The Antelope Valley (AV) is located approximately 60 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Expanding over two counties, Los Angeles and Kern, the AV is known as the high desert because it has an average elevation of 2,800 feet above the sea level. 

Communities of the AV include:
 Quartz Hill, Mojave, California City, Rosamond, Lancaster, Palmdale, Littlerock, Pearblossom, Lake Los Angeles, Leona Valley, and Lake Elizabeth. The AV, which consists of over 3,000 square miles, experiences all four seasons, with snow falling, on average, every 2-3 years.

Population Growth
	1980	1990	2000	2006
Lancaster	47,882	97,291	118,718	143,818
Palmdale	27,344	80,992	116,760	145,468

   The "backbone" of the AV is the aerospace industry. A world leader in aerospace since the 1950's, the AV has all the big names in aerospace. Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Northrop-Grumman, Rockwell, BAE Systems, and even Lockheed's top secret Skunk Works are all located in Palmdale. Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier at Edwards Air Force Base (Rosamond) in the late 1940's. The B-1 and B-2 bombers were both built in Palmdale, as was the first Space Shuttle in the 1980's. The X-33, the next generation space shuttle, is also currently under development in the AV. Even today, the space shuttle will occasionally land at Edwards Dry Lake Bed, as it did regularly in the 1980's. Looking forward, it now appears that The nations newest jet fighter, the F-22, will also be built, in whole or in part, in the AV! This will be the Pentagon's most expensive weapon system ever produced, $60 Billion over Several Years.

   The AV is strategically located only about an hours' drive from major population centers, making it an affordable option for those that get priced out of their own more expensive housing markets. To the southwest of the AV are the areas of Santa Clarita Valley, San Fernando Valley and the Los Angeles Basin. To the northwest is Bakersfield. This puts between 7-10 million people only an hour's drive from the AV. In these competing areas, the average entry level home is twice as expensive as a comparable home in the AV. Thus, one can easily see why affordable housing is the #1 attraction in the AV. A pro-business environment, cleaner air, a simpler/quieter life style, and a family friendly atmosphere also bring people here to stay.

   Lancaster (132,402) and Palmdale (122,392) are the two largest cities in the AV. Both have housing options for any income level. Retail in the AV is anchored by the AV Mall in Palmdale and the Power Center in Lancaster. Best Buy, Costco, Staples, Gottschalks, Mervyns, Dillards, Sears, Circuit City, Target, Wal Mart, and K-Mart are just a few that have invested in the AV. Major auto dealers are located in the Auto Malls of Lancaster & Palmdale. Antelope Valley Community College, a two year school, is located in Lancaster, serves the entire valley, and has plans for a Palmdale Campus. Developers building new homes in the AV include such names as: Forecast Homes, Beazer, Harris, Richmond American, K & B Homes Barratt Homes, Fieldstone  

   Another major asset to the Antelope Valley is Palmdale's golf course at Rancho Vista.Located on Palmdale's west side, this 18 hole, 6,642 yard, par 72 golf course opened in August of 2000 and is just part of the 1,300 acre master planned community of Rancho Vista. The course, which has a 25 station driving range that is open until 10pm, also has a 10,000 square foot restaurant.

  The main dining room of the Cascades restaurant, named after the cascading rock-lined waterfall near the 18th green, also overlooks green belt fairways.

   In the 1980's, the AV overall, experienced a population increase of 87%. While growth in the 1990's has slowed from the explosive growth rate of the 1980's, many believe the foundation has been laid to once again return to strong growth, perhaps even surpassing the 80's. A case can be made that the next major leg up in the growth of the AV won't just be a housing boom as in the 1980's. Palmdale's Enterprise Zone, sandwiched between Palmdale & Lancaster, and Lancaster's Fox Field (a county airport) are already attracting industry that is creating jobs. Rite Aid (pharmacy) and Michael's (arts/crafts) have already built and occupied huge warehouses at Fox Field, creating massive distribution centers for their respective product lines.