Alpaugh, California

Last updated

Alpaugh
Tulare County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Alpaugh Highlighted.svg
Location in Tulare County and the state of California
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Alpaugh
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 35°53′19″N119°29′12″W / 35.88861°N 119.48667°W / 35.88861; -119.48667
CountryUnited States
State California
County Tulare
Area
[1]
  Total0.42 sq mi (1.08 km2)
  Land0.42 sq mi (1.08 km2)
  Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
213 ft (65 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total871
  Density2,083.73/sq mi (804.37/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
93201
Area code 559
FIPS code 06-01164
GNIS feature ID1660246

Alpaugh is a census-designated place (CDP) in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was 1,026 at the 2010 census, up from 761 at the 2000 census.

Contents

It is named for John Alpaugh, one of the officers of the Home Extension Colony which reclaimed (or land speculated on [2] ) the land the town is built on. [3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), all of it land.

The site is located on the historic shoreline of Tulare Lake, once the largest freshwater lake in the USA outside of the Great lakes. Other towns built on its historic shores include Lemoore and Kettleman City.

Despite being on the edge of the ancient Tulare lakebed, the town is without access to safe drinking water, as high levels of arsenic are found in the municipal water supply. Locals are forced to drink, cook and bathe using bottled water or expose themselves to this hazard. [4]

Alpaugh seen from a park on the north end of town. Taken March 2018. Alpaugh California 2018.jpg
Alpaugh seen from a park on the north end of town. Taken March 2018.

History

Alpaugh's location (once also called Hog Island, Root Island, and Atwell's Island [5] ) was once either on an island or a narrow peninsula near the south end of the huge and rich Tulare Lake. A.J. Atwell was a Visalia attorney (and newspaper owner) who raised hogs on the island. [6] The lake at different times supported a very large Native American population, a commercial fishery, herds of tule elk, countless game birds, and much more. The island was a regular port of call for the lake's commercial ferry service. The last time the lake was brim full and overflowed into the San Joaquin River to the sea was 1878. Water diversions of its source waters have since caused the lake to shrink into the tiny remnant of today. Local efforts have been undertaken to increase the lake's size for water storage and wildlife.

Los Angeles real estate developers, the California Home Extension Association, promoted, developed or founded Alpaugh, nearby Wasco, and several other California towns. It has also been referred to as "W.H. Wilber's Second Home Extension Coloney that purchased eight-thousand acres of land surrounding Alpaugh." [7] Los Angeles newspaper articles of the time explained that they were not the original landowners. "The California Home Extension association does not represent land owners; it has no lands of its own for sale." [8]

On December 17, 1905, an article headlined "BUY IN TOWN OF ALPAUGH, CAL" ran in the Los Angeles Herald with the subheadline: "PURCHASE OF 11,000 ACRES BY COLONISTS." It says in part:

Eight Hundred Families to Settle in the Beautiful and Productive San Joaquin Valley for Homes and Profit

Alpaugh is the name of the new town in Tulare county, that was selected by the board of directors of the California Home Extension association and was visited by 200 members last week, all of whom are delighted with the choice of their governing board.

Everything will now be made ready for the 800 families, consisting of about 3000 people, who will assemble in Los Angeles to go in a body to the new town and settle within a few weeks.

These settlers have purchased about 11,000 acres and all have agreed to place valuable improvements on each and every acre adjoining the townsite. This settling of all the acreage will make the new townsite of Alpaugh very valuable and any one securing one or more lots will surely reap a good profit, for values will rise very fast and high.

There are not many lots in the new townsite left, but there are many good openings for business men in the new townsite, for there will be from three to five thousand people ready to do business with when the people move to the acreage.

On January 21, 1906 — Page 19, an article headlined "ALL ABOARD FOR ALPAUGH" ran in the Los Angeles Herald with the subheadline: "Day Fixed for Distribution of Town Lots to Enthusiastic Colonists", it says:

Announcement is made by the California Home Extension association that the town lots in the new townsite of Alpaugh, in Tulare county, will be distributed to colonists on Thursday afternoon, January 25, in Blanchard hall, 233 South Broadway.

The acreage lots will not be distributed until a few days afterwards, and another circular will be sent out from the Home Extension office as soon as the Tulare county surveyor sends down the official map. It was decided best to get the town lot distribution out of the way of the acreage distribution, as the latter is likely to take up a whole day.

The town lot distribution will also allow the merchants, hotel and restaurant men to go ahead and erect accommodations on the lots they select and have things in good shape for an orderly and well arranged incoming of the acreage holders. There are, about thirty or forty people on the grounds at Alpaugh and they want to select their lots so that they can abandon their temporary tent camp and put up good accommodations for the people soon to come in.

This colonization plan has been done to attract attention to California. The first colony established by the association at Clark City, now Greenfield, in Monterey county, has rapidly grown in population and substantial improvements. There are now many business houses and over sixty cottages erected at Greenfield.

Alpaugh colonists assert that their town will boom at once, and that the Gordon Harris vegetable concentrating industry will be an important factor in the line of speedy development. Many colonists have already completed arrangements to go to Alpaugh soon after the lots are distributed.

