Allensworth, California
Encyclopedia
Allensworth is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Tulare County
, California
. Allensworth sits at an elevation of 213 feet (64.9 m). The 2010 United States census reported Allensworth's population was 471.
It was a town founded in 1908, with the idea that African Americans could own property, learn, thrive, and live the American Dream
. It was named by Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth
.
Now designated, Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
, the community is located in the ZIP Code 93219 and in the area code 661
.
. Excepting the railroad roadbed, there is less than five feet elevation difference across town. Like most of the valley, there has been some subsidence probably related to historic overpumping of ground water for irrigation. While temperatures usually stay above freezing, there can be periods of heavy rain in winter and it is often in the 90-100 °F range during summer. The valley was historically the site of vernal pools and seasonal lakes before twentieth century diversions of water and agriculture. A natural gas well field exists west of town. Burrowing owl
s, a species active in daylight hours, are sometimes present in the park.
Just north of Allensworth is the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge, 6833 acres (27.7 km²) grassland and wetland habitats operated by the Department of the Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service. Of great interest, thousands of Sandhill Crane
s (Grus canadensis), use this refuge each winter from November through March. Red-tailed Hawk
s (Buteo jamaicensis), are among the 141 type of birds that can be seen here.
Adjacent to the town is Allensworth Ecological Reserve. The endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox
(Vulpes macrotis mutica) can be found in this area.
, the CDP covers an area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²), all of it land.
was 151.8 people per square mile (58.6/km²). The racial makeup of Allensworth was 158 (33.5%) White, 22 (4.7%) African American, 0 (0.0%) Native American, 8 (1.7%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 279 (59.2%) from other races
, and 4 (0.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 436 persons (92.6%).
The Census reported that 471 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 115 households, out of which 69 (60.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 67 (58.3%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 20 (17.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 11 (9.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 10 (8.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 1 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 13 households (11.3%) were made up of individuals and 7 (6.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.10. There were 98 families
(85.2% of all households); the average family size was 4.37.
The population was spread out with 187 people (39.7%) under the age of 18, 66 people (14.0%) aged 18 to 24, 100 people (21.2%) aged 25 to 44, 93 people (19.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 25 people (5.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23.4 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.
There were 142 housing units at an average density of 45.8 per square mile (17.7/km²), of which 56 (48.7%) were owner-occupied, and 59 (51.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 11.8%. 220 people (46.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 251 people (53.3%) lived in rental housing units.
Allensworth is located in the 16th Senate
District, represented by Democrat
Dean Florez
, and in the 30th Assembly
District, represented by Republican Danny Gilmore
. Federally, Allensworth is located in California's 21st congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +13 and is represented by Republican
Devin Nunes
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Tulare County
Tulare County, California
Tulare County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Fresno. Sequoia National Park is located in the county, as are part of Kings Canyon National Park, in its northeast corner , and part of Mount Whitney, on its eastern border...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Allensworth sits at an elevation of 213 feet (64.9 m). The 2010 United States census reported Allensworth's population was 471.
It was a town founded in 1908, with the idea that African Americans could own property, learn, thrive, and live the American Dream
American Dream
The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes a promise of the possibility of prosperity and success. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each...
. It was named by Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth
Allen Allensworth
Allen Allensworth was an American soldier and chaplain in the United States Army, a Baptist minister and educator, who had been born into slavery. He escaped by joining the 44th Illinois Volunteers during the American Civil War, and later served two years in the Navy...
.
Now designated, Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park is a state park unit of California, USA, preserving Allensworth, the only California town to be founded, financed and governed by African Americans. The small farming community was founded in 1908 by Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth, Professor William Payne,...
, the community is located in the ZIP Code 93219 and in the area code 661
Area code 661
North American area code 661 covers the majority of California's Kern County, as well as part of Los Angeles County, Santa Barbara County, and Tulare County...
.
Terrain and environment
The terrain is typical of the southern San Joaquin ValleySan Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
. Excepting the railroad roadbed, there is less than five feet elevation difference across town. Like most of the valley, there has been some subsidence probably related to historic overpumping of ground water for irrigation. While temperatures usually stay above freezing, there can be periods of heavy rain in winter and it is often in the 90-100 °F range during summer. The valley was historically the site of vernal pools and seasonal lakes before twentieth century diversions of water and agriculture. A natural gas well field exists west of town. Burrowing owl
Burrowing Owl
The Burrowing Owl is a tiny but long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. Burrowing Owls can be found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other open dry area with low vegetation. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated...
s, a species active in daylight hours, are sometimes present in the park.
Just north of Allensworth is the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge, 6833 acres (27.7 km²) grassland and wetland habitats operated by the Department of the Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service. Of great interest, thousands of Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane
The Sandhill Crane is a large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird references habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills in the American Midwest...
s (Grus canadensis), use this refuge each winter from November through March. Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is a bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on standard sized chickens. It breeds throughout most of North America, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West...
s (Buteo jamaicensis), are among the 141 type of birds that can be seen here.
Adjacent to the town is Allensworth Ecological Reserve. The endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox
Kit Fox
The kit fox is a fox species of North America. Its range is primarily in the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico. Some mammalogists classify it as conspecific with the swift fox, V. velox, but molecular systematics imply that the two species are distinct.-Range:The...
(Vulpes macrotis mutica) can be found in this area.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP covers an area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Allensworth had a population of 471. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 151.8 people per square mile (58.6/km²). The racial makeup of Allensworth was 158 (33.5%) White, 22 (4.7%) African American, 0 (0.0%) Native American, 8 (1.7%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 279 (59.2%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4 (0.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 436 persons (92.6%).
The Census reported that 471 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 115 households, out of which 69 (60.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 67 (58.3%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 20 (17.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 11 (9.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 10 (8.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 1 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 13 households (11.3%) were made up of individuals and 7 (6.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.10. There were 98 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(85.2% of all households); the average family size was 4.37.
The population was spread out with 187 people (39.7%) under the age of 18, 66 people (14.0%) aged 18 to 24, 100 people (21.2%) aged 25 to 44, 93 people (19.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 25 people (5.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23.4 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.
There were 142 housing units at an average density of 45.8 per square mile (17.7/km²), of which 56 (48.7%) were owner-occupied, and 59 (51.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 11.8%. 220 people (46.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 251 people (53.3%) lived in rental housing units.
Politics
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Allensworth is located in the 16th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Dean Florez
Dean Florez
Dean Raymond Florez was a California State Senator from the 16th Senate District from 2002 until the end of his second term in November of 2010.Florez was born and reared in the Central Valley....
, and in the 30th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Republican Danny Gilmore
Danny Gilmore (politician)
Danny Gilmore was a Republican Assemblymember from California's 30th State Assembly district. In the November 2008 election, Gilmore won an upset victory over Shafter Mayor Fran Florez, the mother of State Senator and former 30th District Assemblyman Dean Florez.-Education:Gilmore is a graduate of...
. Federally, Allensworth is located in California's 21st congressional district
California's 21st congressional district
California's 21st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that covers all of Tulare County and the eastern half of Fresno County.The district is currently represented by Republican Devin Nunes.-Demographics:...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R +13 and is represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Devin Nunes
Devin Nunes
Devin Nunes is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district, located in the San Joaquin Valley, includes all of Tulare County, as well as much of eastern Fresno County. He is also the author of the book Restoring the Republic, published by...
.