The Coastal South (Chapter 10)

There are many differences between the physical geography of the Coastal South and the Antelope Valley. First, the topography of the Coastal South is generally low; for example, according to the textbook, the highest point in the state of Florida is only 345 feet above sea level. In contrast, the Antelope Valley is referred to as the "High Desert" due it its relatively high elevation, since the valley floor averages 2,500 to 3,500 feet above sea level! Also, the climate of the Coastal South includes abundant rainfall, while the Antelope Valley's desert climate includes very modest levels of precipitation. While summers in both the Coastal South and the Antelope Valley tend to have hot summers, the major difference is that the Coastal South has high levels of humidity, while the AV has a "dry" heat with lower humidity. The following graphs compare the levels of rainfall and humidity in the city of Palmdale in the Antelope Valley with the United States averages:

(Source: http://www.city-data.com/city/South-Antelope-Valley-California.html) 

However, despite the differences in their physical geographies, the Coastal South and the Antelope Valley share many similarities in aspects of their respective economies and cultures. Just as in the Coastal South, government and military activity have contributed significantly to the Antelope Valley's economy, especially through the aerospace industry. As discussed in a previous blog post, the AV is home to Edward's Air Force Base, which is the nation's second largest Air Force base and the AV's single largest employer, and United State Air Force Plant 42, which is an aircraft manufacturing plant and the AV's second largest employer.

Also, just as NASA has contributed to the economy of the Coastal South, NASA also plays a role in the economy of the Antelope Valley. NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center is located adjacent to Edward's Air Force Base just outside of Lancaster in the AV. It is described by NASA as their "primary center for atmospheric flight research and operations." The center's location in the Antelope Valley, according to NASA, allows the center to "take advantage of the excellent year-round flying weather, remote area, and visibility to test some of the nation's most exciting air vehicles."

NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center outside of Lancaster:


Also, Palmdale is home to the Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 located near Plant 42.
I see this building very often as I drive by it in Palmdale:


(Sources: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/about/overview.html#.UyyjjvldWNi,
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/daof/gallery/index.html)

Finally, the Coastal South takes pride in its diversity and cultural heritage, such as through the celebration of Mardi Gras. Similarly, the Antelope Valley also likes to celebrate the many different cultures that make up its population. For example, the Antelope Valley International Heritage Festival is an annual event that celebrates a variety of different cultures and backgrounds. I liked what Robert Alvarado, one of the founders of the festival, said at last year's festival:

Cultural events such as the Heritage Festival are important in the Antelope Valley because we are one of the most diverse areas, not just in our county or just in our state, but in the entire United States. We want people to know that we have a rich, diverse community in the Antelope Valley and they are welcome to come out once a year and celebrate with us.

Below are several pictures of the 19th annual AV International Heritage Festival hosted last year in Palmdale:

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(Source: http://theavtimes.com/2013/09/14/a-celebration-of-culture-unity/)

The Inland South (Chapter 9)

In Chapter 9, we learned about the Inland South. One of the major hazards facing this region is flash flooding, which is also a common hazard in the Antelope Valley. The following YouTube video provides a fantastic look at a severe thunderstorm in the AV that occurred in 2011 and caused extensive flash flooding in Pearblossom, Palmdale, and Lake Los Angeles. In particular, be sure to watch the video at minute 4:45 to see the size of the hail that was being produced, minute 6 to see the flash flooding in a neighborhood, and minute 7:15 to see the amazing lightening produced by the storm. The video also provides a great general view of the flat, rural nature of much of the Antelope Valley, which reminds me of the flat interior lowlands described as part of the Inland South.



There are also some cultural similarities between parts of the Inland South and the Antelope Valley. As described in the text, the Inland South is the home of country music, and country music is also highly appreciated in the AV. Country line-dancing, in particular, is a very popular activity in the Antelope Valley; every weekend, the restaurant BeX in Lancaster hosts a popular line-dancing forum, and the annual Antelope Valley Fair always hosts country music bands and has a floor reserved for line-dancing, as shown in the video below:



Also, just as NASCAR is a beloved sport in the Inland South, it also has a loyal following in the Antelope Valley. Palmdale is the hometown of four-time NASCAR Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, and Palmdale honored Hornaday by naming all access roads to the Palmdale Auto Center as "Ron Hornaday Way", and the center has permanent banners that bear his likeness and name, pictured below:

It is interesting to compare the Inland South and the Antelope Valley because, while they are separated by thousands of miles and have numerous differences, it is worth noting that they also share some similarities in both their physical geography and climate and in their culture.

(Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/375301-ron-hornaday-honored-by-hometown-for-nascar-prowess)

The Great Lakes & Corn Belt (Chapter 8)

In Chapter 8, we learned about the Great Lakes and Corn Belt region; in particular, we learned about the region's agriculture and other primary-sector activities. The Antelope Valley has also had a strong history of agricultural production, with its first agricultural boom occurring in the 1880s and 1890s during a period of heavy rainfall which led early settlers in the AV to grow alfalfa, barley, wheat, and a variety of fruits and nuts. However, farmers were plagued by the desert's reoccurring droughts, until irrigation powered by pumps and eventually by electricity, allowed for sustainable large-scale agricultural production. By 1920, alfalfa became the Antelope Valley's major crop. Interestingly, farmers in the AV between the 1880s and late 1920s were plagued by an overabundance of jackrabbits who destroyed the crops. So-called "jackrabbit drives" were community events where the jackrabbits were hunted and then barbecued for their meat, and these events were so popular that "city folk" from  Los Angeles came by train to participate in them.

Antelope Valley farm scene, c. 1902:

(Source: http://www.colapublib.org/history/antelopevalley/faq.html#q10)

The importance of agriculture as the Antelope Valley's main industry can be seen in the names of many of the area's communities, such as Almondale, Pearblossom, and Pearland. However, the relative significance of agriculture and other primary-sector activities have declined in the AV due to the rise of aerospace and tertiary industries in the area. It should be noted, though, that agricultural production has increased in the AV since the mid-1990s due to an increase in the production of fruit and vegetable crops, and agricultural acreage in the AV has increased due to the influence of the new carrot industry.

Today, the Antelope Valley produces a variety of agricultural products, including commercial production of alfalfa, small grains (for hay), onions, carrots, peaches, pears, and nectarines, as well as cherries, apples, and grapes on a smaller scale.

The pie chart below illustrates the amount of acreage devoted to the AV's major crops:

As this illustrates, hay, including alfalfa and small grains, is the AV's primary crop. The Antelope Valley is also home to a few local wineries, such as the Antelope Valley Winery located in Lancaster:



Finally, the text characterized the population of the Great Lakes and Corn Belt region as "well-educated," so I was interested to research the statistics for the educational attainment levels in the Antelope Valley. The following bar graphs compare the education levels for the South AV (primarily Palmdale and Lancaster) with the state of California averages:

As the graph illustrates, the AV is above average up to the attainment of an Associate degree, but is below the state average for attainment of Bachelor's degree or higher.

(Sources: http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/Agriculture/High_Desert_Crops/, http://www.city-data.com/city/South-Antelope-Valley-California.html, http://articles.latimes.com/1990-07-06/local/me-278_1_antelope-valley-s-communities)