Corning, California

City of Corning
City
Solano Street in 2023
Nickname:  "The Olive City"
Location of Corning in Tehama County, California
City of Corning Location in the United States
Coordinates: 39°55′34″N 122°10′50″W / 39.92611°N 122.18056°W / 39.92611; -122.18056
Country	United States
State	California
County	Tehama
Incorporated	August 6, 1907[1]
Area [2]
• Total	3.55 sq mi (9.19 km2)
• Land	3.55 sq mi (9.19 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation	276 ft (84 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,244
• Density	2,324.22/sq mi (897.37/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	96021, 96029, (96092)
Area code	530
FIPS code	06-16322
GNIS feature ID	0277491
Website	corning.org

Corning is a city in Tehama County, California, that is located about 19 miles (31 km) south of Red Bluff and about 100 miles (160 km) north of Sacramento. The population was 8,244 at the 2020 census, up from 7,663 at the 2010 census.

Corning had its start in 1882, when the railroad was extended to that point.^[3] The community was named after John Corning, a railroad official.^[3]

Corning is located at 39°55′34″N 122°10′50″W / 39.92611°N 122.18056°W / 39.92611; -122.18056 (39.926182, -122.180489).^[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.55 square miles (9.2 km²), all of it land.

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Corning has a Hot-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.^[5]

At the 2010 census Corning had a population of 7,663 people. The population density was 2,158.8 people per square mile (833.5 people/km²). The racial makeup of Corning was 5,510 (71.9%)  Caucasian, 44 (0.6%) African American, 201 (2.6%) Native American, 82 (1.1%) Asian, 11 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 1,496 (19.5%) from other races, and 319 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,271 individuals (42.7%).^[7]

The census reported that 7,638 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 19 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 6 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 2,630 households, out of which 1,193 (45.4%) had children under age 18 living in them, 1,136 (43.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 533 (20.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 179 (6.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 224 (8.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 12 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 633 households (24.1%) were one person and 259 (9.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90. There were 1,848 families (70.3% of households); the average family size was 3.44 persons.

The age distribution was 2,479 people (32.4%) under age 18, 864 people (11.3%) aged 18 to 24, 1,931 people (25.2%) aged 25 to 44, 1,617 people (21.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 772 people (10.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.2 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

There were 2,871 housing units at an average density of 808.8 units per square mile (312.3 units/km²), of which 1,302 (49.5%) were owner-occupied, and 1,328 (50.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%. 3,765 people (49.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,873 people (50.5%) lived in rental housing units.

At the 2000 census there were 6,741 people, 2,422 households, and 1,642 families in the city. The population density was 2,320.3 people per square mile (895.9 people/km²). There were 2,614 housing units at an average density of 899.8 units per square mile (347.4 units/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.48% White, 0.52% African American, 2.18% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 17.42% from other races, and 4.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 50.82%.^[8]

There were 2,422 households, 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 26.9% of households were one person and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.33 individuals.

The age distribution was 32.5% under age 18, 10.0% aged 18 to 24, 28.0% aged 25 to 44, 17.7% aged 45 to 64, and 11.8% aged 65 years or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,357, and the median family income was $32,151. Males had a median income of $30,563 versus $19,736 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,357. About 21.1% of families and 26.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.6% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those aged 65 or over.

These compare to the national median household income of $45,135 and national per capita income of $23,201; 69.4% of the residents in the city have graduated from high school or achieved further education, compared to 80.35% nationally.

In the California State Legislature, Corning is in the 4th Senate District, represented by Republican Marie Alvarado-Gil, and in the 3rd Assembly District, represented by Republican James Gallagher.^[9]

In the United States House of Representatives, Corning is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.^[10]

The major local industry is growing and preparing table olives. Corning also has a significant agricultural industry based on olive oil, dried plums (prunes, including the Sunsweet label), walnuts, and almonds.

Bell-Carter Foods

Corning is home to Bell-Carter Foods, Inc., the second-largest table olive processor in the world and the largest in the United States.^[11] Bell Carter produces Lindsay Olives.

The annual Corning Olive Festival, held on the second Saturday in October, is the longest-running olive festival in the United States. Started in 1946 by the local Catholic church as a fundraiser, the festival is now organized and operated by the Corning Chamber of Commerce.^[12]

Interstate 5 and Highway 99 both serve Corning, along with the California Northern Railroad. The California Northern has been leasing and operating the 110.7-mile (178.2 km) line between Davis and Tehama through Corning from Southern Pacific (now Union Pacific) since September 26, 1993. The line was built by Southern Pacific's subsidiary, the Northern Railway Company, in August / September 1882.

Corning Municipal Airport (0O4), a public-use facility, is located just to the north of the high school. Its runway (numbered 17 and 35) is 2,692 feet (821 m) long and sits 293 feet (89 m) above sea level. The airport was activated in 1940. Its area control center is Oakland Center, while its flight service station is Rancho Murieta.^[13]

People born in Corning:

• Ralph Goings (1928–2016), artist
• Matt Maiocco (born 1967), sportswriter
• Tyler Reddick (born 1996), race car driver
• Harry R. Stone (born 1942), baseballer
• Jeff Stover (born 1958), NFL player
• Blaire White (born 1993), YouTube personality

People who live/lived in Corning at some point:

• Priscilla Duffield (1918–2009), secretary for Manhattan Project^[14]
• Keith Daniel Williams (1947–1996), triple murderer^[15]
• Monte Wolfe (1886–c.1940), pioneer

People who died in Corning:

• Lee Grissom (1907–1998), Major League Baseball pitcher
• Silas M. Holmes (1816–1905), politician

People associated with Corning in some other way:

• Clair Engle (1911–1964) , U.S. Senator; practiced in Corning
• France Silva (1876–1951), Marine; buried in Corning

• Official website
• TehamaPulse.com is an events calendar for Tehama County, including Corning, CA.