Baker, California

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Baker, California
2010-0615-BakerCA.jpg
Aerial view of Baker looking north: I-15 jogs south around the town, leaving Baker Boulevard, the main street, to show where the pre-interstate highway (US 91 and US 466) went. Baker Airport sits just north of the city alongside northbound CA 127, the "Death Valley Road".
San Bernardino County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Baker Highlighted 0603512.svg
Location in San Bernardino County and the state of California
USA California location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Baker, California
Location within the state of California
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Baker, California
Baker, California (the United States)
Coordinates: 35°16′33″N116°03′57″W / 35.27583°N 116.06583°W / 35.27583; -116.06583
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
State Flag of California.svg  California
County San Bernardino
Area
[1]
  Total2.69 sq mi (6.96 km2)
  Land2.69 sq mi (6.96 km2)
  Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
[2]
942 ft (287 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total442
  Density164.43/sq mi (63.49/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific)
  Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
92309
Area codes 442/760
FIPS code 06-03512
GNIS feature IDs 238894, 2628708
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Baker, California
View of Baker from the east on I-15 Baker California panorama.jpg
View of Baker from the east on I-15

Baker is a census-designated place located in San Bernardino County, California, US. [2] As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 735. Baker's ZIP Code is 92309 and the community is within area codes 442 and 760.

Contents

History

Baker was founded as a station on the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad in 1908 and was named for Richard C. Baker, business partner of Francis Marion Smith in building the railroad. Baker later became president of the T&T himself. [3] [4]

Baker was established in 1929 by Ralph Jacobus Fairbanks (1857–1942), who was an American prospector, entrepreneur, and pioneer who established several towns in the Death Valley area of California, including Fairbanks Springs (1904–05) and Shoshone (1910).

It is the site of a vacant, 223-bed for-profit prison formerly operated by Cornell Corrections which experienced a major riot on December 2, 2003, four weeks before it was temporarily closed. [5] It was permanently closed on December 25, 2009. GEO Group purchased Cornell Companies, its owner, on August 12, 2010. [6] It had previously experienced escapes in August and November 1995 and two on July 15, 1997. [7]

Geography and climate

Baker is located at (35.265099, -116.074768). Baker is located in the Mojave Desert at the junction of Interstate 15 and SR 127 (Death Valley Road). Its elevation is approximately 930 feet (283.5 m) above sea level, which is much lower than either Barstow or Las Vegas, due to its location at the southern end of the Death Valley geological depression. The Cronese Mountains are located southwest of the community. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), all of it land. Summer temperatures in Baker routinely exceed 110 °F (43.3 °C); 2007 saw a record of 125 °F (51.7 °C).

Climate data for Baker, California.
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)80
(27)
92
(33)
96
(36)
106
(41)
116
(47)
119
(48)
124
(51)
124
(51)
119
(48)
110
(43)
92
(33)
82
(28)
124
(51)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)63.1
(17.3)
68.6
(20.3)
76.8
(24.9)
84.3
(29.1)
94.9
(34.9)
104.8
(40.4)
110.2
(43.4)
107.9
(42.2)
100.2
(37.9)
87.1
(30.6)
72.6
(22.6)
62.4
(16.9)
86.1
(30.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)34.6
(1.4)
39.4
(4.1)
45.6
(7.6)
51.7
(10.9)
61.3
(16.3)
70.2
(21.2)
77.0
(25.0)
75.4
(24.1)
67.2
(19.6)
54.7
(12.6)
42.8
(6.0)
33.9
(1.1)
54.5
(12.5)
Record low °F (°C)16
(−9)
21
(−6)
24
(−4)
34
(1)
38
(3)
43
(6)
53
(12)
54
(12)
42
(6)
32
(0)
23
(−5)
14
(−10)
14
(−10)
Average precipitation inches (mm)0.47
(12)
0.71
(18)
0.51
(13)
0.20
(5.1)
0.11
(2.8)
0.07
(1.8)
0.27
(6.9)
0.46
(12)
0.41
(10)
0.25
(6.4)
0.31
(7.9)
0.41
(10)
4.19
(106)
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center [8]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
2010 735
2020 442−39.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1850–1870 [10] [11] 1880-1890 [12]
1900 [13] 1910 [14] 1920 [15]
1930 [16] 1940 [17] 1950 [18]
1960 [19] 1970 [20] 1980 [21]
1990 [22] 2000 [23] 2010 [24]

