CORCORAN, CALIFORNIA

'Corcoran' is a city in Kings County, California, United States. It is part of the Hanford - Corcoran, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,458 at the 2000 census. However, the California Department of Finance estimates that the population had grown to 25,417 as of January 1, 2007.
Corcoran is most famous as the site of the California State Prison, Corcoran, home to a number of notable inmates such as Sirhan Sirhan, Charles Manson, and Juan Corona.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

References

External links

Geography

Corcoran is located at (36.096018, -119.564480).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.6 km² (6.4 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,458 people, 2,769 households, and 2,229 families residing in the city. The population density was 872.2/km² (2,260.2/mi²). There were 3,016 housing units at an average density of 182.0/km² (471.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 34.08% White, 14.21% Black or African American, 1.42% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 46.42% from other races, and 3.08% from two or more races. 59.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,769 households out of which 49.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.44 and the average family size was 3.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 42.0% from 25 to 44, 15.3% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 207.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 264.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,783, and the median income for a family was $32,852. Males had a median income of $30,787 versus $21,792 for females. The per capita income for the city was only $13,458. It is noteworthy that about 23.4% of families and 26.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.4% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
'About Corcoran'
Even before Corcoran was “Corcoran”, the small town has always been and remains today a major part of the state of California and the central San Joaquin Valley. At the turn of the 20th Century Corcoran served as a junction for the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad. The junction, a regular stop for four daily trains, consisted of a platform from which business transactions were handled for trains entering from the north, south and easterly directions.
Unsure of where the town'ss name came from, it has been narrowed down to two individuals prominently mentioned throughout history. General Corcoran, a San Joaquin Valley pioneer, operated a steamboat between Stockton and Tulare Lake. Thomas Corcoran a railroad superintendent worked for the Santa Fe Railroad, which eventually bought out both the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley lines.
H. J. Whitley, a prominent land developer from southern California, took the lead in building Corcoran (the main street of the community is named in his honor). Liking what he saw during a visit to the area in 1905 (a blacksmith shop, small store, scattered homes and a lush, untapped vista with herds of grazing wild hogs, horses and steers) Whitley purchased 32,000 acres to start development and moved a member of his real estate firm, J. W. Guiberson, to the area. Guiberson became one of the many pioneers of the community, building the first home and business structure in Corcoran. His family also helped establish the first church in the community, an event which helped lead to the town’s incorporation on August 14, 1914. The basis of Corcoran’s economy then and now is agriculture. Initially, the most successful crops were grains, alfalfa and sugar beets.
'A Small Yet Thriving Community'
Founded in 1925, the J. G. Boswell Company, engaged in both agriculture and real estate, is one of the largest irrigated farming operations in the world. The company is totally vertically integrated, with its largest farm, and the processing division, located in Corcoran. Primary crops are Pima cotton, alfalfa hay, tomatoes, onions, and wheat. The company employs approximately 1200 people.^[1]
One of Corcoran’s industries is the state prisons. Corcoran State Prison (Corcoran I), completed in 1989 the facility is the state’s largest prison. To date, the prison employs 1,900 individuals, and houses 4,951 prisoners. California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison (Corcoran II) completed in 1997 this prison also has a 21 bed hospital wing addition. To date this prison employs 1,745 individuals and houses around 7,000 prisoners.
Corcoran leaders are continuing to push for additional industries to further solidify and diversify the local economic base. Homac Manufacturing Co.,Virtus Nutrition LLC, Buttonwillow Warehouse, Pemberton Construction are all located at one of the city’s industrial parks. Currently the City is working on an additional industrial park to allow for growth. Downtown you will find a Rite Aid pharmacy, and many different fast food restaurants like McDonalds, Taco Bell, Subway, and three different pizza parlors.
Located in the heart of the Central Valley, Corcoran’s population, excluding prison inmates as of 2005 stands at 10,577. The community is served by a branch of the Kings County library, and a weekly newspaper – The Corcoran Journal. The Corcoran Unified School District offers kindergarten through 12th grade classes with three elementary schools, one junior high and one high school. West Hills College and College of the Sequoias (C.O.S.) serve the local community college needs in nearby Lemoore, Hanford and Visalia with C.O.S. classes being offered in Corcoran as well.
Youth interested in agricultural pursuits will find a Future Farmers of America program at the high school agricultural department as well as traditional 4-H activities through the Corcoran 4-H Club. Service organizations of the community include the Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions groups, American Legion, Corcoran Guild of Valley Children’s Hospital, Corcoran 50-50 Club, auxiliary to the Corcoran District Hospital, and other fraternal and professional groups.
Over 18 churches call Corcoran home. Corcoran’s recreation program boasts nine public parks and four playgrounds. The YMCA sports a $3 million facility complete with saunas, Jacuzzis, racquetball courts and weight room, while other city recreational opportunities include lighted tennis courts, state of the art baseball diamonds, soccer fields, skate park, complete Senior Center, newly renovated city swimming facility boasting an Olympic size swimming pool with a 162 ft. water slide, a children’s swimming pool and an extensive recreation program. Five public golf courses can be reached in less than 30 minutes. The city is just two hours away from the Pacific Ocean and a one hour drive from the Sierra Nevada Mountain range.
Rail passenger service is offered by Amtrak, which serves Corcoran with 6 Northbound and 6 southbound trains daily. Greyhound bus connections can be made in Tulare, with plans for a local connection in the near future. Existing single family homes range from $175,000 to $280,000 while rentals for one and two bedroom apartments and duplexes from $650 to $705 per month and two to three bedroom houses rent from $700 to $1,100 per month, depending on location and amenities.
Remaining civic areas of interest include: Police Department – Twenty-one full time personnel including 15 uniformed officers, five clerk-dispatchers and two reserve officers. Fire Department – Thirteen full time firemen and nine volunteers. Industrial sites – There are approximately 320 acres in the city limits zones for light and heavy industry with two industrial parks included in this total.

References

1. Arax, Mark and Wartzman, Rick, ''The King of California - J.G. Boswell and the Making of a Secret American Empire,'' PublicAffairs, New York, 2003

External links

★ City of Corcoran website