# Kings County, California

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**Kings County** is a county located in the [U.S. state](/source/U.S._state) of [California](/source/California). The population was 152,486 at the [2020 census](/source/2020_United_States_census).[2] The [county seat](/source/County_seat) is [Hanford](/source/Hanford,_California).[3]

Kings County comprises the [Hanford](/source/Hanford,_California)-[Corcoran](/source/Corcoran,_California), CA [metropolitan statistical area](/source/Metropolitan_statistical_area), which is also included in the [Visalia](/source/Visalia,_California)-[Porterville](/source/Porterville,_California)-Hanford, CA [combined statistical area](/source/Combined_statistical_area). It is in the [San Joaquin Valley](/source/San_Joaquin_Valley), a rich agricultural region.

## History

The area was inhabited for thousands of years by [Native Americans](/source/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States) including the Tachi [Yokuts](/source/Yokuts) tribe.[4] They continue to live in the area on the [Santa Rosa Rancheria](/source/Santa_Rosa_Rancheria). It was colonized by Spain, Mexico and the United States.

An 1805 expedition probably led by Spanish Army Lieutenant [Gabriel Moraga](/source/Gabriel_Moraga) recorded discovering the river, which they named *El Rio de los Santos Reyes* (River of the Holy Kings) after the [Three Wise Men](/source/Three_Wise_Men) of the [Bible](/source/Bible).[5] At the time of the United States conquest of California in 1848, the new government changed the name to [Kings River](/source/Kings_River_(California)) after which the county was named.[5]

In 1880, a dispute over land titles between settlers and the [Southern Pacific Railroad](/source/Southern_Pacific_Railroad) resulted in a bloody gun battle on a farm 5.6 mi (9.0 km) northwest of Hanford; seven men died. This event became known as the [Mussel Slough Tragedy](/source/Mussel_Slough_Tragedy).

Kings County was formed in 1893 from the western part of [Tulare County](/source/Tulare_County,_California).[5] In 1909, by an act of the state legislature, 208 square miles (540 km2) of Fresno County territory was added to the northwest portion of Kings County.[6]

Settlers reclaimed [Tulare Lake](/source/Tulare_Lake) and its [wetlands](/source/Wetlands) for agricultural development. In surface area, it was formerly the largest body of freshwater west of the [Great Lakes](/source/Great_Lakes), and supported a large population of migratory birds as well as local birds and wildlife. [Monoculture](/source/Monoculture) has sharply reduced habitat for many species.

In 1928, oil was discovered in the [Kettleman Hills](/source/Kettleman_Hills) located in the southwestern part of Kings County. The [Kettleman North Dome Oil Field](/source/Kettleman_North_Dome_Oil_Field) became one of the most productive oil fields in the United States.[7]

During the [Great Depression](/source/Great_Depression), over 18,000 cotton pickers in the southern San Joaquin Valley, mostly migrant [Mexican](/source/Mexican_Americans) workers, went on strike in the [California agricultural strikes of 1933](/source/California_agricultural_strikes_of_1933). During the strike, 3,500 striking farm workers lived in a four-acre camp on the land of a small farmer on the outskirts of Corcoran. Ultimately, the federal government intervened to force both sides to negotiate a settlement.[8]

[Lemoore Army Airfield](/source/Lemoore_Army_Airfield) was established for training and defense during [World War II](/source/World_War_II). In 1961, the [U.S. Navy](/source/U.S._Navy) opened [NAS Lemoore](/source/NAS_Lemoore) 9 miles (14 km) west of [Lemoore](/source/Lemoore,_California), not far from the earlier site.

The completion of the [California Aqueduct](/source/California_Aqueduct) in the early 1970s brought needed water for agriculture and domestic use to the west side of the county.

