Hanford is an important commercial and cultural center in the south central
San Joaquin ValleyThe San Joaquin Valley refers to the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in Stockton...
and is the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
of
Kings County, CaliforniaKings County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is located in a rich agricultural region. Kings County is also home to NAS Lemoore, which is the U.S. Navy's newest and largest master jet air station. The county seat is Hanford. Kings County is part of the...
. It is the principal city of the Hanford-Corcoran, California
Metropolitan Statistical AreaThe Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of one county – Kings – in California's Central Valley...
(MSA Code 25260), which encompasses all of Kings County, including the cities of Hanford and
CorcoranCorcoran is a town in Kings County, California, United States. Corcoran is located south-southeast of Hanford, at an elevation of 207 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,458 at the 2000 census...
. The
ZIP CodeThe ZIP code is the system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service . The letters ZIP, a backronym for Zone Improvement Plan, are properly written in capital letters and were chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
is 93230 (93232 for
post office boxA post office box is a uniquely-addressable lockable box located on the premises of a post office station....
es). The city of Hanford is surrounded by communities that do not fall within the city limits but use the same zip code. These communities include
GrangevilleGrangeville is an unincorporated community in Kings County, California. It is located west-northwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 249 feet .A post office operated at Grangeville from 1874 to 1920....
,
HardwickHardwick is an unincorporated community in Kings County, California. It is located northwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 249 feet .Hardwick is in the San Joaquin Valley on Excelsior Avenue between 14th and 15th Avenues. The Kings River runs 1.2 miles north of the community. The unincorporated...
and Home Garden.
The population was 41,686 at the
2000 censusA census of the general population was conducted in several countries in the year 2000. The 2000 Census may refer to:In the United States:* 2000 United States Census, the 22nd decennial federal censusIn Costa Rica:...
. However, the
California Department of FinanceThe California Department of Finance is a state cabinet-level agency within the government of California. The Department of Finance is responsible for preparing, explaining, and administering the state’s annual financial plan, which the Governor of California is required under the California...
estimates that the population had grown to 52,687 as of January 1, 2009.. By 2010 Hanford will have estimate population of 54,286 and by 2020 it will have 70,177 with Kings county having 198,700 residents.
Geography
Hanford is located at (36.3275, -119.6457). It is situated in the south central portion of California's San Joaquin Valley, SSE of the city of
FresnoFresno may refer to:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León* Fresno el Viejo, Tierra del Vino, Valladolid...
, at an elevation of above sea level. The terrain is level. According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of 13.1 square miles (33.9 km²), all of which is land not covered by water. The only natural watercourse is Mussel Slough, remnants of which still exist on the city's western edge. The
Kings RiverThe Kings River is a major river of California. It arises in the Sierra Nevada, consisting of three forks. The Middle and South Forks start in Kings Canyon National Park, while the North Fork starts in the John Muir Wilderness. The South Fork flows in Kings Canyon: a spectacular deep glacial valley...
is about north of Hanford. The People's Ditch, an
irrigationIrrigation is an artificial application of water to the soil. It is usually used to assist in growing crops in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
canal dug in the 1870s, traverses Hanford from north to south.
Climate
Hanford has a climate typical of that of the San Joaquin Valley floor with hot, dry summers and cool winters characterized by dense
Tule fogTule fog is a thick ground fog that settles in the San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento Valley areas of California's Great Central Valley. Tule fog forms during the late fall and winter after the first significant rainfall. The official time frame for tule fog to form is from November 1 to March 31...
. The rainy season occurs from November through April. The average annual rainfall over the ten years from 1997/98 through 2006/07 was 8.97 inches (228 mm).
-On average, the warmest month is July.
-The highest recorded temperature was 116°F in 1933.
-On average, the coolest month is December.
-The lowest recorded temperature was 15°F in 1990.
-The maximum average precipitation occurs in March.
The
National Weather ServiceThe National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
Forecast Office for the San Joaquin Valley is located in Hanford and includes a Doppler weather radar. Weather forecasts and climatological information for Hanford and the surrounding area are available from its official website.
History
The Hanford area was inhabited by the Tachi
YokutThe Yokuts are an ethnic group of Native Americans native to inland central California. Before the arrival of Europeans , the Yokuts consisted of up to 60 separate tribes speaking the same language...
Indians for several thousand years prior to Euro-American contact. They occupied areas along
watercourseA watercourse is any flowing body of water. These include rivers, streams, brooks, anabranches, and so forth....
s such as
creekA stream is a flowing body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, kill, lick, rill, river syke, bayou, rivulet, or run...
s, springs and seep areas (such as
sloughSlough , situated west of Charing Cross, is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Berkshire, England. At the time of the 2001 census, the population of Slough was 119,070 Slough , situated west of Charing Cross, is a borough and unitary authority...
s), along perennial and seasonal drainages, as well as flat ridges and terraces. Therefore, the areas along streams are considered likely locations for prehistoric cultural resources. Permanent villages were usually placed on an elevation above the seasonal flood levels. Surrounding areas were used for hunting and seed, acorn, and grass gathering.
