Editing Palmdale, California (section)

===Next three decades of the Town of Palmdale, 1933–1962===

Agriculture continued to be the foremost industry for Palmdale and its northern neighbor [[Lancaster, California|Lancaster]] until the outbreak of World War II. In 1933, the United States government established [[Muroc Air Base]] (from an original founder's name, Effie Corum, spelled backwards) {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}} north of Lancaster in [[Kern County, California|Kern County]], now known as [[Edwards Air Force Base]].{{r|LAT 2012-05-29}}
They also bought Palmdale Airport in 1952 and established an aerospace development and testing facility called [[Plant 42|United States Air Force Plant 42]]. One year later, in 1953, [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]] established a facility at the airport. After this time, the aerospace industry took over as the primary local source of employment.{{r|LAT 2012-05-29}} The city has been referred to as the "Aerospace Capital of America" because of its heritage in being the home of many of the aircraft used in the United States [[military]].<ref name="Los Angeles County Public Library"/>

In August 1956, an unpiloted out-of-control Navy drone flew over Palmdale while Air Force Interceptor aircraft tried to shoot it down with unguided rockets. Many rockets landed in and around the city, starting fires and damaging property.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stilwell |first=Blake |date=September 21, 2023 |title=The Battle of Palmdale: That Time the Air Force Accidentally Bombed Southern California |url=https://www.military.com/history/battle-of-palmdale-time-air-force-accidentally-bombed-southern-california.html |access-date=September 27, 2023 |website=Military.com |language=en |archive-date=September 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926163517/https://www.military.com/history/battle-of-palmdale-time-air-force-accidentally-bombed-southern-california.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 
{{Further|The Battle of Palmdale}}

In 1957, Palmdale's first high school, [[Palmdale High School]], was established, making it easier to not have to travel to [[Antelope Valley High School]] in nearby Lancaster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phsfalcons.org/information/information.htm|title=Palmdale High School|website=Phsfalcons.org|access-date=November 6, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415133704/http://www.phsfalcons.org/information/information.htm|archive-date=April 15, 2008}}</ref>