## Historic sites

- [Kingston](/source/Kingston,_California)
- [Mussel Slough Tragedy](/source/Mussel_Slough_Tragedy)
- [El Adobe de los Robles Rancho](/source/Daniel_Rhoads) built by [Daniel Rhoads](/source/Daniel_Rhoads)
- [Vaca Adobe](/source/Vaca_Adobe)
- [Cox & Clark Trading Post and Steamboat Landing](/source/Cox_%26_Clark_Trading_Post_and_Steamboat_Landing)
- [Witt Site](/source/Witt_Site)

## Geography

According to the [U.S. Census Bureau](/source/U.S._Census_Bureau), the county has a total area of 1,392 square miles (3,610 km2), of which 1,389 square miles (3,600 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[9]

Kings County is bordered on the north and northwest by [Fresno County](/source/Fresno_County), on the east by [Tulare County](/source/Tulare_County), on the south by [Kern County](/source/Kern_County) and a small part of [San Luis Obispo County](/source/San_Luis_Obispo_County) and on the west by [Monterey County](/source/Monterey_County).

[Table Mountain](/source/Table_Mountain_(Kings_County,_California)) is the highest point in Kings County at an elevation of 3,476 feet (1,059 m). It is located in the [Diablo Range](/source/Diablo_Range) in southwestern Kings County on the boundary between Kings and Monterey counties. [Tent Hills](/source/Tent_Hills) is a ridge in Kings County.

Most of the historic [Tulare Lake](/source/Tulare_Lake) was within Kings County. Although reclaimed for farming late in the 19th century, it was the largest freshwater lake west of the Great Lakes.

## Demographics

### 2020 census

As of the [2020 census](/source/2020_United_States_census), the county had a population of 152,486. The median age was 32.9 years, with 26.6% of residents under the age of 18 and 10.6% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 118.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 124.0 males age 18 and over.[10]

The racial makeup of the county was 40.2% White, 5.9% [Black or African American](/source/African_Americans), 2.4% [American Indian and Alaska Native](/source/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States), 3.9% [Asian](/source/Asian_Americans), 0.3% [Native Hawaiian](/source/Native_Hawaiians) and [Pacific Islander](/source/Pacific_Islander), 31.5% from some other race, and 15.9% from [two or more races](/source/Multiracial_Americans). [Hispanic or Latino](/source/Hispanic_and_Latino_Americans) residents of any race comprised 56.8% of the population.[11]

89.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 10.9% lived in rural areas.[12]

There were 44,100 households in the county, of which 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]

There were 46,287 housing units, of which 4.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 54.1% were owner-occupied and 45.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.9%.[10]

### Racial and ethnic composition

Kings County, California – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[13] Pop 1990[14] Pop 2000[15] Pop 2010[16] Pop 2020[17] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020 White alone (NH) 47,211 54,426 53,817 53,879 style='background: #ffffe6; |44,361 64.03% 53.64% 41.57% 35.22% style='background: #ffffe6; |29.09% Black or African American alone (NH) 3,504 7,747 10,418 10,314 style='background: #ffffe6; |8,300 4.75% 7.63% 8.05% 6.74% style='background: #ffffe6; |5.44% Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 725 905 1,304 1,297 style='background: #ffffe6; |1,690 0.98% 0.89% 1.01% 0.85% style='background: #ffffe6; |1.11% Asian alone (NH) 2,189 3,408 3,884 5,339 style='background: #ffffe6; |5,511 2.97% 3.36% 3.00% 3.49% style='background: #ffffe6; |3.61% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [18] x [19] 192 228 style='background: #ffffe6; |331 0.15% 0.15% 0.15% 0.15% style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22% Other race alone (NH) 282 432 229 803 style='background: #ffffe6; |713 0.38% 0.43% 0.18% 0.52% style='background: #ffffe6; |0.47% Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [20] x [21] 3,156 3,256 style='background: #ffffe6; |4,973 x x 2.44% 2.13% style='background: #ffffe6; |3.26% Hispanic or Latino (any race) 19,827 34,551 56,461 77,866 style='background: #ffffe6; |86,607 26.89% 34.05% 43.61% 50.90% style='background: #ffffe6; |56.80% Total 73,738 101,469 129,461 152,982 style='background: #ffffe6; |152,486 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

