Allensworth marks the eastern high-water shoreline of Tulare Lake, which supported one of the largest Indian populations on the continent, herds of elk, millions of water fowl, as well as a commercial fishery and ferry service. Other townsites located on this historic shoreline include Lemoore on its northern tip, and Kettleman City on the western shore, while nearby Alpaugh is on the eastern end of a long, sandy ridge at elevation 210 ft. that was once called Hog Island. Due to diversions of the natural waterways since the mid to late 19th century, only a tiny remnant of Tulare Lake now remains. The last time Tulare Lake was full and overflowed its spillway was 1878. Just north of Allensworth is the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge, grassland and wetland habitats operated by the Department of the Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service. Of great interest, thousands of sandhill cranes, use this refuge each winter from November through March. red-tailed hawks, are among the 141 type of birds that can be seen here. Burrowing owls are sometimes present. Also present are Pacific pond turtles, once an important part of Tulare Lake's fishery trade with San Francisco. Adjacent to the town is Allensworth Ecological Reserve. The endangered San Joaquin kit fox can be found in this area.
Colonel Allen Allensworth, a retired clergy man from the all-black 24th Infantry Regiment, along with William Alexander Payne and three other black settlers established the town to be the first in California to be "founded, financed, and governed by blacks." Allensworth's reputation drew many from all over the country to the town, causing some to buy property sight-unseen in order to support the efforts. In the early 20th century, the area boasted a great boom and hosted California's first African American school district by 1910. With the death of Colonel Allensworth in 1914, the town experienced extreme losses, coupled with severe drought and decreased crop yields. Many residents left the area following World War I, and the town of Allensworth was scheduled for demolition in 1966 when arsenic was found in the water supply. The town was memorialized as a state park in 1974, and hosts events annually to preserve its history.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Allensworth had a population of 471. The population density was 151.8 people per square mile. The racial makeup of Allensworth was 158 White, 22 African American, 0 Native American, 8 Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 279 from other races, and 4 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 436 persons. The Census reported that 471 people lived in households, 0 lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 were institutionalized. There were 115 households, out of which 69 had children under the age of 18 living in them, 67 were opposite-sex married couples living together, 20 had a female householder with no husband present, 11 had a male householder with no wife present. There were 10 unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1 same-sex married couples or partnerships. 13 households were made up of individuals, and 7 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.10. There were 98 families ; the average family size was 4.37. The population was spread out, with 187 people under the age of 18, 66 people aged 18 to 24, 100 people aged 25 to 44, 93 people aged 45 to 64, and 25 people who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males. There were 142 housing units at an average density of 45.8 per square mile, of which 56 were owner-occupied, and 59 were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 11.8%. 220 people lived in owner-occupied housing units and 251 people lived in rental housing units.
