Editing Keene, California

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Keene
|settlement_type          = [[census-designated place]]
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = Kern_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Keene_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Kern County, California|Kern County]] and the state of [[California]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map = California#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|California}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Kern County, California|Kern]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = N/A
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = [[California State Senate|Senate]]
|leader_name1             = [[Shannon Grove]] ([[California Republican Party|R]])
|leader_title2            = [[California State Assembly|Assembly]]
|leader_name2             = ''Vacant''
|leader_title3            = [[California's 20th congressional district|U. S. Congress]]
|leader_name3             = [[Vince Fong]] (R)
|established_date         = 
<!-- Area------------------>
|area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref               = US
| area_footnotes          = <ref>[https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt U.S. Census] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |date=2012-07-02 }}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 9.665
| area_land_sq_mi         = 9.660
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.005
| area_total_km2          = 25.034
| area_land_km2           = 25.020
| area_water_km2          = 0.014
| area_water_percent      = 0.056
| area_note               =

|elevation_ft             = 2602
|elevation_m              = 793
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="US Census Bureau 2020 Keene, CA Population">{{cite web |title=US Census Bureau |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Keene%20CDP,%20California |website=www.census.gov |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref>
|population_total         = 469
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|13|25|N|118|33|44|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes    =  <ref name=gnis>{{gnis|1660828}}</ref>
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 93531
|area_code                = [[Area code 661|661]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 06-37946
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1660828
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = 
}}
'''Keene''' (formerly, '''Wells''')<ref name=CGN /> is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Kern County, California|Kern County]], [[California]] in the foothills of the [[Tehachapi Mountains]] at the southern extreme of the [[San Joaquin Valley]].  Keene is located {{convert|8.5|mi|km|0}} northwest of [[Tehachapi, California|Tehachapi]],<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|1054}}</ref> at an elevation of {{Convert|2602|feet|}}.<ref name=gnis /> The population was 469 at the 2020 census, up from 431 at the 2010 census.

The headquarters of the [[United Farm Workers]] (UFW), a national farmworkers organization organized and led by [[Cesar Chavez]], is located in Keene, and is sometimes referred to as "'''Nuestra Señora Reina de La Paz'''" ("Our Lady Queen of Peace").

Keene is located in the greater Tehachapi area.

==Geography==
Keene is located at {{coord|35|13|25|N|118|33|44|W|type:city}}.<ref name=gnis />

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|9.7|sqmi|km2}}, over 99% of it land.

A small community, Woodford, of about 30 buildings once existed about 1 mile southeast of Keene.

=== Climate ===

Keene is categorized as being within the 8b [[USDA hardiness zone]], meaning temperatures can get as low as 15 to 20&nbsp;°F.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/# |title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]] |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ |archive-date=27 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<div style="width:70%;">
{{Weather box
|location = Keene, CA (2,602 feet above sea level)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 79.0
|Feb record high F = 90.0
|Mar record high F = 89.0
|Apr record high F = 94.0
|May record high F = 104.0
|Jun record high F = 112.0
|Jul record high F = 111.0
|Aug record high F = 110.0
|Sep record high F = 107.0
|Oct record high F = 100.0
|Nov record high F = 86.0
|Dec record high F = 79.0
|year record high F = 
|Jan high F = 57.0
|Feb high F = 60.0
|Mar high F = 66.0
|Apr high F = 71.0
|May high F = 81.0
|Jun high F = 90.0
|Jul high F = 97.0
|Aug high F = 96.0
|Sep high F = 88.0
|Oct high F = 78.0
|Nov high F = 65.0
|Dec high F = 56.0
|year high F = 
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
|Jan mean F= 45.5
|Feb mean F= 48.5
|Mar mean F= 53.5
|Apr mean F= 58.5
|May mean F= 68.5
|Jun mean F= 77.0
|Jul mean F= 83.5
|Aug mean F= 82.0
|Sep mean F= 74.5
|Oct mean F= 64.0
|Nov mean F= 52.5
|Dec mean F= 44.5
|year mean F= 
|Jan low F = 34.0
|Feb low F = 37.0
|Mar low F = 41.0
|Apr low F = 46.0
|May low F = 56.0
|Jun low F = 64.0
|Jul low F = 70.0
|Aug low F = 68.0
|Sep low F = 61.0
|Oct low F = 50.0
|Nov low F = 40.0
|Dec low F = 33.0
|year low F = 
|Jan record low F = 11.0
|Feb record low F = 16.0
|Mar record low F = -5.0
|Apr record low F = 27.0
|May record low F = 34.0
|Jun record low F = 38.0
|Jul record low F = 43.0
|Aug record low F = 48.0
|Sep record low F = 38.0
|Oct record low F = 22.0
|Nov record low F = 13.0
|Dec record low F = 8.0
|year record low F = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.20
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.58
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.97
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.23
|May precipitation inch = 0.10
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.04
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.32
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.28
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.14
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.37
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.60
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.89
|year precipitation inch = 
|source 1 =[[Weather Channel]]<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/USCA0536:1:US |title=Keene, CA Monthly Weather Forecast |access-date=14 December 2018 |publisher=[[Weather Channel]]}}</ref>
}}
</div>

