Show
About Us While we became an official Town when residents voted for incorporation in 1988, our history goes back much further. Local historians have found signs of Serrano Indian camps along the Mojave River in Apple Valley. They were already here when Father Francisco Garces arrived in 1776, as he established the Spanish missions throughout California. In the late 1800s, the Paiute Indians also migrated to this area. The Mojave River Trail hosted trappers, gold prospectors, pack mules and Mormon wagon trains—over 13,000 people passed through here between 1849 and 1859. It was in 1860 that the first cabin was built in Apple Valley by Silas Cox, and the first road was cut the following year. There are many stories as to how Apple Valley acquired its name. According to the late Mary Hampton, local historian, the name arose from the abundance of apple orchards that existed here in the 1920s. Some say the name “Apple Valley” originated from The Appleton Land Company that was based in this area in the early 1900s. Ursula Poates, one of the first settlers in the area, is credited with saying, “There were some apples being raised along the river in those early days, but not by the ton, so I just cut it down and called it Apple Valley!” By 1920, apples were being grown by the ton at award-winning orchards. Unfortunately, with the Great Depression and the cost of pumping water for irrigation, the orchards died off in the 1930s. With a pleasant climate and lots of land, many types of ranches were built in the area. They touted the dry desert air as a cure for ailments of all sorts, including tuberculosis and asthma. Other ranches provided a haven for shell-shock victims of World War I, while still others developed into guest ranches. People would come to Apple Valley to enjoy the western lifestyle where they could ride horses, attend rodeos, and just get away from the big city. The modern founders of Apple Valley were Newton T. Bass and B.J. “Bud” Westlund, who were partners in the oil and gas industry in Long Beach, CA. Westlund and Bass formed the Apple Valley Ranchos Land Co. in 1946 and marketed the area as a destination resort and quality residential community - "The Golden Land of Apple Valley". They built the Apple Valley Inn and Hilltop House and invited famous celebrities of Hollywood to come visit. Within ten years there were banks, churches, and a school, along with a golf course, hospital and 180 businesses. We encourage you to click on the links below to find out more about Apple Valley, California. As early as the late 18th century, explorers began trekking the valley along the Mojave River. They encountered native American people living along this trade route that connected coastal tribes with those along the Colorado River. Spanish missionary Father Francisco Garces, explorer Jedediah Smith and government topographer John C. Fremont were among the earliest to the area, but it was the discovery of silver and gold that brought large numbers of non-native immigrants. The area witnessed many struggles between the original inhabitants and the later settlers. In January 1867, the last battle between the newcomers and Native Americans was fought a few miles east of what we now know as Apple Valley, at a place called Chimney Rock. Today, people of many ethnic cultures live together in the peaceful surroundings of the valley and the legacy of these cultures is evident throughout the area. Chimney Rock is marked by a state-registered historical monument, and old mine shafts can still be seen in the surrounding hills. Ursula M. Poates was one of those early arrivals, settling around 1893. She’s credited with having named the area Apple Valley. Poates promoted real estate around the “Gateway to the Golden Land of Opportunity.” The colorful and dynamic woman advertised the 640-acre “City of Apple” in numerous newspapers. Poates claimed that the area was called “Appleton Valley” at the time. She is quoted as saying, “There were apples being grown along the river, but not by the ‘ton,’ so I just called it Apple Valley.” By 1914, apple growers were earning $350 to $500 per acre of fruit. Within a year and a half, the state legislature and the federal government had authorized the Victor Valley Water Project (the largest in the nation at that time), and the Santa Fe Railway began to lay double trackage to serve the anticipated needs of the area. On April 17, 1917, the United States entered World War I. Soon thereafter, young farmers, homesteaders, dam-builders, and cowhands began to march off to fight instead of developing the area. The years following World War I brought many changes that affected the area’s residents. The orchards suffered from a devastating fungus, the cost of operating electricity-driven water pumps increased, and apples and other fruits from the Pacific Northwest arrived in California markets. Many orchards died, and the valley returned to its original landscape of quiet desert beauty. The final blow was from 1944-46, when frosts, extreme heat, and hail decimated the surviving orchards. For the next seven years, firewood — the only thing growers had left to sell — was carried across Cajon Pass for burning in the fireplaces of Los Angeles. Bass, who died in 1983, was once asked why he wanted to build a city out in the middle of nowhere. He said, “I had the vision to see, the faith to believe, and the courage to do it.” Apple Valley Today Did Apple Valley have apples?But, according to Wikipedia, by 1902 the area was already known for its apples. Some orchard owners sold apple juice at stands with signs advertising "Apple Juice from Apple Valley." Poates settled on "Apple Valley" hoping to link the name with John F. Appleton, a hero of the American Civil War.
What is Apple Valley CA known for?Apple Valley is a large town of about 70,000 people situated in the Victor Valley area of San Bernardino County. Once known for its sprawling apple orchards which have since disappeared, the town is known for its beautiful scenery, central location, nice weather, and variation of things to see and do.
Is Apple Valley California a desert?Apple Valley is located at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert.
How many apple valleys are there?Apple Valley is the name of six localities in the United States: Apple Valley, California, a town located in the Victor Valley of San Bernardino County.
|
Why is Apple Valley CA called Apple Valley?
Postagens relacionadas
direito autoral © 2024 cumeu Inc.
