Porterville, California
| City of Porterville | |||
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| — City — | |||
| Downtown Porterville | |||
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| Nickname(s): All America City, Poros, P-town, P'ville, the Orange Belt | |||
| Motto: "In God We Trust"[citation needed] | |||
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| Coordinates: 36°4′7″N 119°1′39″W / 36.06861°N 119.0275°WCoordinates: 36°4′7″N 119°1′39″W / 36.06861°N 119.0275°W | |||
| Country |  United States |
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| State |  California |
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| County | Tulare | ||
| Settled | approx. 1826 | ||
| Incorporated | May 7, 1902 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council-Manager | ||
| • City Manager | John Lollis | ||
| • Mayor | Ronald L. Irish | ||
| • Mayor Pro Tempore | Cameron Hamilton | ||
| Area[1] | |||
| • City | 17.679 sq mi (45.790 km2) | ||
| • Land | 17.607 sq mi (45.603 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.072 sq mi (0.188 km2) 0.41% | ||
| Elevation | 456 ft (139 m) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • City | 54,165 | ||
| • Density | 3,076.3/sq mi (1,187.77/km2) | ||
| • Urban | 111,804 | ||
| Time zone | Pacific (PST) (UTC-8) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP codes | 93257-93258, 93207, 93270, 93265, 93267, 93208, 93218 | ||
| Area code(s) | 559 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-58240 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1652779 | ||
| Website | Official website of the City of Porterville | ||
Porterville is a city in the San Joaquin Valley, in Tulare County, California, United States. Porterville's population was 54,165 at the 2010 census. The city's population grew dramatically as the city annexed many properties and unincorporated areas in and around Porterville. Not included in the city's population is East Porterville. The Census found another 6,767 more residents there, giving the Porterville Urban Area a total of 60,932 residents. Porterville is considered part of the Census Bureau's designation of the Visalia-Porterville metropolitan statistical area.
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[edit] History
From 1854 Peter Goodhue operated a stopping place on the Stockton - Los Angeles Road on the bank of the Tule River until the river changed its course in 1862. It was also the site of the Tule River Stage Station for the Butterfield Overland Mail, from 1858 to 1861. R. Porter Putnam, bought out Goodhue in 1860, turning the station into a popular stopping place and hotel called Porter Station. The town of Porterville was founded there in 1864.[2]
[edit] Geography
Porterville is located at 36°4′7″N 119°1′39″W / 36.06861°N 119.0275°W (36.068550, -119.027536).[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.7 square miles (46 km2), of which, 17.6 square miles (46 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.41%) is water.
Porterville is located on the Tule River at the base of the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains and eastern most section of California's Central Valley. In the foothills above Porterville is the man-made Lake Success.
[edit] Demographics
[edit] 2010
The 2010 United States Census[4] reported that Porterville had a population of 54,165. The population density was 3,076.3 people per square mile (1,187.77/km²). The racial makeup of Porterville was 31,847 (58.8%) White, 673 (1.2%) African American, 1,007 (1.9%) Native American, 2,521 (4.7%) Asian, 64 (0.1%) Pacific Is lander, 15,482 (28.6%) from other races, and 2,571 (4.7%) from two o more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33,549 persons (61.9%).
The Census reported that 53,018 people (97.9% of the population) lived in households, 207 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 940 (1.7%) were institutionalized.
There were 15,644 households, out of which 8,177 (52.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 8,032 (51.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,962 (18.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,315 (8.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,424 (9.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 115 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,679 households (17.1%) were made up of individuals and 1,193 (7.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.39. There were 12,309 families (78.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.78.
The population was spread out with 18,154 people (33.5%) under the age of 18, 5,879 people (10.9%) aged 18 to 24, 14,266 people (26.3%) aged 25 to 44, 10,773 people (19.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 5,093 people (9.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.8 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.
