Mendota, California
Encyclopedia
Mendota is a city in Fresno County
, California
, United States
. The population was 11,014 at the 2010 census. The State Routes 180
and 33
run through the agricultural city. Mendota is located 8.5 miles (14 km) south-southeast of Firebaugh
, at an elevation of 174 feet (53 m).
, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), over 99% of it land. At the 2000 census, according to the United States Census Bureau
, the city had a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land. It is located next to the San Joaquin River
, near where the Delta-Mendota Canal
intercepts it to bring extra water to the dry riverbed.
. The first post office opened in 1892. The city incorporated in 1942, and is mostly recognized for its immense production of cantaloupes. Appropriately, the city of Mendota is identified as The Cantaloupe Center of the World. State water projects brought irrigation to the region, setting the stage for the tremendous growth of agriculture.
In 2007 a new Mendota Branch Library opened, part of the San Joaquin Valley Library System.
The city suffers from chronic unemployment averaging 20%. In 2009 a drought combined with a recession caused unemployment to surge above 40%. The unemployment was quted at 45% in May 2011.
was 3,356.3 people per square mile (1,295.9/km²). The racial makeup of Mendota was 5,823 (52.9%) White, 107 (1.0%) African American, 153 (1.4%) Native American, 82 (0.7%) Asian, 5 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 4,465 (40.5%) from other races
, and 379 (3.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10,643 persons (96.6%).
The Census reported that 11,014 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,424 households, out of which 1,583 (65.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,309 (54.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 457 (18.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 319 (13.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 303 (12.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 11 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 197 households (8.1%) were made up of individuals and 78 (3.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.54. There were 2,085 families
(86.0% of all households); the average family size was 4.49.
The population was spread out with 3,731 people (33.9%) under the age of 18, 1,500 people (13.6%) aged 18 to 24, 3,432 people (31.2%) aged 25 to 44, 1,832 people (16.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 519 people (4.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26.2 years. For every 100 females there were 123.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.3 males.
There were 2,556 housing units at an average density of 778.9 per square mile (300.7/km²), of which 1,056 (43.6%) were owner-occupied, and 1,368 (56.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%. 5,075 people (46.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,939 people (53.9%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 7,890 people, 1,825 households, and 1,545 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,629.1/km² (4,229.4/mi²). There were 1,878 housing units at an average density of 387.8/km² (1,006.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 27.33% White
, 0.66% Black
or African American
, 1.31% Native American
, 0.72% Asian
, 0.16% Pacific Islander
, 63.12% from other races
, and 6.70% from two or more races. 94.65% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,825 households out of which 53.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples
living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.3% were non-families. 9.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.32 and the average family size was 4.38.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.9% under the age of 18, 15.3% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 130.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 142.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,705, and the median income for a family was $22,984. Males had a median income of $17,500 versus $21,319 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $6,967. About 35.2% of families and 41.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.4% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.
Fresno County, California
Fresno County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Stockton and north of Bakersfield. As of the 2010 census, it is the tenth most populous county in California with a population of 930,450, and the sixth largest in size with an area of . The county...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 11,014 at the 2010 census. The State Routes 180
California State Route 180
State Route 180 is a state highway in California, United States, which runs through the heart of the San Joaquin Valley from Mendota through Fresno to Kings Canyon National Park, with an unbuilt segment defined west to Paicines....
and 33
California State Route 33
State Route 33 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California. SR 33 replaced part of U.S. Route 399 in 1964 during the "great renumbering" of routes. In the unincorporated sections of Kern County it is known as the West Side Highway...
run through the agricultural city. Mendota is located 8.5 miles (14 km) south-southeast of Firebaugh
Firebaugh, California
Firebaugh is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 7,549 at the 2010 census, up from 5,743 as of the 2000 census. ZIP Code for the community is 93622 and the city is located inside area code 559. Firebaugh is located on the west side of the San Joaquin River west...
, at an elevation of 174 feet (53 m).
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), over 99% of it land. At the 2000 census, according to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city had a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land. It is located next to the San Joaquin River
San Joaquin River
The San Joaquin River is the largest river of Central California in the United States. At over long, the river starts in the high Sierra Nevada, and flows through a rich agricultural region known as the San Joaquin Valley before reaching Suisun Bay, San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean...
, near where the Delta-Mendota Canal
Delta-Mendota Canal
The Delta–Mendota Canal is a aqueduct in central California. It is part of the Central Valley Project and its purpose is to replace the water in the San Joaquin River that is diverted into Madera Canal and Friant-Kern Canal at Friant Dam. The canal begins at the C.W. Bill Jones Pumping Plant ,...
intercepts it to bring extra water to the dry riverbed.
History
Beginning in 1891, Mendota thrived as a Southern Pacific Railroad storage and switching facility site. Southern Pacific management borrowed the name from Mendota, IllinoisMendota, Illinois
Mendota is a city located in north-central Illinois in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. The city has 7,272 residents, and is the fifth largest city in LaSalle County, though recent estimates have shown that the population has decreased to 6,995 residents. It is part of the...
. The first post office opened in 1892. The city incorporated in 1942, and is mostly recognized for its immense production of cantaloupes. Appropriately, the city of Mendota is identified as The Cantaloupe Center of the World. State water projects brought irrigation to the region, setting the stage for the tremendous growth of agriculture.
In 2007 a new Mendota Branch Library opened, part of the San Joaquin Valley Library System.
The city suffers from chronic unemployment averaging 20%. In 2009 a drought combined with a recession caused unemployment to surge above 40%. The unemployment was quted at 45% in May 2011.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Mendota had a population of 11,014. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,356.3 people per square mile (1,295.9/km²). The racial makeup of Mendota was 5,823 (52.9%) White, 107 (1.0%) African American, 153 (1.4%) Native American, 82 (0.7%) Asian, 5 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 4,465 (40.5%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 379 (3.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10,643 persons (96.6%).
The Census reported that 11,014 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,424 households, out of which 1,583 (65.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,309 (54.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 457 (18.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 319 (13.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 303 (12.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 11 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 197 households (8.1%) were made up of individuals and 78 (3.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.54. There were 2,085 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(86.0% of all households); the average family size was 4.49.
The population was spread out with 3,731 people (33.9%) under the age of 18, 1,500 people (13.6%) aged 18 to 24, 3,432 people (31.2%) aged 25 to 44, 1,832 people (16.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 519 people (4.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26.2 years. For every 100 females there were 123.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.3 males.
There were 2,556 housing units at an average density of 778.9 per square mile (300.7/km²), of which 1,056 (43.6%) were owner-occupied, and 1,368 (56.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%. 5,075 people (46.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,939 people (53.9%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,890 people, 1,825 households, and 1,545 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,629.1/km² (4,229.4/mi²). There were 1,878 housing units at an average density of 387.8/km² (1,006.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 27.33% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.66% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.31% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.72% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.16% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 63.12% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 6.70% from two or more races. 94.65% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.3% were non-families. 9.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.32 and the average family size was 4.38.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.9% under the age of 18, 15.3% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 130.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 142.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,705, and the median income for a family was $22,984. Males had a median income of $17,500 versus $21,319 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $6,967. About 35.2% of families and 41.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.4% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.