BlockWrightwood, California
39 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1901 and the latest in 1995. It stands in the Mount Baldy-Wrightwood census division. It lies in ZIP code area 92397. It lies near Acorn Canyon. The Survey maps it on the Mount San Antonio quadrangle. 4,720 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 5,935 feet above sea level.
Then and now
1901 to 1995The same ground, surveyed 94 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.
Compare 1901 against another survey:
Population over time
2 figuresWrightwood grew from 4,525 to 4,720 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 4,525 | |
| 2020 | 4,720 | +195 (+4%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
15 surveys from 39 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1901 USGS Southern California Sheet No. 1 quadrangle1:250000, 6 printings
- 1903 USGS San Antonio quadrangle1:62500, 7 printings
- 1904 USGS Southern California Sheet No. 1 quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1936 USGS Swarthout quadrangle1:24000
- 1941 USGS Swarthout quadrangle1:24000, 3 printings
- 1942 USGS San Antonio quadrangle1:62500, 4 printings
- 1953 USGS San Bernardino quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1955 USGS Mount San Antonio quadrangle1:24000, 7 printings
- 1956 USGS San Bernardino quadrangle1:250000
- 1957 USGS San Bernardino quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS San Bernardino quadrangle1:250000
- 1959 USGS San Bernardino quadrangle1:250000
- 1966 USGS San Bernardino quadrangle1:250000
- 1982 USGS San Bernardino quadrangle1:100000
- 1995 USGS Mount San Antonio quadrangle1:24000
Fires near this place
348 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 348 fires within 5 miles of Wrightwood between 1992 and 2020, burning about 4,803 acres in total. 75 started naturally. 27 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 79 |
| Natural | 75 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 56 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 42 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 27 |
| Debris and open burning | 22 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 18 |
| Smoking | 15 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 8 |
| Other causes | 4 |
| Fireworks | 1 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 2015 | Natural | under an acre | San Bernardino National Forest | HARDWOOD |
| 9 September 2015 | Natural | under an acre | Angeles National Forest | NELSON |
| 9 September 2013 | Recreation and ceremony | under an acre | San Bernardino National Forest | PATROL |
| 8 September 2012 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | San Bernardino Unit | HWY 138 / SHEEP CREEK RD |
| 8 September 1999 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | San Bernardino Unit | HIGHWAY |
| 7 September 2016 | Recreation and ceremony | under an acre | Angeles National Forest | BUTTER |
| 6 September 1999 | Arson/incendiarism | under an acre | Angeles National Forest | PIPELINE |
| 5 September 2019 | Natural | under an acre | San Bernardino National Forest | CLYDE |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 12 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 12 workings within 5 miles of Wrightwood: 6 past producers, 3 occurrences, 2 prospects, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Limestone, General, Gold, Limestone, Dimension, Silver. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native Son Mine | Gold, Silver | Past Producer | ||
| Robinette Rock Quarries | Tungsten | Occurrence | ||
| Sheep Creek Deposits | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Sheep Creek Quarry No. 1 | Limestone, Dimension | Past Producer | ||
| Vincent Rock Quarry | Granite | Occurrence | ||
| El Centro Mine | Gold | Prospect | ||
| Native Son | Gold | Producer | ||
| Big Pine | Limestone, General | Prospect | ||
| Big Pine | Limestone, General | Occurrence | ||
| Sheep Creek Pit and Mill | Limestone, General | Past Producer | Sedimentary |
Storms near this place
29 since 1999Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Wrightwood in 29 storm reports between 1999 and 2025: 12 flash flood, 8 heavy rain, 5 flood, 1 wildfire. The reports record 3 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2002 | Flood | Wrightwood | 3 hurt, $200,000 | no account filed |
| January 2005 | Flash Flood | Wrightwood | $16,000,000 | no account filed |
| December 2025 | Flood | Wrightwood | $3,000,000 | Several hours of rain rates over 1/hr resulted in severe flash flooding and debris flow in Wrightwood. Numerous vehicles were trapped in mud/flood waters and creek bridge crossings, with several houses overtaken by mud and debris flow. Evacuation warnings were issued by San Bernardino County. SB County Fire stated about 50 homes were severely damaged with an additional 20 homes showing moderate damage. |
| February 2005 | Flash Flood | Wrightwood | $500,000 | A 30 foot section of an earthen dam at an abandoned reservoir in Horse Canyon gave way and sent 1 million gallons of water rushing downstream. The wall of water destroyed bridges, washed out roads, and uprooted trees. The reservoir had been empty for several years and had only recently filled after weeks of heavy rains. |
| October 2004 | Flash Flood | Wrightwood | $320,000 | A flash flood washed out a bridge on Highway 2 at Sheep Creek. The bridge was completely burried under mud and rocks as a torrent of muddy water rushed over the bridge. The gap between the bottom of the bridge and the creek bed, which is normally around 15 feet, completely filled with mud and debris. Crews rushed to remove 600 cubic yards of mud from beneath the bridge as another strong winter storm would hit the week after. |
| July 2001 | Flash Flood | Wrightwood | $50,000 | no account filed |
| September 2007 | Flash Flood | Wrightwood | $25,000 | Thunderstorms with heavy rain caused flash flooding in and downstream of Wrightwood for a third straight day. A flash flood in Heath Canyon Creek washed out Trush Road and Victorville Road just south of Highway 2 in Wrightwood. A tactical disaster response team was activated in Wrightwood because of the flooding. |
