Native American Roots: The First Inhabitants
Long before settlers arrived, the Ridgecrest area was home to Native American tribes, including the Paiute, Shoshone, and Kawaiisu. These tribes thrived in the Indian Wells Valley, utilizing the rich natural resources for hunting, gathering, and trading. The Paiute, known for their intricate basketry, and the Shoshone, with their detailed petroglyphs, left behind a rich cultural legacy that can still be seen today in the nearby Coso Range. These petroglyphs, some of which are thousands of years old, provide a glimpse into the spiritual and daily lives of the region's early inhabitants (American Indian COC) (Wikipedia).
The Early Days: More Than Just Tumbleweeds
Once upon a time in the early 1900s, Ridgecrest wasn't much more than a wild, untamed wilderness with a few deserted cabins and a dirt trail. The land that is now Ridgecrest was a desolate area with just a railroad track and a vision in the heart of a man who later chose the name Bernard Washington Spilman. His dream? To create a haven for Baptists to learn and teach the Bible. He found his "Big Mountain" in 1906, but whether his vision for a Baptist community materialized to any significant degree remains unclear.
Crumville: A Dairy Dream
Fast forward to the 1910s, and the scene shifts to a small farming community called Crumville. Named after the Crum brothers, Robert and James, who set up a dairy here, Crumville was the embryo of what would become Ridgecrest. Picture a few scattered farms, hardworking pioneers, and the slow, steady march of progress.
Ridgecrest: A New Name, A New Beginning
In 1941, the community needed a new name. The folks initially wanted "Sierra View," but the postal authorities rejected this due to there being too many "Sierra" locations in the area. So, in a close vote, "Ridgecrest" was born, thanks to Ada Thompson’s winning suggestion.
Boom! The Military Moves In
The real game-changer came in 1943 with the establishment of the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) at Harvey Field (now known as China Lake). Suddenly, this sleepy town turned into a bustling center for military research and development. The presence of NOTS fostered a culture of innovation, leading to many groundbreaking inventions. Thousands of construction workers, military personnel, and their families moved in, sparking a housing boom. By the 1950s, Ridgecrest's population had exploded to over 5,000.
Innovation Fueled by War and Peace
NOTS, now the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, has been at the forefront of some remarkable inventions that have impacted both military and civilian life:
- Sidewinder Missile: Developed in the 1950s, this air-to-air missile revolutionized aerial combat and remains one of the most widely used and copied missiles in the world.
- Glow Sticks: Initially created for military use, these chemical light sources are now a staple at concerts and parties.
- High-Velocity Aircraft Rockets (HVAR): These rockets were crucial during World War II and the Korean War, providing effective ground attack capabilities.
- Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM): A guidance kit that converts unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions, significantly improving accuracy.
- Hypersonic Weapons: Current projects at China Lake involve developing weapons that can travel at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound, enhancing strike capabilities and evading defenses (Wikipedia) (CNRSW) (Navy) (Naval Air Systems Command) (Naval Air Systems Command).
Quakes and Shakes: Nature's Roller Coaster
Ridgecrest's history wouldn't be complete without mentioning its seismic activity. The area has been rattled by major earthquakes, including a 5.8 magnitude quake in 1995 and a series of tremors in 2019, the biggest being a 7.1 magnitude shake-up. These quakes showcased the community's resilience and unity in the face of natural disasters. In the aftermath of the 2019 earthquakes, the community came together to support each other. New building codes were implemented to ensure the safety of future structures, demonstrating Ridgecrest's ability to adapt and rebuild.
