee. These groups help the city council with advice and ideas.

Discrimination lawsuits

In 2016, a local center that helped people without homes sued Hesperia and local law enforcement. The center claimed they were treated unfairly after opening a home for people who had finished their time in court. The city changed some rules, and the case was settled in 2018.

Later, in 2019, a national group also said Hesperia was not treating everyone fairly.

Education

The Hesperia Unified School District covers most of Hesperia and includes three high schools: Hesperia High School, Sultana High School, and Oak Hills High School. There are also two continuation high schools, three junior high schools (including Ranchero Middle School and Cedar Middle School), and 14 elementary schools.

Some parts of Hesperia are in the Snowline Joint Unified School District. The city also has several charter and private schools, such as Mirus Secondary School, which offers a special independent study program, and Hesperia Christian School, a K-12 Christian school founded in 1966.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Hesperia has many main roads like Ranchero Road, Main Street, and Eucalyptus Avenue. Some of these roads have bike lanes, and there are trails for fun activities. The city is on Interstate 15, just north of the Cajon Pass.

Public buses are managed by the Victor Valley Transit Authority. Trains run through Hesperia too, with BNSF Railway connecting Los Angeles to Barstow. Union Pacific freight trains and Amtrak’s Southwest Chief also pass by. The closest Amtrak station is in Victorville, about 13 miles north. There are plans for a high-speed rail station in Hesperia with Brightline West.

Hesperia Airport is a public airport about 3.2 miles south of the city center.

Public safety

Hesperia works with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for police services. A new police station opened in 2010 in the Civic Plaza. The city used to have its own fire department, but now it gets fire and emergency help from the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

Notable people

Hesperia is home to many interesting people from different areas of life. Some well-known individuals from Hesperia include Anthony Adams, a politician, and Ricky Brabec, a professional motorcycle racer. There are also athletes like Dan Henderson, a mixed martial arts fighter, and Marcel Reece, a former football player for the Oakland Raiders. The city has produced musicians such as Maximum Bob and Buck Page, the founder of Riders of the Purple Sage band. Additionally, Lee Rodriguez is an actress from Hesperia, and Chris Smith is a coach and former baseball player.