Editing Barstow, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Barstow, California
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| image_skyline      = Barstow, CA train station (287198996) (cropped).jpg
| image_caption      = [[Barstow Harvey House]]
| image_flag         = Barstow ca flag.png
| flag_size          = 200px
| image_seal         = Barstow ca seal.png
| seal_size          = 
| motto              = "Crossroads of Opportunity"<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.barstowca.org/index.php/citizen-request-form| title= The City of Barstow, California| publisher= The City of Barstow, California| access-date= August 11, 2012| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120807175348/http://www.barstowca.org/index.php/citizen-request-form| archive-date= August 7, 2012| df= mdy-all}}</ref>
| nickname           = 
| image_map          = File:San Bernardino County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Barstow Highlighted 0604030.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Barstow in San Bernardino County, California
| pushpin_map        = USA California Southern#California#USA#North America
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within [[Southern California]]##Location within California##Location within the United States##Location within North America
| pushpin_label      = Barstow
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|54|N|117|1|W|region:US-CA_type:city(22600)|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{Flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flag|California}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]]
| established_title  = <!-- Founded -->
| established_date   = 
| established_title3 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date3  = September 30, 1947<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date
 |format=Word
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s
 |access-date=August 25, 2014
|url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 |archive-date=November 3, 2014
}}</ref>
| named_for          = [[William Barstow Strong]]
| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|Council-manager]]<ref name=govt>{{Cite web|url=http://www.barstowca.org/city-hall/city-departments|title=City Department|publisher=City of Barstow|access-date=February 1, 2015|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203145807/http://barstowca.org/city-hall/city-departments|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Timothy R. Silva
| leader_title1      = [[City council]]<ref>{{Cite web
 | title = City Council Members
 | url = https://www.barstowca.org/government/city-council/city-council-members
 | publisher = City of Barstow
 | access-date = January 24, 2025
| archive-date = January 25, 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250125064107/https://www.barstowca.org/government/city-council/city-council-members
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref>
| leader_name1       = Carmen Hernandez, James Noble, Barbara M. Rose and John "Tex" Williams
| leader_title2      = [[City treasurer]]
| leader_name2       = Michael Lewis<ref>{{cite web |title=City Treasurer |url=https://www.barstowca.org/government/city-treasurer |publisher=City of Barstow |access-date=January 24, 2025 |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125063147/https://www.barstowca.org/government/city-treasurer |url-status=live }}</ref>
| leader_title3      = [[City manager]]
| leader_name3       = Andrew Espinoza Jr.<ref>{{cite web |title=City Manager |url=https://www.barstowca.org/government/city-manager |publisher=City of Barstow |access-date=January 24, 2025 |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125062309/https://www.barstowca.org/government/city-manager |url-status=live }}</ref>
| leader_title4      = [[Clerk (municipal official)|City clerk]]
| leader_name4       = Andrea Flores<ref>{{cite web |title=City Clerk/Records |url=https://www.barstowca.org/government/electec-city-clerk |publisher=City of Barstow |access-date=January 24, 2025 |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125061919/https://www.barstowca.org/government/electec-city-clerk |url-status=live }}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 41.34
| area_land_sq_mi    = 41.30
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.04
| area_total_km2     = 107.08
| area_land_km2      = 106.96
| area_water_km2     = 0.11
| area_water_percent = 0.02
| area_note          = 
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1652670|Barstow|access-date=October 12, 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_ft       = 2175
| elevation_m        = 663
<!-- Population ----------->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 25415
| population_density_sq_mi = 615.39
| population_density_km2 = 237.60
| population_demonym = Barstonian
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone]]
| utc_offset         = −8
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Time Zone#Daylight saving time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −7
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 92311–92312<ref>{{cite web | url = http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_1_results.jsp?visited=1&pagenumber=0&state=ca&city=Barstow | title = USPS – ZIP Code Lookup – Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results | access-date =January 18, 2007}}</ref>
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| area_code          = [[Area codes 442 and 760|442/760]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_city_query_step2.do?method=displayData&cityToNpaModel.stateAbbr=CA&cityToNpaModel.city=Barstow | title = Number Administration System – NPA and City/Town Search Results | access-date = January 18, 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929134411/http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_city_query_step2.do?method=displayData&cityToNpaModel.stateAbbr=CA&cityToNpaModel.city=Barstow | archive-date = September 29, 2007 | df = mdy-all }}</ref>
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|04030}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1652670}}, {{GNIS 4|2409790}}
| website            = {{URL|https://www.barstowca.org}}
}}

'''Barstow''' is a city in [[San Bernardino County, California]], in the [[Mojave Desert]] of [[Southern California]]. Located in the [[Inland Empire]] region of California, the population was 25,415 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. Barstow is an important crossroads for the Inland Empire and home to [[Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow]].

==History==
[[File:California Limited Santa Fe 1926.JPG|thumb|left|[[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway|Santa Fe]] train arriving at the [[Barstow Harvey House|Casa del Desierto]] in 1926.]]
[[File:Barstow Harvey House California Historical Landmark No. 892 - panoramio (3).jpg|thumb|left|The historic [[Barstow Harvey House|Casa del Desierto]] today.]]

Prehistoric Native American tribes inhabited the region as long as 3,000 years ago. The Native Americans hunted, fished and gathered turquoise. The indigenous people left hardly any discernible footprints along faint pathways as they traveled up to the Mexican territory to trade goods. The written history of the Mojave Valley dates back to the 1700s and the missionary excursions of Spanish Franciscan friar [[Francisco Garcés]]. Garcés followed the earliest faint footpaths to the Mojave River Valley and from there across the desert around Barstow on his way to Spanish missions beyond the mountains of California.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KdsHCwAAQBAJ&q=barstow+images+of+america|title=Barstow (Images of America)|year=2015|isbn=9781439654293 |last1=Toppenberg |first1=Christine |last2=Atkinson |first2=Donald |publisher=Arcadia }}</ref>

The settlement of Barstow began in the late 1840s in the [[Mormon Corridor]]. Every fall and winter, as the weather cooled, the rain produced new grass growth and replenished the water sources in the [[Mojave Desert]]. People, goods, and animal herds would move from [[New Mexico]] and later [[Utah]] to Los Angeles, along the [[Old Spanish Trail (trade route)|Old Spanish Trail]] from [[Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe]], or after 1848, on the [[Mormon Road]] from [[Salt Lake City]]. Trains of freight wagons traveled back to Salt Lake City and other points in the interior. These travelers followed the course of the Mojave River, watering and camping at [[Fish Ponds]] on its south bank (west of [[Nebo Center, California|Nebo Center]]) or 3.625 miles up river on the north bank, at a riverside grove of willows and cottonwoods, festooned with wild grapes, called '''Grapevines''' (later the site of North Barstow). In 1859, the [[Mojave Road]] followed a route that was established from Los Angeles to [[Fort Mojave]] through Grapevines that linked eastward with the [[Edward Fitzgerald Beale#The Beale Wagon Road and Camel Corps|Beale Wagon Road]] across northern [[New Mexico Territory]] to Santa Fe.

