Corcoran, California

Corcoran is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Corcoran is located 17 miles (27 km) south-southeast of Hanford,[7] at an elevation of 207 ft (63 m).[5] It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,813 (2010 census), up from 14,458 (2000 census). The California Department of Finance estimated that Corcoran's population was 21,960 in 2019.[8]

Corcoran, California
City
Amtrak station in Corcoran
Location of Corcoran in Kings County, California.
Corcoran, California
Location in the contiguous United States
Coordinates: 36°05′53″N 119°33′37″W
Country United States
State California
County Kings
IncorporatedAugust 11, 1914[1]
Government
 • City Council
  • Raymond Lerma
  • Sidonio Palmerin (Mayor)
  • Jerry Robertson
  • Jeanette Zamora-Bragg
  • Patricia Nolen (Vice-Mayor)
[2]
 • City ManagerKindon Meik[3]
Area
 • Total7.46 sq mi (19.32 km2)
 • Land7.46 sq mi (19.32 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation207 ft (63 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total24,813
 • Estimate 
(2019)[6]
21,960
 • Density2,944.49/sq mi (1,136.93/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
93212
Area code(s)559
FIPS code06-16224
GNIS feature ID1652690
Websitewww.cityofcorcoran.com

Corcoran is most famous as the site of the California State Prison, Corcoran. It was home to notable inmates Charles Manson and Juan Corona. The California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran is a separate facility that is also located in the city. As of January 1. 2015, the two prisons held a combined total of 9,592 inmates.[9] Inmates are counted as city residents by both the United States Census and the California Department of Finance. Thus, the incarcerated persons in the two prisons comprise just over 43% of the total population of Corcoran.

Geography

Corcoran is located at 36°05′53″N 119°33′37″W.[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.4 square miles (17 km2), all of it land.

Climate
Corcoran
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
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1.5
 
 
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: US Climate Data[10]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19201,101—
19301,76860.6%
19402,09218.3%
19503,15050.6%
19604,97658.0%
19705,2495.5%
19806,45423.0%
199013,364107.1%
200014,4588.2%
201024,81371.6%
Est. 201921,960[6]−11.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

2010

The 2010 United States Census[12] reported that Corcoran had a population of 24,813. The population density was 3,323.2 people per square mile (1,283.1/km2). The racial makeup of Corcoran was 8,940 (36.0%) White, 3,725 (15.0%) African American, 349 (1.4%) Native American, 193 (0.8%) Asian, 17 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 10,979 (44.2%) from other races, and 610 (2.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15,545 persons (62.6%).

The Census reported that 12,573 people (50.7% of the population) lived in households, 116 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 12,124 (48.9%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,594 households, out of which 1,981 (55.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,737 (48.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 781 (21.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 376 (10.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 384 (10.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 19 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 556 households (15.5%) were made up of individuals, and 214 (6.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.50. There were 2,894 families (80.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.84.

The population was spread out, with 4,434 people (17.9%) under the age of 18, 2,695 people (10.9%) aged 18 to 24, 10,203 people (41.1%) aged 25 to 44, 6,163 people (24.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,318 people (5.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 294.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 398.0 males.

There were 3,958 housing units at an average density of 530.1 per square mile (204.7/km2), of which 1,851 (51.5%) were owner-occupied, and 1,743 (48.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 11.8%. 6,607 people (26.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,966 people (24.0%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 14,458 people, 2,769 households, and 2,229 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,260.2 people per square mile (872.2/km2). There were 3,016 housing units at an average density of 471.5 per square mile (182.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 34.1% White, 14.2% Black or African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 46.4% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. 59.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,769 households, out of which 49.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.44 and the average family size was 3.83.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 42.0% from 25 to 44, 15.3% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 207.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 264.9 males. However, the statistics relating to the disparity between the male and female population in Corcoran is due to the prison's male only population.

