Mendota, California
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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 180 and 33 run through the agricultural city. Mendota is located Template:Convert south-southeast of Firebaugh.<ref name=CGN>Template:California's Geographic Names</ref><ref name=gnis>Template:Cite GNIS</ref>
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, over 99% land. At the 2000 census, according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total land area of Template:Convert. 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">Climate Summary for Mendota, California</ref>
History
Beginning in 1891, Mendota thrived as a 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 cantaloupes. 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 recession caused unemployment to surge above 40%.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The unemployment was quoted at 45% in May 2011.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2019, USA Today named Mendota the "worst city in America" due to poverty, violent crime rate and high unemployment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, some residents took issue with the ranking.<ref>Template:Cite web</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
The 2020 United States census reported that Mendota had a population of 12,595. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup of Mendota was 20.1% White, 0.2% African American, 2.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 51.1% from other races, and 26.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 96.6% of the population.<ref name=DP1>Template:Cite web</ref>
The whole population lived in households. There were 2,832 households, out of which 64.7% included children under the age of 18, 52.0% were married-couple households, 9.0% were cohabiting couple households, 22.8% had a female householder with no partner present, and 16.1% had a male householder with no partner present. 8.7% of households were one person, and 3.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 4.45.<ref name=DP1/> There were 2,471 families (87.3% of all households).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The age distribution was 35.4% under the age of 18, 11.9% aged 18 to 24, 28.2% aged 25 to 44, 17.9% aged 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65Template:Nbspyears of age or older. The median age was 26.6Template:Nbspyears. For every 100 females, there were 111.2 males.<ref name=DP1/>
There were 2,875 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert, of which 2,832 (98.5%) were occupied. Of these, 44.1% were owner-occupied, and 55.9% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 47.6% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 12.1% spoke only English at home, 87.6% spoke Spanish, and 0.3% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 39.3% were high school graduates and 4.5% had a bachelor's degree.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The median household income in 2023 was $46,458, and the per capita income was $14,474. About 28.9% of families and 30.3% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Politics and government
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>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the United States House of Representatives, Mendota is in California's 13th congressional district, represented by Democrat Adam Gray as of January 2025.
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 - ReferenceUSA Template:Webarchive Current Businesses</ref>
Mendota has been known as "The Cantaloupe Center of the World". In 2021, climate change-related drought and high temperatures slowed both cantaloupe production and local population growth.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Federal Correctional Institution, Mendota
As of September 2006, Mendota Federal Correctional Institution, a federal prison, was under construction about Template:Convert south of downtown Mendota. A prominent water tower marks the location. The facility is built on Template:Convert 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>Template:Cite web</ref>
Mendota Wildlife Area
Template:Further In 1956, the State of California purchased 6,100 acres of waterfowl wintering habitat along the San Joaquin River and established the Mendota Wildlife Area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The wildlife preserve is about Template:Convert southeast of downtown Mendota, with the entrance on the south side of CA Route 180.<ref>Mendota Wildlife Area entrance location at Template:Coord</ref>