Troubles with the [[Southern Paiute|Paiute]], [[Mojave people|Mojave]], and [[Chemehuevi]] tribes followed, and from 1860 [[Camp Cady]], a [[U.S. Army]] post {{convert|20|mi|km}} east of Barstow, was occupied sporadically until 1864, then permanently, by soldiers occupying other posts on the Mojave Road or patrolling in the region until 1871.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/CpCady.html |title=The California State Military Museum; Historic California Posts: Camp Cady |publisher=Militarymuseum.org |access-date=January 6, 2012}}</ref>  Trading posts were established at Grapevines and Fish Ponds that supplied travelers on the roads and increasingly the miners that came into the Mojave Desert after the end of hostilities with the native people.<ref name=landuse>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/historyoflanduse00west|title=A History of land use in the California Desert Conservation Area|first1=|last1=Westec Services|first2=Richard L.|last2=Carrico|first3=Frank|last3=Norris|last4=United States. Bureau of Land Management|date=September 22, 1978|publisher=Riverside, Calif. : Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District Office|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

Barstow's roots also lie in the rich mining history of the [[Mojave Desert]] following the discovery of gold and silver in the [[Owens Valley]] and in mountains to the east in the 1860s and 1870s. Due to the influx of miners arriving in [[Calico, San Bernardino County, California|Calico]] and [[Daggett, California|Daggett]], railroads were constructed to transport goods and people. The Southern Pacific built a line from [[Mojave, California]] through Barstow to [[Needles, California|Needles]] in 1883. In 1884, ownership of the line from Needles to Mojave was transferred to the [[Santa Fe Railroad]].

Paving the major highways through Barstow led to further development of the city. Much of its economy depends on transportation. Before the advent of the interstate highway system, Barstow was an important stop on both Routes [[U.S. Route 66|66]] and [[U.S. Route 91#History|91]]. The two routes met in downtown Barstow and continued west together to Los Angeles. The intersection of U.S. Route 91 and [[U.S. Route 466]] was among the busiest intersections in the country—with about 800 gallons of gasoline being pumped per day nearby, during the year before [[U.S. Route 40]] was extended to bypass Barstow.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Glen|last1=Duncan|title=Route 66 in California|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|location=Charleston, South Carolina|isbn=9780738530376|chapter= High Desert Communities through the Mountains|page=34|year=2005|quote=This intersection with U.S. 91 and 466 was one of the busiest intersections in the country in the 1950s. To illustrate the economic impact of the interstate, the Standard station at the lower right pumped about 800 gallons of gas per day the year before Route 40 bypassed downtown Barstow.}}</ref> By the end of the 20th century, U.S. Routes 40, 91, and 466 were renamed or truncated as to no longer cover California and Nevada—with Interstates [[Interstate 15|15]] and [[Interstate 40|40]] now being the main interstate highways going in and out of Barstow.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barstowca.org/residents/about-barstow|website=About Barstow|title=Location|date=2013|publisher=City of Barstow|access-date=June 19, 2024|quote=With Interstates 15 and 40, and highways 58 and 247 all converging in Barstow, the city is a major transportation corridor with more than 60 million people in 19 million vehicles traveling through Barstow each year.}}</ref>

Barstow is named after [[William Barstow Strong]], former president of the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ukMKAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA6 |title=The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway and Auxiliary Companies – Annual Meetings, and Directors and Officers; January 1, 1902 |access-date=January 6, 2012|publisher=Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company |year=1902 }}</ref> Some early Barstow names were Camp Sugarloaf, Grapevine, Waterman Junction and Fishpond.<ref>{{cite web|title=Route 66 Barstow Where the Trails Meet|url=http://www.cart66pf.org/Map/66inland2.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030309062243/http://www.cart66pf.org/Map/66inland2.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 9, 2003|access-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Philip |last=Varney |title=Southern California's Best Ghost Towns |year=1990 |publisher=[[University of Oklahoma Press]] |isbn=978-0-8061-2252-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/southerncaliforn00varn/page/51 51] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/southerncaliforn00varn/page/51 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Bright|first=William|author-link=William Bright|date=1998|title=1500 California Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning|location=[[Berkeley, CA]]|publisher=[[University of California Press]]}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|107.2|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, 99.98% land and 0.02% water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:City View of Barstow, California from Barstow Road (2013-12-08) (crop).jpg|thumb|300px|right|View of Barstow.]]
Barstow experiences an [[arid climate]], and has four seasons. Summer days are very hot, with highs typically exceeding {{convert|100|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. Winter, in contrast, is characterized by cold mornings, with lows near {{convert|30|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. Daily temperature ranges are largely a result of the low atmospheric moisture, typically between {{convert|25|and|30|F-change}} difference. There are an average of 133 days with highs of {{convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=on}} or higher, an average of 68 days with highs of {{convert|100|F}} degrees or higher, and an average of 32 days with lows of {{convert|32|°F|°C|abbr=on}} or lower.<ref name = "NOAA Summary">
{{cite web|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00040521&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020|publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date = August 27, 2022}}</ref>

The average annual precipitation is<ref name="NOAA">{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=vef|title=NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data|
publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref>  {{convert|4.96|in|cm}}, with nearly 80% of rain typically falling during the cooler months (Nov–Apr). Snowfall is uncommon in winter, and many years can go by without any measurable snowfall. There are an average of 24 days annually with measurable precipitation.

The record high was {{convert|120|F|C}} on July 23, 1996, and the record low was {{convert|3|F|C}} on January 13, 1963. The wettest year was 1918 with {{convert|10.99|in|cm}} and the driest year was 1904 with {{convert|0.80|in|cm}}. The most rainfall in one month was {{convert|4.22|in|cm}} in February 1998. The heaviest rainfall in 24&nbsp;hours was {{convert|2.28|in|cm}} on September 10, 1976. The most snowfall in one month was {{convert|25.0|in|cm}} in January 1949, including {{convert|7.0|in|cm}} January 12; that month was one of the coldest and snowiest in southern California history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca0519|title=BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA – Climate Summary|website=Wrcc.dri.edu|access-date=September 22, 2018}}</ref><ref name = "WRCC 1903">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca0521|title=BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA – Climate Summary|website=Wrcc.dri.edu|access-date=September 22, 2018}}</ref>

