Acton, California

Acton () is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Los Angeles County, California, United States. According to the 2020 census, Acton had a population of 7,431.

Acton is a small residential community located between the Sierra Pelona Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains, near the Antelope Valley. It is off the Antelope Valley Freeway ( California State Route 14) south of Palmdale. Acton is roughly northeast of the San Fernando Valley, and north of downtown Los Angeles by highway. The town has a rural western theme which can be seen in its homes, commercial buildings and historical buildings, some of which date back to the late 1800s. The homes in the mountains around Acton have views of the valley below. In the valley are ranch style homes, often with equestrian facilities. While Acton is not a part of the Antelope Valley, it is grouped together with the Valley in the General Plan. Acton has a Metrolink commuter rail station on its border with Palmdale that is themed in an "old western" style and has been seen in various movies and commercials.

History

The town originally had served as a railroad camp from 1873 to 1876 when the Saugus-Mojave section of the Southern Pacific Railroad was under construction.

Acton was once considered for the State capital of California. California Governor Henry T. Gage (1899–1903) owned the Governor Mine, hence the name, and sought to relocate the capital to Acton. This effort ultimately failed and the capital was not moved from Sacramento. In the late 1880s, Acton started to become more of a ranching and farming community. In 1889 Acton's first hotel and its first saloon, the " 49er" (formerly Sutter's Mill), was opened and is still in business today.

Geography

Acton is located at (34.472777, -118.183696), east of Santa Clarita and south of Palmdale. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , over 99% of it land. Mount Gleason, one of the peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains, is located south of Acton and can be seen in the town or by passersby on the 14.

Climate

This region experiences warm (but not very hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above . According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Acton has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated ''Csb'' on climate maps.
Summer daytime temperatures average and above.

Demographics

Acton first appeared as a census designated place in the 1990 U.S. Census.

2020 census

The 2020 United States census reported that Acton had a population of 7,431. The population density was . The racial makeup of Acton was 68.9% White, 1.1% African American, 1.0% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 12.9% from other races, and 13.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.9% of the population.

The whole population lived in households. There were 2,682 households, out of which 24.2% included children under the age of 18, 58.4% were married-couple households, 6.3% were cohabiting couple households, 18.4% had a female householder with no partner present, and 16.9% had a male householder with no partner present. 19.4% of households were one person, and 9.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.77. There were 1,998 families (74.5% of all households).

The age distribution was 17.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% aged 18 to 24, 20.8% aged 25 to 44, 35.3% aged 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 48.2years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males.

There were 2,821 housing units at an average density of , of which 2,682 (95.1%) were occupied. Of these, 88.0% were owner-occupied, and 12.0% were occupied by renters.

Mapping L.A.

According to Mapping L.A., German and Irish were the most common ancestries in 2000. Mexico and Canada were the most common foreign places of birth.

Economy

Median earnings per worker in Acton in 2015 were $75,714 compared to the United States average of $44,178. Acton has $84,375 median earnings for men, 55% greater than the $54,384 median for women. 22% of the people in Acton report self-employment income, twice the U.S. average of 11%.

6.9% of the population of Acton lives in poverty. Of those, 17% are employed. Just 1% of Acton households use some form of public assistance, compared to the United States average of 14%.

7% of Acton workers carpool to work, less than the U.S. average of 10%. Acton has a large number of people who are able to work from home at 12% versus 4% for the U.S. The average commute to work in Acton is 46 minutes, much longer than the U.S. average of 26 minutes.

Parks and recreation

Farm Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary, founded here in 1986, was America's first shelter for farmed animals.

Shambala Preserve

The Shambala Preserve, a wild animal nature park run by actress Tippi Hedren, is located near Acton. Ventures on Hedren's wild animal compound include a Safari at the authentic African-style haven for more than 70 African lions, Royal Bengal and Siberian tigers, spotted and black leopards, cougars, and African elephants.

Parker Mountain

Acton is home to Parker Mountain, the mecca for a style of radio-controlled aircraft flying called "dynamic soaring" and where at one time the world speed record of was achieved.

Bloom Ranch

Established in 1891 by Swiss immigrants George Blum and Magdalena Greutman, Bloom Ranch is one of Acton's oldest homesteads. The ranch has a rich history of agricultural production, including pears, apples, lilacs, and renowned peaches. A notable feature is the stone house constructed in 1916, symbolizing the family's enduring commitment to the land. In 2023, Dr. Bill Releford acquired Bloom Ranch and expanded the property to 250 acres, making it the largest Black-owned ranch in Los Angeles County. Under his leadership, the ranch emphasizes sustainable farming practices and community engagement, hosting events like the annual "Bloom's Giving Fall Festival" to foster local connections.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Acton is in , and in .

In the United States House of Representatives, Acton is in .

Acton is part of the unincorporated portion of Los Angeles County and is in the 5th Supervisorial District. At the local level, the community is represented by the Acton Town Council, an advisory group of citizens made up of 7 members.

Education

Acton is within the Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District. There are three schools in Acton: Meadowlark Elementary School, High Desert Middle School, and Vasquez High School.

Infrastructure

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Antelope Valley Health Center in Lancaster, serving Acton.Antelope Valley Health Center
" Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 18, 2010.

References

External links

Acton information website

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Census-designated places in California
Census-designated places in Los Angeles County, California
Populated places in the Mojave Desert
Populated places established in 1887