### 2010 census

The [2010 United States census](/source/2010_United_States_census) reported that Kings County had a population of 152,982. The census included inmates of the three men's state prisons. According to the [California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation](/source/California_Department_of_Corrections_and_Rehabilitation), there were 18,640 inmates in Kings County prisons on March 31, 2010, which was 12.2% of the population.[22] The inmate population had been reduced to 13,894 on December 31, 2013.[22] The racial makeup of Kings County was 83,027 (54.3%) [White](/source/White_(U.S._Census)), 11,014 (7.2%) [African American](/source/African_American_(U.S._census)), 2,562 (1.7%) [Native American](/source/Native_American_(U.S._Census)), 5,620 (3.7%) [Asian](/source/Asian_(U.S._Census)), 271 (0.2%) [Pacific Islander](/source/Pacific_Islander_(U.S._Census)), 42,996 (28.1%) from [other races](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), and 7,492 (4.9%) from two or more races. [Hispanic](/source/Hispanic_(U.S._Census)) or [Latino](/source/Latino_(U.S._Census)) of any race were 77,866 persons (50.9%).[23]

The U.S. Census does not identify how many residents are undocumented immigrants. However, the [Public Policy Institute of California](/source/Public_Policy_Institute_of_California) issued a report in July 2011, which estimated there were 9,000 illegal immigrants living in Kings County in 2008, which would be 5.8% of the county's population.[24]

According to the California Board of State and Community Corrections, Kings County had the highest incarceration rate of California's 58 counties in 2014 at 1,384 per 100,000 population. Statewide, the rate was 567 per 100,000.[25]

Population reported at 2010 United States census The County Total Population White African American Native American Asian Pacific Islander other races two or more races Hispanic or Latino (of any race) Kings County 152,982 83,027 11,014 2,562 5,620 271 42,996 7,492 77,866 Incorporated city Total Population White African American Native American Asian Pacific Islander other races two or more races Hispanic or Latino (of any race) Avenal 15,505 6,044 1,625 186 108 6 7,188 348 11,130 Corcoran 24,813 8,940 3,725 349 193 17 10,979 610 15,545 Hanford 53,967 33,713 2,632 712 2,322 53 11,599 2,936 25,419 Lemoore 24,531 13,925 1,566 333 2,010 102 4,935 1,660 9,820 Census-designated place Total Population White African American Native American Asian Pacific Islander other races two or more races Hispanic or Latino (of any race) Armona 4,156 2,058 99 64 85 13 1,597 240 2,784 Grangeville 469 393 15 5 5 0 41 10 145 Hardwick 138 63 5 0 0 0 67 3 86 Home Garden 1,761 652 221 63 50 8 677 90 1,189 Kettleman City 1,439 478 4 8 1 0 887 61 1,383 Lemoore Station 7,438 4,883 729 70 560 53 418 725 1,445 Stratford 1,277 574 16 17 19 1 617 33 1,069 Other unincorporated areas Total Population White African American Native American Asian Pacific Islander other races two or more races Hispanic or Latino (of any race) All others not CDPs (combined) 17,488 11,304 377 755 267 18 3,991 776 7,851

### 2000

As of the 2000 census, there were 129,461 people, 34,418 households, and 26,983 families residing in the county. However, the California Department of Finance estimates that the population had grown 154,434 as of January 1, 2008.[26] The [population density](/source/Population_density) based on the 2000 census was 36/km2 (93/sq mi). There were 36,563 housing units at an average density of 26 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 53.7% [White](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), 8.3% [Black](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)) or [African American](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), 1.7% [Native American](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), 3.1% [Asian](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), 0.2% [Pacific Islander](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), 28.3% from [other races](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), and 4.8% from two or more races. 43.6% of the population were [Hispanic](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)) or [Latino](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)) of any race. 7.1% were of [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_Americans), 6.2% [German](/source/German_Americans), 5.3% [Irish](/source/Irish_Americans) and 5.1% [American ancestry](/source/American_ancestry) according to [Census 2000](/source/Census_2000). 63.6% spoke [English](/source/English_language), 30.9% [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language), 1.4% [Tagalog](/source/Tagalog_language), 1.4% [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_language) and 1.3% [Samoan](/source/Samoan_language) as their first language.

There were 34,418 households, out of which 46.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were [married couples](/source/Marriage) living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.18 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.0% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years in 2000, which had increased to 31.1 by the time of the 2010 census.[27] For every 100 females there were 134.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 148.8 males. The ratio may be attributed to the presence of three men's state prisons in the county.