{{weather box|single line=yes|precipitation colour=green|width=auto|location=Barstow, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1903–present
|Jan record high F = 83
|Feb record high F = 87
|Mar record high F = 93
|Apr record high F = 99
|May record high F = 107
|Jun record high F = 114
|Jul record high F = 120
|Aug record high F = 113
|Sep record high F = 113
|Oct record high F = 102
|Nov record high F = 91
|Dec record high F = 86
|year record high F= 
|Jan high F = 59.0
|Feb high F = 62.8
|Mar high F = 69.7
|Apr high F = 76.9
|May high F = 85.7
|Jun high F = 96.0
|Jul high F = 102.1
|Aug high F = 101.0
|Sep high F = 93.3
|Oct high F = 80.9
|Nov high F = 67.5
|Dec high F = 57.4
|year high F= 79.4
|Jan mean F = 47.1
|Feb mean F = 51.1
|Mar mean F = 57.0
|Apr mean F = 63.1
|May mean F = 71.3
|Jun mean F = 80.5
|Jul mean F = 86.9
|Aug mean F = 85.7
|Sep mean F = 78.3
|Oct mean F = 66.8
|Nov mean F = 54.5
|Dec mean F = 46.2
|year mean F= 65.7
|Jan low F = 35.3
|Feb low F = 39.4
|Mar low F = 44.2
|Apr low F = 49.4
|May low F = 56.9
|Jun low F = 65.0
|Jul low F = 71.8
|Aug low F = 70.4
|Sep low F = 63.3
|Oct low F = 52.6
|Nov low F = 41.6
|Dec low F = 34.9
|year low F= 52.1
|Jan record low F = 3
|Feb record low F = 11
|Mar record low F = 19
|Apr record low F = 28
|May record low F = 34
|Jun record low F = 40
|Jul record low F = 48
|Aug record low F = 48
|Sep record low F = 32
|Oct record low F = 21
|Nov record low F = 14
|Dec record low F = 8
|year record low F= 
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.76
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.98
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.59
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.30
|May precipitation inch = 0.06
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.04
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.26
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.17
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.25
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.35
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.40
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.80
|year precipitation inch= 4.96
|Jan snow inch = 0.0
|Feb snow inch = trace
|Mar snow inch = 0.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = 0.3
|year snow inch =
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.9
|Feb precipitation days = 4.2
|Mar precipitation days = 2.6
|Apr precipitation days = 1.3
|May precipitation days = 0.8
|Jun precipitation days = 0.2
|Jul precipitation days = 1.5
|Aug precipitation days = 0.9
|Sep precipitation days = 0.8
|Oct precipitation days = 1.1
|Nov precipitation days = 1.6
|Dec precipitation days = 3.0
|year precipitation days= 21.9
|unit snow days = 0.01 in
|Jan snow days = 0.0
|Feb snow days = 0.1
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.1
|year snow days= 0.2
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = "NOAA"/><ref name = "NOAA Summary"/>/WRCC (1903–1980 records)<ref name = "WRCC 1903"/>
}}

===Vegetation===
The native vegetation is dominated by high and low [[desert]] shrubs such as [[creosote bush]]. City residents have introduced many non-native plants, prominent among which are trees such as [[Aleppo pine]], [[Morus alba]], [[Italian cypress]], [[fan palm]], [[ailanthus]], [[ash tree|ash]], [[Parkinsonia|palo verde]] and [[redbud]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1950= 6135
|1960= 11644
|1970= 17442
|1980= 17690
|1990= 21472
|2000= 21119
|2010= 22639
|2020= 25415
|estyear= 2024
|estimate= 24897
|estref= <ref>{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Barstow city, California |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/barstowcitycalifornia |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015 }}</ref>
}}

===2020===
The [[2020 United States census]] reported that Barstow had a population of 25,415. The population density was {{convert|615.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Barstow was 37.2% [[White Americans|White]], 19.5% [[African Americans|African American]], 2.7% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 2.9% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 1.4% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 19.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 16.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 44.4% of the population.<ref name=DP1>{{cite web |title=Barstow city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0604030 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>

The census reported that 98.7% of the population lived in households, 0.8% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.4% were institutionalized.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 8,790 households, out of which 40.4% included children under the age of 18, 33.9% were married-couple households, 9.2% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 34.7% had a female householder with no partner present, and 22.2% had a male householder with no partner present. 26.0% of households were one person, and 9.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.85.<ref name=DP1/> There were 5,970 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (67.9% of all households).<ref>{{cite web |title=Barstow city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0604030 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>

The age distribution was 31.0% under the age of 18, 9.7% aged 18 to 24, 26.3% aged 25 to 44, 20.9% aged 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 30.9{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 9,620 housing units at an average density of {{convert|232.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 8,790 (91.4%) were occupied. Of these, 43.8% were owner-occupied, and 56.2% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

===2023 estimates===
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 9.9% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 75.4% spoke only English at home, 21.7% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]], 0.4% spoke other [[Indo-European languages]], 2.0% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.4% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 83.8% were high school graduates and 11.1% had a bachelor's degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barstow city, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSCP5Y2023.CP02?g=1600000US0604030 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>

The median household income was $51,811, and the [[per capita income]] was $25,531. About 18.3% of families and 23.2% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barstow city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0604030 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Harveyhouse3 (cropped).JPG|thumb|right|The historic [[Barstow Harvey House|Casa del Desierto]], originally built as a hotel by the [[Fred Harvey Company]].]]

Barstow has a series of [[mural]]s along Main Street, depicting scenes from the city's history. These murals were created by Main Street Murals, a local non-profit organization.

Barstow Branch Library is located at 304 E. Buena Vista Street. It is a community venue, running various activities such as a summer reading program for children, story and craft sessions as well as a mystery book club.

===Entertainment===
Skyline Drive-In, a [[drive-in theater]] located in the north-east outskirts of the city at 31175 Old Highway 58, is one of the last operating in San Bernardino County. It has two screens; each screen shows two movies every night during operating season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Skyline Drive-In |url=https://www.driveinmovie.com/ca/barstow/skyline-drive-in/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125070536/https://www.driveinmovie.com/ca/barstow/skyline-drive-in/ |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |website=DriveInMovie.com}}</ref>

Barstow Station Cinema is D'Place is the city's indoor cinema. It has six screens and can be found at 1503 East Main Street, in the east side of the city.<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=Theater Showtimes |url=https://www.dplaceentertainment.com/theater-showtimes/x0lwd-barstow-station-cinema-is-dplace/#Showtimes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125071527/https://www.dplaceentertainment.com/theater-showtimes/x0lwd-barstow-station-cinema-is-dplace/#Showtimes |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |website=DPlaceEntertainment.com |publisher=D'Place Entertainment}}</ref>

Barstow Community College has a $22&nbsp;million Performing Arts Center which hosts college theatre and music performances, and traveling professional performances.

===Museums===
[[File:USA 2012 0295 - Barstow - Western America Railroad Museum.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Western America Rail Museum exhibit]]

Barstow has a number of museums: Mojave River Valley Museum, Route 66 Mother Road Museum, the Western America Rail Museum, and the Desert Discovery Center. 
[[File:Desert Discovery Center Barstow in 1988.jpg|thumb|Desert Discovery Center Barstow in 1988]]
Once a year a family opens their Black History collection to the public and nearby Fort Irwin is home to the 11 Cavalry and ACR Museum. The [[Old Woman meteorite]], the largest meteorite found in California and the second largest in the United States, is housed in the Desert Discovery Center.

