Weedpatch, California

Census-designated place in California, United States

35°14′17″N 118°54′54″W / 35.23806°N 118.91500°W / 35.23806; -118.91500CountryUnited StatesStateCaliforniaCountyKernGovernment

• SenateJean Fuller (R) • AssemblyRudy Salas (D) • U. S. CongressDavid Valadao (R)Area

^[1]

• Total3.561 sq mi (9.223 km²) • Land3.557 sq mi (9.213 km²) • Water0.004 sq mi (0.010 km²) 0.11%Elevation

^[2]

387 ft (118 m)Population

(2010)

• Total2,658 • Density750/sq mi (290/km²)ZIP code

93241

Area code661FIPS code06-83863

Weedpatch (formerly Weed Patch^[2] and Alexander's Corner^[3]) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. Weedpatch is 10 miles (16 km) south-southeast of Bakersfield. It is considered to be one of the poorest areas in Kern County.^[4] As of the 2010 census it had a population of 2,658.^[5]

Geography

The community, which lies at an elevation of 387 feet (118 m), is situated off State Route 184 (Weedpatch Highway) southeast of Bakersfield, south of Lamont and about 5 miles (8 km) south of State Route 58. It is at 35°14′17″N 118°54′54″W / 35.23806°N 118.91500°W / 35.23806; -118.91500.^[2] According to the United States Census Bureau, Weedpatch has an area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²).

History

Although the name "Weed Patch" was applied to the site as early as 1874, the community began only in 1922. The town was also named "Alexander's Corner" in honor of Cal Alexander, a resident.^[3]

Weedpatch is the site of the Arvin Federal Government Camp, known colloquially (and in the John Steinbeck novel The Grapes of Wrath) as "Weedpatch Camp". This camp was a government rescue center for distressed migrant workers fleeing the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, during the Great Depression.^[6] The camp still aids migrant workers and is 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Weedpatch on Sunset just off Weedpatch Highway.

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census reported that Weedpatch had a population of 2,658, with a median household income of $28,075 and just above 45.8% living at or below the poverty level. It is considered to have a young population, with a median age of 22.7.^[4]

The racial makeup of Weedpatch was 1,212 (45.6%) white, 8 (0.3%) African American, 78 (2.9%) Native American, 14 (0.5%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 1,237 (46.5%) from other races, and 109 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,484 persons (93.5%).

References

^ U.S. Census
^ ^a ^b ^c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Weedpatch, California
^ ^a ^b Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 1125. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
^ ^a ^b "Weedpatch Is Waiting to See the Light," Bakersfield Californian, February 21, 2010
^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Weedpatch CDP, California". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved January 25, 2019.^{[dead link]}
^ BRANSON-POTTS, HAILEY (November 10, 2019). "Okies disappearing from Dust Bowl Festival, replaced by Latino migrants tending California's fields". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2019.