## Government and policing

### Administration

Kings County is a general law county under the [California Constitution](/source/California_Constitution). That is, it does not have a county [charter](/source/Charter). The county is governed by a five-member [Board of Supervisors](/source/Board_of_Supervisors). Supervisors are elected by districts for four-year terms. There are no term limits in effect. The chairman and vice-chairman are elected annually by the Board of Supervisors from among its members. On January 7, 2020, the Board elected Supervisor Doug Verboon as chairman and Supervisor Craig Pederson as vice-chairman to serve during 2020. Other Supervisors include Richard Valle, Joe Neves and Richard Fagundes.[28] The Board of Supervisors appoints a County Administrative Officer. Rebecca Campbell was appointed to that office effective on January 1, 2018. She succeeded Larry Spikes who held the post from 1993 through 2017.[29][30][31]

### District Attorney

The Kings County District Attorney is Sarah Hacker. The District Attorney of each of the 58 counties in California is responsible for prosecuting the violation of California state and local laws and ordinances. The District Attorney is the sole criminal prosecuting entity in the county. In addition to the prosecution duties of the District Attorney, the Kings County District Attorney also has civil and criminal investigative authority with its own Bureau of Investigations composed of sworn peace officers with arresting authority. The Kings County District Attorney's Victim-Witness Assistance Program also provides assistance to victims of crime through federal, state, and local resources.

### City police departments

Within Kings County, there are four city police departments: Hanford (the county seat), Corcoran, Lemoore, and Avenal.

### Sheriff

The Kings County Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator is David Robinson. The Kings County Sheriff's Office provides court protection, county jail operation, and coroner services for the entire county. It provides patrol and detective services to the unincorporated areas of the county.[32]

### State and federal representation

In the [California State Legislature](/source/California_State_Legislature), Kings County is in , and in .[33]

In the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives), Kings County is split between ,[34] and .[35]

## Politics

### Voter registration

According to the Kings County Election Office, as of March 24, 2017, 51,323 residents were registered to vote. There were 22,341 voters registered as Republicans, 17,429 registered as Democrats and 9,443 did not state a party preference. The remaining 2,104 registered with minor parties.[36]

Population and registered voters Total population[37] 152,335 Registered voters[38][note 1] 48,485 31.8% Democratic[38] 17,336 35.8% Republican[38] 21,893 45.2% Democratic–Republican spread[38] -4,557 -9.4% Independent[38] 1,236 2.5% Green[38] 94 0.2% Libertarian[38] 214 0.4% Peace and Freedom[38] 86 0.2% Americans Elect[38] 2 0.0% Other[38] 161 0.3% No party preference[38] 7,463 15.4%

#### Cities by population and voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration City Population[37] Registered voters[38] [note 1] Democratic[38] Republican[38] D–R spread[38] Other[38] No party preference[38] Avenal 15,705 10.7% 53.7% 26.7% +27.0% 5.3% 16.4% Corcoran 25,113 17.1% 57.4% 26.3% +31.1% 4.8% 13.4% Hanford 53,159 41.1% 33.9% 47.0% -13.1% 6.5% 15.2% Lemoore 24,217 39.2% 31.9% 46.2% -14.3% 7.2% 17.8%

### Overview

Kings has long been a strongly Republican county in [Presidential](/source/President_of_the_United_States) elections. The last Democratic candidate for president to win the county was [Hubert Humphrey](/source/Hubert_Humphrey) in [1968](/source/United_States_presidential_election_in_California,_1968), and the last to win a majority was [Lyndon Johnson](/source/Lyndon_Johnson) in [1964](/source/United_States_presidential_election_in_California,_1964).

