Banning, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Banning is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 23,562 at the 2000 census. It is situated in the San Gorgonio Pass, also known as Banning Pass. It is named for its founder, Phineas Banning, stagecoach line owner and the "Father of the Port of Los Angeles."

Banning's western neighbor Beaumont is a different city, but the two share geographic and regional features, both are rapidly-growing in size and population since the 1980s.

Nearby Banning Municipal Airport, (FAA designator: BNG), has a 5,200 foot runway. San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital is a General Acute Care Hospital in Banning with Basic Emergency Services as of 2005. ^[1]

The Banning Eagles are a minor league football team of the California Football Association play half their home games in Banning High School and another half at the Lake Elsinore Diamond in Lake Elsinore.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

The area has traditionally been inhabited by the Cahuilla people. In 1824 it became part of the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, and then the Rancho San Gorgonio. The first Anglo to settle in the area was Dr. Isaac Smith in 1853. In 1863 a smallpox epidemic further decimated the Cahuilla. The government created Indian reservations for the Cahuilla in 1877.

The first stagecoach line came through in 1862, and the railroad followed in 1876. US Highway 99 was built in 1923, followed by US60-70 in 1936, and subsequently Interstate 10. The Southern Pacific (later purchased by Union Pacific) railroad was a major contributor to Banning's growth along with neighboring Beaumont) since it was laid down in 1881.

Comment: Banning is located immediately on the border of the Morongo Indian Reservation. The region around Banning was originally Maringayam [Serrano], and the Cahuilla expanded into the pass only in historic times. Relations between the reservation residents have been stressed by such actions as the city of Banning claiming native water rights. See Dorothy Ramon's book called "Always Believe" for a Maringayam's views on Banning and reservation life. This remarkable text was published in '2000. [Dr. John Anderson, Sandpoint, Idaho]

[edit] Geography

Banning is located at 33°55′54″N, 116°53′51″W (33.931729, -116.897557)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 59.7 km² (23.0 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 23,562 people, 8,923 households, and 6,237 families residing in the city. The population density was 394.7/km² (1,022.0/mi²). There were 9,761 housing units at an average density of 163.5/km² (423.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.19% White, 8.55% Black or African American, 2.52% Native American, 5.38% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 14.88% from other races, and 4.36% from two or more races. 30.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Banning has numerous sections where residents of a certain race/ethnicity reside, like the Vista Serena section is mainly African American, Latino or Hispanic and Southeast Asian. The western section is mostly white, but has a great number of locals of Irish, Scottish, German, Swiss and Italian descent, a legacy of Banning's immigrant settlers in the late 1800's. Banning has several shops ran by South Asian and Middle Eastern owners. And the casino-funded Morongo Band of Cahuilla Indians are prominent in city life. ^{[citation needed]}

There were 8,923 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 26.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,076, and the median income for a family was $38,995. Males had a median income of $31,300 versus $20,794 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,231. About 14.8% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.8% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.