Editing Mendota, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Mendota, California
|official_name            = City of Mendota
|settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
|image_skyline            = Mendota entrance sign 2006.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Welcome sign at south end of Mendota along Highway 180
|image_seal               = Seal of Mendota, California.png
| seal_size               = 
| seal_alt                = 
| seal_link               = List of U.S. county and city insignia
| seal_type               = Current seal
| image_blank_emblem      = Seal of Mendota, California (2005).png
| blank_emblem_link       = List of U.S. county and city insignia
| blank_emblem_size       = 
| blank_emblem_alt        = 
| blank_emblem_type       = Former seal
|image_map                = Fresno_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Mendota_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Fresno County, California|Fresno County]] and the U.S. state of [[California]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map = California#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| pushpin_label = Mendota
| pushpin_relief = 1
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[California]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Fresno County, California|Fresno]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Victor Martinez <ref name=CC>{{Cite web
 |url=https://www.cityofmendota.com/government/
 |title=Government
 |publisher=City of Mendota
 |access-date=January 23, 2024}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = Mayor&nbsp;Pro&nbsp;Tempore
|leader_name1             = Jose Alonso <ref name=CC/>
|leader_title2            = [[California's 12th State Senate district|State senator]]
|leader_name2                 = {{Representative|casd|12|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators 
 |title=Senators 
 |access-date=April 6, 2013
|publisher=State of California}}</ref>
|leader_title3            = [[California's 31st State Assembly district|State&nbsp;assemblyman]]
|leader_name3             = {{Representative|caad|31|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers
 |title=Members Assembly
 |access-date=April 6, 2013
|publisher=State of California}}</ref>
|leader_title4            = [[California's 13th congressional district|Congressman]]
|leader_name4             = {{Representative|cacd|13|fmt=usleader}}
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = June 17, 1942<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |title=California towns by Incorporation Date 
 |format=Word 
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
 |access-date=April 6, 2013 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017052413/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |archive-date=October 17, 2013 }}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>
|area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref               = Imperial
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 3.39
| area_land_sq_mi         = 3.38
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.00
| area_total_km2          = 8.78
| area_land_km2           = 8.77
| area_water_km2          = 0.01
| area_water_percent      = 0.10
| area_note               = 
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 174
|elevation_m              = 53
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 12595
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 1434.50
|population_density_sq_mi = 3715.34
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|coordinates              = {{coord|36|45|13|N|120|22|54|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 93640
|area_code                = [[Area code 559|559]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 06-46828
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
|blank1_info              = {{GNIS 4|1656159}}, {{GNIS 4|2411078}}
|footnotes                = 
|motto         = The Cantaloupe Center of the World<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-08-16/rural-california-lgbtq-mendota|title=Gay shopkeeper stands his ground in a Central Valley town, carving out space for others|last=Marcum|first=Diana|date=August 20, 2019|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US|access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.cityofmendota.com/}}
}}

'''Mendota''' is a city in [[Fresno County, California]], United States. The population was 12,595 at the 2020 U.S. Census.<ref>https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mendotacitycalifornia/POP010220</ref>  State Routes [[California State Route 180|180]] and [[California State Route 33|33]] run through the agricultural city. Mendota is located {{convert|8.5|mi|km|0}} south-southeast of [[Firebaugh, California|Firebaugh]].<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|1070}}</ref><ref name=gnis>{{Cite GNIS|1656159|Mendota}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total land area of {{convert|3.3|sqmi|km2}}, over 99%. At the 2000 census, according to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city had a total land area of {{convert|1.9|sqmi|km2}}. It is located next to the [[San Joaquin River]], near where the [[Delta-Mendota Canal]] intercepts it to bring extra water to the dry riverbed.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Mendota has a [[semi-arid climate]], abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.<ref name=":0">[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=825540&cityname=Mendota%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Mendota, California]</ref>

==History==
Beginning in 1891, Mendota thrived as a [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific Railroad]] storage and switching facility site. Southern Pacific management borrowed the name from [[Mendota, Illinois]].<ref name=CGN /> The first post office opened in 1892.<ref name=CGN /> The city incorporated in 1942,<ref name=CGN /> and is mostly recognized for its immense production of [[cantaloupe]]s. Consequently, the city of Mendota is identified as The Cantaloupe Center of the World. State water projects brought irrigation to the region, setting the stage for the tremendous growth of agriculture.