Hanford is named for James Madison Hanford, a railroad executive, after the
Southern Pacific RailroadThe Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company , and usually simply called the Southern Pacific, was an American railroad. The railroad was founded as a land holding company in 1865, later acquiring the Central Pacific Railroad by lease...
tracks were laid through a sheep camp in the year 1877. According to
History of Kings County : "It was but a short step from sheep-camp to village and with the railroad as an attraction the village flourished and became a town within a few historic months."
In 1880, a dispute over land titles between settlers and the Southern Pacific Railroad resulted in a bloody gun battle on a farm 5.6 mi (9 km) northwest of Hanford that left seven men dead. This event became famous as the
Mussel Slough TragedyThe Mussel Slough Tragedy was a dispute over land titles between settlers and the Southern Pacific Railroad that took place on May 11, 1880 on a farm located northwest of Hanford, California in the central San Joaquin Valley, leaving seven people dead. Frank Norris' 1901 novel, The Octopus: A...
.
A post office was set up in 1887.
Several times, major fires destroyed much of the young community's business district. The need for fire protection led to the town becoming an incorporated city in 1891.
An electrical generating plant was built in 1891 by pioneering flour miller H.G. Lacey, bringing the first electric lights to the city. The Lacey Milling Company was still operating in Hanford in 2009.
The first public high school, Hanford Union High School, was started in 1892 with one teacher, W. S. Cranmer, and an average enrollment of fourteen.
When Kings County was created in 1893 from the western part of Tulare County, Hanford became its county seat.
A second railroad was laid through Hanford in 1897, which today is the main north-south line of the
BNSF RailwayThe BNSF Railway , formerly known as the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway, is an American freight railroad company headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas; it is one of four remaining transcontinental railroads, and one of the largest freight railroad networks, in North America. Only the Union...
through the
San Joaquin ValleyThe San Joaquin Valley refers to the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in Stockton...
. The original east-west Southern Pacific Railroad branch line is now operated by the
San Joaquin Valley RailroadThe San Joaquin Valley Railroad is one of several short line railroad companies and is part of the Sunset Division of RailAmerica. It operates about of track primarily on several lines in California's Central Valley/San Joaquin Valley outside of Fresno, California and Bakersfield, California...
.
In 1901, a restaurant called the Star opened on Sixth Street across from the Southern Pacific tracks. The Star Restaurant was still doing business at the same location in 2009.
Saloons flourished in Hanford's early days despite an anti-saloon movement until the town voted to become "dry" in 1912, eight years before nationwide
Prohibition in the United StatesIn the history of the United States, Prohibition, also known as The Noble Experiment, is the period from 1919 to 1933, during which the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol for consumption were banned nationally as mandated in the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States...
took effect.
Demographics
As of the
2000 censusA census of the general population was conducted in several countries in the year 2000. The 2000 Census may refer to:In the United States:* 2000 United States Census, the 22nd decennial federal censusIn Costa Rica:...
, there were 41,686 people, 13,931 households, and 10,378 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 3,184.4 people per square mile (1,229.6/km²). There were 14,721 housing units at an average density of 1,124.5/sq mi (434.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.06%
WhiteRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.01%
BlackRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
African AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.36%
Native AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.85%
AsianRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18%
Pacific IslanderRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 20.80% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 5.73% from two or more races. 38.66% of the population were
HispanicRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
LatinoRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
Foreign-born residents accounted for 13.2% of Hanford's population and 28.3% spoke a language other than English at home.
There were 13,931 households out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.39.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
Economy
Hanford is a major trading center serving the surrounding agricultural area. According to the California Employment Development Department, as of January 2007, most residents of the Hanford area were employed in services (29,200 employees), government (14,300 employees) and farming (7,600 employees) as well as in some manufacturing enterprises (3,400 employees).
The heavy industry sector has declined significantly over the past 20 years. An oil refinery formerly operated in the city under several different owners (Caminol Oil Co. from 1932-1967, Beacon Oil Co. from 1967-1982 and Ultramar Oil Co. from 1982-1987) until it permanently closed in 1987
http://www.energy.ca.gov/oil/refinery_history.html. A tire manufacturing plant was built in 1962 by the Armstrong Rubber Co., which operated it until that company was purchased by the Italian manufacturer
PirelliPirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy.-History:Founded 1872 in Milan by Giovanni Battista Pirelli, Pirelli initially specialised in rubber and derivative processes. Effectively, Pirelli's activities are still primarily focused on the production of tyres and cables...
