Firebaugh, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Firebaugh, California
settlement_type = City


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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in Fresno County and the state of California


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_name2 = Fresno
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Craig Knight
leader_title1 = Mayor Pro Tem
leader_name1 = Javier Marquez
leader_title2 = Senate
leader_name2 = Dean Florez (D)
leader_title3 = Assembly
leader_name3 = Juan Arambula (D)
leader_title4 = U. S. Congress
leader_name4 = Jim Costa (D)
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 7.5
area_total_sq_mi = 2.9
area_land_km2 = 7.3
area_land_sq_mi = 2.8
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
elevation_ft = 151
elevation_m = 46
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 5743
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 765.7
population_density_sq_mi = 1980.3
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
latd = 36 |latm = 51 |lats = 22 |latNS = N
longd = 120 |longm = 27 |longs = 14 |longEW = W
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 93622
area_code = 559
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-24134
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0277514
footnotes =
website = http://www.ci.firebaugh.ca.us, West Side Subdivision, passes through downtown.

Outside of town, the area is almost entirely agricultural land in all directions. Most fields of irrigated row crops along SR33 are feed crops such as alfalfa.

History

The town is named for Andrew T. Firebaugh, an area entrepreneur. [Myer, Chuck, report: "Pacheco Past: A History of the Gateway to Santa Clara County", (San Jose, California: Pioneers of Santa Clara County, 1992), page 3.] During the Gold Rush, Firebaugh's most famous local enterprise was a ferry boat. It shuttled people across the San Joaquin River. He also built a toll road from Bell Station to Pacheco Pass. The toll road went along a route parallel to present-day State Route 152.

In the 1880s, the area of Firebaugh was once part of the massive holdings of the Miller and Lux Company. The company had a large sheep operation covering what today is Dos Palos to Mendota.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.75%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,743 people, 1,418 households, and 1,246 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,030.6 people per square mile (783.5/km²). There were 1,581 housing units at an average density of 559.0/sq mi (215.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 43.60% White, 1.15% Black or African American, 1.36% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 48.51% from other races, and 4.49% from two or more races. 87.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,418 households out of which 59.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.1% were non-families. 9.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.01 and the average family size was 4.28.

In the city the population was spread out with 39.3% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 108.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,533, and the median income for a family was $33,018. Males had a median income of $24,213 versus $17,829 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,290. About 20.0% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 24.3% of those age 65 or over.

In popular culture

On their 1985 album "Wönderful", the Circle Jerks, an influential Los Angeles-based punk band, recorded a song entitled "Firebaugh". The song's lyrics portray a dystopian vision of racial tension, violence, alcoholism, and boredom. Listeners are warned, "If your car breaks down,don't take a tow to Firebaugh..." [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:98qpg4httvnz "Wonderfull" discography] ]

Wells Fargo Bank, one of the major banks in California, periodically runs television commercials set in late 19th-century California and featuring their trademark stage coach. "Firebaugh's Ferry" is sometimes listed as a stage coach stop.

External links

* [http://www.ci.firebaugh.ca.us/ City of Firebaugh web site]