May 3, 1996
California is a state of 32 million people, by far the most populous state in the Union. California is divided into various economic regions. One such region is the Central Valley, more specifically the San Joaquin portion of it. This area is composed of eight counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare. This is a region that holds a population of 3 million or 10 percent of California's population. This region seems small by California standards. The purpose of this exercise, however, is to show that the Central Valley ranks right up there with many states in terms of population, employment, and other socio-economic variables. Over 200 Census variables were examined, but only the ones with the most interesting patterns are presented. Each variable ranked the 50 states (including California), the District of Columbia, and the Central Valley. A value of 1 means that the State or region has the most and a value of 52 the least of the attribute. The statistical table showing the value and rank of each State or region is available on a separate page.
Area:
27,280 square miles
(1990 Census)
In terms of area, the Central Valley (CV) ranked 41 from a ranking
of 1 to 52. Most states are therefore bigger in square miles than the
CV. The CV however is still bigger than Connecticut, Delaware,
District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Population:
2,742,000 persons
(1990 Census)
Although in area the CV may rank 41, in population it has more
people than 21 other states (including DC). It ranks 31. Most
surprising is that the CV has more people than the states of Alaska,
Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota,
Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, South Dakota, and Utah.
Population Gain:
693,942 persons
(1990 & 1980 Census)
The CV ranked among the ten highest states in population growth.
With a rank of nine, only the states of Arizona, California, Florida,
Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington had a higher
increase in its population from 1980 to 1990.
Population Projection 2020:
6,164,400 persons
(CA Dept. Of Finance for Counties)
(U.S. Census Bureau for States)
By the year 2020 the CV will have over 6 million persons according
to population projections by the California Department of Finance
(Report 93 P-1). Using state projections from the U.S. Bureau of the
Census, the CV ranks 18 in population size by the year 2020.
American Indians:
31,328 persons
(1990 Census)
The CV ranks as the 17th biggest cluster, compared to other
states, of the American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut population.
Asians:
185,998 persons
(1990 Census)
When it comes to the Asian denominated population, the CV is the
8th largest. Only California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, New York,
Texas, and Washington have a bigger Asian or Pacific Islander
population.
Cambodians, Hmong, and Laotians:
71,135 persons
(1990 Census)
Included in the figures for the Asian population above are those
of Cambodia, Hmong, and Laotia descent. Consider these three groups
alone and the CV ranks not eight but 2nd. California, which includes
the CV region, ranks first.
Hispanics:
826,150 persons
(1990 Census)
The CV is the 6th biggest in Hispanic population concentration.
Only the states of California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas
rank higher.
Mexican Origin:
748,752 persons
(1990 Census)
When it comes to people of Mexican origin or descent, the CV ranks
three. The only other states that outrank it are California and
Texas.
Population Ages 0-9:
511,370 persons
(1990 Census)
The CV has a relatively young population. Although it ranks 31 in
total population, it ranks 26 in population ages 0-9. In the ages of
55 and over it ranks 34.
Households with 7 or more Persons:
37,619 households
(1990 Census)
The CV has 896,588 households. (A household is a dwelling unit
where both family and non-family members may reside.) Among the
households where 7 or more people lived, the CV ranks 10 in
comparison to the other states. There are 37,600 such households,
amounting to 263,000 persons. Only the big population states outrank
the CV in this category.
Per Capita Household Income:
$11,899
(1990 Census)
The CV has a per capita household income of $11,899 as of 1990.
California's per capita household income is $16,580 and ranks 8. The
CV ranks 40, in between South Carolina and Alabama.
Civilian Unemployment:
117,643 persons
(1990 Census)
Total employment for the CV was 1,082,459 as of 1990 and it ranked
32. Unemployment, however, ranked 24, meaning that it had a
relatively larger share of unemployment.
Farming Occupation:
104,286 persons
(1990 Census)
The large number of persons unemployed in the CV might be partly
explained by its large agricultural workforce. The CV ranks four in
the category of persons employed in occupations of farming, forestry,
or fishing. Only California, Florida, and Texas surpass the numbers
of the Central Valley.
% College Enrollment:
180,205 persons or 23%
(1990 Census)
In the CV there are 800,000 persons enrolled in schools at the
level of preprimary, K-12, and college. Of this, 180,200 are enrolled
in college. This amounts to a 23 percent enrollment in college. In
comparison, the figure for the whole state of California is 31
percent and ranks 4 among all states. The CV ranks 47.
College Population in Dormitories:
4,276 persons
(1990 Census)
The CV ranks 49 in the number of its residents living in college
dormitories. Only the states of Alaska, Nevada, and Wyoming have
fewer persons in college dormitories.
APPENDIX:
Data Sources:
U.S. Bureau of the Census,
1990 Census of Population and
Housing, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C., 1994.
U.S. Bureau of the Census,
1980 Census of Population and
Housing, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C., 1994.
U.S. Bureau of the Census,
Current Population Reports, P25-1111,
Population Projections for States, By Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic
Origin: 1993 to 2020, By Paul R. Campbell,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1994.
California Department of Finance,
Population Projections by Race/Ethnicity for
California and Its Counties, 1990-2040,
Report 93 P-1. Sacramento, California, April 1993.