In 2007 a new Mendota Branch [[Library]] opened, part of the San Joaquin Valley Library System.

The city suffers from chronic unemployment averaging 20%. In 2009 a drought combined with a [[Late-2000s recession|recession]] caused unemployment to surge above 40%.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/us/22mendota.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2 | work=The New York Times | first=Jesse | last=McKinley | title=Drought Adds to Hardships in California | date=February 22, 2009}}</ref> The unemployment was quoted at 45% in May 2011.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mendota-chess-20110519,0,4978581,full.story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520193044/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mendota-chess-20110519,0,4978581,full.story|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 20, 2011|title=Chess takes root in Central Valley farm town, blossoms into a state title for Latino high school team|last=Marcum|first=Diana|date=May 19, 2011|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref>

In 2019, USA Today named Mendota the "worst city in America" due to poverty, violent crime rate and high unemployment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/02/07/worst-cities-america-50-places-named-least-desirable-call-home/39006457/|title=These are the worst cities to live in America. Is yours one of them?|website=[[USA Today]] }}</ref> However, some residents took issue with the ranking.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abc30.com/usa-today-mendota-worst-place-crime-population/5128786/|title = Is Mendota the worst place to live? Residents say that's a distorted view|date = February 9, 2019}}</ref> In response, Mayor Robert Silva noted "the unemployment of 15 percent is distorted because of the seasonal nature of agricultural work".<ref name=":0" />

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1950= 1516
|1960= 2099
|1970= 2705
|1980= 5038
|1990= 6821
|2000= 7890
|2010= 11014
|2020= 12595
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2020.html|date=April 5, 2022|title=2020 Census}}</ref>
}}

===2020===
At the 2020 census Mendota had a population of 12,595.<ref name=":1" /> The population density was {{convert|3,356.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Mendota was 5,823 White, 107 (1.0%) African American, 153 (1.4%) Native American, 82 (0.7%) Asian, 5 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 4,465 (40.5%) from other races, and 379 (3.4%) from two or more races.  Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10,643 persons (96.6%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0646828|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715075230/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0646828|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Mendota city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref>

The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.

There were 2,424 households, 1,583 (65.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,309 (54.0%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 457 (18.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 319 (13.2%) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were 303 (12.5%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 11 (0.5%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 197 households (8.1%) were one person and 78 (3.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 4.54.  There were 2,085 families (86.0% of households); the average family size was 4.49.

The age distribution was 3,731 people (33.9%) under the age of 18, 1,500 people (13.6%) aged 18 to 24, 3,432 people (31.2%) aged 25 to 44, 1,832 people (16.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 519 people (4.7%) who were 65 or older.  The median age was 26.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 123.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.3 males.

There were 2,556 housing units at an average density of {{convert|778.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}},of which 2,424 were occupied, 1,056 (43.6%) by the owners and 1,368 (56.4%) by renters.  The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%.  5,075 people (46.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,939 people (53.9%) lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 7,890 people in 1,825 households, including 1,545 families, in the city.  The population density was 1,629.1/km{{sup|2}} (4,229.4/mi<sup>2</sup>).  There were 1,878 housing units at an average density of 387.8/km{{sup|2}} (1,006.7/mi<sup>2</sup>).  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 27.33% White, 0.66% Black or African American, 1.31% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 63.12% from other races, and 6.70% from two or more races.  94.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
Of the 1,825 households 53.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.3% were non-families. 9.1% of households were one person and 3.9% were one person aged 65 or older.  The average household size was 4.32 and the average family size was 4.38.

