Palmdale, California

Rosamond, California, might seem like just another blip on the map between the Mojave Desert and the Tehachapi Mountains. But in 1991, if you were driving along Rosamond Boulevard, you might have seen a futuristic cyborg striding across the stark landscape, hunting Sarah Connor. That was “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” filming in town, one of many productions drawn to the area's unique blend of desert and sky. While Arnold Schwarzenegger may not have been a local, the film's presence highlights a different kind of celebrity that Rosamond attracts: the kind fueled by innovation and pushing boundaries.