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Delano
cityDelano is a city in Kern County, California, situated in the San Joaquin Valley, approximately 30 miles north-northwest of Bakersfield. Founded as a railroad town in 1869, it has grown into a diverse community with a significant agricultural presence. The city's population was 51,428 in 2020, making it the second-largest city in Kern County after Bakersfield. Delano's economy is largely driven by agriculture, with major employers including Wonderful Citrus, Columbine Vineyards, and other large farming operations. Other significant employers include Adventist Health Hospital Delano, Walmart, and the Delano Joint Union High School District. The city also serves as a regional business hub for northern Kern County. Delano is historically significant for its role in the farmworker movement, particularly the Delano grape strike led by Larry Itliong and Cesar Chavez in 1965. This event led to the formation of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW) and improved working conditions for farmworkers across California.
Delano, California
Overview
- Classification
- City
- Country
- United States
- County
- Kern
Geography
- Region
- San Joaquin Valley
- Elevation
- 315 ft
- Total Area
- 14.8 sq mi
- Land Area
- 14.8 sq mi
- Water Area
- 0 sq mi
- Latitude
- 35.76889
- Longitude
- -119.24694
- Climate
- Delano has a desert climate with Mediterranean features, typical of the San Joaquin Valley. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are cool and damp. The city receives about 7.51 inches of rainfall annually, mainly in the winter. Tule fog is common in winter.
Demographics
- Population (2020)
- 51,428
- Est. Population (2026)
- 54,850
- Median Age
- 33.9
- Median Income
- $67,010
- Poverty Rate
- 15.96%
- Owner-Occupied
- 62.8%
- Racial & Ethnic Composition
- The racial makeup of Delano is diverse, with a significant Hispanic population.
Governance
- Government Type
- Mayor-Council
- Governing Body
- City Council
- Body Size
- 5 members
- School District
- Delano Union School District, Delano Joint Union High School District
- Municipal Services
- Police · Fire · Public Works · Parks & Recreation · Library
U.S. Congress
Padilla, AlexD
U.S. SenatorSchiff, Adam B.D
U.S. RepresentativeHuffman, JaredD
U.S. Representative - District 2Kiley, KevinI
U.S. Representative - District 3Thompson, MikeD
U.S. Representative - District 4McClintock, TomR
U.S. Representative - District 5Bera, AmiD
U.S. Representative - District 6Matsui, Doris O.D
U.S. Representative - District 7Garamendi, JohnD
U.S. Representative - District 8Harder, JoshD
U.S. Representative - District 9DeSaulnier, MarkD
U.S. Representative - District 10Pelosi, NancyD
U.S. Representative - District 11Simon, LateefahD
U.S. Representative - District 12Mullin, KevinD
U.S. Representative - District 15Khanna, RoD
U.S. Representative - District 17Lofgren, ZoeD
U.S. Representative - District 18Panetta, JimmyD
U.S. Representative - District 19Fong, VinceR
U.S. Representative - District 20Costa, JimD
U.S. Representative - District 21Valadao, David G.R
U.S. Representative - District 22Obernolte, JayR
U.S. Representative - District 23Carbajal, Salud O.D
U.S. Representative - District 24Ruiz, RaulD
U.S. Representative - District 25Brownley, JuliaD
U.S. Representative - District 26Whitesides, GeorgeD
U.S. Representative - District 27Chu, JudyD
U.S. Representative - District 28Rivas, Luz M.D
U.S. Representative - District 29Friedman, LauraD
U.S. Representative - District 30Cisneros, Gilbert RayD
U.S. Representative - District 31Sherman, BradD
U.S. Representative - District 32Aguilar, PeteD
U.S. Representative - District 33Gomez, JimmyD
U.S. Representative - District 34Torres, Norma J.D
U.S. Representative - District 35Lieu, TedD
U.S. Representative - District 36Kamlager-Dove, SydneyD
U.S. Representative - District 37Sánchez, Linda T.D
U.S. Representative - District 38Takano, MarkD
U.S. Representative - District 39Kim, YoungR
U.S. Representative - District 40Calvert, KenR
U.S. Representative - District 41Garcia, RobertD
U.S. Representative - District 42Waters, MaxineD
U.S. Representative - District 43Barragán, Nanette DiazD
U.S. Representative - District 44Tran, DerekD
U.S. Representative - District 45Correa, J. LuisD
U.S. Representative - District 46Min, DaveD
U.S. Representative - District 47Issa, DarrellR
U.S. Representative - District 48Levin, MikeD
U.S. Representative - District 49Peters, Scott H.D
U.S. Representative - District 50Jacobs, SaraD
U.S. Representative - District 51Vargas, JuanD
U.S. Representative - District 52Economy
- Economic Profile
- Agricultural · Commercial
- Employment Sectors
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting · Health Care & Social Assistance · Retail Trade · Logistics & Warehousing
- Major Employers
- Wonderful Citrus · Columbine Vineyards · Adventist Health Hospital Delano · Walmart · Delano Joint Union High School District
Education
- School Districts
- Delano Union School District · Delano Joint Union High School District
- Colleges & Universities
- Bakersfield College Delano Campus
Infrastructure
- Transportation
- Highway 99 · Bus services · Rail service
- Utilities
- Municipal water · Fiber/broadband
- Major Facilities
- Adventist Health Hospital Delano · Delano Municipal Airport
Recreation
- Outdoor Access
- Yes
- Major Recreation Areas
- Cecil Park · Cesar Chavez Park · Heritage Park · Lake Woollomes
- Parks & Trails
- City parks · Delano Municipal Golf Course
History
- Founded
- 1869
- Incorporated
- 1915
- Named After
- Columbus Delano, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
- Historical Significance
- Delano is significant for its role in the farmworker movement and its agricultural heritage.
- Key Events
- Founded as a railroad town by the Southern Pacific Railroad · Became a major hub for farmworker organization efforts · Delano Grape Strike in 1965, led by Larry Itliong and Cesar Chavez