Introduction to Apple Valley, California
The California town of Apple Valley is located at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County's Victor Valley, about 46 miles north of San Bernardino and 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The town is situated on California State Highway 18 and only a short distance east of Interstate I-15. Other major thoroughfares near Apple Valley include U.S. Route 395 and State Highway 247. Neighboring communities include Victorville (to the west), Adelanto (to the northwest) and Hesperia (to the southwest).
Named by an early settler around the turn of the century for its abundance of apple fields, Apple Valley relied on apple growing as its principal industry up until the time of World War I. In subsequent years, a number of factors (including fungus, frosts, and rising cost of electricity to operate the water pumps) combined to kill off many orchards and severely impact the once-thriving industry. By mid-century, enterprising land developers discovered the area and a bedroom community took root. Modern homes, golf courses, and other recreational facilities sprung up; and within a ten-year period, three elementary schools and a junior high school were built and expanded. The town soon became a retreat for movie stars and the site of several movie productions. Among its more noted residents were Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, who claim Apple Valley as their final resting place. The town was incorporated in 1988.
Apple Valley Area Attractions
A unique feature of Apple Valley is a network of equestrian trails that allow easy travel by horseback through many areas of the town. Annual town events include July's Freedom Festival (an old fashioned Independence Day celebration) and the Apple Valley Round Up, a September festival which includes a parade, carnival and entertainment lasting throughout an entire weekend. Nearby Victorville is home to the California Route 66 Museum, which celebrates the famed national highway with exhibits, artifacts, and photographs. Also in Victorville is the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, home to the County Fair, which draws tens of thousands annually to enjoy a rodeo, carnival, award-winning livestock, stage shows, and much more. Sports fans can find pro baseball in the neighboring town of Adelanto, home to the High Desert Mavericks, the Class Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The resort areas of Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear, and Wrightwood are only an hour's drive from Apple Valley, which is also only a short drive from the wide array of entertainment opportunities available in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