The [[Harvey House (Barstow, California)|Casa Del Desierto]], built in 1911 as a [[Fred Harvey Company|Harvey House]] hotel and train station, now houses the Route 66 Mother Road Museum, the [[Western America Railroad Museum]] and still functions as an (unstaffed) [[Amtrak]] station. The Barstow Chamber of Commerce sponsors an annual sandcastle contest in the dry riverbed across from the Harvey House.

====Barstow Station====
Opened in 1975 and operating 365 days a year, Barstow Station is built to resemble a railway station. The location serves 20,000 tour buses a year and is a popular stop for travelers on [[Interstate 15]]. It includes a number of gift shops, an ice cream parlour, a [[Panda Express]], [[Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen]], KHWY radio station, and a [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]] ticket terminal.

The [[McDonald's]] restaurant at Barstow Station consists of three side-by-side railroad cars—a reference to Barstow's railroad heritage. In September 1986, the restaurant was destroyed by fire when a customer's car burst into flames at the drive-up window.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fire Ruins Barstow McDonald's|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-09-17-mn-10621-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 23, 2011|date=September 17, 1986}}</ref> In June 1997, the re-built restaurant received national attention when a gunman opened fire during a botched robbery, injuring several people and killing a nine-year-old girl. The gunman was mortally wounded by an off-duty police officer after the ensuing gun battle and later died in a hospital.<ref>{{cite news|title=Girl Killed in Botched Holdup at McDonald's|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-17-mn-4191-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 23, 2011|date=June 17, 1997}}</ref>

===Retail===
Located southwest of the town is the upscale Tanger Center Barstow, of the [[Tanger Factory Outlet Centers]] chain, which is a popular stop for tourists traveling between Greater Los Angeles and Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite web|title=tanger-outlets-barstow-ca|url=http://www.outletbound.com/outlet-malls/tanger-outlets-barstow-ca|access-date=June 17, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707015638/http://www.outletbound.com/outlet-malls/tanger-outlets-barstow-ca|archive-date=July 7, 2014}}</ref> An older shopping center of [[outlet store]]s, the Barstow Factory Outlet, is located opposite the Tanger Outlet Center.

The city has an enclosed shopping mall, [[Barstow Mall]], built in the 1970s. It was renovated in 2010 and now includes the County of San Bernardino's new social service office for the Transition Assistance Department and Children and Family Services.

===Near Barstow===
The [[United States Army]]'s [[Fort Irwin National Training Center|National Training Center (NTC)]] and [[NASA]]'s [[Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex]] are located at the nearby [[Fort Irwin National Training Center|Fort Irwin]], north of Barstow. The Goldstone Complex includes the [[Deep Space Network|Pioneer Deep Space Station]], which has been designated a U.S. [[National Historic Landmark]].

[[Calico, San Bernardino County, California|Calico Ghost Town]] is one of the few remaining original mining towns of the western United States, now preserved as a museum by [[Walter Knott]].

[[Rainbow Basin]] is an [[Area of Critical Environmental Concern]] due to landscape features and paleontological resources in the area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rainbow Basin|url=http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barstow/basin.html|publisher=Bureau of Land Management|access-date=August 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721182103/http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barstow/basin.html|archive-date=July 21, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Located {{convert|8|mi|km}} north of Barstow, its landscape, multi-colored rock formations and canyons are visited by photographers, hikers, and campers.<ref>[https://www.blm.gov/visit/rainbow-basin-natural-area-1 Rainbow Basin Natural Area]</ref> The [[fossil]]iferous [[Barstow Formation]] ([[Miocene]]) is well exposed there. Rainbow Basin is managed by the [[Bureau of Land Management]]'s Barstow Field Office.

[[File:Solar One Power Plant 1993 California.jpg|thumb|right|[[The Solar Project]].]]
[[Coyote Lake (San Bernardino County, California)|Coyote Dry Lake]] is a {{convert|30|sqmi|sqkm}} [[dry lake]] located {{convert|15|mi|km}} northeast of Barstow.

[[Lava tube]]s around [[Pisgah Crater]] offer [[caving|spelunking]] opportunities.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.vulcanospeleology.org/articles/pisgah.pdf|title= pisgah.pdf |last1= Harter|first1= Russell|publisher= Southern California Grott|access-date=June 17, 2014}}</ref>

[[The Solar Project]] is located in Daggett, CA, about 10&nbsp;miles (16&nbsp;km) east of Barstow.

==Sports==
Barstow was home to the Barstow Riffians, a developmental semi-professional football team.  The Barstow Riffians were members of the UFAL.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barstow Ruffians Website|url=http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/?u=barstowriffians&s=football&t=c|access-date=August 23, 2011}}</ref> The team ceased operations following the 2010–11 season.

The city offers adult basketball and softball leagues.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barstow – Adult Sports|url=http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/adult-sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222072746/http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/adult-sports|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 22, 2010|publisher=The City of Barstow|access-date=August 24, 2011}}</ref>

Barstow Community College's athletics department offers four competitive intercollegiate sports programs: men's and women's basketball, baseball, and softball.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barstow Community College – Athletics Department|url=http://www.barstow.edu/athletics/default.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040420204720/http://www.barstow.edu/Athletics/default.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 20, 2004|publisher=Barstow Community College|access-date=August 23, 2011}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
Barstow has two main parks: the Barstow Skate Park,<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Barstow – Barstow Skate Park|url=http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/facility-locations/barstow-skate-park|publisher=City of Barstow|access-date=September 18, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727132115/http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/facility-locations/barstow-skate-park|archive-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> a 12,000 square-foot skate park, and the Robert A. Sessions Memorial Sportspark,<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Barstow – Robert A. Sessions Memorial Sportspark|url=http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/facility-locations/robert-a-sessions-memorial-park-sports-park|publisher=City of Barstow|access-date=September 18, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727235320/http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/facility-locations/robert-a-sessions-memorial-park-sports-park|archive-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> which includes six lighted ball fields, three soccer fields, volleyball courts, batting cages as well as basketball courts. The Robert A. Sessions Memorial Sportspark also plays host to regional softball tournaments.