| August 2007 | Flash Flood | Wrightwood | $25,000 | Significant flash flooding in the Sheep Creek Wash inundated Lone Pine Canyon Road in Wrightwood and left a large amount of mud and boulders in its wake. A mini-van became stuck in the mud on Lone Pine Canyon Road and then was filled with water and debris as the flash flood worsened. A few other vehciles became stuck in other areas of Wrightwood but suffered far less damage. |
| September 2007 | Flash Flood | Wrightwood | $25,000 | Heavy rain from a thunderstorm caused widespread flash flooding for a second straight day in and around the mountain town of Wrightwood. A torrent of water went rushing down Sheep Creek Wash and over Lone Pine Canyon Road. A flash flood of water and debris also inundated the bridge at Heath Creek. The flash flood rushed north and east through several washes that lead into the desert near Phelan. |
| August 1999 | Wildfire | Wrightwood | $10,000 | A fire started by a vehicle accident grew to 600 acres. |
| July 2015 | Flash Flood | Wrightwood | $3,000 | CHP reported the roadway getting washed away at Lone Pine Canyon Rd. near East Canyon Dr. around 0345 PST. A spotter also reported significant flow through the normally dry Sheep Creek Wash, with lots of tree trunks going by. |
| August 2017 | Flood | Wrightwood | $500 | A trained spotter reported a debris flow from Sheep Creek Wash flowing over Lone Pine Canyon Rd. |
| February 2025 | Heavy Rain | Wrightwood | - | A trained spotter located at Wrightwood 6275, reported 2.55 inches of total rainfall. |
| December 2025 | Flood | Wrightwood | - | Sheep Creek flooding over Desert Front Rd near intersection with SR-2. Creek/flood waters rendering the road impassable. |
| January 2023 | Flood | Wrightwood | - | The Department of Highways reported a road closure along Silver Rock Road to Colorado Road due to flooding. |
| August 2023 | Flash Flood | Wrightwood | - | Video received from this area near Sheep Creek showing boulders, rocks, and high water over State Highway 2 after 6.23 inches of rain fell. Time is estimated. |
| August 2023 | Heavy Rain | Wrightwood | - | Heavy rain associated with Tropical Cyclone Hilary impacted much of San Bernardino County starting late on August 19th. The heaviest rainfall occurred on August 20th which led to numerous reports of flash flooding and debris flows. Light rainfall continued through the 21st as well. The heaviest rainfall occurred in the San Bernardino County Mountains, where anywhere from about 2.00-6.00 of rain fell on average. Heavier amounts include 13.07 at Upper Mission Creek (UMCC1), 10.34 at Crestline (CA-SR-84), 9.71 at the Lytle Creek RAWS site, 8.23 at Running Springs, 6.92 at Wrightwood (CA-SR-69), and 6.44 at Forest Falls (FFPC1). Rainfall totals in the Apple and Lucerne Valleys generally ranged from 1.00-3.00. Notable higher totals in this area include Mojave Forks Dam southeast of Hesperia (MVDC1) receiving 6.43 of rain, and Phelan (CW6479) receiving 3.74. Rainfall totals farther south across the Inland Empire generally ranged from 1.50-3.50. The Devore Fire Station observed a localized higher rainfall total of 4.24. |
| December 2021 | Heavy Rain | Wrightwood | - | Mesonet station 1877D wrightwood reports 4.38 inches of rain in the past 24 hours. |
| May 2019 | Hail | Wrightwood | - | Trained spotter reported dime sized hail in Wrightwood on May 6th. |
| August 2018 | Heavy Rain | Wrightwood | - | Two spotters reported heavy rainfall in Wrightwood -- approximately 1 inch per hour rainfall rate. Moderate flooding was reported. |
| August 2018 | Heavy Rain | Wrightwood | - | A trained spotter reported 1.14 inches of rainfall in 35 minutes. |
| August 2018 | Debris Flow | Wrightwood | - | Public reported a debris flow at the Sheep Creek Wash in Wrightwood on Lone Pine Canyon Road. The road was closed down for a few hours to clean up the debris flow. |
| February 2014 | Flash Flood | Wrightwood | - | San Bernardino County Fire is reporting a levee failure along Sheep Creek near the intersection of Buckwheat Road and Manzanita Road in Pinon Hills. Eight homes were threatened and those eight families were evacuated due to the flooding threat. County fire department set up sandbags around all the homes and all were spared from flood damage. Consistent heavy rain over the area throughout the day, resulted in Sheep Creek running over the road at the intersection of Sheep Creek Road and Lone Pine Canyon Road. This intersection was closed and 8-hour rainfall total was 5 inches. |
| July 2011 | Flash Flood | Wrightwood | - | Spotter RIV116 reported numerous debris flows and arroyo flooding along Lone Pine Canyon Road near Wrightwood due to heavy rain from a thunderstorm. |
| August 2010 | Heavy Rain | Wrightwood | - | The Wrightwood Mesonet site reported 0.81 inches of rain fell within 35 minutes between 1400 and 1435 PST on August 25th. |
| August 2010 | Heavy Rain | Wrightwood | - | A member of the public called to report mud, debris and four inch diameter rocks washing down the Sheep Creek Wash at the base of Heath Canyon near Wrightwood, CA on August 25th. Highway 2 was closed between Desert View and Summit Roads due to water, mud and debris washing across the roadway. |
| August 2005 | Flash Flood | Wrightwood | - | Flooding reported on Lone Pine Rd near Highways 2 and 138. |
| November 2002 | Heavy Rain | Wrightwood | - | no account filed |
| August 2000 | Lightning | Wrightwood | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildhorse Canyon | 2.2 miles | 38 | |
| Mountain Top Junction | 3.7 miles | 34 | |
| Deer Haven | 3.8 miles | 34 | |
| Yucca Inn | 4.1 miles | 34 | |
| Piñon Hills | 5.1 miles | 37 | |
| Phelan | 5.5 miles | 34 | |
| Pinon Hills Estates | 7.5 miles | 37 | |
| Alray | 8.3 miles | 32 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Wrightwood | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q2481425 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1652816. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.