There were 16,734 housing units at an average density of 946.5 per square mile (365.4/km²), of which 8,966 (57.3%) were owner-occupied, and 6,678 (42.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%. 30,016 people (55.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 23,002 people (42.5%) lived in rental housing units.
[edit] 2000
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 39,615 people, 11,884 households, and 9,174 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,828.4 people per square mile (1,091.8/km²). There were 12,691 housing units at an average density of 906.1 per square mile (349.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.8% White, 1.3% African American, 1.7% Native American, 4.6% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 32.7% from other races, and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 54.5% of the population.
There were 11,884 households out of which 47.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.8% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.20 and the average family size was 3.62.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.3% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,046, and the median income for a family was $35,136. Males had a median income of $31,171 versus $23,737 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,745. About 20.3% of families and 25.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.7% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Politics
In the state legislature Porterville is located in the 18th Senate District, represented by Republican Jean Fuller, and in the 34th Assembly District, represented by Republican Connie Conway. Federally, Porterville is located in California's 21st congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +13[6] and is represented by Republican Devin Nunes.
During the November 2008 Prop 8 election campaign, Porterville's City Council was the only City Council in all of California that passed a Resolution in favor of Prop 8. The Resolution urged voters to act on behalf of the Council's personal, religious, and political interests. Local gay rights activists including, Porterville LGBTQ, protested City Council meetings for 11 months, getting the attention of local media. Prop 8 amended California's constitution to remove existing marriage rights for same-sex couples. On August 4, 2010, Prop 8 was ruled unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution.
Porterville, Tulare County voters voted over 75% in favor of Prop 8, among the highest levels in the State of California, during the election.
[edit] Local trivia
- The sheriff in Big Top Pee-wee (1988) received a report from Porterville about a windstorm approaching Pee-wee Herman's local town.
- It received the All-America City Award in 1994.[7]
- In the science fiction novel Lucifer's Hammer, this city is destroyed by the collapse of the dam at Lake Success.
- Porterville is the home of the Persian Lime
- Porterville has consistently ranked as one of the nations most highly polluted areas.[8]
[edit] Notable locals
- Marv Acton - NASCAR driver
- Barbara Baxley - film, stage and television actress
- Dick Brooks - NASCAR driver
- Brant Brown - Fresno State and Major League Baseball Outfielder (Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Florida Marlins)
- Tex Clevenger - Fresno State and Major League Baseball pitcher (Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, Los Angeles Angels, and New York Yankees)
- Steve Cox - Major League Baseball Firstbaseman (Tampa Bay Devil Rays)
- Allen Drury - Novelist and 1960 Pulitzer Prize Winner
- Margaret Hamilton- Actress The Wizard of Oz
- Sim Iness - Oklahoma-born Olympic Gold Medalist (Discus)
- Monte Moore - Longtime Major League Baseball and Oakland Athletics broadcaster
- Rance Mulliniks - Major League Baseball Infielder (California Angels, Kansas City Royals, and Toronto Blue Jays)
- Rick Owens - fashion designer
- Bear Pascoe - Fresno State and NFL player for the New York Giants
- James Sanders (American football) - Fresno State and NFL Safety for the Atlanta Falcons
- Bill Sharman - NBA Hall of Fame player and coach
- Kirsten Vangsness - Actress, "Criminal Minds"
- Tim Vanni - two-time Olympic Wrestler
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Highways and Freeways
California State Route 65, known as The All American City Highway or Porterville Freeway, is a major north-south freeway that heads north to Lindsay and south to Bakersfield. California State Route 190, is a major east west freeway in Porterville that heads west to California State Route 99 and east bypassing East Porterville to Springville.
[edit] Public Transportation
The Porterville Transit operates environmentally-friendly and convenient public transportation to Porterville and the surrounding communities. Porterville COLT Paratranit service designed for transit riders with disabilities that prevent them from using regular bus services. Porterville Transit and COLT services are provided within the city limits and to designated unincorporated urban areas of the county, including "county islands" within the city limits.
