Baker was established in 1929 by Ralph Jacobus Fairbanks (1857–1942), who was an American prospector, entrepreneur, and pioneer who established several towns in the Death Valley area of California, including Fairbanks Springs (1904–05) and Shoshone (1910).
It is the site of a vacant, 223-bed for-profit prison formerly operated by Cornell Corrections which experienced a major riot on December 2, 2003, four weeks before it was temporarily closed.[5] It was permanently closed on December 25, 2009. GEO Group purchased Cornell Companies, its owner, on August 12, 2010.[6] It had previously experienced escapes in August and November 1995 and two on July 15, 1997.[7]
Geography and climate
Baker is located at (35.265099, -116.074768). Baker is located in the Mojave Desert at the junction of Interstate 15 and SR 127 (Death Valley Road). Its elevation is approximately 930 feet (283.5 m) above sea level, which is much lower than either Barstow or Las Vegas, due to its location at the southern end of the Death Valley geological depression. The Cronese Mountains are located southwest of the community. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), all of it land.
Summer temperatures in Baker routinely exceed 110 °F (43.3 °C); 2007 saw a record of 125 °F (51.7 °C).
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census[10] reported that Baker had a population of 735. The population density was 273.5 inhabitants per square mile (105.6/km2). The racial makeup of Baker was 302 (41.1%) White (26.5% Non-Hispanic White),[11] 1 (0.1%) African American, 5 (0.7%) Native American, 10 (1.4%) Asian, 14 (1.9%) Pacific Islander, 380 (51.7%) from other races, and 23 (3.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 502 persons (68.3%).
The Census reported that 731 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 4 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 215 households, out of which 122 (56.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 106 (49.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 39 (18.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 23 (10.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 29 (13.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 28 households (13.0%) were made up of individuals, and 4 (1.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.40. There were 168 families (78.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.74.
The population was spread out, with 277 people (37.7%) under the age of 18, 80 people (10.9%) aged 18 to 24, 236 people (32.1%) aged 25 to 44, 121 people (16.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 21 people (2.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.
There were 303 housing units at an average density of 112.7 per square mile (43.5/km2), of which 116 (54.0%) were owner-occupied, and 99 (46.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 20.8%. 414 people (56.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 317 people (43.1%) lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Baker had a median household income of $33,068, with 9.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[12]
Economy
Baker's economy is based primarily on tourism. The town is frequently used as a stop for food and fuel by drivers on Interstate 15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Baker is approximately 90 miles (144.8 km) southwest of Las Vegas. It is the last town for those traveling on SR 127 north to Death Valley National Park or south to the Mojave National Preserve. Until recently there was one motel in Baker, the Santa Fe Motel, formerly the Wills Fargo Motel, but as of 2023 the motel has closed.
Since Baker is an unincorporated community of San Bernardino County, County CEO, Leonard X. Hernandez, would be considered the Chief Administrator of Baker.
Water, Sanitary Sewers, Trash Collection Services, Fire Protection, Television Translators, Road Maintenance, Street Lighting, Park and Recreation is administered by the Baker Community Services District[16]
Mars rover test site
The Mars Science Laboratory Team tested an engineering model of the Curiosity rover in the desert near Baker.[17]
Attractions
"World's tallest thermometer", in November 2003 in Baker, California
The town's most prominent feature is a 134-foot (41 m) thermometer, dubbed "the world's tallest thermometer". Its height commemorates the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth, 134 °F (56.7 °C), in nearby Death Valley on July 10, 1913.[18] It was created by Willis Herron, who owned many businesses in Baker and, at one point, was said to have employed half of Baker's population. Hoping to draw more visitors into Baker, Herron partnered with Young Electric Sign Co. in 1991 to build the monument. It originally cost $750,000 to build and was blown over by high winds before it was officially lit. It was quickly rebuilt with a sturdier design. In 2005, Herron sold several of his businesses to Matt Pike in 2005 before passing away in 2007. Visible for miles, Pike temporarily stopped its operation in 2012 due to expensive electric bills of $8,000/month and inaccurate temperature readings. When Herron's widow Barbara learned that the beloved landmark was being considered for demolition, she repurchased and refurbished it.[19] The thermometer was relighted following restoration on July 10, 2014.[20]
Alien Fresh Jerky, a quirky store selling various types of jerky and alien-themed merchandise. The store is itself a tourist attraction with statues of aliens and architecture resembling galactic ships. Billboards on I-15 commonly feature the store. In 2020, the store came under fire for controversial racist remarks against Asians.[21]
Abandoned structures, such as the tiki-inspired Arnie's Royal Hawaiian Motel (opened in 1957, closed in 2009, formerly known as Grace's Oasis) and Bun Boy Restaurant and Motel (opened in 1926, closed in 2013),[19] are popular amongst urban explorers.
Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Area, a popular area for ATV riders.[22]
Just a few miles to the west along I-15 lies the exit for Zzyzx Road. This dirt road leads to Soda Springs, the site of the health resort established by Curtis Springer in the late 1940s and now the Desert Study Center maintained by the California State University.
A yearly race is held called "The Challenge Cup Relay: Baker to Vegas" or commonly referred as "Baker to Vegas" where law enforcement do a relay running race from Baker, CA to Las Vegas, NV. It attracts law enforcement agencies including LAPD, national, and international agencies to participate annually.[23]
In the video game Fallout: New Vegas, the fictional town of Novac is located in the Mojave desert near the real-world location of Baker, and features as a main attraction the world's second-largest thermometer.
^Bright, William (1998). 1500 California Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 20. ISBN 0-520-21271-1.
^Hildebrand, George Herbert (1982). Borax Pioneer: Francis Marion Smith. San Diego: Howell-North Books. p. 89. ISBN 0-8310-7148-6.
^Prison Riot Investigation Underway Archived April 14, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, KLAS-TV, December 3, 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
^Final Audit Report—Baker Community Correctional Facility, Contract R05.006 Archived 2016-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, State of California Department of Finance, April 11, 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^Recent escapes from private prisons 1995-2000 Archived 2012-01-18 at the Wayback Machine, Oregon AFSCME, 2000. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^"Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
^"Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
^"2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Baker CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
^"Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010". United States Census Bureau. 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
