Pixley | |
---|---|
census-designated place | |
Location in Tulare County and the state of California |
|
Location in the United States | |
Coordinates: 35°58′13″N 119°17′27″W / 35.97028°N 119.29083°WCoordinates: 35°58′13″N 119°17′27″W / 35.97028°N 119.29083°W | |
Country | United States |
State | California |
County | Tulare |
Area | |
• Total | 3.114 sq mi (8.066 km2) |
• Land | 3.114 sq mi (8.066 km2) |
• Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
Elevation | 272 ft (83 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 3,310 |
• Density | 1,100/sq mi (410/km2) |
Time zone | Pacific (PST) (UTC-8) |
• Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
ZIP code | 93256 |
Area code(s) | 559 |
FIPS code | 06-57512 |
GNIS feature ID | 1652777 |
Pixley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was 3,310 at the 2010 census, up from 2,586 at the 2000 census.
Pixley is located at 35°58′13″N 119°17′27″W / 35.97028°N 119.29083°W (35.970405, -119.290729).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2), all of it land.
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Pixley has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.
The town began as a real-estate-speculation in 1884. The investors Darwin C. Allen, and William B. Bradbury knew their project would succeed only if the town was connected to the mainline of the Southern Pacific. They contacted Frank Pixley; a man whom they knew was a friend of Leland Stanford. In 1886, Pixley joined with the original investors as a partner in the Pixley Townsite Company. The company purchased additional land in the vicinity. When The Southern Pacific extended its tracks to the Townsite, the town prospered. The terms of sale for the land was 25% down, the rest to be carried back for three years by the owners at 8 percent interest. The partners made a handsome profit. Special railroad fares were offered to people in other areas of California and as far away as Boston in order to bring potential customers to see the new lands and the investment possibilities near Pixley. The first house built in Pixley was for Emma, William Pixley’s widow, the late brother of Frank Pixley. Her three sons and daughter lived in the home. Emma bought a quarter section of an adjoining piece of land where she farmed until they moved back to San Francisco. Frank Pixley advertised the town named after him in his biweekly journal The Argonaut.