The community of Victorville was first settled by Jacob Nash Victor around 1885. Victor was a construction superintendent for the California Southern Railroad (which was associated with the Santa Fe Railroad) and the original name of the community was simply “Victor.” The city itself was incorporated as Victorville on September 21, 1962 and its population grew from around 8,000 at that time to nearly 100,000 by 2007. The census of 2013 shows a population of 121,096 so it continues to be a growing city.

One of its earliest industries was the cement industry, which started growing exponentially around the turn of the 20th century. In 1941 construction began on the Victorville Army Airfield or George Air Force Base. That base was deactivated in 1992 and it is now known as the California Logistics Airport.

Perhaps the best-known landmark in Victorville is the building once known as the Red Rooster Cafe. The building now houses the California Route 66 Museum, which opened its doors on November 11, 1995, to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the Mother Road.

By Scott Piotrowski