In November 2008, Kings County voted 73.7% for [Proposition 8](/source/Proposition_8) which amended the California Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.[39]

## Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Population and crime rates Population[37] 152,335 Violent crime[40] 562 3.69 Homicide[40] 4 0.03 Forcible rape[40] 32 0.21 Robbery[40] 77 0.51 Aggravated assault[40] 449 2.95 Property crime[40] 1,513 9.93 Burglary[40] 774 5.08 Larceny-theft[40][note 2] 1,428 9.37 Motor vehicle theft[40] 294 1.93 Arson[40] 30 0.20

### Cities by population and crime rates

Cities by population and crime rates City Population[41] Violent crimes[41] Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons Property crimes[41] Property crime rate per 1,000 persons Avenal 15,704 53 3.37 132 8.41 Corcoran 25,119 89 3.54 328 13.06 Hanford 54,787 309 5.64 1,711 31.23 Lemoore 24,904 131 5.26 698 28.03

## Economy

The economy is based on agriculture. About 87% of Kings County's 890,000 acres is agricultural farmland. The gross value of all agricultural crops and products produced during 2018 in Kings County was $2,351,983,000. Kings County is 10th among California counties in agricultural production. The top commodity in 2018 was milk with a value of $676.7 million. Other major agricultural commodities included pistachios, cotton, cattle and calves, almonds and processing tomatoes.[42][43] Another major employer is [NAS Lemoore](/source/NAS_Lemoore), the [U.S. Navy](/source/U.S._Navy)'s newest and largest master jet base. According to a Navy study in 2008, payroll, base spending, retiree and veterans' checks total more than $1 billion in annual economic impact to the region.[44] Other important employers include a [Del Monte Foods](/source/Del_Monte_Foods) tomato processing plant, [Adventist Health](/source/Adventist_Health), the [J. G. Boswell Company](/source/J._G._Boswell_Company), an [Olam International](/source/Olam_International) tomato processing facility, [Leprino Foods](/source/Leprino_Foods), the largest [mozzarella](/source/Mozzarella) cheese maker in the world, the Kings County Government and the [California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation](/source/California_Department_of_Corrections_and_Rehabilitation) which operates three state prisons in Kings County.[45]

In 2011–2013, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the median household income in the county was $47,035 and that 17.6% of the population was below the [poverty line](/source/Poverty_line).[46] In 2018, according to the U.S. [Bureau of Economic Analysis](/source/Bureau_of_Economic_Analysis), average per capita income was $35,306 in Kings County, which ranked it last of California's 58 counties.[47] Per capita personal income is calculated by dividing the population by the total personal income of the area's residents. In Kings County's case, the U.S. Census Bureau's estimated population of 151,366 was used for that calculation. However, the population estimate includes incarcerated persons with little or no income.

The homeownership rate was 54.2% at the time of the 2010 census.[27] According to Zillow Real Estate Research, an estimated 24% of homeowners in the county owned their homes free and clear in the third quarter of 2012.[48]

Taxable sales in 2015 totaled about $1.7 billion.[49]

Kings County did not escape the effects of the [Great Recession](/source/Great_Recession). The unemployment rate in May 2012 was 14.9%, up from 10.1% in July 2008. However, the rate had dropped to 9.8% in February 2020 at the eve of the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic). The unemployment rate had risen to 16.8% in April of that year.[50] According to the California Employment Development Department, as of December 2012, civilian employment totaled 53,100 and an additional 8,900 people were unemployed. Many residents of Kings County were employed in services (31,900 persons, including 14,800 government employees) and agriculture (5,500 employees) as well as in some manufacturing enterprises (4,300 employees) and construction (1,000 employees).[51] Jeffrey Michael, director of the Business Forecasting Center at the [University of the Pacific](/source/University_of_the_Pacific_(United_States)), stated in an October 2010 newspaper interview that nearly half of Kings County's personal earnings come from government jobs, which pay more than agricultural employment.

Kings County's dairy industry dropped from $670 million in milk sold in 2008 to $411 million in 2009 - a 39% drop.[52] By mid-2009, the price paid to milk producers had dropped to a point that was far below the cost of production according to a July 2009 quote from Bill Van Dam, [CEO](/source/Chief_executive_officer) of the Alliance of Western Milk Producers.[53] By December 2010, milk prices had increased to about $13 per hundredweight from a low of below $10 in 2009. However, the price of corn used for feed had increased because of its use by the ethanol industry. Van Dam was quoted that month as saying that at current prices, dairy operators are at or close to the break-even point.[54] By the summer of 2012, it was reported that despite a milk price of about $15 per hundredweight, the rising cost of cattle feed had caused many dairy farmers to sell all or part of their herds and even file for bankruptcy.[55] In 2014, milk prices were topping $22 per hundredweight and the value of milk sold rose to $970 million in that year.[56] However, by March 2016 milk was reportedly selling closer to $13 per hundredweight.[57]

