Biohazard and Pathogen Disinfection in Lucerne Valley, CA

Lucerne Valley is an unincorporated census-designated place in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, about 21 miles east-southeast of Victorville along Highway 18.

Lucerne Valley takes its name from lucerne, the European name for alfalfa, the crop that pioneer rancher James E. 'Dad' Goulding proved could thrive in the valley's soil and shallow groundwater.

Goulding arrived at the Box S Ranch in 1897 and brought in the valley's first artesian well; he is generally acknowledged as the founder of Lucerne Valley, and his ranch house doubled as the community's first school, library and post office.

Before Goulding, the valley's settlement clustered around Rabbit Springs, where Peter Davidson established a homestead and way station for desert travelers in 1873.

Lucerne Valley had 5,331 residents at the 2020 census, spread over roughly 106 square miles of high desert at a density of barely 50 people per square mile.

Lucerne Valley has about 2,055 households, and about three-quarters of its homes are owner-occupied.

Lucerne Valley students attend the Lucerne Valley Unified School District, whose Mustangs at Lucerne Valley Middle/High School compete in eight-man football, a format suited to the school's small enrollment.

In January 2024 the Lucerne Valley boys' soccer team captured the Agape League championship — the first league title in school history.

Farming never left Lucerne Valley: the valley still hosts alfalfa fields, cattle and pig ranches, an egg farm and orchards whose fruit is exported around the world.

Lucerne Valley once claimed the title of one of California's dude ranch capitals, drawing city visitors out to its desert guest ranches.