Lancaster, California

A city in the desert of California, north of Los Angeles. Noteworthy only because it's near Edwards Air Force Base, where the Space Shuttle often lands.

Lancaster is the largest city located in the desert expanse of the Antelope Valley.

It's located 56 miles from downtown Los Angeles, it was originally built as a supply center when the Southern Pacific Railway came through in 1876 and named to following year by a real estate developer who came from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The area was originally inhabitated by Paiute Indians and was first explored by foreigners during the 1769 Portolá expedition. Interestingly, the city has the largest amount of child abuse reported in the United States...