The city also has the Dana Park Community Center open on weekdays, the Cora Harper Fitness Center and Tennis Courts open Monday to Saturday, and the outdoor Eda Henderson Pool open Tuesdays to Sundays throughout the school summer holidays.<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Barstow – Parks and Recreation|url=http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/city-organization/city-departments/parks-and-recreation|publisher=City of Barstow|access-date=September 18, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922230831/http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/city-organization/city-departments/parks-and-recreation|archive-date=September 22, 2011}}</ref>

Founded in the 1970s by two local residents,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.barstowseniorcenter.com/HISTORY_OF.pdf |title=HISTORY OF THE BARSTOW SENIOR CITIZEN'S CENTER |access-date=May 29, 2021 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213214/http://www.barstowseniorcenter.com/HISTORY_OF.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> the thriving Barstow Senior Center serves Barstow's seniors. In addition to daily, weekly, and monthly activities, there is also an onsite thrift store and lunches are served every weekday. The center is funded via annual membership fees and sponsorship.

==Government==

===Local government===
According to the city's most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $33.1&nbsp;million in revenues, $37.2&nbsp;million in expenditures, $149.8&nbsp;million in total assets, $25.3&nbsp;million in total liabilities, and $52.6&nbsp;million in cash and investments.<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Barstow – Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2010|url=http://www.barstowca.org/site/images/pdf/CAFR_2010.pdf|publisher=City of Barstow|access-date=September 10, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207211018/http://www.barstowca.org/site/images/pdf/CAFR_2010.pdf|archive-date=February 7, 2012}}</ref> The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Barstow Departments|url=http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/city-organization/city-departments/|publisher=City of Barstow|access-date=September 11, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922230730/http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/city-organization/city-departments|archive-date=September 22, 2011}}</ref>

The Barstow Youth Advisory Council (BYAC) was established in March 2009. Thirteen teen advocates advise Barstow City Council members on the needs of young people in the city and promote youth community involvement through voluntary activities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barstow Youth Advisory Council|url=http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/city-organization/city-government/youth-advisory-council|publisher=City of Barstow|access-date=September 11, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922230921/http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/city-organization/city-government/youth-advisory-council|archive-date=September 22, 2011}}</ref>

===State and federal representation===
In the [[California State Legislature]], Barstow is in {{Representative|casd|12|fmt=sdistrict}},<ref>{{Cite web |title=CA Senate District 12 Map {{!}} Senator Shannon Grove |url=https://sr12.senate.ca.gov/issue/ca-senate-district-12-map |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=sr12.senate.ca.gov}}</ref> and in {{Representative|caad|34|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=District 34 Details {{!}} California State Assembly |url=https://www.assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers/34 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=www.assembly.ca.gov}}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Barstow is in {{Representative|cacd|23|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|23}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Motel in Barstow, California LCCN2013633211.tif|thumb|right|Tourist accommodation in Barstow.]]
Its long distance from larger cities and urban centers has created economic problems, and Barstow is seeking projects to boost the economy. However, there are three casinos planned for the area.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jul-07-me-casino7-story.html Barstow Hatching Who-Needs-Vegas Plan]</ref> Additionally, various construction projects have been announced for Barstow, which include retail growth, an increase in lodging accommodation, and other businesses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cruz |first=Rene Ray De La |title=New businesses including a restaurant and hotel coming to Barstow in 2021 |url=https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2020/12/28/opening-raising-canes-chicken-fingers-restaurant-next-year-one-several-major-business-projects-comin/4055443001/ |access-date=April 19, 2022 |website=Victorville Daily Press |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2021 |title=Major mixed-use project slated for Barstow |url=https://iebusinessdaily.com/major-mixed-use-project-slated-for-barstow/ |access-date=April 19, 2022 |website=IE Business Daily |language=en-US}}</ref>

In October 2022, BNSF committed to expanding the Barstow Rail yard into the Barstow International Gateway, over {{convert|4500| acres}} at a cost of 1.5&nbsp;billion dollars to reduce [[Dwell time (transportation)|dwell time]] at the [[Port of Los Angeles]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Barstow International Gateway |url=https://bnsfcalifornia.com/2022/10/01/barstow-international-gateway/ |website=BNSF California |publisher=BNSF |access-date=October 4, 2022 |date=October 1, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BNSF unveils $1.5B 'Barstow International Gateway' plan to change California cargo system |url=https://news.yahoo.com/bnsf-unveils-1-5b-barstow-195847688.html |website=news.yahoo.com |publisher=Yahoo News |access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BNSF Going BIG in Barstow (Updated With Commentary) |url=https://www.railwayage.com/freight/class-i/bnsf-going-big-in-barstow%ef%bf%bc/?RAchannel=home |website=Railway Age |access-date=October 4, 2022 |date=October 3, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Lena |last=Kent |title=New rail complex coming to Barstow, will increase national supply chain efficiency |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/state/bnsf-to-build-new-rail-complex-in-barstow-will-increase-national-supply-chain-efficiency/article_467c2c47-42fb-5de6-9396-8365eb443c2d.html |website=San Francisco Examiner |access-date=October 4, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BNSF to build $1.5 billion facility in Barstow, Calif., to handle container traffic |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/bnsf-to-build-1-5-billion-facility-in-barstow-calif-to-handle-container-traffic/ |website=Trains |access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> In response, the city adopted a new logo and changed its motto to "the Hub of the West".<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to the Hub of the West {{!}} City of Barstow |url=https://www.barstowca.org/government/hub-of-the-west |website=www.barstowca.org |publisher=City of Barstow |access-date=October 4, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> It is also in the process of changing zoning to accommodate the logistics industry that surrounds the expanded BNSF facility.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hub of the West Facility {{!}} City of Barstow |url=https://www.barstowca.org/government/city-manager/economic-development/hub-of-the-west/hub-of-the-west-facility |website=www.barstowca.org |publisher=City of Barstow |access-date=October 4, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

===Top employers===
According to the city,<ref>{{cite web|title=Barstow 2020 CAFR|url=https://www.barstowca.org/home/showpublisheddocument/7083/637497852396670000|access-date=August 2, 2021}}</ref> the top employers in the area in 2020 were:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
|[[Fort Irwin Military Reservation#National Training Center|Ft. Irwin National Training Center]]
|8,900
|-
|2
|[[Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow|Marine Corps Logistics Base]]
|1,700
|-
|3
|[[BNSF Railroad]]
|1,000
|-
|4
|[[Barstow Unified School District]]
|958
|-
|5
|[[Tanger Factory Outlet Centers|Outlets at Barstow]]
|480
|-
|6
|[[Raytheon|Raytheon Tech Services]]
|400
|-
|7
|[[Barstow Community College]]
|377
|-
|8
|Barstow Community Hospital
|348
|-
|9
|[[Walmart]]
|305
|-
|10
|[[Silver Valley Unified School District]]
|300
|}

==Education==
[[File:BarstowCollegeCampus.JPG|thumb|right|[[Barstow Community College]].]]
[[File:Barstow High School.jpg|thumb|right|[[Barstow High School]].]]
Barstow Unified School District has 8 elementary schools (grades 1–6):

Currently operating:

* Cameron Elementary School
* Crestline Elementary School
* Henderson Elementary School
* Lenwood Elementary School
* Montara Elementary School
* Skyline North Elementary School
* Thomson Elementary School (now Barstow Stem Academy)
Grades 7–8 are taught at Barstow Junior High School and grades 9–12 are taught at [[Barstow High School]].

