Boron, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Boron is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. The population was 2,025 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Trivia
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Boron is located at 35°0′55″N, 117°39′39″W (35.015177, -117.660799)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 35.9 km² (13.9 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,025 people, 801 households, and 535 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 56.5/km² (146.2/mi²). There were 1,103 housing units at an average density of 30.7/km² (79.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.04% White, 2.22% Black or African American, 2.86% Native American, 1.58% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 4.74% from other races, and 3.46% from two or more races. 9.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 801 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,625, and the median income for a family was $44,674. Males had a median income of $47,045 versus $23,854 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,294. About 15.2% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.8% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Trivia

The movie Erin Brockovich (2000), starring Julia Roberts, and various other movies have been filmed in the town and oftentimes use citizens as extras.

Boron is populated primarily by descendants of Oklahomans who came to California during the Great Depression. Despite its location only hours from Los Angeles, many people in Boron speak with an Oklahoman drawl.

Boron is a big football town, and has taken many state championships in California's smallest-school division.

Despite Boron's apparent lack of affluence, most people are able to maintain a decent standard of living because property values are still quite low and they work union jobs at Borax (formerly U.S. Borax).

As another consequence of Boron's high union membership, the vast majority of its citizens have health insurance, which has allowed Boron to sustain reasonably profitable dental and medical practices, both containing exceptionally talented and well-educated doctors. The town's dentist received his D.M.D. at the Washington University in St. Louis, one of the top schools in the nation.