Economy

At the time of the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the city was $30,783, and the median income for a family was $32,852. Males had a median income of $30,787 versus $21,792 for females. The per capita income for the city was only $13,458. It is noteworthy that about 23.4% of families and 26.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.4% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

Many local residents are employed in agriculture. However, the community has been affected by the Great Recession as well as the decline of the cotton industry, the California drought and restrictions on pumping from the Sacramento River delta to protect endangered species. In November 2016, the unemployment rate was 11.1%.[14]

The largest employers in Corcoran include the California State Prison, Corcoran, the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran, the Corcoran Unified School District, and the J. G. Boswell Company.[15]

Politics

Federally, Corcoran is located within California's 21st congressional district, and is represented by Democrat TJ Cox.

In the California State Legislature, Corcoran is located within:

Corcoran is represented on the Kings County Board of Supervisors by Richard Valle of Corcoran.

History

Corcoran was founded by Hobart Johnstone Whitley, a prominent land developer from southern California, who took the lead in building Corcoran (the main street of the community is named in his honor). Liking what he saw during a visit to the area in 1905 (a blacksmith shop, small store, scattered homes and a lush, untapped vista with herds of grazing wild hogs, horses and steers) Whitley purchased 32,000 acres (130 km2) to start development. Much like in the San Fernando Valley (Van Nuys and Canoga Park his "creations"), Whitley "leveraged" his holdings with the support of important Los Angeles businessmen. Whitley first intended the town be named "Otis", after Harrison Gray Otis of the Los Angeles Times, and streets as Otis, Sherman, Letts (the Broadway store) and Ross (after his son, Ross Whitley) show the connections. Whitley, it is claimed, purchased and platted some 150 towns over the American West—and Corcoran is one of his last.

Whitley moved a member of his real estate firm, J. W. Guiberson, to the area. Guiberson became one of the many pioneers of the community, building the first home and business structure in Corcoran. His family also helped establish the first church in the community, an event which helped lead to the town's incorporation on August 14, 1914.

The basis of Corcoran's economy then and now is agriculture. Initially, the most successful crops were grains, alfalfa and sugar beets.

In 1933, more than 12,000 workers went on strike against cotton farmers, one of the largest California agricultural strikes of 1933. Strikers in Corcoran created a tent city that eventually held more than 3,000 people, more than double the town's population. Its lack of water or sewage systems created waves of illness.[16] Streets were staked out in the tent city, and committees of workers governed the camp.[17]

The J. G. Boswell Company was established in Corcoran in 1921 and remains a major employer in the city.

The first post office opened in 1901.[7]

Education

Corcoran Unified School District is the public organization responsible for education in the town of Corcoran. The school district has seven schools.

  • Bret Harte
  • John C. Fremont
  • Mark Twain
  • John Muir Middle School
  • Corcoran High School
  • Corcoran Academy
  • Kings Lake Educational Center

Railroads

Corcoran is served by the BNSF Railway, which is the successor to the Santa Fe Railway. The mainline track through Corcoran was part of a route connecting the San Francisco Bay Area to Bakersfield, California. The track was constructed by the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway about 1898.

Today, Amtrak California's San Joaquin stops at Corcoran station.

From 1910–1934, the Kings Lake Shore Railroad operated a line that ran southwest from Corcoran to what is the now-extinct Tulare Lake.

On December 2, 2010, the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board voted to start construction of the first part of the California High-Speed Rail line at Borden near Madera and continue it to Corcoran. Construction began in 2012.[18]

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References
  1. "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. "Mayor & City Council". City of Corcoran. City of Corcoran. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  3. "City Manager". City of Corcoran. City of Corcoran. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  4. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Corcoran, California
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  7. Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  9. http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports_Research/Offender_Information_Services_Branch/Monthly/TPOP1A/TPOP1Ad1412.pdf Archived 2016-02-06 at the Wayback Machine accessed December 29, 2015
  10. "US Climate Data". Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Corcoran city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/?pageid=133 accessed January 2, 2017
  15. "Kings County Economic Development Corporation Corcoran Community Profile". Archived from the original on 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2012-12-24.
  16. Starr, Kevin (1996). Endangered Dreams: California in the Great Depression. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 75.
  17. McWilliams, Carey (1935). Factories in the Fields. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 221.
  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2010-12-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) accessed 12-4-10

Further reading
  • Arax, Mark; Wartzman, Rick (2003). The King of California, J.G. Boswell and the Making of a Secret American Empire. Public Affairs. ISBN 978-1-58648-028-8.
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