Charter Schools:
* Excelsior Charter Schools 7th–12th<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://excelsior.com/barstow/|title=Excelsior Barstow – Excelsior Charter Schools}}</ref>
* Mojave River Academy K-12<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mojaveriver.net/locations/barstow|title = Barstow}}</ref>

[[Barstow Community College]] is the only college in the area, and its primary objectives are to enable students to transfer to a four-year college or university and learn vocational trades through career technical education.

[[Park University]] has a campus located at the Marine Corps logistics base, which accepts local civilian students as well as military personnel and their dependents.<ref>{{cite web|title=Park University – Barstow Campus|url=http://www.park.edu/BARS/|publisher=Park University|access-date=August 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927221107/http://www.park.edu/BARS/|archive-date=September 27, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Park also offers classes on the community college campus.

Closed schools:

* Hinkley Elementary School ([[Hinkley, California]] . Now closed<ref>{{cite web|title=California School Directory – Hinkley Elementary/Middle|url=https://www.cde.ca.gov/SchoolDirectory/details?cdscode=36676116035356|publisher=California Department of Education|access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Barstow Unified re-approves closure of Hinkley Elementary/Middle|url=https://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20170127/barstow-unified-re-approves-closure-of-hinkley-elementary|publisher=The Daily Press – Victorville |access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref>)

==Media==
===Newspaper, books, and radio===
Founded in 1910 and renamed in 1958, the ''[[Desert Dispatch]]'' is Barstow's local newspaper.<ref>{{cite web |title=Desert Dispatch – Barstow's local newspaper |url=http://www.desertdispatch.com |publisher=[[Desert Dispatch]] |access-date=August 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110729050735/http://www.desertdispatch.com/ |archive-date=July 29, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The newspaper has a daily circulation of 3,259<ref>{{cite web |title=Freedom Communications Inc – Desert Dispatch |url=http://www.freedom.com/newspapers/desert.html |publisher=Freedom Communications Inc |access-date=September 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824074441/http://freedom.com/newspapers/desert.html |archive-date=August 24, 2011}}</ref> and was awarded second place for Sports Page Design, Opinion Page Design and Editorial Comment at the 2008 Better Newspapers Contest, hosted by the [[California Newspaper Publishers Association]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Freedom newspapers receive honors at CNPA's Better Newspapers Contest |url=http://www.freedom.com/company/full_news2.asp?id=1332 |publisher=Freedom Communications Inc |access-date=September 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402095432/http://www.freedom.com/company/full_news2.asp?id=1332 |archive-date=April 2, 2012}}</ref>

Barstow's main radio station is [[KDUC]] (or "K-DUCK"), which plays adult contemporary music and also serves [[Victorville, California|Victorville]], [[Apple Valley, California|Apple Valley]], [[Hesperia, California|Hesperia]] and [[Ridgecrest, California]].

"We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold" is the opening sentence of [[Hunter S. Thompson]]'s ''[[Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas]].''

===Movies and television===
Barstow City Council has a dedicated film office, which acts as a point of liaison and resources for film locations, equipment and accommodation for filmmakers and their crews.<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Barstow – Film Office|url=http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/city-organization/city-departments/barstow-film-office|publisher=City of Barstow|access-date=September 19, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922230735/http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/city-organization/city-departments/barstow-film-office|archive-date=September 22, 2011}}</ref> A number of notable motion pictures were shot in the city,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/films-shot-in-barstow |title=films shot in barstow |author=City of Barstow |date=August 22, 2011 |publisher=City of Barstow |access-date=August 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927010712/http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/films-shot-in-barstow |archive-date=September 27, 2011 }}</ref> including ''[[Broken Arrow (1996 film)|Broken Arrow]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Broken Arrow (1996) filming locations|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115759/locations|website=IMDb.com|access-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Courage Under Fire]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Courage Under Fire (1996) filming locations|website=IMDb.com|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115956/locations|access-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref> ''[[From Dusk till Dawn]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=From Dusk till Dawn (1996) filming locations|website=IMDb.com|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116367/locations|access-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Gattaca]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Gattaca (1997) filming locations|website=IMDb.com|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/locations|access-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Erin Brockovich (2000) filming locations|website=IMDb.com|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195685/locations|access-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref> and ''[[Kill Bill: Volume 2]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kill Bill Volume 2 filming locations|website=IMDb.com|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0378194/locations|access-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref> Other notable mentions of Barstow include the 2008 movie ''Leaving Barstow'', which tells the story of a high school senior who must choose between his ambitions to leave Barstow or stay in the city to care for his mother. The fictional [[Brian O'Conner]] in ''[[2 Fast 2 Furious]]'' grew up in Barstow and travels to the city to persuade a former childhood best friend [[List of The Fast and the Furious characters#Roman Pearce|Roman Pearce]] to join him in an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] operation.

The film ''[[Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (film)|Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas]]'' mentions Barstow frequently.

Barstow is also mentioned in the 2009 movie ''[[The Hangover]]'' before the road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. The [[Hair (film)|movie version]] of "Hair" was partially filmed in Barstow in the late 1970s. Blinkey, cousin of popular 80's alien character [[ALF (character)|ALF]] is said to live in Barstow.

In 2015, Barstow was one of the filming locations for the film ''[[Sky (2015 film)|Sky]]'' as well as [[Bombay Beach, California|Bombay Beach]], [[Hinkley, California|Hinkley]], [[Joshua Tree, California|Joshua Tree]], [[Landers, California|Landers]], [[Lenwood, California|Lenwood]], [[Ludlow, California|Ludlow]], [[Newberry Springs, California|Newberry Springs]], and [[Victorville, California]].<ref name="IMDb">{{cite web| title=Sky (2015) – Filming Locations| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4106306/locations| website=IMDb.com| access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>

Barstow is the topic of the documentary ''Barstow, California'' (2018) by German director Rainer Komers featuring voice overs of [[Spoon Jackson]]'s poems and memoir ''By Heart''.<ref>{{cite web| title=Barstow, California| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8292330| website=IMDb.com| access-date=July 18, 2020}}</ref>

Barstow was featured by [[Huell Howser]] in ''Road Trip'' Episode 101.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barstow – Road Trip with Huell Howser (101) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University |url=https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2001/01/24/barstow-road-trip-with-huell-howser-101/}}</ref>

===Music===
"Barstow Cowboy in Old Barstow" was a 1941 song by comedian/musician [[Spike Jones]].

Barstow is mentioned in the lyrics of "[[(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66|Route 66]]" composed by Bobby Troup.