, which eventually closed the factory in 2001. On December 11, 2007, the Hanford City Planning Commission approved construction of a plant that is expected to produce 60 million
gallonA gallon is a measure of volume of approximately four litres. Historically it has had many different definitions, but there are three definitions in current use. These are the U.S. liquid gallon and the lesser used U.S...
s (227 million liters) of
ethanolEthanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug, best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and in modern thermometers. Ethanol is one of the oldest recreational drugs...
per year for use as a gasoline additive and alternative fuel for vehicles. Most of the feedstock will be
cornMaize , is a herbaceous plant domesticated in Mesoamerica and subsequently spread throughout the American continents...
shipped from the Midwest. The proposed plant would be operated by Great Valley Ethanol LLC and was expected to open in 2010. However, in March 2009, the president of Great Valley Ethanol stated that difficulty in obtaining financing and the low price of gasoline had delayed the opening.
The retail sector is growing with taxable sales of USD 414.7 million reported in 2002, up by 4.6% from 2001.
Major employers within the city of Hanford in 2006 included the
Kings CountyKings County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is located in a rich agricultural region. Kings County is also home to NAS Lemoore, which is the U.S. Navy's newest and largest master jet air station. The county seat is Hanford. Kings County is part of the...
government with 1,041 employees, the
Adventist Health SystemThe Adventist Health System is a non-profit health care organisation which operates facilities within the Southern and Southwestern regions of the United States...
with 857, the Hanford Elementary School District with 520, the Del Monte tomato cannery with 435 year-round and 1,500 seasonal employees and Marquez Brothers International, Inc., makers of Hispanic cheese and other dairy products. Many Hanford residents work for other nearby employers such as NAS Lemoore, the U.S. Navy's largest master jet base located 15.5 mi (25 km) WSW of Hanford and for the
California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationThe California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is responsible for the operation of the California state corrections, rehabilitation, probation and parole systems. CDCR is also responsible for enforcement and investigations of parolees and prison inmates as well as supervision and...
which operates three state prisons in Kings County.
Hanford has not escaped the effects of the
late 2000s recessionBeginning in the late 2000s —and with much greater intensity since September 2008—the industrialized world has been undergoing a recession, a pronounced deceleration of economic activity...
. The unemployment rate in August 2009 in Kings County as a whole was 14.2%, up from 10.1% in July 2008.
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, median household income in Hanford was USD 37,582 and 17.3% of the population was living below the poverty line in 1999, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over. The median income for a household in the city was USD 37,582, and the median income for a family was USD 41,395. Males had a median income of USD 37,120 versus USD 25,971 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city was USD 17,504.
The homeownership rate was 59% in 2000.
Hanford shopping
Hanford has variety of shopping including:
Hanford Mall-a indoor 625,580 feet mall complex anchor by Sears, Forever 21, JCPenney and Cinemark Movies 8.
Walmart Supercenter Plaza- which includes three restraunts, Sonic Drive-In, El Pollo Loco, and Farmer Boy Hamburgers.
Hanford Historic Downtown -which is home to unqiue resturants, events, stores and small shops .
Michaels, Old Navy, Petsmart, Home Depot, Target, Lowe's and Marshalls are among other retail outlets in Hanford.
Hanford healthcare
Hanford offers two acute care hospitals, Hanford Community Medcial Center and Central Valley General Hospital, both of which are owned and operated by Adventist Health. They will be replaced by a new 144-bed hospital now under construction that is slated to open in the summer of 2010. There are three clincs, three skilled nursing facilities, 91 physcians and 30 dentists in the city.
Air
The
Hanford Municipal AirportHanford Municipal Airport , formerly O18, is a public airport located one mile southeast of the central business district of Hanford, a city in Kings County, California, United States. It is owned by the City of Hanford.Although most U.S...
serves
general aviationGeneral aviation is one of two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
and has a 5,175 ft (91,577 m) paved runway.
Bus
Kings Area Rural Transit (KART) operates regularly scheduled fixed route bus service, vanpool service for commuters and Dial-A-Ride (demand response) services throughout Kings County as well as to Fresno. Hanford is also served by the
Orange Belt StagesOrange Belt Stages is a bus company based in Visalia, California. OBS was incorporated on November 30, 1935, and offers charters anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, as well as scheduled runs in California and to Las Vegas, Nevada.-History:...
.
Rail
AmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a blend of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union Station...
provides passenger rail service to the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento, and service to Southern California by a combination of rail and bus. Freight service is available from both the BNSF Railway and the San Joaquin Valley Railroad.
