March Air Reserve Base
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March Air Reserve Base is a base of the U.S. Air Force Reserve located in Riverside County, California, between the cities of Riverside and Moreno Valley. In 1996, it was redesignated from an Air Force base. As of the 2000 census, the base had a total population of 370. March is the largest Air Reserve base in the United States.
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History
One of the oldest airfields operated by the United States military, March ARB began life as Alessandro Flying Training Field in February 1918, being renamed March Field the following month (for the recently deceased son of then-Army Chief of Staff Peyton C. March). It quickly established itself as a major primary training center for American aviators. After the conclusion of World War I, operations wound down, and the base was closed between 1923 and 1927. However, in 1926, Congress created the Army Air Corps, and funds became available to reopen March Field the following year. It soon became one of the centers of development of aerial bombardment. Renamed March Air Force Base during World War II, it served as the home base for bomber units that fought in the Pacific theater of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. March also hosted fighter, aerial refueling, and transport units. On a lighter note, entertainer Bob Hope's first USO show was held at March.
In 1993, as part of The Pentagon's post-Cold War base closing/realignment plan, March AFB's unit complement was reshuffled, and in 1996 it was given over to the United States Air Force Reserve and renamed March Air Reserve Base.
Present day
Today, March has many uses. The 452nd Air Mobility Wing operates out of March, as does the 4th Air Force. The base is also used by the 163rd California Air National Guard Air Refueling Wing and the 120th Montana Air National Guard Fighter Wing. The California Department of Forestry uses the base at times as well.
The land no longer needed as a result of the downsizing was given to the March Joint Powers Authority, a commission that represents the county and the base's adjoining cities. This land, now called March GlobalPort, is being developed as an air cargo center. In 2004, it was announced that air freight giant DHL was considering the base for its new Southern California hub; however, competition from nearby San Bernardino International Airport and Ontario International Airport, as well as opposition from residents of fast-growing Riverside and Moreno Valley, reduced the viability of its bid. Despite this, on December 10, 2004, DHL announced that it had chosen March as its preferred site. The following Wednesday, DHL signed a 16-year joint-use agreement with the Joint Powers Authority. The company's operation is expected to employ about 250 workers and make 16 flights a day.
Geography
March AFB is located at 33°53'56" North, 117°16'35" West (33.898848, -117.276285)Template:GR. According to the United States Census Bureau, the base has a total area of 16.2 km² (6.2 mi²). 16.1 km² (6.2 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 370 people, 115 households, and 93 families residing in the base. The population density is 22.9/km² (59.4/mi²). There are 152 housing units at an average density of 9.4/km² (24.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the base is 64.59% White, 17.84% Black or African American, 0.54% Native American, 4.59% Asian, 1.89% Pacific Islander, 2.97% from other races, and 7.57% from two or more races. 11.89% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 115 households out of which 50.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% are married couples living together, 13.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% are non-families. 13.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 2.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.21 and the average family size is 3.55.
In the base the population is spread out with 37.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 29 years. For every 100 females there are 111.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 111.8 males.
The median income for a household in the base is $31,364, and the median income for a family is $30,455. Males have a median income of $40,625 versus $17,321 for females. The per capita income for the base is $13,765. 13.1% of the population and 10.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.7% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
References
- Santschi, Darrell R.; Vargo, Joe (Dec. 19, 2004). March in Stride. The Press-Enterprise, p. A1.
- Trone, Kimberly (Dec. 11, 2004). DHL Picks March. The Press-Enterprise, p. A1.
External links
- March history (http://www.marchfield.org/history.html)