SafekipediaDelano, California
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Delano is a city in Kern County, California, United States. It is about 30 miles north-northwest of Bakersfield, sitting in the San Joaquin Valley, which is the southern part of California's Central Valley. In 2020, the city had a population of 51,428 people.
The main industry in Delano is agriculture, especially growing table grapes. The city is also home to two state prisons, North Kern State Prison and Kern Valley State Prison.
Delano has its own police department and works with the Kern County Fire Department for fire services. Health services are provided by a local company called Delano Ambulance Service. The city has several schools, including eight elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools, and two alternative high schools.
History
Delano was founded on July 14, 1869, as a railroad town. The railroad coming south from San Francisco ended at Delano, which is why the town was created there. The town was named after Columbus Delano, who was the Secretary of the Interior for the United States at the time. The first post office opened in 1874, and Delano became an official city in 1913.
The town grew quickly because it was the end of the railroad line. Many workers came to build the railroad, and goods that used to be carried by ox or mule teams now arrived by train. Delano also became an important place for farm workers and their leaders. In 1965, Filipino farm workers began a strike to ask for better pay and working conditions. Soon after, a group of Hispanic farm workers joined them, and together they formed the United Farm Workers of America. By 1970, they succeeded in getting better agreements with grape growers across California.
Economy
Delano has many jobs in farming, with big companies like Wonderful Citrus, Columbine Vineyards, Munger Farms, Lucich Farms, and Hronis hiring people. Besides farming, other important places to work include Adventist Health Hospital Delano, Walmart, The Home Depot, Vallarta Supermarkets, Delano Joint Union High School District, Delano Union Elementary School District, and the North Kern-South Tulare Hospital District.
Major employers
According to the city's 2021 report, these are the main places that hire people in Delano:
Geography
The city of Delano covers an area of 14.8 square miles (38 km2), and almost all of it is land.
Climate
Delano has a climate similar to the rest of the San Joaquin Valley. It is a desert climate with some Mediterranean traits. The city gets about 7.51 inches (191 mm) of rain each year, mostly during winter. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are cool and damp. Winter fog, called tule fog, often appears and can make it hard to see. The temperature has ranged from a high of 115 °F (46 °C) in 2006 to a low of 14 °F (−10 °C) in 1990.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition
2020 census
According to the 2020 census, Delano had a population of 51,428 people. Most of the residents, about 85%, lived in homes with families, and many had children under 18 years old. The city had many homes, with most of them being lived in by the people who owned them.
2023 estimates
In 2023, many people in Delano were born in other countries. Most people spoke Spanish at home, while some spoke only English or other languages. Many adults had finished high school, but not many had college degrees. Some families and people in Delano did not have enough money to meet their needs.
The average amount of money a family made each year was $61,817, and each person had about $19,266 for their own use. About 14% of families and 16% of people lived below the poverty line.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 3,556 | 3,980 | 2,391 | 9.16% | 7.50% | 4.65% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,997 | 4,007 | 2,695 | 5.14% | 7.55% | 5.24% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 88 | 154 | 155 | 0.23% | 0.29% | 0.30% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 5,902 | 6,436 | 7,079 | 15.20% | 12.13% | 13.76% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 12 | 22 | 35 | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.07% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 86 | 77 | 118 | 0.22% | 0.15% | 0.23% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 599 | 452 | 502 | 1.54% | 0.85% | 0.98% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 26,584 | 37,913 | 38,453 | 68.47% | 71.48% | 74.77% |
| Total | 38,824 | 53,041 | 51,428 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Education
The Delano Union School District runs eight elementary schools and three middle schools for students in the area. The Delano Joint Union High School District oversees three main high schools, one school for students who need extra help, and a center for adult learning.
Bakersfield College, a community college, helps students from Delano and nearby areas. It has a smaller campus called the Delano Center, located about 35 miles north of its main campus in Bakersfield, California.
Transportation
Bus services
The Delano Area Rapid Transit (DART) offers bus routes for people to travel around the city. It also has a special service called Dial-A-Ride that helps people get where they need to go when the regular buses don't work well for them.
Airport
The Delano Municipal Airport is a place where small planes can land and take off. It is open to anyone but does not have regular airline flights. Many different kinds of flights, like military planes and air ambulances, use the airport often.
Events
Delano has many fun celebrations throughout the year. The Cinco De Mayo Fiesta is a four-day event at Memorial Park that includes live entertainment and a carnival, honoring Mexican culture. Cinco de Mayo Cinco de Mayo is a special day that celebrates Mexican heritage.
There is also the Annual Philippine Weekend festival, which showcases Filipino culture with performing arts, a pork adobo cook-off, a grand parade, and many other fun activities like basketball tournaments and dance contests.
Other events include the September 16 Celebration, which starts with sports tournaments and a kiddie parade, and ends with carnival rides and music at Memorial Park. The Christmas Parade is another joyful event that brings the community together.
Recreation
The area around Delano has many natural places to explore. The Sequoia National Forest has huge trees, rocky mountains, and beautiful valleys. You can also visit the Tule Elk State Reserve to see animals that were once in danger. Lake Woollomes is a fun spot for swimming and boating. The Kern National Wildlife Refuge is close by, and Shirley Meadows Ski Area on Green Horn Mountain offers skiing in winter. During summer, many people enjoy the Kern River and Isabella Lake.
Community parks
Delano has thirteen parks where families and children can play. Some of these parks include Albany Park, Cecil Park, Cesar Chavez Park, Delano Soccer Park, Delano Skate Park, Heritage Park, Jefferson Park, Kalibo Park, Larry Itliong Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Memorial Park, Morningside Park, and Veneto Park.
Notable people
Delano is the home of many interesting people. Cesar Chavez was an important activist who helped workers. Larry Itliong was also an activist. Leamon King and Lon Spurrier were Olympic runners. Dack Rambo was an actor. Luis Valdez directed films, including one called La Bamba. Benita Valente was a classical singer known for her beautiful voice.
Sister cities
Delano has four sister cities around the world. These cities are partners with Delano, working together to build friendship and understanding. The sister cities are:
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Delano, California, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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