Major highways
Highway 43
Highway 198State Route 198 is an east-west state highway that connects the California Central Coast to the mid-Central Valley at Visalia, although the most-traveled portion is in the Central Valley itself....
Water
The city's water system is supplied by a network of 18 wells ranging from 600 to deep and serves 14,874 water connections. The water is not chlorinated or otherwise treated.
According to the Consumer Confidence Report issued by the city in 2009, the water contains naturally-occurring
arsenicArsenic is the chemical element that has the symbol As, atomic number 33 and atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250. Arsenic is a notoriously poisonous metalloid with many allotropic forms, including a yellow and several black and grey forms...
in excess of the maximum contaminant level adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The federal standard is 10 micrograms of arsenic per liter of water. In a public notice issued to residents on June 8, 2009, the city reported that five wells sampled in June 2009 had arsenic levels ranging from 19.0 to 73 micrograms per liter. The notice stated that the city's water system should be in full compliance with all drinking water standards within approximately 6 months.
Although it does not pose a health hazard, Hanford's drinking water also contains
hydrogen sulfideHydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula H
2S. This colorless, toxic and flammable gas is partially responsible for the foul odor of rotten eggs and flatulence....
, which causes the water to have a noticeable "rotten egg" odor.
Wastewater
The city's sanitary sewer system consists of of collector lines and 21 pump stations.
The wastewater treatment plant is located in the southern part of the city on Houston Avenue and treats 5 million gallons of sewage per day. The treated effluent is used to irrigate non-food crops.
Electricity and gas
Southern California EdisonSouthern California Edison , the largest subsidiary of Edison International , is the primary electricity supply company for much of Southern California. It provides 11 million people with electricity...
provides electricity to most of Hanford. However, the industrial park area in the southernmost part of the city is served by the
Pacific Gas and Electric CompanyThe Pacific Gas and Electric Company , is the utility that provides natural gas and electricity to most of the northern two-thirds of California, from the Oregon border to Bakersfield. It is a subsidiary of the PG&E Corporation...
.
Natural gas is supplied by the Southern California Gas Company.
Telephone and cable television
Telephone service is provided by
AT&TAT&T Inc. is the largest provider of local, long distance telephone services in the United States, and also serves digital subscriber line Internet access. AT&T is the second largest provider of wireless service in the United States, with over 77 million wireless customers, and more than 150...
.
ComcastComcast Corporation , founded in 1963, is the largest cable operator in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers. Comcast is headquartered in the One Comcast Center in Center City, Philadelphia,...
has the cable TV franchise for Hanford.
Government
Hanford is incorporated as a general law city under the
California ConstitutionThe Constitution of the State of California is the document that establishes and describes the duties, powers, structure and function of the government of the U.S. state of California. The original constitution, adopted in November 1849 in advance of California attaining U.S. statehood in 1850, was...
. The city has a council-manager government with a
city managerA city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Called the chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
appointed by the
city councilA city council is the legislative body that governs a city, municipality or local government area.-Australia:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council may vary slightly...
.
The city council is made up of five members elected by districts for four-year terms. There are no term limits in effect. The mayor and vice mayor are elected annually by the city council from among its members. On December 2, 2008, the city council elected David G. Ayers to a one-year term as mayor and elected Dan Chin to serve as vice mayor. Other council members include Joaquin D. Gonzalez, Dave Thomas and Sue Sorensen.
Hanford's city manager is the chief administrative officer of the city and is responsible for the overall administrative direction of the city. The city manager's duties include development and implementation of the annual budget for approval by the city council. Gary Misenheimer was appointed as city manager in 2007.
In the
state legislatureThe California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Hanford is located in the 16th
SenateThe California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by
DemocratThe Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. It is the oldest political party in continuous operation in the United States and it is one of the oldest parties in the world. In the U.S...
Dean FlorezDean Raymond Florez is a California State Senator. He has represented the 16th District since 2002. He was reelected to a second term on November 7 2006. Florez was born and raised in the Central Valley. He was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1998 and served two terms...
, and in the 30th
AssemblyThe California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by
RepublicanThe Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the Grand Old Party or the GOP, despite being the younger of the two major parties. In the U.S...
Danny GilmoreDanny Gilmore is a Republican Assemblymember from California's 30th State Assembly district. In the November 2008 election, Gilmore won an upset victory over Shafter Mayor Fran Florez, the mother of State Senator and former 30th District Assemblyman Dean Florez.-Education:Gilmore is a graduate of...
. Federally, Hanford is located in
California's 20th congressional districtCalifornia's 20th congressional district covers parts of Fresno and Kern and all of Kings county. It is one of 53 California Congressional Districts. The current Representative for this district is Democrat Jim Costa...
