Mendota, California
Mendota is a city of 12,577 people in Fresno County, California, founded in June 17, 1942.
Why visit Mendota
Townapedia lists 6 parks and trails and 3 places to eat in and around town.
Highlights include Jess Gill Park and Rojas Pierce Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 98°F; December lows average 38°F.
Weather in Mendota
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Mendota
Mendota is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 12,595 at the 2020 U.S. Census. State Routes 180 and 33 run through the agricultural city. Mendota is located 8.5 miles (14 km) south-southeast of Firebaugh.
From the Wikipedia article Mendota, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Parks, trails and playgrounds6
Mendota Pool Park
Park · 1.6 mi
Mendota Pool Park, Great for swimming, fishing, playgrounds, paths
Restaurants and cafes3
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging1
History
Beginning in 1891, Mendota thrived as a Southern Pacific Railroad storage and switching facility site. Southern Pacific management borrowed the name from Mendota, Illinois. The first post office opened in 1892. The city incorporated in 1942, and is mostly recognized for its immense production of cantaloupes. Consequently, the city of Mendota is identified as The Cantaloupe Center of the World. State water projects brought irrigation to the region, setting the stage for the tremendous growth of agriculture.
In 2007 a new Mendota Branch Library opened, part of the San Joaquin Valley Library System.
The city suffers from chronic unemployment averaging 20%. In 2009 a drought combined with a recession caused unemployment to surge above 40%. The unemployment was quoted at 45% in May 2011.
In 2019, USA Today named Mendota the "worst city in America" due to poverty, violent crime rate and high unemployment. However, some residents took issue with the ranking. In response, Mayor Robert Silva noted "the unemployment of 15 percent is distorted because of the seasonal nature of agricultural work".
From the History section of Mendota, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Schools, colleges and libraries13
Map of Mendota
25 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 39°F | 2.1 in |
| Feb | 63°F | 41°F | 2.0 in |
| Mar | 68°F | 44°F | 2.0 in |
| Apr | 75°F | 46°F | 0.9 in |
| May | 84°F | 52°F | 0.5 in |
| Jun | 92°F | 58°F | 0.2 in |
| Jul | 98°F | 63°F | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 97°F | 61°F | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 92°F | 58°F | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 80°F | 50°F | 0.4 in |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 0.9 in |
| Dec | 56°F | 38°F | 1.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Madera Muni Ap (22 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Fresno County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-10-16: Wildfires (Fire)
- 2020-09-06: Creek Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Madera Municipal Airport (MAE) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 miles away.
- Firebaugh 8 mi northwest, about 12 min by car
- Kerman 18 mi east, about 28 min by car
- Biola 20 mi east, about 32 min by car
- Dos Palos 21 mi northwest, about 34 min by car
- South Dos Palos 21 mi northwest, about 34 min by car
- Madera 22 mi northeast, about 35 min by car
- Parkwood 22 mi northeast, about 35 min by car
- Madera Acres 24 mi northeast, about 39 min by car
- Parksdale 24 mi northeast, about 38 min by car
- Chowchilla 26 mi north, about 42 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
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