## Culture

Kings County has a large annual celebration held each May called Kings County Homecoming Week.[58] In 2015, the event was scaled back to one day and renamed Pioneer Days.[59] The event returned as Kings County Homecoming Week in 2016 but without the traditional parade.[60]

## Transportation

### Major highways

- [Interstate 5](/source/Interstate_5_in_California)
- [State Route 33](/source/California_State_Route_33)
- [State Route 41](/source/California_State_Route_41)
- [State Route 43](/source/California_State_Route_43)
- [State Route 137](/source/California_State_Route_137)
- [State Route 198](/source/California_State_Route_198)
- [State Route 269](/source/California_State_Route_269)

### Public transportation

[Kings Area Regional Transit](/source/Kings_Area_Regional_Transit) (KART) operates regularly scheduled fixed route bus service, vanpool service for commuters and Paratransit (demand response) services throughout Kings County as well as to Fresno.[61]

[Amtrak](/source/Amtrak) trains stop in Corcoran and Hanford.

[Greyhound](/source/Greyhound_Lines) provides inter-city bus service to/from [Visalia](/source/Visalia,_California) or [Paso Robles](/source/Paso_Robles,_California). [FlixBus](/source/FlixBus) stops in [Avenal](/source/Avenal,_California).

The [California High-Speed Rail](/source/California_High-Speed_Rail) project is currently under construction, with the right-of-way routed through the county. The [Kings–Tulare Regional Station](/source/Kings%E2%80%93Tulare_Regional_Station) is currently under construction in [Hanford](/source/Hanford,_California).

### Airports

[Hanford Municipal Airport](/source/Hanford_Municipal_Airport) is a general aviation airport located just southeast of [Hanford](/source/Hanford,_California). The privately owned airport in [Avenal](/source/Avenal,_California) is the home of the Central California Soaring Club.[62]

## Communities

### Incorporated cities

- [Avenal](/source/Avenal,_California)
- [Corcoran](/source/Corcoran,_California)
- [Hanford](/source/Hanford,_California) (county seat)
- [Lemoore](/source/Lemoore,_California)

### Census-designated places

- [Armona](/source/Armona,_California)
- [Grangeville](/source/Grangeville,_California)
- [Hardwick](/source/Hardwick,_California)
- [Home Garden](/source/Home_Garden,_California)
- [Kettleman City](/source/Kettleman_City,_California)
- [Lemoore Station](/source/Lemoore_Station,_California)
- [Stratford](/source/Stratford,_California)

### Unincorporated communities

- [Halls Corner](/source/Halls_Corner,_California)
- Lakeside, California

### Formerly proposed new city

- [Quay Valley](/source/Quay_Valley,_California)

### Native American Reservation

- [Santa Rosa Rancheria](/source/Santa_Rosa_Rancheria)

### Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the [2010 census](/source/2010_United_States_census) of Kings County.[63]

**†** *county seat*

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census) 1 † Hanford City 53,967 2 Corcoran City 24,813 3 Lemoore City 24,531 4 Avenal City 15,505 5 Lemoore Station CDP 7,438 6 Armona CDP 4,156 7 Home Garden CDP 1,761 8 Kettleman City CDP 1,439 9 Stratford CDP 1,277 10 Santa Rosa Rancheria[64] AIAN 652 11 Grangeville CDP 469 12 Hardwick CDP 138

## See also

- [California census statistical areas](/source/California_census_statistical_areas)
- [List of museums in the San Joaquin Valley](/source/List_of_museums_in_the_San_Joaquin_Valley_(California))
- [Mussel Slough Tragedy](/source/Mussel_Slough_Tragedy)
- [National Register of Historic Places listings in Kings County, California](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Kings_County,_California)

## Explanatory notes

1. Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.

1. Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.