, which has a
Cook PVIThe Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of D +5 and is represented by Democrat
Jim CostaJames Manuel Costa is a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of California. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in November 2004 to represent . The district takes in large and predominantly Latino portions of Fresno and Bakersfield in the Central Valley.Born in...
.
Education
Hanford has 15 Elementary schools,three junior high schools,3 high schools with a total of 8,464 k-8 students and 3,522 high school age children .The United States Census of 2000 reported that 74.5% of Hanford residents aged 25 and over were high school graduates and 14.4% had bachelor's degrees or higher. . In addtion a brand new Elementary school and community college are under construction and are planned to be add to serve Hanford future growth of students.
The Hanford Elementary School District provides Kindergarten through eighth grade education for most of the city. It operates the following elementary and junior high schools:
- Hamilton Elementary
- Jefferson Elementary (closed since 2007 for refurbishment)
- Lee Richmond Elementary
- Lincoln Elementary
- Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
- James Monroe Elementary
- Roosevelt Elementary
- Simas Elementary
- George Washington Elementary
- John F. Kennedy Jr. High
- Woodrow Wilson Jr. High
The Pioneer Union Elementary School District serves much of the northern part of Hanford and operates Pioneer Elementary, Frontier Elementary and Pioneer Middle Schools.
A portion of north Hanford is served by the Kings River-Hardwick School District. A small area in southwest Hanford is served by the
Armona Union Elementary School DistrictArmona Union Elementary School District is a school district which serves Armona, California and outlying rural areas as well as a portion of southwest Hanford...
, which operates Armona Elementary and Parkview Middle schools in the nearby community of
ArmonaArmona is a census-designated place in Kings County, California, United States. Armona is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 239 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,239 at the 2000 census...
.
The
Hanford Joint Union High School DistrictThe Hanford Joint Union High School District in Hanford consists of a total of 3,522 students from three comprehensive high schools - Hanford High School and Hanford West High School along with Earl F. Johnson Continuation School, and Hanford Adult School...
provides public secondary education. It operates Hanford High School and Hanford West High School as well as Earl F. Johnson High School, which is a
continuation high schoolA continuation high school is an alternative to a comprehensive high school primarily for students who are considered at-risk of not graduating at the normal pace. The requirements to graduate are the same but the scheduling is more flexible to allow students to earn their credits at a quicker...
. The District also operates the Hanford Adult School. A new state of art comprehensive full-service high school, called Sierra Pacific High School opened in August 13,2009 with 219 freshman students with the frist class set to grauate in 2013 .Sierra Pacific will be part of new Hanford Joint Educational Center, which is a joint use project of the Hanford Joint Union High School District, the
College of the SequoiasCollege of the Sequoias is a public two-year community college located in Visalia in Tulare County, in California's San Joaquin Valley. The current enrollment of COS is 13,000 students, and the college offers a variety of transfer, vocational, and community-based classes, including the fire/police...
and the City of Hanford. The Hanford Joint Educational Center is located on 13th Avenue 1/4 of a mile north of Lacey Blvd.
The College of Sequoias is a
community collegeA community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-United States:In the United States, community colleges, sometimes called junior colleges, technical colleges, or city colleges, are primarily two-year public institutions providing...
based in
Visalia, CaliforniaVisalia is a Central California city situated in the heart of California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, approximately southeast of San Francisco and north of Los Angeles. As of 2007, the city is estimated to have a population of 121,792 people and a metropolitan area of 429,006...
that currently operates a satellite campus in Hanford. A permanent education center in Hanford is planned as part of the Joint Educational Center.
Chapman UniversityChapman University is a private, nonprofit university located in the city of Orange in Orange County, California, USA.- History and background :...
has a Hanford campus for adult students.
Private elementary schools in Hanford include Hanford Christian School, St. Rose-McCarthy School, and Western Christian School.
The Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture
The Clark Center features The Ruth & Sherman Lee Institute, the mission of which is to collect, preserve and exhibit works of fine art, primarily the arts of Japan. The Center, a complex of buildings in a style informed by Japanese architecture, also houses a specialist library for Japanese art and culture.
Hanford Carnegie Museum
The
Hanford Carnegie MuseumThe Hanford Carnegie Library, now the Hanford Carnegie Museum, was built in 1905 as one of the many Carnegie libraries that were funded by the steel industry magnate, Andrew Carnegie. The library was replaced by a new structure at a different location in 1968. The old library was subsequently...
was built in 1905 as one of the many Carnegie libraries that were funded by the steel industry magnate,
Andrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie was a Scottish industrialist, businessman, entrepreneur, and a major philanthropist....
