Wasco, California

History

The name Dewey was in honor of Admiral George Dewey, a hero of the Spanish–American War. The Deweyville post office opened in 1899, and changed its name to Wasco in 1907.

The origin of the name Wasco is subject of two different theories: (1) That it was coined from Western American Sugar Company; and (2) that it was named by a resident from Wasco County, Oregon.

Wasco is the site of the Fourth Home Extension Colony, founded in 1907 by the American Home Extension Association.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.4 sqmi, all of it land. At the 2000 census, according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 7.6 sqmi, all of it land. Wasco is located on the floor of the San Joaquin Valley, at the intersection of California State Routes 43, which runs north–south, and 46, which runs east–west.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Wasco has a semi-arid climate (BSh, bordering on BSk) with extremely hot, dry summers and mild to cool winters. The average annual mean temperature is 64.1 F.

|Jan record high F = 81 |Feb record high F = 86 |Mar record high F = 100 |Apr record high F = 102 |May record high F = 109 |Jun record high F = 113 |Jul record high F = 116 |Aug record high F = 115 |Sep record high F = 113 |Oct record high F = 110 |Nov record high F = 92 |Dec record high F = 85 |year record high F = 116 |Jan avg record high F = 70.6 |Feb avg record high F = 76.0 |Mar avg record high F = 83.4 |Apr avg record high F = 92.2 |May avg record high F = 100.1 |Jun avg record high F = 106.3 |Jul avg record high F = 107.6 |Aug avg record high F = 107.3 |Sep avg record high F = 104.1 |Oct avg record high F = 94.8 |Nov avg record high F = 80.1 |Dec avg record high F = 70.9 |year avg record high F = 109.5 |Jan avg record low F = 28.2 |Feb avg record low F = 30.7 |Mar avg record low F = 35.2 |Apr avg record low F = 38.9 |May avg record low F = 45.6 |Jun avg record low F = 50.7 |Jul avg record low F = 58.7 |Aug avg record low F = 57.3 |Sep avg record low F = 52.1 |Oct avg record low F = 40.7 |Nov avg record low F = 31.3 |Dec avg record low F = 26.9 |year avg record low F = 25.3 |Jan record low F = 12 |Feb record low F = 18 |Mar record low F = 20 |Apr record low F = 21 |May record low F = 33 |Jun record low F = 32 |Jul record low F = 46 |Aug record low F = 40 |Sep record low F = 33 |Oct record low F = 25 |Nov record low F = 17 |Dec record low F = 13 |year record low F = 12 |access-date = May 27, 2023

Demographics

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Wasco had a population of 27,047. The population density was 2,881.3 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Wasco was 20.2% White, 5.6% African American, 2.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 54.9% from other races, and 16.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 84.7% of the population.

The census reported that 83.8% of the population lived in households, 0.1% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 16.1% were institutionalized.

There were 6,109 households, out of which 57.5% included children under the age of 18, 52.1% were married-couple households, 8.7% were cohabiting couple households, 25.2% had a female householder with no partner present, and 14.0% had a male householder with no partner present. 11.7% of households were one person, and 4.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.71.

The age distribution was 28.3% under the age of 18, 12.2% aged 18 to 24, 33.7% aged 25 to 44, 18.5% aged 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 29.5years. For every 100 females, there were 135.9 males.

There were 6,366 housing units at an average density of 678.2 /mi2, of which 6,109 (96.0%) were occupied. Of these, 55.2% were owner-occupied, and 44.8% were occupied by renters.

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $55,521, and the per capita income was $17,760. About 19.4% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line.

2010

At the 2010 census Wasco had a population of 25,545. The population density was 2,710.1 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Wasco was 12,579 (49.2%) White, 1,951 (7.6%) African American, 283 (1.1%) Native American, 180 (0.7%) Asian, 12 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 9,714 (38.0%) from other races, and 826 (3.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19,585 persons (76.7%).

