1977 - Today: Cityhood

1977 - The City of Lancaster was incorporated in 1977 with a population of 37,000. Today, nearly 145,000 people call Lancaster home. In just over 30 years, our City has transformed from a small town to a bustling metropolis. Citizens, elected officials, and business owners alike have worked together to contribute to this exponential growth.

1985 - The Lancaster Museum and Art Gallery was built to provide residents with a venue for enjoying the works of both local and internationally-known artists.

1990 - One of the most significant factors in Lancaster’s development has been the aviation industry. Throughout the 20^th century, private companies and the military built facilities that added jobs and income to our economy. This helped form a firm foundation for our City. To recognize the contributions of aviation to local culture, the City of Lancaster established the Aerospace Walk of Honor in 1990, which features monuments throughout Downtown Lancaster honoring distinguished Edwards Air Force Base test pilots. Inductees have included such celebrated individuals as Neil Armstrong, Chuck Yeager and William J. “Pete” Knight.

1991 - The Lancaster Performing Arts Center opened, giving residents a way to enjoy world-class entertainment.

1996 - The first pitch was thrown at what is now known as Clear Channel Stadium, home to the Lancaster JetHawks professional baseball team. 

1998 - Lancaster National Soccer Center opened, providing City residents and visitors alike with 35 fields, two activity buildings and two playground areas.  As the site of local, state and national tournaments, LNSC brings athletes and their families from all over the country to our City. 

2003 - The Antelope Valley Fairgrounds moved from its former site, established in the 1930s, to its present location.  The Fairgrounds continue to attract a variety of performers and events to Lancaster.

Since Lancaster officially became a City, several large companies such as SYGMA, Michael’s, Rite-Aid and Lance Campers have added significant numbers of jobs to the local market.

In addition, the City has dedicated 70 acres in west Lancaster as the Prime Desert Woodland Preserve in order to preserve the area’s natural beauty.

Downtown Lancaster has also experienced a great deal of change in recent years. The Lancaster Redevelopment Agency has worked to attract a variety of new restaurants, businesses, and housing opportunities to the downtown area. The Lancaster Old Town Site continues to contribute to downtown revitalization efforts.  Every summer, Celebrate Downtown Lancaster events are held to bring the community together and enjoy all that Downtown Lancaster has to offer.

The City and community members are making efforts to ensure that Lancaster’s future workforce is well-equipped to continue our tradition of excellence. Enrollment at Antelope Valley College has increased, CSU Bakersfield has established a satellite campus, and the Lancaster University Center was founded to allow residents to obtain Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees right here in Lancaster.

These and other efforts have garnered various state and national awards for the City. The most notable of these include nineteen Helen Putnam Awards from the League of California Cities, A City Livability Award in 2000 recognizing outstanding achievement, leadership and special innovation from the United States Conference of Mayors, and the Eddy Award for Most Business-Friendly City from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation in 2007.