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is a small unincorporated town located in San Bernardino County, California just south of SR 18. It is located 30 miles east of Palmdale, and 18 miles west of Victorville. It is situated in the Victor Valley in the Mojave Desert north of the San Gabriel Mountains. As of 2007, the town of Phelan has a population just under 20,000 people, with an elevation of 4,112ft at the town center, located at the corner of Phelan Rd at Sheep Creek Rd. It is served by the Snowline Joint Unified School District.
Called "The Land of Champagne Climate," Phelan's history dates back to the days of the Mormon Trail, when settlers would pass through the area on their way to San Bernardino and points beyond. Despite this long history, the area is still relatively rural. Most businesses are situated in strip malls dotted along the sides of Phelan Rd, and the "main hub" of town would be the crossroad of Phelan Rd. and Sheepcreek Rd., where the majority of commercial activity and businesses are located. Overall, there is only a handful of businesses in this town. Paved roads are few due to the low population. The area's schools include Piñon Mesa Middle School, Serrano High School (named after the Serrano Indians), Quail Valley Middle School, Baldy Mesa Elementary, Heritage School (K-8), Chaparral High School, Desert View Independent School, Eagle Summit Community Day School, and Phelan Elementary, which are in the Snowline Joint Unified School District (which also consists of Wrightwood Elementary, Piñon Hills Elementary, and Vista Verde Elementary), serve the community as well as the Wrightwood, Piñon Hills, Baldy Mesa, and Oak Hills communities.
One reason that Serrano High School was given its name was to avoid drug reference, e.g. "Phelan High."
Phelan was named after Senator James D. Phelan.
Phelan, along with Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, and several other towns, is considered part of a region known as the High Desert.