The census reported that 19,825 people (77.6% of the population) lived in households, 10 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 5,710 (22.4%) were institutionalized.

There were 5,131 households, 3,143 (61.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,894 (56.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 992 (19.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 484 (9.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 478 (9.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 27 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 575 households (11.2%) were one person and 243 (4.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.86. There were 4,370 families (85.2% of households); the average family size was 4.11.

The age distribution was 7,351 people (28.8%) under the age of 18, 3,687 people (14.4%) aged 18 to 24, 8,621 people (33.7%) aged 25 to 44, 4,593 people (18.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,293 people (5.1%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 28.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 160.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 192.5 males.

There were 5,477 housing units at an average density of 581.1 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,680 (52.2%) were owner-occupied and 2,451 (47.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.0%. 10,486 people (41.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 9,339 people (36.6%) lived in rental housing units.

People in group quarters

Source:

• 7,975 people in Wasco State Prison
• 1,226 people in other types of correctional institutions
• 10 people in homes for the mentally ill
• 8 people in other non-institutional group quarters

Economy

One of Wasco's major economic activities is agriculture, specifically the growing of rose bushes. In 2007 fifty-five percent of all roses grown in the United States were grown in or around Wasco. Two of Wasco's major nurseries closed in 2010, and by 2011 Wasco was producing only approximately forty percent of US-grown roses.

Oil and gas extraction is a significant part of the local economy. The Wasco Oil Field was discovered in April 1938, by Continental Oil Company. The large Semitropic Oil Field is along State Route 46 about 7 mile west of town. Formerly a gas field, the region now mainly produces oil. Vintage Production, an arm of Occidental Petroleum, is the primary operator as of 2010.

Sports

The Wasco Reserve (called the Reserves in their 2019 debut season) were a professional baseball team competing in the independent Pecos League which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. Their home games through the 2021 season were played at Wasco Athletic Park, sharing Bakersfield's Sam Lynn Ballpark for their 2022 final season.

Transportation

The Amtrak service, the Gold Runner, stops at the Wasco station, which has one platform next to the single track; the station building was demolished in 2021. Being on the route of the high speed rail project without a stop, Wasco city officials have expressed concerns that the Amtrak service might be discontinued. , no decision has been announced. The construction has impacted the city and the costs for asbestos removal are in dispute in a labor housing complex that had to be abandoned and demolished. While paid relocation costs, the city can’t afford to demolish the camp and wants the rail authority to pay. Chief Executive Brian Kelly came to the city to discuss the issue in 2021.

Notable people

• Pablo Garza, American mixed martial artist
• Suzanne Lacy, artist, educator and activist
• Aaron Merz, former American football offensive lineman
• Jim Napier, former minor league baseball catcher and manager
• Manuel Quezada, professional boxer
• Carl Smith, American football coach

In popular culture

The town is featured in Episode 133 of California's Gold with Huell Howser, filmed in 2007.

In the movie "Son in Law" featuring comedian Pauly Shore, the opening credit flyover shots and the opening graduation scene, were filmed in Wasco, CA and at the Wasco High School football stadium respectively.

Gallery

File:Wasco,_California,_train_station.jpg|Amtrak station, January 2014 File:2010-1227-WascoCityHall.jpg|City Hall, December 2010 File:2010-1227-WascoUHSAud.jpg|The Wasco Union High School Auditorium is on the National Register of Historic Places.

References

References

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6. is a city in the [[San Joaquin Valley]], in [[Kern County, California]], United States. Wasco is located {{convert. 24. mi. km. 0 northwest of [[Bakersfield, California
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22. "Wasco Reserves will now be known as Wasco Reserve effectively immediately".
23. (May 10, 2022). "Reserve will play this year, but not in Wasco". Wasco Tribune.
24. (August 13, 2020). "City of Wasco speaks out against High Speed Rail Authority". The Bakersfield Californian.
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