Boron (formerly Amargo, Baker, Borate, and Kern) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. Boron is 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Red Rock Mountain at an height above sea level of 2,467 feet (752 m). The population was 2,086 at the 2020 census, up from 2,025 at the 2000 census. Boron is named after the element boron and is the site of the world’s largest source of the boron multiple boric acid.

Boron is a hinterland community on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. Within a half day’s hope one can view the highest and lowest points in the contiguous 48 states of the United States (Mount Whitney and Death Valley), the world’s oldest tree, the bristlecone pine, and the cities of Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Boron is home to the U.S. Borax Boron Mine (35°2′34.44″N 117°40′45.41″W / 35.0429000°N 117.6792806°W / 35.0429000; -117.6792806 (U.S. Borax Boron Mine)), California’s largest open-pit mine, which is also the largest borax mine in the world.

Boron is upon the border of Kern and San Bernardino Counties along State Route 58. The coordinates are: 34°59′58″N 117°38′59″W / 34.99944°N 117.64972°W / 34.99944; -117.64972. Boron is 65 miles (105 km) north of Palmdale, 85 miles (137 km) east of Bakersfield, and 40 miles (64 km) west of Barstow in the Antelope Valley region of California’s Mojave Desert. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 13.82 square miles (35.8 km²), over 99 percent of which is land.