. The library was replaced by a new structure at a different location in 1968. The old library was subsequently renovated and re-opened as the Hanford Carnegie Museum in 1974. The building is of
RomanesqueRomanesque Revival is a style of building employed in the late 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque style of architecture. Popular features of these revival buildings are round arches, semi-circular arches on windows, and belt courses...
architecture with displays of furniture and photos describing the history of the Hanford area.
Kings District Fair
The Kings District Fair is a traditional county fair held on four days in mid-July at the Kings Fairgrounds.
Renaissance of Kings Cultural Arts Faire
The Renaissance of Kings Cultural Arts Faire is held the first weekend of October at Courthouse Square in Hanford's city center. The Faire recreates the period of time during the rule of King Henry VIII of England. There is no admission charge and the event typically attracts 15,000 people over the two-day period.
Kings Art Center
The Kings Art Center was opened in 1989 to be the premier visual arts gallery and art training center of Kings County. Gallery shows are changed approximately every four weeks. Typical shows include photography, pottery, water color, mixed media, prints, textiles and fibers. Art classes for adults and children are scheduled throughout the year.
Hanford in literature
William SaroyanWilliam Saroyan was an Armenian-American dramatist and author. The setting of many of his stories and plays is the center of Armenian-American life in California in his native Fresno.-Early years:...
's short story, "The Journey to Hanford" that appeared in
My Name Is AramMy Name is Aram is a book of short stories by William Saroyan first published in 1940. The stories detail the exploits of Aram Garoghlanian, a boy of Armenian descent growing up in Fresno, California, and the various members of his large family....
is a comic account of two characters from
FresnoFresno is a city in California, USA, the county seat of Fresno County. As of February 27, 2009, the population was estimated at 500,017, making it the fifth largest city in California and the 36th largest in the nation...
— a boy and his wastrel uncle — who share a single bicycle as they travel the approximately thirty-mile route between Fresno and Hanford, taking along a sack of rice to feed them through what turns out to be a largely pointless summer.
Hanford's Chinese community
Chinese immigrants arrived in the late 19th century to build railroads and work on farms. They created a thriving
ChinatownA Chinatown is a section of an urban area with a large number of Chinese residents, usually outside of Greater China. Chinatowns are present throughout the world, including those in East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe....
in Hanford in the neighborhood around China Alley. China Alley was the site of the famous but now closed
Imperial Dynasty restaurantThe Imperial Dynasty restaurant was a five-star restaurant in Hanford, California. The restaurant was founded in 1883 in Hanford's Chinatown, and was run by the same family for four generations....
. Hanford's Taoist Temple (
National Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
#72000226) built in 1893 is also located there. A Moon Festival is held in China Alley in early October.
Hanford's Black community
While the black community has long played an important role in the city, the City of Hanford only began to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 15, 2007 after a long battle led by the local branch of the NAACP. The City Council then recognized the day as an official holiday with a resolution honoring Dr. King, read by then Mayor Joaquin Gonzales. The most prominent African-Americans living in the community include Chris Jordan, almost 30-year veteran City of Hanford Police Captain, then elected in 2006 as the first African-American Sheriff of Kings County. The late civil rights activist, Wanda Williams-Hinton, turned the
Black History MonthBlack History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in February and the United Kingdom in the month of October....
celebration into an annual citywide tradition.
Sister city
Setana, Hokkaidois a town located in Kudō District, Hiyama, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of December 2008, the town has an estimated population of 10,190 and a density of 15.96 persons per km²...
, Japan
Hanford is a sister city with Setana, a small town on
Hokkaido, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island and the largest, northernmost of its 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshū, although the two islands are connected by the underwater Seikan Tunnel...
,
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The program is known for promoting international friendship. Both cities send a delegate group of both prominent city citizens and high school students. For the city of Hanford, high school students are selected from both high schools through an application and interview process for delegate spots. The Setana high school provides a student delegate position for their entire upper class. Hanford delegates travel to Setana, Japan in the summer. Setana delegates travel to Hanford in the winter.
Sites of interest
- The Hanford Fox Theatre
Fox Theatres was a large chain of movie theaters in the United States dating from the 1920s either built by Fox Film Corporation studio owner William Fox, or subsequently merged in 1929 by Fox with the West Coast Theatres chain, to form the Fox West Coast Theatres chain.-Architectural styles:Many...
was constructed in 1929 and is located on Irwin Street in Hanford's city center. It is regularly used for live concerts. Featured artists in 2006 and 2007 included the Charlie Daniels Band, Dwight YoakamDwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter and actor, most famous for his country music. Active since the early 1980s, he has recorded more than twenty albums and compilations, and has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.-Early life:Yoakam was born...