The 2010 United States Census [25] reported that Baker had a population of 735. The population density was 273.5 inhabitants per square mile (105.6/km2). The racial makeup of Baker was 302 (41.1%) White (26.5% Non-Hispanic White), [26] 1 (0.1%) African American, 5 (0.7%) Native American, 10 (1.4%) Asian, 14 (1.9%) Pacific Islander, 380 (51.7%) from other races, and 23 (3.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 502 persons (68.3%).

The Census reported that 731 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 4 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 215 households, out of which 122 (56.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 106 (49.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 39 (18.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 23 (10.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 29 (13.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 28 households (13.0%) were made up of individuals, and 4 (1.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.40. There were 168 families (78.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.74.

The population was spread out, with 277 people (37.7%) under the age of 18, 80 people (10.9%) aged 18 to 24, 236 people (32.1%) aged 25 to 44, 121 people (16.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 21 people (2.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.

There were 303 housing units at an average density of 112.7 per square mile (43.5/km2), of which 116 (54.0%) were owner-occupied, and 99 (46.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 20.8%. 414 people (56.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 317 people (43.1%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Baker had a median household income of $33,068, with 9.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line. [27]

Economy

Baker's economy is based primarily on tourism. The town is frequently used as a stop for food and fuel by drivers on Interstate 15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Baker is approximately 90 miles (144.8 km) southwest of Las Vegas. It is the last town for those traveling on SR 127 north to Death Valley National Park or south to the Mojave National Preserve. Until recently there was one motel in Baker, the Santa Fe Motel, formerly the Wills Fargo Motel, but as of 2023 the motel has closed.

Baker Airport is a small facility owned by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, but it is managed by San Bernardino County Department of airports [28]

Former prison staff housing rentals Baker prison sign.png
Former prison staff housing rentals

Government

State and federal representation

In the California State Legislature, Baker is in the 12th Senate District , represented by Republican Shannon Grove, and in the 34th Assembly District , represented by Republican Tom Lackey. [29]

In the United States House of Representatives, Baker is in California's 23rd congressional district , represented by Republican Jay Obernolte. [30]

Since Baker is an unincorporated community of San Bernardino County, County CEO, Leonard X. Hernandez, would be considered the Chief Administrator of Baker.

Water, Sanitary Sewers, Trash Collection Services, Fire Protection, Television Translators, Road Maintenance, Street Lighting, Park and Recreation is administered by the Baker Community Services District [31]

Mars rover test site

The Mars Science Laboratory Team tested an engineering model of the Curiosity rover in the desert near Baker. [32]

Education

The CDP is in the Baker Valley Unified School District. [33]

Attractions

"World's tallest thermometer", in November 2003 in Baker, California Baker California Nov03.jpg
"World's tallest thermometer", in November 2003 in Baker, California

See also

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References

  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Baker Census Designated Place". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  3. Bright, William (1998). 1500 California Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 20. ISBN   0-520-21271-1.
  4. Hildebrand, George Herbert (1982). Borax Pioneer: Francis Marion Smith . San Diego: Howell-North Books. p.  89. ISBN   0-8310-7148-6.
  5. Prison Riot Investigation Underway Archived April 14, 2015, at the Wayback Machine , KLAS-TV, December 3, 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  6. Final Audit Report—Baker Community Correctional Facility, Contract R05.006 Archived 2016-03-14 at the Wayback Machine , State of California Department of Finance, April 11, 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  7. Recent escapes from private prisons 1995-2000 Archived 2012-01-18 at the Wayback Machine , Oregon AFSCME, 2000. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  8. "Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  9. "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau .
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  26. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010". United States Census Bureau . 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  27. "Community Facts: Baker CDP, California". United States Census Bureau . 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  28. "Baker Airport".
  29. "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
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  31. CSD, Baker. "Baker Community Services District". Baker Community Services District.
  32. "An Inside Look at the Mars Curiosity Rover". Time . December 9, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
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