History & Heritage
The History of Ridgecrest
From ancient desert peoples to a modern military community — the story of how a remote valley became the heart of American defense innovation.
A Desert Timeline
The Kawaiisu People
The Indian Wells Valley was home to the Kawaiisu (Nuwa) people for thousands of years. They lived as semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers, utilizing the valley's natural springs and seasonal resources. Petroglyphs and artifacts throughout the region attest to their deep connection with this desert landscape.
Early Exploration & Settlement
Miners and ranchers began arriving in the Indian Wells Valley in the mid-1800s, drawn by borax deposits, silver prospects, and open range land. The area around present-day Ridgecrest was known as Crumville, a small desert settlement near natural springs. The arrival of a rail spur to nearby Inyokern in 1912 opened the valley to wider settlement.
Naval Ordnance Test Station Founded
The U.S. Navy established the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) at China Lake during World War II, choosing the remote desert location for weapons testing and development. This single decision transformed the Indian Wells Valley from a quiet desert outpost into a hub of military innovation. Thousands of military personnel and civilian scientists relocated to the area.
A Town Takes Shape
As China Lake grew, the civilian community outside the base gates expanded rapidly. Housing developments, schools, and businesses sprung up to serve the growing population. In 1947 residents voted to rename the town from Crumville to Ridgecrest, inspired by the ridgeline of the Sierra Nevada visible to the west.
City of Ridgecrest Incorporated
On July 17, 1963, Ridgecrest officially incorporated as a city within Kern County. This gave the community local governance, its own police force, and control over municipal services. The population had grown to roughly 10,000 — nearly all connected in some way to the China Lake mission.
The Sidewinder Missile
China Lake's most famous creation, the AIM-9 Sidewinder, became the world's first effective heat-seeking air-to-air missile. Developed primarily at NOTS, the Sidewinder program cemented China Lake's reputation as one of the most important weapons research facilities in American history. The base went on to develop numerous other ordnance systems still in use today.
NAWS China Lake Established
Following a series of base consolidations, the facility was redesignated as Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake. It remains the Navy's largest single landholding — over 1.1 million acres of restricted airspace and test ranges — and continues its mission of weapons research, development, test, and evaluation.
The Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
On July 4 and 5, 2019, the Indian Wells Valley was struck by a magnitude 6.4 foreshock followed by a magnitude 7.1 mainshock — the largest seismic event in Southern California in 20 years. While no lives were lost, the earthquakes caused significant structural damage to homes and businesses, buckled roads, and triggered fires on the naval base. The community's resilient recovery demonstrated the tight-knit character of Ridgecrest.
A Growing Desert Community
Ridgecrest today is a city of nearly 29,000 people. While NAWS China Lake remains the primary economic engine, the community has diversified with retail, healthcare, education, and outdoor tourism. The city's proximity to the Sierra Nevada, Death Valley, and vast open desert makes it a base camp for adventure. New development, community events, and civic investment continue to shape Ridgecrest's future.
NAWS China Lake
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is the single largest landholding of the United States Navy, encompassing over 1.1 million acres of the western Mojave Desert. The installation is the Navy's premier facility for research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of weapons systems.
Founded during World War II as the Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake played a pivotal role in developing rocket-propelled munitions. Over the decades, the base has been responsible for breakthroughs including the Sidewinder missile, Shrike anti-radiation missile, and numerous precision-guided munitions that have shaped modern warfare.
Today, China Lake remains critical to national defense. Its vast desert ranges provide the space and security needed for testing next-generation weapons systems. The base employs thousands of military and civilian personnel, making it the economic backbone of Ridgecrest and the Indian Wells Valley.
By the Numbers
“The mission of China Lake is to provide the Navy and the Nation with the technical excellence and innovation to develop, test, evaluate, and sustain weapons systems.”
— NAWS China Lake Mission Statement
The 2019 Earthquake Sequence
6.4
July 4 Foreshock
7.1
July 5 Mainshock
On Independence Day 2019, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck near Ridgecrest, followed 34 hours later by a magnitude 7.1 mainshock — the largest seismic event in Southern California in two decades. The sequence produced over 100,000 aftershocks in the following months.
While no lives were lost, the earthquakes caused significant damage: cracked foundations, ruptured gas lines, buckled roads, and fires on the naval base. The disaster tested the community's resilience, and Ridgecrest responded with mutual aid, volunteerism, and a determination to rebuild.
The recovery effort brought renewed attention to earthquake preparedness in the region and led to updated building codes and infrastructure improvements. Today, Ridgecrest stands stronger — a testament to the tight-knit character of a small desert city.
Learn more about life in Ridgecrest today.