[edit] Air Transportation
Porterville has one airport. The Porterville Municipal Airport.(IATA: PTV, ICAO: KPTV, FAA LID: PTV) the nearby commercial airports include:
- (IATA: FAT, ICAO: KFAT, FAA LID: FAT) Fresno Yosemite International Airport, owned by the City of Fresno; serves the San Joaquin Valley.
- (IATA: BFL, ICAO: KBFL, FAA LID: BFL) Meadows Field Airport, also known as Kern County Airport #1, serves the South Valley and the Greater Metropolitan Bakersfield.
[edit] Media
The Porterville Recorder is the daily newspaper serving Porterville. The Recorder's editorial policy is to avoid to have free speech. Radio stations KIOO (99.7 FM), KMQA (100.5 FM) and KTIP (1450 AM) and TV station KTFF-TV are all licensed to Porterville.
[edit] Education
Most of Porterville is served by the Porterville Unified School District, while portions of the western section of the city are zoned to the Burton Unified School District
[edit] Schools in the Porterville Unified School District
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[edit] Schools in the Burton School District
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[edit] School Districts-Porterville Urban Area
- Alta Vista Elementary School District
- Burton School District
- Citrus South Tule Elementary School District
- Ducor Elementary School District
- Hope Elementary School District
- Hot Springs School District
- Lindsay Unified School District
- Pleasant View Elementary School District
- Porterville Unified School District
- Rockford Elementary School District
- Saucelito Elementary School District
- Springville Union Elementary School District
- Strathmore Union Elementary School District
- Sunnyside Union Elementary School District
- Terra Bella Elementary School District
- Woodville Union Elementary School District
[edit] Higher education
- There is one community college in Porterville, Porterville College (PC), located on South Main Street.
[edit] Courts
- Tulare County - District Attorney- Office - 87 East Morton Avenue
- Social Security Administration - Office - 890 West Morton Avenue
[edit] Shopping centers
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[edit] Churches
- First Missionary Baptist Church
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Believer's Church
- First Christian Church
- Gospel Lighthouse Church
- Grace Fundamental Church
- Life Tabernacle-Apostolic Church of Porterville
- Emanuel Evangelical Church
- Trinity Lutheran Church
- Vessels of Living Water Christian Church
- Living Word Fellowship Church
- Faith Tabernacle of Porterville
- Family Christian Center
- Church of God
- Masjid Porterville
- Calvary Assembly of God
- St. Anne's Catholic Church
- Holy Cross Catholic Church
- Westfield Christian Churcn
- First Church of the Nazarene
- Iglesia Del Nazareno
- Porterville Church of Christ
- Porterville Church of Religious Science
- First United Methodist Church
- Grand Avenue United Methodist Church
- First Baptist Church
- Mountain View Baptist Church
- Porterville Seventh Day Adventist Church
- Jehovah's Witnesses
- Henderson Avenue Baptist Church
[edit] Parks
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[edit] Sister cities
Porterville has two sister cities,
[edit] References
- ^ U.S. Census
- ^ Mildred Brooke Hoover, Douglas E. Kyle, Historic spots in California, Stanford University Press, 2002, p.543
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ All data are derived from the United States Census Bureau reports from the 2010 United States Census, and are accessible on-line here. The data on unmarried partnerships and same-sex married couples are from the Census report DEC_10_SF1_PCT15. All other housing and population data are from Census report DEC_10_DP_DPDP1. Both reports are viewable online or downloadable in a zip file containing a comma-delimited data file. The area data, from which densities are calculated, are available on-line here. Percentage totals may not add to 100% due to rounding. The Census Bureau defines families as a household containing one or more people related to the householder by birth, opposite-sex marriage, or adoption. People living in group quarters are tabulated by the Census Bureau as neither owners nor renters. For further details, see the text files accompanying the data files containing the Census reports mentioned above.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ All-America City: Past Winners
- ^ [1]
[edit] External links
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