Composer [[Harry Partch]] wrote "Barstow," inspired by eight pieces of graffiti written by hitchhikers on highway railings in the city.<ref>{{cite web|title=Review of Barstow|url=https://www.areditions.com/rr/embellish/2000_12/feature.html|access-date=August 24, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928105600/https://www.areditions.com/rr/embellish/2000_12/feature.html|archive-date=September 28, 2011}}</ref>].

The Residents' song "[[Babyfingers|Death in Barstow]]" (1979) tells the story of two friends who visit and fall asleep in Barstow. One of the friends awakes to find that his friend has died.

[[Bill Morrissey]]'s song "Barstow" (1984, the first song on his first record) is about a group of men drinking one night in a Barstow train yard, with the notable line "I can't believe it gets this cold in Barstow".

Sheryl Crow's "[[Leaving Las Vegas (song)|Leaving Las Vegas]]" mentions spending the night in Barstow.

[[Goodnight, Texas (band)|Goodnight, Texas]]'s song "Barstow" is a tale of a gold miner chasing his dream to the town, only to find that Barstow does not have any gold.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hiwearegoodnighttexashowareyou.com/barstow | title=Barstow }}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
{{See also|Category:Public transportation in San Bernardino County, California}}

[[Victor Valley Transit Authority]] is the local transportation system.<ref>{{cite web|title=SANBAG Public Transit|url=http://www.sanbag.ca.gov/commuter/pub-transit.html|publisher=San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG)|access-date=October 28, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106203215/http://www.sanbag.ca.gov/commuter/pub-transit.html|archive-date=November 6, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> It covers the city of Barstow and the surrounding areas in San Bernardino County. BAT operates three fixed city bus routes on an hourly schedule, a dial-a-ride service for seniors and persons with disabilities and two county routes serving [[Hinkley, California|Hinkley]], [[Yermo, California|Yermo]], [[Daggett, California|Daggett]], and [[Newberry Springs, California|Newberry Springs]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Barstow Area Transit System|url=http://www.barstowca.org/site/images/pdf/Transit_Schedule.pdf|publisher=City of Barstow|access-date=October 28, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904105509/http://www.barstowca.org/site/images/pdf/Transit_Schedule.pdf|archive-date=September 4, 2011}}</ref> The county services operate on a fixed route with a ''deviation zone'' and a flexible time schedule. When requested in advance, the county bus travels off the fixed route to pick up or drop off passengers within the deviation zone.  Unless passengers hold a monthly or day pass, there is an additional charge for this service. All city and county buses connect at Barstow City Hall Transport Center. Intercity buses that serve Barstow include [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]], [[Orange Belt Stages]], Intercalifornias, [[TUFESA]], and Fronteras del Norte, and [[FlixBus]].<ref>{{Cite web| title = AIBRA – Find a Station|website=Kfhgroup.com| access-date = May 2, 2015| url = http://www.kfhgroup.com/aibra/Tables/tables.htm}}</ref><ref>[http://extranet.greyhound.com/Revsup/schedules/pdf/556.pdf Greyhound Schedule Table 556] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122075706/http://extranet.greyhound.com/Revsup/schedules/pdf/556.pdf |date=January 22, 2016 }}</ref>

The [[Harvey House (Barstow, California)|Harvey House Railroad Depot]] is served twice daily by [[Amtrak]]'s [[Southwest Chief]], from Chicago to Los Angeles and reverse. Connections can also be made on multiple [[Amtrak Thruway]] bus services to [[Las Vegas]] and other destinations. Rail freight is provided by the [[BNSF Railway]] and the [[Union Pacific Railroad]].

[[Barstow-Daggett Airport]] is the local airport that serves [[general aviation]] but has no commercial service.

Roads are the main method of transport. The primary arteries serving Barstow are [[Interstate 40 in California|Interstate 40]], [[Interstate 15 in California|Interstate 15]], and [[California State Route 58]]. A [[Tesla Supercharger]] station is available.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Supercharger |title=Barstow Supercharger {{!}} Tesla |url=https://www.tesla.com/findus/location/supercharger/barstowcasupercharger |access-date=October 3, 2022 |website=Barstow Supercharger {{!}} Tesla |language=en-us}}</ref>

===Healthcare===
Barstow Community Hospital is a 56-bed hospital serving the surrounding High Desert community. Opened in 1958, the hospital was named one of the "100 Top Hospitals in the Nation" for two consecutive years in the late 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Barstow – Healthcare|url=http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/about-barstow/healthcare|publisher=City of Barstow|access-date=September 19, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914173705/http://www.barstowca.org/site/index.php/about-barstow/healthcare|archive-date=September 14, 2011}}</ref> The new Barstow Community Hospital, which opened its doors to the community in October 2012, is a 30-bed acute care facility with inpatient and outpatient services, and medical, surgical and emergency care.

===Public safety===
Barstow has its own police department, plus a regional station of the [[San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department]], which serves the unincorporated areas around the city, including [[Newberry Springs, California|Newberry Springs]], [[Trona, San Bernardino County, California|Trona]], [[Baker, California|Baker]] and [[Ludlow, California|Ludlow]].

Fire prevention and paramedic services are provided by the Barstow Fire Protection District.

On November 19, 2010, Barstow residents were warned that the area water system was contaminated.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hennessy-Fiske |first1=Molly |title=Barstow residents advised not to drink tap water because of possible contamination |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/11/barstow-water-contamination.html |access-date=March 6, 2020 |work=LA Times Blogs |date=November 19, 2010|page=m}}</ref> A local area military base, [[Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow]] notified Golden State Water that samples taken from their water system showed the chemical [[perchlorate]] at levels above the maximum contaminant level of 6 parts per billion. Perchlorate is found in rocket propellant, fireworks, explosives, flares, matches and industrial byproducts. Golden State Water Co. handed out free bottled water to residents. The "Do Not Drink" water advisory ended five days later on November 24, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gswater.com/csa_homepages/barstow.html |title=Golden State Water Company |publisher=Gswater.com |access-date=January 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228122831/http://www.gswater.com/csa_homepages/barstow.html |archive-date=December 28, 2011 }}</ref>

