updated 10/26/23
Prayer Podcast: for the city | for the officials
Location: in Victor Valley at the southwestern edge of the Mojave Desert, 81 miles northeast of Los Angeles, 34 miles south of Barstow, 48 miles east of Palmdale, and 37 miles north of San Bernardino through the Cajon Pass on Interstate 15. Victorville is the location of offices of the "Mojave Desert Branch" of the San Bernardino County government; bordered by Apple Valley on the east, Hesperia on the south, and Adelanto on the west. The Mojave River flows sporadically through Victorville. The elevation at City Hall is approximately 2,950 feet above sea level.
Demographics: estimated population [2022] 223,044; median age 31; median household income $54K; median property value $271K; 49% married; 52% have kids <18; 66% speak English; 33% speak Spanish; White (Hispanic) (41.5%), White (Non-Hispanic) (22.4%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (16%), Other (Hispanic) (8.18%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (3.58%). 91.3% U.S. citizens; average household is 4 people; 4,383 veterans [2% WWII; 7% Korean; 40% Vietnam; 51% Gulf Wars];
Location of Upland city in SBC
Victorville was incorporated on September 21, 1962 as a general law city. At the time, the population was approximately 8,110, and the land area was 9.7 square miles. Since then, our City has experienced significant growth with current population estimates of 125,000 and land mass of 74.16 square miles. Victorville's history dates back more than 100 years prior to incorporation, when the first settlers of European descent arrived.
In about 1885, the community was known as Victor. It was named after Jacob Nash Victor, a construction superintendent for the California Southern Railroad (Santa Fe Railroad). The town was established as a result of the original railroad station constructed approximately one mile northwest of the narrows of the Mojave River. On January 18, 1886, the Plan of the Town of Victor was prepared which created the grid pattern of the original town. This original subdivision included property between "A" Street through "G" Street and First Street through Eleventh Street. The area encompassed approximately 200 acres or one-third of a square mile. The abundance of good water and the availability of rich bottom lands led to agricultural development shortly after the establishment of the railroad depot. Near the turn of the century, large deposits of limestone and granite were discovered. Since then the cement manufacturing industry has emerged as the single most important industry of the Victor Valley. In 1901, the community's name was changed by the United States Post Office from "Victor" to "Victorville" due to the confusion associated with the community of Victor, Colorado. In 1926, U.S. Route 66 was established, which was one of the main arteries of the National Highway System linking Chicago, Illinois, with California. A portion of this famous highway provided a transportation corridor through Victorville, which was unsurpassed until Interstate 15 was constructed. Seventh Street and "D" Street were a part of this national highway. During World War II, on July 23, 1941, initial construction of Victorville Army Airfield, later renamed George Air Force Base, began. The base was completed May 18, 1943. When fully activated, the base supported two Tactical Fighter Wings of the Tactical Air Command whose primary aircraft was the F-4 Phantom. It also employed approximately 6,000 civilian and military personnel. On January 5, 1989, the Secretary of Defense announced the closure of George Air Force Base under the Base Closure and Realignment Act. The base was deactivated December 15, 1992. The former military base was annexed into the City July 21, 1993, and has been renamed Southern California Logistics Airport.
Specific Prayer Points
Environment: current air quality; recent earthquakes; current drought condition is extreme; current fire outlook
Economy: The economy of Victorville, CA employs 42.4k people. The largest industries in Victorville, CA are Retail Trade (6,266 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (5,481 people), and Transportation & Warehousing (4,555 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($83,750), Utilities ($75,865), and Information ($63,850). The most common jobs held by residents of Victorville, CA, by number of employees, are Sales & Related Occupations (5,510 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (4,111 people), and Material Moving Occupations (3,454 people). Compared to other places, Victorville, CA has an unusually high number of residents working as Material Moving Occupations (2.19 times higher than expected), Fire Fighting & Prevention, & Other Protective Service Workers Including Supervisors (2.06 times), and Transportation Occupations (1.7 times).
Government: Current city council & County District 1
Schools: Victor Valley College, Victor Valley Elementary school district; Victor Valley Union High school district
Christian schools: [not exhaustive] Victor Valley Christian schools; Bible Baptist Christian Academy, ABC 123 Christian Academy, The Gate Christian, Zion Lutheran, Grace Christian preschool
Crime grade: [2022] A crime occurs every 58 minutes (on average) in Victorville; overall crime grade is D+; violent crime C-; property D+; other D+; top issues are vandalism 21% [very high]; theft 12%; burglary and drug crimes 6%.
Poverty 23.3%: One out of every 4.3 residents of Victorville lives in poverty.\
Points of interest: Victorville Planned Parenthood; 4 prisons; 3 houses 1,200 males each; the camp houses over 200 females. USP Victorville: United States Penitentiary Victorville, considered very unsafe by prisoners, dubbed Victimville high level of violence, High security [; FCI Victorville Medium 1 - Federal Correctional Institution Victorville Medium 1 is a medium-security level federal prison; FCI Victorville Medium 2 - Federal Correctional Institution Victorville Medium 2 is a medium-security level federal prison; FCI Victorville Camp - Federal Correctional Institution Victorville Camp is a minimum-security level federal prison is one of the most sought-after women’s federal prisons in California. Southern California Logistics Airport.
Spiritual: Intercessors arise and claim this large suburb for the Lord & pray until they see change; prayer groups start and/or grow with a quest to see people saved and transformed by the gospel; Christian recovery groups for those dealing with addictions; laborers for the harvest; ways to reach the poor; unity among the churches; people have a passion to reach the gangs and see deliverance and such a change, like Saul to Pauls that would make more people turn to the Lord by the power of God changing their lives; reformation in the city and pockets of it where there is more crime and violence; revival and an awakening to those who believe to hunger and thirst after righteousness; that God's kingdom would be advanced.
Churches & Ministries [not exhaustive]
Abba Rain Ministries
Apostolic assembly in the faith of JESUSCHRIST
Bible Baptist Church
Bread Of Heaven Ministries
Burning Bush Baptist Church
Calvary Chapel Victorville
Desert Rock Church
El Bethel Apostolic Faith Church
Emmanuel Temple Christian
First Assembly of God
First Christian Church
First Missionary Baptist Church
First Southern Baptist
Gate Church
High Desert Church
Holy Innocents Catholic Church
Holy Innocents Parish
Hosanna Christian Fellowship
Jesus Rey de Reyes Ministerio de Sanidad y Liberacion
Mount Carmel Community Church
New Community Baptist Church
New Start Christian Center
Oasis Christian Church
Saint John Of God
Salvation Army
Set Free Christian Fellowship
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Spirit Of Christ Tabernacle
St Joan of Arc Parish
St John Lutheran Church
St Mary Coptic Orthodox Church
Streams Of Hope Church
Sunrise Church - Victorville
The Church At Victorville
Tongpu Sarang Presbyterian Church
Trinity Lutheran Church
United Methodist Church
United Pentecostal Church
Victor Valley Baptist Church
Victor Valley Church Of Christ
Victorville 2 Foursquare Church
Victorville Church Of God
Victorville Foursquare Church
Victorville Green Tree Community
Victory Chapel
Zion Lutheran Church