==History==
The Keene post office opened in 1879, closed in 1881, and re-opened in 1885.<ref name=CGN /> Keene was founded in 1876 with the name Wells as a railroad town.<ref name=CGN /> The name Wells honored Madison P. Wells, a local rancher.<ref name=CGN /> The town was renamed Keene in honor of James P. Keene, a financier.<ref name=CGN />

===César Chávez===
[[File:2009-0726-CA-NationalChavezCenter.jpg|thumb|right|National Chavez Center]]
[[File:2013-0211-CaesarChavezGravesite.jpg|thumb|right|The gravesite of Cesar Chavez]]
The UFW moved its national headquarters to Keene from [[Delano, California]]. [[César Chávez]] spent his last years in Keene. The walls of his [[UFW|United Farm Workers]] office in Keene were lined with hundreds of books ranging in subject from philosophy, economics, cooperatives, and unions, to biographies of [[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhi]], the [[Kennedy family|Kennedys]], and [[Che Guevara]]. He is buried at 29700 Woodford Tehachapi Rd, Keene, CA 93531, on the campus of the UFW headquarters.<ref name="NCC">[http://www.nationalchavezcenter.org/main.html What is the National Chavez Center?], National Chavez Center, Accessed August 8, 2009.</ref>

The National Chavez Center was opened on the UFW campus in 2004 by the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation.  It currently consists of a visitor center, memorial garden and the grave site of the civil rights leader.  When it is fully completed, the {{convert|187|acre|km2|adj=on}} site will include a museum and conference center to explore and share Chávez's work.<ref name="NCC"/> A two-acre parcel of the site was designated as [[César E. Chávez National Monument]] on October 8, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/10/01/president-obama-establish-c-sar-e-ch-vez-national-monument|title=President Obama to Establish César E. Chávez Nat'l Monument|date=October 1, 2012|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|access-date=October 8, 2012}}</ref>

==Demographics==
<!-- {{US Census population
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}} -->

===2010===
The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0637946|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715025939/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0637946|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Keene CDP|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Keene had a population of 431. The population density was {{convert|44.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Keene was 385 (89.3%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2 (0.5%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 10 (2.3%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 8 (1.9%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0 (0.0%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 16 (3.7%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 10 (2.3%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 47 persons (10.9%).

The Census reported that 431 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 186 households, out of which 38 (20.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 126 (67.7%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 12 (6.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 4 (2.2%) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were 9 (4.8%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 2 (1.1%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 36 households (19.4%) were made up of individuals, and 13 (7.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32.  There were 142 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (76.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.59.

The population was spread out, with 63 people (14.6%) under the age of 18, 22 people (5.1%) aged 18 to 24, 59 people (13.7%) aged 25 to 44, 213 people (49.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 74 people (17.2%) who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 53.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

There were 225 housing units at an average density of {{convert|23.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 157 (84.4%) were owner-occupied, and 29 (15.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 14.7%.  361 people (83.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 70 people (16.2%) lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 339 people, 136 households, and 99 families residing in the CDP.  The population density was {{convert|34.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 177 housing units at an average density of {{convert|18.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the CDP was 81.71% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.95% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 7.08% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.60% from two or more races.  10.91% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 136 households, out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 2.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 38.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.7 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $49,500, and the median income for a family was $59,583. Males had a median income of $60,078 versus $27,813 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $27,986.  About 22.5% of families and 24.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Clear}}
{{Kern County, California}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Kern County, California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1876]]
[[Category:Tehachapi Mountains]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in California]]
[[Category:1876 establishments in California]]