Home › California › Palmdale

Palmdale, California

"The Aerospace Capital"

Sitting at the western edge of the Mojave Desert, Palmdale has been at the center of American aerospace history — the Space Shuttle orbiters were built here, and Edwards Air Force Base is just next door.

Founded 1962 | Population 159,350 | Peak 159,350 (2020) | County Los Angeles

Top 10 Most Important Events for Palmdale, California

undefined

1886 Settlement Established:

undefined

1915 Name Changed to Palmdale:

undefined

1933 Air Force Plant 42 Origins:

undefined

1962 City Incorporated:

undefined

1974 Space Shuttle Construction Begins:

undefined

1988 B-2 Stealth Bomber Unveiled:

undefined

1990 Population Boom:

undefined

2008 Housing Crisis Hits Hard:

undefined

2023 B-21 Raider Revealed:

🧠

How Well Do You Know Palmdale?

10 questions • 2 minutes

Take the Quiz →

Latest News in Palmdale

May 19, 2026

This Innocent Looking Boy Grew Up To Become One Of The World’s Most Evil Men

Theodore Kaczynski showed troubling signs of anger and isolation long before authorities accused him of carrying out one of the mo…

May 6, 2026

He Had A Tough Childhood And His Dad Was A Bank Robber But Today He’s A Hollywood Star

Before he ever put on a Spider-Man suit, Tobey Maguire was fighting battles far from Hollywood red carpets and blockbuster premier…

May 4, 2026

Wheel of Fortune Contestant Misses Out On $61,000 Over This Tough Puzzle

A Wheel of Fortune contestant saw $61,000 slip away in the Bonus Round last week, leaving fans stunned over what many called one o…

Apr 20, 2026

Dead or Missing Scientists Pose “National Security Threat,” Top House Republican Warns as Oversight Committee Launches Probe

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has declared a series of deaths and disappearances involving at least 11 Am…

Apr 18, 2026

Trump’s Psychedelic Pivot: Executive Order Accelerates Review of Mind-Altering Drugs for Mental Health Crisis

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday directing federal agencies to fast-track the review and potential app…

Apr 16, 2026

White House Signals Review of Mysterious Deaths and Disappearances Among U.S. Scientists in Sensitive Fields

The Trump administration has indicated it will examine a cluster of unexplained deaths and disappearances involving at least 10 Am…

Complete Historical Timeline

1886

German settlers establish Palmenthal in Antelope Valley

1915

Community renamed Palmdale

1933

Army Air Corps establishes airfield (future Plant 42)

1962

Palmdale incorporates as a city

1974

Space Shuttle orbiter assembly begins at Rockwell plant

1988

B-2 Spirit stealth bomber unveiled at Plant 42

1990

Population boom as LA commuters discover affordable housing

2008

Subprime crisis devastates Palmdale housing market

2011

Last Space Shuttle mission ends; orbiter era concludes

2023

B-21 Raider next-gen stealth bomber revealed at Plant 42

Did You Know?

Palmdale and neighboring Lancaster are collectively known as the Antelope Valley, though pronghorn antelope haven't been common in the area since the 1880s.

The Palmdale Amphitheater hosts the annual Aero Fest celebrating the city's aerospace heritage.

More stealth aircraft have been built within 20 miles of Palmdale than anywhere else on Earth.