| Weedpatch | |
|---|---|
| — census-designated place — | |
| Location in Kern County and the state of California | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Kern |
| Government | |
| • N/A | |
| • Senate | Dean Florez (D) |
| • Assembly | Danny Gilmore (R) |
| • U. S. Congress | Jim Costa (D) |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 3.561 sq mi (9.224 km2) |
| • Land | 3.557 sq mi (9.212 km2) |
| • Water | 0.004 sq mi (0.012 km2) 0.13% |
| Elevation[2] | 387 ft (118 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 2,658 |
| • Density | 746.4/sq mi (288.2/km2) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 93307 |
| Area code(s) | 661 |
| FIPS code | 06-83863 |
Weedpatch (formerly, Weed Patch[2] and Alexander's Corner[3]) is a census-designated place (CDP) in the San Joaquin Valley, in Kern County, California, United States. Weedpatch is located 10 miles (16 km) south-southeast of Bakersfield,[3] at an elevation of 387 feet (118 m).[2] As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 2,658, down from 2,726 reported at the 2000 census.
Weedpatch is located off State Route 184 (Weedpatch Highway) southeast of Bakersfield, south of Lamont, and about 5 miles (8.0 km) south of State Route 58, the Bakersfield - Tehachapi Highway.
Weedpatch is the location of the Arvin Federal Government Camp, known colloquially (and in the John Steinbeck novel The Grapes of Wrath) as "Weedpatch Camp." This camp was a government rescue center for distressed migrant workers fleeing the Oklahoma Dust Bowl agricultural disaster, during the Great Depression. The camp still aids migrants today.
Contents |
Weedpatch is located at .[2]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km2), over 99% of it land.
Although the name Weed Patch was applied to the site as early as 1874, the community only began in 1922.[3] The town was also named Alexander's Corner in honor of Cal Alexander, a resident.[3]
The 2010 United States Census[4] reported that Weedpatch had a population of 2,658. The population density was 746.4 people per square mile (288.2/km²). The racial makeup of Weedpatch was 1,212 (45.6%) White, 8 (0.3%) African American, 78 (2.9%) Native American, 14 (0.5%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 1,237 (46.5%) from other races, and 109 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,484 persons (93.5%).
The Census reported that 2,658 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 624 households, out of which 391 (62.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 324 (51.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 129 (20.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 77 (12.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 66 (10.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1 (0.2%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 66 households (10.6%) were made up of individuals and 21 (3.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.26. There were 530 families (84.9% of all households); the average family size was 4.48.
The population was spread out with 962 people (36.2%) under the age of 18, 391 people (14.7%) aged 18 to 24, 702 people (26.4%) aged 25 to 44, 464 people (17.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 139 people (5.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24.4 years. For every 100 females there were 116.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.3 males.
There were 674 housing units at an average density of 189.3 per square mile (73.1/km²), of which 277 (44.4%) were owner-occupied, and 347 (55.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.9%. 1,254 people (47.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,404 people (52.8%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 2,726 people, 634 households, and 554 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 890.9 people per square mile (344.0/km²). There were 670 housing units at an average density of 219.0 per square mile (84.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 48.39% White, 0.70% Black or African American, 3.74% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 41.34% from other races, and 5.50% from two or more races. 89.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 634 households out of which 59.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.5% were non-families. 9.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.30 and the average family size was 4.46.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 41.8% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 109.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $19,838, and the median income for a family was $20,734. Males had a median income of $17,740 versus $19,500 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $7,655. About 40.7% of families and 43.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.6% of those under age 18 and 20.4% of those age 65 or over.