However, just one week before, that newspaper printed this, headline "New industry at Alpaugh"

Colonists Will Find a Profitable Market at Home for All Their Products

The California Home Extension association has purchased a fertile tract of land in Tulare county, comprising 11,000 acres [17.2 sq.mi.], in the center of which the town of Alpaugh is to be located.

The Second Home Extension Produce company has been organized with a capital stock of $50,000. The purpose of this company is to establish at once a fully equipped factory plant where concentrated vegetables and fruit products will be manufactured. This will create a market for all vegetables and fruits raised during the year by the colonists [9]

In 1920 and 1921 both oil and large gas fields were found near Alpaugh.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
2000 761
2010 1,02634.8%
2020 871−15.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]
1850–1870 [11] [12] 1880-1890 [13]
1900 [14] 1910 [15] 1920 [16]
1930 [17] 1940 [18] 1950 [19]
1960 [20] 1970 [21] 1980 [22]
1990 [23] 2000 [24] 2010 [25]

2010

At the 2010 census Alpaugh had a population of 1,026. The population density was 1,020.8 inhabitants per square mile (394.1/km2). The racial makeup of Alpaugh was 381 (37.1%) White, 4 (0.4%) African American, 11 (1.1%) Native American, 4 (0.4%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 597 (58.2%) from other races, and 29 (2.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 867 people (84.5%). [26]

The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.

There were 226 households, 142 (62.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 123 (54.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 45 (19.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 26 (11.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 32 (14.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 2 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 21 households (9.3%) were one person and 11 (4.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 4.54. There were 194 families (85.8% of households); the average family size was 4.83.

The age distribution was 434 people (42.3%) under the age of 18, 130 people (12.7%) aged 18 to 24, 244 people (23.8%) aged 25 to 44, 156 people (15.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 62 people (6.0%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 21.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.3 males.

There were 243 housing units at an average density of 241.8 per square mile, of the occupied units 120 (53.1%) were owner-occupied and 106 (46.9%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 0.9%. 522 people (50.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 504 people (49.1%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

At the 2000 census there were 761 people in 223 households, including 167 families, in the CDP. The population density was 768.2 inhabitants per square mile (296.6/km2). There were 255 housing units at an average density of 257.4 per square mile (99.4/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 47.17% White, 0.26% African American, 2.50% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 43.10% from other races, and 5.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 54.14%. [27]

Of the 223 households 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 21.5% of households were one person and 7.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.41 and the average family size was 3.89.

The age distribution was 37.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% 65 or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

The median household income was $23,688 and the median family income was $23,854. Males had a median income of $21,250 versus $16,875 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $8,162. About 28.0% of families and 37.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.4% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Alpaugh is in the 14th Senate District , represented by Democrat Anna Caballero, and in the 33rd Assembly District , represented by Republican Devon Mathis. [28]

In the United States House of Representatives, Alpaugh is in California's 21st congressional district , represented by Democrat Jim Costa. [29]

Railroads

Alpaugh is served by the West Isle Line, a private carrier railroad owned by Western Farm Services. Since 1998 the West Isle Line has operated over the 6-mile (9.7 km) "Alpaugh Branch" of the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The West Isle Line runs east from Alpaugh to a connection with the BNSF Railway at "Stoil". The "Alpaugh Branch" was constructed in 1914.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tulare County, California</span> County in California, United States

Tulare County is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 473,117. The county seat is Visalia. The county is named for Tulare Lake, once the largest freshwater lake west of the Great Lakes. Drained for agricultural development, the site is now in Kings County, which was created in 1893 from the western portion of the formerly larger Tulare County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemoore, California</span> City in California, United States

Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located 7.5 miles (12 km) west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet (70 m). It is part of the Hanford-Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,531 at the 2010 Census. The California Department of Finance estimated that Lemoore's population was 26,725 on July 1, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castroville, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

Castroville is an unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in Monterey County, California, United States. At the time of the 2020 census the population was 7,515, up from 6,481 in 2010. Castroville is known for its artichoke crop and for the annual Castroville Artichoke Festival, leading to its nickname as the "Artichoke Center of the World".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bucks Lake, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Bucks Lake is a census-designated place (CDP) in Plumas County, California, United States. Bucks Lake is located on the south shore of the lake of the same name, 13 miles (20.9 km) west-southwest of Quincy. The population was 22 at the 2020 census, up from 10 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canyondam, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Canyondam is a census-designated place (CDP) in Plumas County, United States. Canyondam is located near the dam that forms Lake Almanor, 6.25 miles (10.1 km) east-southeast of Almanor. The population was 31 as of the 2010 census, down from 37 as of the 2000 census. On August 6, 2021, the community was destroyed in the Dixie Fire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chester, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Chester is a census-designated place (CDP) in Plumas County, California, United States. Chester is located on Lake Almanor, 30 miles (48.3 km) north-northwest of Quincy. The town is located along State Route 36. The US Postal Service ZIP code for the community is 96020. The population was 2,144 at the 2010 census, down from 2,316 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloomington, California</span> Place in California, United States

