# Alpaugh, California

Alpaugh is a census-designated place (CDP) in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was 1,026 at the 2010 census, up from 761 at the 2000 census.
It is named for John Alpaugh, one of the officers of the Home Extension Colony which reclaimed (or land speculated on) the land the town is built on.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km$^2$), all of it land.
The site is located on the historic shoreline of Tulare Lake, once the largest freshwater lake in the USA outside of the Great lakes. Other towns built on its historic shores include Lemoore and Kettleman City.
Despite being on the edge of the ancient Tulare lakebed, the town is without access to safe drinking water, as high levels of arsenic are found in the municipal water supply. Locals are forced to drink, cook and bathe using bottled water or expose themselves to this hazard.

## History

Alpaugh's location (once also called Hog Island, Root Island, and Atwell's Island) was once either on an island or a narrow peninsula near the south end of the huge and rich Tulare Lake. A.J. Atwell was a Visalia attorney (and newspaper owner) who raised hogs on the island. The lake at different times supported a very large Native American population, a commercial fishery, herds of tule elk, countless game birds, and much more. The island was a regular port of call for the lake's commercial ferry service. The last time the lake was brim full and overflowed into the San Joaquin River to the sea was 1878. Water diversions of its source waters have since caused the lake to shrink into the tiny remnant of today. Local efforts have been undertaken to increase the lake's size for water storage and wildlife.
Los Angeles real estate developers, the California Home Extension Association, promoted, developed or founded Alpaugh, nearby Wasco, and several other California towns. It has also been referred to as "W.H. Wilber's Second Home Extension Coloney that purchased eight-thousand acres of land surrounding Alpaugh." Los Angeles newspaper articles of the time explained that they were not the original landowners. "The California Home Extension association does not represent land owners; it has no lands of its own for sale."
In 1920 and 1921 both oil and large gas fields were found near Alpaugh.

## Demographics
### 2010

At the 2010 census Alpaugh had a population of 1,026. The population density was 1,020.8 inhabitants per square mile (394.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of Alpaugh was 381 (37.1%) White, 4 (0.4%) African American, 11 (1.1%) Native American, 4 (0.4%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 597 (58.2%) from other races, and 29 (2.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 867 people (84.5%).
The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.
There were 226 households, 142 (62.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 123 (54.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 45 (19.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 26 (11.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 32 (14.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 2 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 21 households (9.3%) were one person and 11 (4.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 4.54. There were 194 families (85.8% of households); the average family size was 4.83.
The age distribution was 434 people (42.3%) under the age of 18, 130 people (12.7%) aged 18 to 24, 244 people (23.8%) aged 25 to 44, 156 people (15.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 62 people (6.0%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 21.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.3 males.
There were 243 housing units at an average density of 241.8 per square mile, of the occupied units 120 (53.1%) were owner-occupied and 106 (46.9%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 0.9%. 522 people (50.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 504 people (49.1%) lived in rental housing units.

### 2000

At the 2000 census there were 761 people in 223 households, including 167 families, in the CDP. The population density was 768.2 inhabitants per square mile (296.6/km$^2$). There were 255 housing units at an average density of 257.4 per square mile (99.4/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 47.17% White, 0.26% African American, 2.50% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 43.10% from other races, and 5.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 54.14%.
Of the 223 households 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 21.5% of households were one person and 7.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.41 and the average family size was 3.89.
The age distribution was 37.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% 65 or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median household income was $23,688 and the median family income was $23,854. Males had a median income of $21,250 versus $16,875 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $8,162. About 28.0% of families and 37.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.4% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

In the California State Legislature, Alpaugh is in the 14th Senate District, represented by Democrat Anna Caballero, and in the 33rd Assembly District, represented by Republican Alexandra Macedo.
In the United States House of Representatives, Alpaugh is in California's 21st congressional district, represented by Democrat Jim Costa.

## Railroads

Alpaugh is served by the West Isle Line, a private carrier railroad owned by Western Farm Services. Since 1998 the West Isle Line has operated over the 6-mile (9.7 km) "Alpaugh Branch" of the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The West Isle Line runs east from Alpaugh to a connection with the BNSF Railway at "Stoil". The "Alpaugh Branch" was constructed in 1914.