{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Thornton |settlement_type = census-designated place |nickname = |motto =
<!-- Images --> |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |image_seal =
<!-- Maps --> |image_map = San Joaquin County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Thornton Highlighted 0678568.svg |mapsize = 250x200px |map_caption = Location in San Joaquin County and the state of California |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |pushpin_map = California#USA
<!-- Location --> |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = California |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = San Joaquin
<!-- Government --> |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |established_title = |established_date =
<!-- Area------------------> |area_magnitude = | unit_pref =US | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 11, 2025}}</ref> | area_total_sq_mi = 2.184 | area_land_sq_mi = 2.133 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.051 | area_total_km2 = 5.656 | area_land_km2 = 5.525 | area_water_km2 = 0.131 | area_water_percent = 2.31 | area_note =
<!-- Population --> |population_as_of = 2020 |population_footnotes = <ref name="US Census Bureau 2020 Thornton, CA Population">{{cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Thornton+CDP;+California |website=data.census.gov |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref> |population_total = 1004 |population_density_km2 = auto |population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- General information --> |timezone = Pacific (PST) |utc_offset = -8 |timezone_DST = PDT |utc_offset_DST = -7 |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = 13 |coordinates = {{coord|38|13|34|N|121|25|29|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes & others --> |postal_code_type = ZIP code |postal_code = 95686 |area_code = 209 |blank_name = GNIS feature IDs |blank_info = 236291; 2628795 |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes = {{gnis|236291}}; {{gnis|2628795}} }}
'''Thornton''' is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Joaquin County, California, United States.<ref>{{gnis|2628795}}</ref> Thornton is located along Interstate 5 {{convert|7|mi|km}} west-southwest of Galt. Thornton has a post office with ZIP code 95686.<ref>[http://www.zipinfo.com/cgi-local/zipsrch.exe?cnty=cnty&zip=95686&Go=Go ZIP Code Lookup]</ref> As of the 2020 census, Thornton had a population of 1,004.<ref name="Census2020PLLede">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N&for=place%3A78568&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=March 6, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ==History== [[File:Thornton2012-039 (8114884521).jpg|thumb|left|The local Portuguese festival of Our Lady of Fatima]] The Western Pacific Railroad was extended to Thornton in 1907.<ref name="Sentinel">{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n-szAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2zIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=7204%2C6366681 | title=Older towns dot valley when Lodi established | work=Lodi News-Sentinel | date=Sep 9, 1969 | accessdate=28 October 2015 | pages=8C}}</ref> A post office called Thornton has been in operation since 1910.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=CA&county=San+Joaquin | title=San Joaquin County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | accessdate=28 October 2015}}</ref> The community was named for Arthur Thornton, the original owner of the town site.<ref name="Sentinel" />
==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km{{sup|2}}), 97.69% of it land, and 2.31% of it water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/>
==Demographics== {{US Census population |2010= 1131 |2020= 1004 |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref><br>1850–1870<ref name=1870CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><ref name=1870CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1880-1890<ref name=1890CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br> 1900<ref name=1900CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusCA>{{Cite web|title=1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 12, 2024|archive-date=August 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823050629/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br> 1930<ref name=1930CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br> 1960<ref name=1960CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br> 1990<ref name=1990CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2000<ref name=2000CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> | align = right }}
Thornton first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. census, one of ten CDPS (Acampo, Collierville, Dogtown, Mountain House, Peters, Terminous, Thornton, Victor, Waterloo, and Woodbridge) formed out of the deleted North Woodbridge CDP and South Woodbridge CDP.<ref name=2010CensusCA/>
===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, Thornton had a population of 1,004. The population density was {{convert|470.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=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_0133P,DP1_0137P,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=place%3A78568&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=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=place%3A78568&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL"/> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 307 || 30.6% |- | Black or African American || 38 || 3.8% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 7 || 0.7% |- | Asian || 54 || 5.4% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 2 || 0.2% |- | Some other race || 407 || 40.5% |- | Two or more races || 189 || 18.8% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 654 || 65.1% |}
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas. The census reported that 995 people (99.1% of the population) lived in households, 9 (0.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A78568&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 30, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020DP"/>
There were 323 households, of which 115 (35.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 159 (49.2%) were married-couple households, 18 (5.6%) were cohabiting couple households, 80 (24.8%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 66 (20.4%) had a male householder with no partner present. 81 households (25.1%) were one person, and 36 (11.1%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.08. There were 223 families (69.0% of all households).<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Thornton CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0678568 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 4, 2025}}</ref>
The age distribution was 260 people (25.9%) under the age of 18, 111 people (11.1%) aged 18 to 24, 246 people (24.5%) aged 25 to 44, 240 people (23.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 147 people (14.6%) who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 35.2{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 101.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.7 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
There were 337 housing units at an average density of {{convert|158.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 323 (95.8%) were occupied. Of these, 167 (51.7%) were owner-occupied, and 156 (48.3%) were occupied by renters. The vacancy rate was 4.2%; the homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%, and the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref name="Census2020PL"/> ==References== {{reflist}}
{{San Joaquin County, California}}
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Category:Census-designated places in San Joaquin County, California Category:Census-designated places in California