## References

1. ["Kings County, California"](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US06031). *[United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau)*. Retrieved January 30, 2022.

1. ["Find a County"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx). National Association of Counties. Archived from [the original](http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx) on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.

1. ["Tachi Yokut Tribe – The Indians of the San Joaquin Valley were known as Yokuts"](http://www.tachi-yokut-nsn.gov/). *Tachi-yokut-nsn.gov*. Retrieved November 7, 2017.

1. Hoover, p. 132

1. Brown, Robert L. (1940). *History of Kings County*. A. H. Cawston. p. 53.

1. Brown, Robert L. (1940). *History of Kings County*. A. H. Cawston. p. 123.

1. Weber, Devra (1994). *Dark Sweat. White Gold: California Farm Workers, Cotton and the New Deal*. Berkeley and Los Angeles, California: [University of California Press](/source/University_of_California_Press). pp. 79–111. ISBN 0-520-20710-6.

1. ["2010 Census Gazetteer Files"](http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_06.txt). United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2015.

1. ["2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A031&in=state%3A06). *United States Census Bureau*. 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2025.

1. ["2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A031&in=state%3A06). *United States Census Bureau*. 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2025.

1. ["2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A031&in=state%3A06). *United States Census Bureau*. 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2025.

1. ["California: 1980, General Social and Economic Characteristics, Part 1 - Table 59: Persons by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Sex"](https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caCs1-01.pdf). *[United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau)*

1. ["California: 1990, Part 1 - Table 5: Race and Hispanic Origin"](https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-6-1.pdf). *[United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau)*. Retrieved July 14, 2024.

1. ["P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Kings County, California"](https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US06031&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004). *[United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau)*

1. ["P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kings County, California"](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US06031&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2). *[United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau)*

1. ["P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kings County, California"](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US06031&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2). *[United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau)*

1. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census

1. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census

1. not an option in the 1980 Census

1. not an option in the 1990 Census

1. California, State of. ["Monthly Total Population Report Archive"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130522022304/http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports_Research/Offender_Information_Services_Branch/Monthly/Monthly_Tpop1a_Archive.html). *Cdcr.ca.gov*. Archived from [the original](http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports_Research/Offender_Information_Services_Branch/Monthly/Monthly_Tpop1a_Archive.html) on May 22, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2017.

1. ["Unauthorized Immigrants in California: Estimates for Counties - Public Policy Institute of California"](http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=986). *Ppic.org*. Retrieved November 7, 2017.

1. *Hanford Sentinel*, March 28–29, 2015

1. California Department of Finance, Table E-2, California County Population Estimates and Percent Change, Revised July 1, 2000, through Provisional July 1, 2006

1. *Fresno Bee*, May 15, 2011

1. [https://www.countyofkings.com/home/showdocument?id=21427](https://www.countyofkings.com/home/showdocument?id=21427)[dead link] accessed January 12, 2020

1. ["News | Kings County"](https://www.countyofkings.com/Home/Components/News/News/3500/18?backlist=%2f). *www.countyofkings.com*. Retrieved December 2, 2017.

1. *Hanford Sentinel*, December 23, 2017

1. *Hanford Sentinel*, December 27, 2017

1. ["Sheriff | Kings County"](https://www.countyofkings.com/departments/public-safety/sheriff). *www.countyofkings.com*. Retrieved January 11, 2019.

1. ["Final Maps | California Citizens Redistricting Commission"](https://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/final-maps/). Retrieved November 4, 2025.

1. *Hanford Sentinel*, April 11, 2017

1. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. [U.S. Census website](https://www.census.gov). Retrieved October 26, 2013.

1. California Secretary of State. [February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration](http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ror/ror-pages/ror-odd-year-2013/political-sub.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130727173649/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ror/ror-pages/ror-odd-year-2013/political-sub.pdf) July 27, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 31, 2013.

1. Bowen, Debra (December 13, 2008). ["Statement of Vote: November 4, 2008, General Election"](https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2008-general/sov_complete.pdf). *California Secretary of State*. Retrieved December 2, 2019.

1. Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. [Table 11: Crimes – 2009](http://stats.doj.ca.gov/cjsc_stats/prof09/00/11.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222315/http://stats.doj.ca.gov/cjsc_stats/prof09/00/11.pdf) December 2, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2013.

