All you (n)ever wanted to know about Ridgecrest (Los Angeles: fit in, transplants) - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

All you (n)ever wanted to know about Ridgecrest (Los Angeles: fit in, transplants) - California (CA) - City-Data Forum: "All you (n)ever wanted to know about Ridgecrest
Overview
Ridgecrest revolves around China Lake. Everybody works there, or works in support of it. It is simply known as 'The Base'. Coming from a large city, the people of Ridgecrest will surprise you. Many residents of the area have lived there their entire lives, many of whom dropped out of high school, had 3 kids before age 21, can't keep steady work etc, and have not experienced much outside of Ridgecrest. There are many deeply entrenched families in town, and after living there a few months you will know who they are. The other half of the population are transplants, either folks who moved there to work on base, got stationed at China Lake while in the Navy, retirees, people who moved up there for cost of living, a few LA transplants etc. It seems big at 25,000, but when you realize that there is no other large population center for 90 miles in any direction, the isolation becomes apparent. Valley fever can set in, and sometimes you'll wonder if there's anything beyond those mountains. Ridgecrest can seem like its own little world in that way."