The age distribution was 33.9% under the age of 18, 15.3% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.2% 65 or older.  The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 130.2 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 142.0 males.

The median household income was $23,705 and the median family income  was $22,984. Males had a median income of $17,500 versus $21,319 for females. The per capita income for the city was $6,967.  About 35.2% of families and 41.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 49.4% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
Mendota has 1,827 registered voters, and has the lowest percentage of "decline to state" voters in California.  7.6% of voters are "decline to state" while 69.1% are registered Democrats and 17.9% are registered Republican.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ror/ror-pages/15day-stwdsp-09/politicalsub.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701000534/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ror/ror-pages/15day-stwdsp-09/politicalsub.pdf |archive-date=July 1, 2014 }}</ref>

==Education==
The [[Mendota Unified School District]] is the school district serving Mendota.

* [[Mendota High School]]
* Mendota Junior High School
* Washington Elementary School
* Mendota Elementary School
* McCabe Elementary School
* Mendota Alternative Education

==Economy==
Major employers in Mendota include Stamoules Produce, Oro Loma Ranch, Ruby Fresh, and Cardella Ranch and Winery.<ref>Search Results - Mendota, California - [http://www.referenceusa.com/ ReferenceUSA] {{webarchive|url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20081115005155/http://www.referenceusa.com/libraryLogin.asp?si=76128370484616&LFentry=yes|date=July 29, 2018}} Current Businesses</ref>

Mendota has been known as "The Cantaloupe Center of the World". In 2021, [[Climate change in the United States|climate change]]-related drought and high temperatures slowed both [[cantaloupe]] production and local population growth.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Werner|first1=Erika|last2=Reiley|first2=Laura|date=August 27, 2021|title=California's 'Cantaloupe Center' struggles to reign supreme as drought pummels agriculture across the West|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/08/27/california-drought-farmers-cantaloupe/|access-date=August 28, 2021|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref>

== Federal Correctional Institution, Mendota ==
As of September 2006, [[Federal Correctional Institution, Mendota|Mendota Federal Correctional Institution]], a federal prison, was under construction about {{convert|1|mi|km}} south of downtown Mendota. A prominent water tower marks the location. The facility is built on {{convert|960|acre|ha}} of land at a cost of over US$110 million.  Completion was scheduled for 2010, but the facility opened in 2012 after several years of funding delays.  The facility plan includes a medium security section, housing up to 1,152 adults, and a minimum security satellite camp with a capacity of 128, supervised by a full-time staff of 300 to 350.<ref>Spaulding, M., ''Federal Correctional Institution, Mendota, California: Project Description and Employment and Business Opportunities'', (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 2005).</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/men/ | title=FCI Mendota}}</ref>

==Mendota Wildlife Area==
{{Further|Mendota Wildlife Area}}
In 1956, the State of California purchased  6,100 acres of [[Anseriformes|waterfowl]] wintering [[habitat]] along the [[San Joaquin River]] and established the [[Mendota Wildlife Area]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Mendota Wildlife Area |publisher=Mendota Wildlife Area |date=August 2001 |url=https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=85239 |access-date=November 6, 2016}}</ref> The [[wildlife preserve]] is about {{convert|1|mi|km}} southeast of downtown Mendota, with the entrance on the south side of [[California State Route 180|CA Route 180]].<ref>Mendota Wildlife Area entrance location at {{coord|36.7325|-120.3405}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{Official website}}
*[http://www.ci.mendota.ca.us/PDF/FederalCorrectionalInstitutionMendota.pdf#search=%22federal%20correctional%20institution%20mendota%22 Information about Federal Correctional Institution, Mendota.]

{{Cities of Fresno County, California}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Cities in Fresno County, California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1891]]
[[Category:San Joaquin Valley]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in California]]