Does the Victor Valley consider itself part of the IE? (Riverside: homes, movies)

[bentstrider]

Just wondering since the only thing separating us from civilization is the petty annoyance known as the Cajon Pass.

I've lived up here since I was four and after going down to the LA area for fun, for the last few years, I consistently use the IE as a reference point for people that have never heard of Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley.

On the other hand of things, this area has lost alot of its rural quality within the last 10-15 years.
More paved streets, more traffic noise, higher speed limits, and more suburbanized youngsters jonesing for a place to hang out.

If anything, I believe the Victor Valley was originally intended for retired folk, military personnel, and amateur farmers.

Now it seems to be turning into, "Just another bedroom community".

At least Victorville is anyway.
Hesperia still allows semi-truck parking on private property, while both it and Apple Valley have plenty of equestrian zoning.

[Fontucky]

My take on it: They identify as the high desert and consider the area "down the hill" as the IE.

[bentstrider]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

My take on it: They identify as the high desert and consider the area "down the hill" as the IE.

Well, at least those of us that lived up here for more than 10 years do anyway.

[Fontucky]

Have you lived there long enough to remember when Bear Valley was a two lane road with a few businesses on it and mostly open desert everywhere?

[Twinkle Toes]

I'm in the CV and don't consider the CV to be part of the IE, but according to Wikipedia, we are.

I've always thought the VV was part of the IE, but everyone I know refers to it as the high desert. Where I live, in the CV, everyone refers to it as "the desert".

[bhcompy]

I've always heard it referred to as the High Desert. I've never heard a local call it anything else, especially IE, as that is an entirely different area

[bentstrider]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Have you lived there long enough to remember when Bear Valley was a two lane road with a few businesses on it and mostly open desert everywhere?

No, I was here in '87 when it was just recently turned into a two lane in each direction.
However that was only through certain sections and there still weren't as many lights and that drive-in used to show movies where WalMart on Bear Valley currently sits.

[LQQKOUT]

Originally Posted by bentstrider

Well, at least those of us that lived up here for more than 10 years do anyway.

Hear ya there, I remember when Bear Valley 2 lane road crossed the highway 395 and turned into Baldy Mesa road that was all DIRT. And the large dips on Phelan Road towards Hesperia were fun to drive on, and we didn't have SUPER-anything to shop at, and homes had more elbow room, and you could actually feel safe going to the mall, and there was always Deep Creek spill way & hot springs to hang out at, and Majove Narrows was a great place to camp, and Hesperia Lakes was fun year around, and we didn't have to worry about gangs, and the drive on Bear valley road was a breeze to drive down, and going out to Ore Grand or Lurcern was fun for dirt bike riding, and the back way to Big Bear you could pull over and site see for FREE, and the road trip to state line or Vegas was a weekend thing, and the snowy mountians caps, so those days...long gone.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by LQQKOUT

and you could actually feel safe going to the mall

The Victor Valley mall? That's barely 20 years old.

[LivingLikeAGradStudent]

Downtown Victorville has been dingy since I was a kid in the 70s. And the dips on Phelan Road were a lot of fun on my drive to high school. On the IE question, though, I would say that neither desert (High or Coachella Valley) is part of the IE but, as part of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, they are part of the metro area.