Bloomington is an urban unincorporated community in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 23,851 at the 2010 census, up from 19,318 at the 2000 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Bloomington as a census-designated place (CDP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goshen, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Goshen is a census-designated place (CDP) near Visalia, in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was at 5,387 in the 2020 census, up from the 3,006 in the 2010 census. Until the twentieth century, Goshen was an island in a marsh at the edge of Tulare Lake, formerly the largest freshwater lake west of the Great Lakes until drained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pixley, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Pixley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was 3,310 at the 2010 census, up from 2,586 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China Lake Acres, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

China Lake Acres is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. The population was 1,876 at the 2010 census, up from 1,761 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Los Angeles, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Lake Los Angeles is a census-designated place (CDP) in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 13,187 at the 2020 census, up from 12,328 at the 2010 census. It is located 17 miles (27 km) east of Palmdale's Civic Center. According to the Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance report of 2009, the Palmdale / Lancaster urban area has a population of 483,998, of which Lake Los Angeles is a part.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawthorne, Nevada</span> Census-designated place in Nevada, United States

Hawthorne is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mineral County, Nevada, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,118. It is the county seat of Mineral County. The nearby Hawthorne Army Depot is the primary economic base of the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hebbronville, Texas</span> Census-designated place in Jim Hogg County, Texas, United States

Hebbronville is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the county seat of Jim Hogg County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,101 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnelian Bay, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Carnelian Bay is an unincorporated community on the shore of Lake Tahoe in Placer County, California, United States. The Cornelian Bay post office operated from 1883 to 1887 and from 1891 to 1893. The Carnelian Bay post office opened in 1908.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allensworth, California</span> Place in California, United States

Allensworth is an unincorporated community in Tulare County, California. Established by Allen Allensworth in 1908, the town was the first in California to be founded, financed, and governed by African-Americans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calpella, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Calpella is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mendocino County, California, United States. It is located on the Russian River, 6 miles (10 km) north of Ukiah. It is situated within the Ukiah Valley, at the intersection of U.S. Route 101 and State Route 20. The population was 799 at the 2020 census, up from 679 in 2010. The small town is the site of the Mendocino Redwood Company mill and offices, which controls ten percent of the private land in the county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bass Lake, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

Bass Lake is a census-designated place in Madera County, California, United States. It is located 4.5 miles (7.2 km) southeast of Yosemite Forks, at an elevation of 3,415 feet (1,041 m). The population was 575 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooktrails, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

Brooktrails is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California, United States. It shares ZIP code 95490 with Willits. The population was 3,632 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Tulare Villa, California</span> Census-designated place in California, United States

East Tulare Villa is a census-designated place (CDP) in Tulare County, California. East Tulare Villa sits at an elevation of 302 feet (92 m). The 2010 United States census reported East Tulare Villa's population was 778.

Matheny is a census-designated place (CDP) in Tulare County, California. Matheny sits at an elevation of 269 feet (82 m). The 2010 United States census reported Matheny's population was 1,212.

References

  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  2. "...attracted speculators...headed by J. O. Brubaker. The townsite of Alpaugh (named after one of the investors) was platted and recorded on February 5, 1906. W. H. Wilbur's Second Home Extension ..." - Historic Tulare County: A Sesquicentennial History, 1852-2002 By Chris Brewer, page 28
  3. Gudde, Erwin; William Bright (2004). California Place Names (Fourth ed.). University of California Press. p. 9. ISBN   0-520-24217-3.
  4. "Arsenic in California Drinking Water" (PDF).
  5. Historic Tulare County: A Sesquicentennial History, 1852-2002, By Chris Brewer, page 28
  6. Tulare Historical Museum, Ellen Gorelick, Executive Director-Chief Curator "In addition to hunting, the first white man's industry in the lake as started by Visalia Attorney, A.J. Atwell. Archived 2013-08-02 at the Wayback Machine Atwell raised hogs on Atwell's Island"
  7. Historic Tulare County: A Sesquicentennial History, 1852-2002 By Chris Brewer, page 28
  8. Headline; "California Home Extension Association," Los Angeles Herald, Volume 33, Number 302, July 29, 1906 — Page 41
  9. Emphasis added. Los Angeles Herald, Volume 33, Number 105, 14 January 1906 —— "Reproduction ——All newspapers published before January 1, 1923, are in the public domain and therefore have no restrictions on use. If publishing, quoting from, or otherwise reproducing the images from this collection, we request that you credit the CDNC as follows: California Digital Newspaper Collection, Center for Bibliographic Studies and Research, University of California, Riverside, <http://cdnc.ucr.edu>."[ permanent dead link ]
  10. "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau .
  11. "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  12. "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  13. "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  14. "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  15. "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  16. "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  17. "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  18. "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  19. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  20. "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  21. "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  22. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  23. "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  24. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  25. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  26. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Alpaugh CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  27. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  28. "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  29. "California's 21st Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved October 6, 2014.