1. United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. [Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California)](https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/tables/8tabledatadecpdf/table-8-state-cuts/table_8_offenses_known_to_law_enforcement_by_california_by_city_2012.xls). Retrieved November 14, 2013.

1. 2018 Kings County Crop Report, Kings County Department of Agriculture/Measurement Standards, July 16, 2019

1. ["2018 Crop Report"](https://www.countyofkings.com/home/showdocument?id=20326). *www.countyofkings.com*. Retrieved July 21, 2019.

1. *Fresno Bee*, February 22, 2016

1. ["Major Employers in California"](http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/majorer/countymajorer.asp?CountyCode=00003). *Labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov*. Retrieved November 7, 2017.

1. *Hanford Sentinel*, November 15–16, 2014

1. *Fresno Bee*, November 18, 2019

1. ["Free and Clear American Homeowners | Zillow Real Estate Research"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130123140531/http://www.zillow.com/blog/research/2013/01/09/free-and-clear-american-mortgages/). Archived from [the original](http://www.zillow.com/blog/research/2013/01/09/free-and-clear-american-mortgages/) on January 23, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.

1. Equalization, California State Board of. ["Taxable Sales In California 2015 - Board of Equalization"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180315080128/http://www.boe.ca.gov/news/tsalescont15.htm). *www.boe.ca.gov*. Archived from [the original](http://www.boe.ca.gov/news/tsalescont15.htm) on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.

1. ["Labor Force and Unemployment Rate for Cities and Census Designated Places"](http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/data/labor-force-and-unemployment-for-cities-and-census-areas.html)

1. ["Hanford-Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110721071429/http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/lfmonth/hanf$pds.pdf). Archived from [the original](http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/lfmonth/hanf$pds.pdf) on July 21, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2011.

1. *Hanford Sentinel*, October 2–3, 2010

1. *Hanford Sentinel*, July 11, 2009

1. *Hanford Sentinel*, December 18, 2010

1. *Fresno Bee*, August 19, 2012

1. *Fresno Bee*, June 17, 2015

1. *Hanford Sentinel*, March 10, 2016

1. ["accessed 5-9-10"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161022215135/http://kingscountyhomecoming.org/). *Kingscountyhomecoming.org*. Archived from [the original](http://www.kingscountyhomecoming.org) on October 22, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2017.

1. *Hanford Sentinel*, May 9, 2015

1. *Hanford Sentinel*, May 7–8, 2016

1. ["Home - My Kart Bus"](http://www.mykartbus.com/). *My Kart Bus*. Retrieved November 7, 2017.

1. ["Central California Soaring Club"](http://www.soaravenal.com/). *Soaravenal.com*. Retrieved November 7, 2017.

1. ["2010 U.S. Census website"](https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau). Retrieved July 10, 2016.

1. [https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=3520](https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=3520) [dead link]

- Hoover, Mildred Brooke & Douglas E. Kyle (1990). [*Historic Spots in California*](https://books.google.com/books?id=p2WrAAAAIAAJ). [Stanford University Press](/source/Stanford_University_Press). ISBN 978-0-8047-1734-2.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.countyofkings.com/)
- [Kings County Crop Reports](http://www.countyofkings.com/departments/general-services/agriculture-department-measurement-standards/ag-services/crop-reports-1941-2013/test)
- [Kings County Community Health Status Report, 2008-2009](https://web.archive.org/web/20090530031144/http://www.countyofkings.com/Health/forms/Community%20Health%20Status%20Report%202008-2009.pdf)
- [Kings County history website operated by the Kings County Office of Education](http://kingsnet.kings.k12.ca.us/kcoe/curric/history/places/places.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060925174845/http://kingsnet.kings.k12.ca.us/kcoe/curric/history/places/places.html) September 25, 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- [Kings County Economic Development Corporation website](https://web.archive.org/web/19991109003240/http://www.kingsedc.org/)
- [Kings County Facts - Index Mundi](http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/united-states/quick-facts/california/county/kings)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kings County, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_County%2C_California) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_County%2C_California?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.