, Kathy GriffinKathleen Mary "Kathy" Griffin is an American actress, stand-up comedian, media personality, and LGBT rights advocate. A self-proclaimed "D-list celebrity", Griffin first gained recognition for appearances on two episodes of Seinfeld, and then for her supporting role on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan...
and George JonesGeorge Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
. In the past, the Hanford Fox Theater hosted benefit performances by Bob HopeBob Hope, KBE, KCSG was an American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO tours entertaining American military personnel...
, Red SkeltonRed Skelton , born Richard Bernard Skelton, was an American comedian who was best known as a top radio and television star from 1937 to 1971...
and John DenverJohn Denver was an American country music/folk singer-songwriter and folk rock musician. He was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the 1970s in terms of record sales, recording and releasing around 300 songs, of which about 200 were composed by him. He was named Poet Laureate of Colorado...
.
- The Kings County Courthouse
The Kings County Courthouse was erected after Kings County was formed; it opened in 1896. Constructed in an eclectic mix of styles in a park in the center of Hanford, it was expanded in 1914...
was erected after Kings County was formed; it opened in 1896. Constructed in an eclectic mix of styles in a park in the center of Hanford, it was expanded in 1914. The building served as the county's courthouse until 1976 when it was replaced by the new Kings County Government Center on West Lacey Boulevard. The old courthouse was remodeled in the early 1980s and now houses offices, small shops and restaurants.
- The building now known as The Bastille just north of the old courthouse was the Kings County Jail from 1898 until 1964. Constructed in Romanesque style, it is notable for its crenellated octagonal tower. It currently finds use as a restaurant and nightclub.
- Superior Dairy is a classic 1920s ice cream parlor that is well-known in the Hanford area. The business makes all of its ice cream on-site. Superior Dairy is across the street from the Civic Auditorium and The Bastille.
- Fort Roosevelt
Fort Roosevelt was located at Roosevelt Elementary School in Hanford, California. It was a one-acre fort surrounded by almost 1000 telephone poles in the style of a fort from the Old West. World-class outdoor education was delivered there and Fort Roosevelt became a nationally-recognized model for...
was a well-known environmental educationEnvironmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
and wildlife rehabilitationWildlife rehabilitation is the process of removing from the wild and caring for injured, orphaned, or sick wild animals. The goal of wildlife rehabilitation is to provide the food, housing and medical care of these animals, returning them to the wild after treatment.-Process:Rehabilitation begins...
center located at the Roosevelt Elementary School until it was closed and demolished in 2005.
Media in Hanford
Media that covers Hanford:
Hanfordtube.com online newpaper for Hanford
Hanford Sentinel newspaper is Hanford local newspaper.
Fresno Bee
Sports
Hanford is the site of the Sentinel Criterium bicycle races held on a Sunday in late March. The hourglass style loop course is run on downtown streets. The Criterium is held under
USA CyclingUSA Cycling or USAC, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the national governing body for bicycle racing in the United States. It covers the disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, BMX and collegiate racing....
racing rules and permit.
Dirt track
auto racingAutomobile racing is a motorsport involving racing cars. It is one of the world's most watched television sports.- The beginning of racing:...
takes place at the Kings Speedway from March through October. The track is a 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval and is located at the Kings Fairgrounds.
Notable residents
- Ryan Bowen
Ryan Cleo Bowen is an American professional basketball player in the NBA who is currently on the roster of the Oklahoma City Thunder...
is a former baseball player for the Houston AstrosThe Houston Astros is a major league baseball team located in Houston, Texas. The Astros are a member of the Central Division. From 2000 to the present, the Astros have played their home games at Minute Maid Park . The Astros joined MLB under the name Colt .45s along with the New York Mets in...
and Florida MarlinsThe Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
who was born, lived, and attended high school in Hanford.
- Ken Caminiti
Kenneth Gene Caminiti was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball and the 1996 National League Most Valuable Player. He was born in Hanford, California, and attended San Jose State University...
is a former baseball player and National League MVP who was born in Hanford.
- Tyson Chandler
Tyson Cleotis Chandler is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA. He is also a member of the United States men's national basketball team. Standing 7'1", he plays at the center position.-High school:Chandler attended Dominguez High School in Compton...
is an NBA basketball player who was born in Hanford.
- Calvin M. Dooley graduated from Hanford Union High School in 1972 and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 2005.
- Dameane Douglas
Dameane Douglas is a former American football wide receiver the National Football League. Drafted by th Oakland Raiders in the 1999 NFL Draft, Douglas played 4 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles...
was a wide receiver in the National Football League who was born in Hanford.
- Harlan F. Hagen lived in Hanford and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1953 to 1967.
