Goshen, California

In 1858, the Butterfield Overland Mail passed through the area stopping at Head of Cross Creek Station, 4 miles northwest of Goshen, at the head of the place where Cross Creek divided into two branches for a time, making it easier to cross them separately. It was 12 miles west of the next stop at Visalia, and 15 miles southeast of the next stop in the other direction, Whitmore's Ferry.

In the early 1890s, Chris Evans and John Sontag robbed a Southern Pacific Railroad train at Goshen.[3]

At the 2010 census Goshen had a population of 3,006. The population density was 1,696.4 people per square mile (655.0/km²). The racial makeup of Goshen was 1,186 (39.5%) White, 76 (2.5%) African American, 90 (3.0%) Native American, 11 (0.4%) Asian, 1 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 1,496 (49.8%) from other races, and 146 (4.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,482 persons (82.6%).[6]

The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.

There were 773 households, 441 (57.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 384 (49.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 156 (20.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 93 (12.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 82 (10.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 8 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 101 households (13.1%) were one person and 33 (4.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.89. There were 633 families (81.9% of households); the average family size was 4.19.

The age distribution was 1,074 people (35.7%) under the age of 18, 328 people (10.9%) aged 18 to 24, 843 people (28.0%) aged 25 to 44, 557 people (18.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 204 people (6.8%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 27.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.0 males.

There were 840 housing units at an average density of 474.0 per square mile, of the occupied units 404 (52.3%) were owner-occupied and 369 (47.7%) were rented.The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%. 1,526 people (50.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,480 people (49.2%) lived in rental housing units.

At the 2000 census there were 2,394 people, 593 households, and 507 families in the CDP. The population density was 1,340.4 people per square mile (516.4/km²). There were 667 housing units at an average density of 373.4 per square mile (143.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 62.99% White, 2.80% African American, 2.05% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 26.90% from other races, and 3.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 73.14%.[7]

Of the 593 households 47.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.5% were non-families. 10.8% of households were one person and 3.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.98 and the average family size was 4.21.

The age distribution was 37.4% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.0% 65 or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.

The median household income was $28,301 and the median family income was $27,962. Males had a median income of $25,781 versus $16,905 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $8,837. About 26.7% of families and 28.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.1% of those under age 18 and 25.5% of those age 65 or over.