===Cemetery===
The Mountain View Memorial Park (also called Mt. View Cemetery), located on Irwin Road, was established in 1937; an Independent Special District for the cemetery was created in 1947 as Barstow Cemetery District.<ref>{{cite web |title=Service Reviews |url=https://sbclafco.org/service-reviews/ |website=LAFCO |publisher=San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission |access-date=8 July 2024}}</ref><ref>[http://www.sbcounty.gov/lafco/items/201009/item_7b.pdf 2009–2010 San Bernardino County Grand Jury Report] p. 51</ref><ref>{{Cite GNIS|246282|Mount View Cemetery}}</ref> Notable burials include MLB pitcher [[Bob Rhoads]].<ref>[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/da33e0cd Society for American Baseball Research]</ref> In 2021 the San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission determined that the Cemetery District was fiscally unstable, Which triggered a special study about dissolving the cemetery district<ref>{{cite web |title=January 2024 Barstow Cemetery District Special Study |url=https://www.sbcounty.gov/uploads/LAFCO/Downloads/SpecialStudies/3266_ST.pdf |publisher=San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission |access-date=8 July 2024}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Nick Barnett]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] player for [[Green Bay Packers]] and [[Washington Redskins]]<ref>{{cite web | title = Nick Barnett, Washington Redskins, NFL | publisher = CBS Interactive | url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/396151/nick-barnett | access-date =December 14, 2009}}</ref>
* [[Raquel Beezley]], Miss California USA 2008<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Jason|title=Mix up settled: Miss Barstow crowned Miss California|url=http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/beezley-4013-miss-barstow.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407060218/http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/beezley-4013-miss-barstow.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 7, 2012|publisher=Victorville Daily Press|access-date=October 28, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Jeanne Crain]], Academy Award-nominated film actress<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeanne Crain |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/jeanne-crain-549101.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070629060305/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/jeanne-crain-549101.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2007 |access-date=December 14, 2009 |location=London |date=December 16, 2003 }}</ref>
* [[Dino Ebel]], Major League Baseball coach
* [[Jeremy Gable]], playwright<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.spokesmanreview.com/pf.asp?date=060701&ID=s974264&cat= 
 |title=Playwrights Forum Festival kicks off Friday
 |publisher=Spokesmanreview.com
 |date=June 7, 2001
|access-date=July 6, 2009
|last=Kershner
 |first=Jim
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322014125/http://www.spokesmanreview.com/pf.asp?date=060701&ID=s974264&cat= 
 |archive-date=March 22, 2012
}}</ref>
* [[T. J. Houshmandzadeh]], former football player for [[Cincinnati Bengals]] and [[Seattle Seahawks]]<ref>{{cite web | title = Seattle Seahawks: T.J. Houshmandzadeh | publisher = Seattle Seahawks | url = http://www.seahawks.com/team/roster/T.J.-Houshmandzadeh/03e19991-c0ce-4c66-89d3-7a4990d22ce3 | access-date = December 14, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100323081603/http://www.seahawks.com/team/roster/T.J.-Houshmandzadeh/03e19991-c0ce-4c66-89d3-7a4990d22ce3 | archive-date = March 23, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref>
* [[Spoon Jackson]], convicted murderer and poet<ref>{{cite news | last = Lambert | first = Georgia | date = May 16, 2009 | title = Around Blackhawk: From the Soul of a Prisoner Comes Beautiful Music | url = https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2009/05/16/around-blackhawk-from-the-soul-of-a-prisoner-comes-beautiful-music/ | work = East Bay Times}}</ref>
* [[Mark Johnson (golfer)|Mark Johnson]], golfer<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Johnson – Player Bio|url=http://www.golfchannel.com/tours/player/mark-johnson/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125015909/http://www.golfchannel.com/tours/player/mark-johnson/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 25, 2013|publisher=Golf Channel|access-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Byron Katie]], author, speaker<ref>{{cite news|title=How a Self-Help Guru Is Born|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-nov-24-tm-katie47-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 22, 2011|first=Allison|last=Adato|date=November 24, 2002}}</ref>
* [[Joe A. Martinez]], ring and cage announcer<ref>{{cite web|title=Q&A: Joe Martinez |url=http://www.desertdispatch.com/sports/-1531--.html |work=Desert Dispatch |access-date=June 2, 2012 |first=David |last=Heldreth |date=September 24, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807052203/http://www.desertdispatch.com/sports/-1531--.html |archive-date=August 7, 2011 }}</ref>
* [[Michael Pelkey]], founder of BASE Jumping
* [[Scott Reeder (drummer)|Scott Reeder]], drummer, Fu Manchu<ref>{{cite web | title = Scott Reeder: Still Going For It | url=http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2009/04/scott-reeder/#.T8rdN9XbA0M |work=Modern Drummer|access-date=June 2, 2012|first=Waleed|last=Rashidi|date=April 5, 2009}}</ref>
* [[Stan Ridgway]], musician, founder of [[Wall of Voodoo]]<ref>{{cite web | title = allmusic (((Stan Ridgway Overview))) | publisher = Rovi Corporation | url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p118650|pure_url=yes}} | access-date =December 14, 2009}}</ref>
* [[Ross Robinson]], music producer<ref>{{cite web|title=Packing Heat: Ross Robinson, Record Producer |url=http://hangout.altsounds.com/features/123496-packing-heat-ross-robinson-record-producer.html |publisher=Altsounds.com |access-date=October 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830193328/http://hangout.altsounds.com/features/123496-packing-heat-ross-robinson-record-producer.html |archive-date=August 30, 2011 }}</ref>
* [[Gloria J. Romero]], former majority leader, California State Senate<ref>{{cite web | title = Senator Gloria Romero – Biography | publisher = Avenet.net | url=http://dist24.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={762B701F-34D8-4FCB-88A3-14E3653382B7} | access-date =December 14, 2009}}</ref>
* [[Paul Salopek]], journalist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twentythirdparallel.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023234412/http://www.twentythirdparallel.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 23, 2010|title=Twenty-third Parallel – Stories|date=October 23, 2010|access-date=September 22, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Aaron Sanchez (baseball)|Aaron Sanchez]], MLB pitcher for [[San Francisco Giants]], born in Barstow<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=592717#gameType='R'&sectionType=career&statType=2&season=2015&level='MLB' | title=Aaron Sanchez Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio|publisher=Major League Baseball|access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Rick Steves]], author and television personality focusing on European travel<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ricksteves.com/|title=Rick Steves Europe: Tours, Travel, TV & Vacations|website=Ricksteves.com}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|California}}
* [[Calico, San Bernardino County, California|Calico Ghost Town]]
* [[Death Valley National Park]]
* [[Lake Dolores Waterpark]]
* [[Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow]]
* [[Mojave Desert]]
* [[Mojave National Preserve]]
* [[Harry Partch]], ''Barstow: Eight Hitchhikers' Inscriptions''
* [[The Solar Project]]
* [[U.S. Route 66|Route 66]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Barstow, California}}
{{wikivoyage|Barstow|Barstow, California}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Geographic location
|Northwest = [[Hinkley, California|Hinkley]]
|North     = [[Fort Irwin National Training Center|Fort Irwin]]
|Northeast = [[Baker, California|Baker]]
|West      = [[Lenwood, California|Lenwood]]
|Center    = Barstow
|South     = [[Big Bear Lake, California|Big Bear Lake]]
|Southwest = [[Victorville, California|Victorville]]
|Southeast = [[Daggett, California|Daggett]]
|East      = [[Needles, California|Needles]]
|}}
{{San Bernardino County, California}}
{{Inland Empire}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Barstow, California| ]]
[[Category:1947 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Cities in the Mojave Desert]]
[[Category:Cities in San Bernardino County, California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1947]]
[[Category:Railway towns in California]]