- Jermaine Haley
Jermaine Leroy Haley is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Butte College. Prior to attending Butte, Haley went north to play in the Canadian Junior Football League, where he...
is a football player who was born in Hanford.
- Bill Landis
William Henry Landis is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1963 through 1969 for the Kansas City Athletics and Boston Red Sox...
was a baseball player born, raised in, and still lives in Hanford. He played on the 1967 American League Champion Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
.
- Mark Lee was a cornerback in the National Football League who was born in Hanford.
- Louis Bert Lindley, Jr., better known as Slim Pickens
Louis Burton Lindley, Jr. , better known by the stage name Slim Pickens, was an American rodeo performer and film and television actor who epitomized the profane, tough, sardonic cowboy, but who is best remembered for his comic roles, notably in Dr...
, is a rodeo cowboy and actor who grew up in Hanford.
- Pauline Lord
Pauline Lord American actress was born in Hanford, California to Edward Lord and Sara Foster. When the family moved to San Francisco she attended Holy Rosary Academy where she discovered her vocation from participating in a school play.-Acting career:She studied acting at the Alcazar Theatre in...
, actress, was born in Hanford.
- Lorenzo Neal
Lorenzo LaVonne Neal is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft...
a 3 time pro bowl full back in the NFL was born in Hanford.
- Scott Parker, one of the few Californian-born hockey players to play in the NHL.
- Sean R. Parnell, the current Governor of Alaska, was born in Hanford. He succeeded former Governor Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician who served as Governor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009 and was the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States in 2008....
on July 26, 2009 following her resignation.
- Steve Perry
Steve Perry is an American singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Journey from 1978–1987 and 1995–1998. Perry had a successful, but short lived solo career throughout the late eighties and early nineties. He released Street Talk in 1984 which went to #12 on the...
is a rock singer with the band JourneyJourney is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco, California with former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases, but its strongest commercial success came in the late 1970s to the early 1980s...
who was born in Hanford.
- James Rainwater
Leo James Rainwater was an American physicist who shared the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1975 for his part in determining the asymmetrical shapes of certain atomic nuclei.-Biography:...
, physicist and co-winner of the 1975 Nobel PrizeThe Nobel Prize is a Sweden-based international monetary prize. The award was established by the 1895 will and estate of Swedish chemist and inventor Alfred Nobel. It was first awarded in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace in 1901...
in Physics, lived in Hanford as a child and graduated from Hanford High SchoolThe Hanford Joint Union High School District in Hanford consists of a total of 3,522 students from three comprehensive high schools - Hanford High School and Hanford West High School along with Earl F. Johnson Continuation School, and Hanford Adult School...
.
- Matt Shively
Matthew James Shively, Jr. is an American teen actor best known for his role as Ryan on the Nickelodeon television series True Jackson, VP.Shively was born in Hanford, California...
, actor on True Jackson, VPTrue Jackson, VP is an American television series aimed at teenagers, which premiered on December 5,2008 and is currently aired on Nickelodeon. The theme song is written by Toby Gad and Keke Palmer and performed by Keke Palmer. The show premiered following the iCarly TV movie iGo to Japan...
, was born and grew up in Hanford.
- Jan-Michael Vincent
Jan-Michael Vincent is an American actor best-known for his role as helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke on the 1980s U.S. television series Airwolf , which continues to enjoy a large cult fanbase...
, actor, moved to Hanford with his family as a teenager, and graduated from Hanford High SchoolThe Hanford Joint Union High School District in Hanford consists of a total of 3,522 students from three comprehensive high schools - Hanford High School and Hanford West High School along with Earl F. Johnson Continuation School, and Hanford Adult School...
.
- Cornelius Warmerdam
Cornelius Warmerdam was a long time pole vault world record holder and is considered to be among the all time greatest vaulters....
, long time pole vault world record holder, grew up in Hanford.
- Darrell Winfield
Darrell Winfield was a model who was best known as the Marlboro man in television commercials and magazine advertisements for Marlboro.He was born in Hanford, California....
is an actor who played the Marlboro manThe Marlboro Man is a figure used in tobacco advertising campaign for Marlboro cigarettes. In the United States, where the campaign originated, it was used from 1954 to 1999. The Marlboro Man was first conceived by Leo Burnett in 1954. The image involves a rugged cowboy or cowboys, in nature with...
and was born in Hanford.
- Richard Wing, famous restaurateur, built the Imperial Dynasty restaurant
The Imperial Dynasty restaurant was a five-star restaurant in Hanford, California. The restaurant was founded in 1883 in Hanford's Chinatown, and was run by the same family for four generations....
in Hanford with his family. The Wings have four generations in Hanford.
- Delbert Wong (1920-2006), first judge of Chinese-American descent in the continental United States, was born in Hanford.
External links