Keene, California
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Keene
|settlement_type = Unincorporated Community
Census Designated Place
|image_skyline =
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|image_seal =
|image_map = Kern_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Keene_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize = 250x200px
|map_caption = Location in Kern County and the state of California
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
| pushpin_map = California#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = {{flag|California}}
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Kern
|government_type =
|leader_title = N/A
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 = Senate
|leader_name1 = Shannon Grove (R)
|leader_title2 = Assembly
|leader_name2 = Vacant
|leader_title3 = U. S. Congress
|leader_name3 = Vince Fong (R)
|established_date =
|area_magnitude =
| unit_pref = US
| area_total_sq_mi = 9.449
| area_land_sq_mi = 9.444
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.005
| area_total_km2 = 24.473
| area_land_km2 = 24.460
| area_water_km2 = 0.013
| area_water_percent = 0.05
| area_note =
|elevation_ft = 2602
|elevation_m = 793
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_footnotes = {{cite web |title=US Census Bureau |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Keene%20CDP,%20California |website=www.census.gov |access-date=3 September 2024}}
|population_total = 469
|population_metro =
|population_density_km2 = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|timezone = PST
|utc_offset = -8
|coordinates = {{coord|35|13|25|N|118|33|44|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes = {{gnis|1660828}}
|timezone_DST = PDT
|utc_offset_DST = -7
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 93531
|area_code = 661
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 06-37946
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = 1660828
|footnotes =
|website =
}}
Keene (formerly Wells) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California in the foothills of the Tehachapi Mountains at the southern extreme of the San Joaquin Valley. Keene is located {{convert|8.5|mi|km|0}} northwest of Tehachapi,{{California's Geographic Names|1054}} at an elevation of {{Convert|2602|feet|}}. The population was 469 at the 2020 census, up from 431 at the 2010 census.
The headquarters of the United Farm Workers (UFW), a national farmworkers organization organized and led by Cesar Chavez, is located in Keene, and is sometimes referred to as "Nuestra Señora Reina de La Paz" ("Our Lady Queen of Peace").
Keene is located in the greater Tehachapi area.
Geography
Keene is located in Kern County, California.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|9.4|sqmi|km2}}, over 99% of it land.
A small community, Woodford, of about 30 buildings once existed about 1 mile southeast of Keene.{{When|date=June 2025}}
= Climate =
Keene is categorized as being within the 8b USDA hardiness zone, meaning temperatures can get as low as 15 to 20 °F.{{cite web |url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ |title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ |archive-date=27 February 2014 |url-status=live }}
{{Weather box
|location = Keene, CA (2,602 feet above sea level)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 79.0
|Feb record high F = 90.0
|Mar record high F = 89.0
|Apr record high F = 94.0
|May record high F = 104.0
|Jun record high F = 112.0
|Jul record high F = 111.0
|Aug record high F = 110.0
|Sep record high F = 107.0
|Oct record high F = 100.0
|Nov record high F = 86.0
|Dec record high F = 79.0
|year record high F =
|Jan high F = 57.0
|Feb high F = 60.0
|Mar high F = 66.0
|Apr high F = 71.0
|May high F = 81.0
|Jun high F = 90.0
|Jul high F = 97.0
|Aug high F = 96.0
|Sep high F = 88.0
|Oct high F = 78.0
|Nov high F = 65.0
|Dec high F = 56.0
|year high F =
|Jan mean F= 45.5
|Feb mean F= 48.5
|Mar mean F= 53.5
|Apr mean F= 58.5
|May mean F= 68.5
|Jun mean F= 77.0
|Jul mean F= 83.5
|Aug mean F= 82.0
|Sep mean F= 74.5
|Oct mean F= 64.0
|Nov mean F= 52.5
|Dec mean F= 44.5
|year mean F=
|Jan low F = 34.0
|Feb low F = 37.0
|Mar low F = 41.0
|Apr low F = 46.0
|May low F = 56.0
|Jun low F = 64.0
|Jul low F = 70.0
|Aug low F = 68.0
|Sep low F = 61.0
|Oct low F = 50.0
|Nov low F = 40.0
|Dec low F = 33.0
|year low F =
|Jan record low F = 11.0
|Feb record low F = 16.0
|Mar record low F = -5.0
|Apr record low F = 27.0
|May record low F = 34.0
|Jun record low F = 38.0
|Jul record low F = 43.0
|Aug record low F = 48.0
|Sep record low F = 38.0
|Oct record low F = 22.0
|Nov record low F = 13.0
|Dec record low F = 8.0
|year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.20
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.58
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.97
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.23
|May precipitation inch = 0.10
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.04
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.32
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.28
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.14
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.37
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.60
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.89
|year precipitation inch =
|source 1 =Weather Channel{{cite web
|url=https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/USCA0536:1:US |title=Keene, CA Monthly Weather Forecast |access-date=14 December 2018 |publisher=Weather Channel}}
}}
History
=César Chávez=
File:2009-0726-CA-NationalChavezCenter.jpg
File:2013-0211-CaesarChavezGravesite.jpg
The UFW moved its national headquarters to Keene from Delano, California. César Chávez spent his last years in Keene. The walls of his United Farm Workers office in Keene were lined with hundreds of books ranging in subject from philosophy, economics, cooperatives, and unions, to biographies of Gandhi, the Kennedys, and Che Guevara. He is buried at 29700 Woodford Tehachapi Rd, Keene, CA 93531, on the campus of the UFW headquarters.[http://www.nationalchavezcenter.org/main.html What is the National Chavez Center?], National Chavez Center, Accessed August 8, 2009.
The National Chavez Center was opened on the UFW campus in 2004 by the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation. It currently consists of a visitor center, memorial garden and the grave site of the civil rights leader. When it is fully completed, the {{convert|187|acre|km2|adj=on}} site will include a museum and conference center to explore and share Chávez's work. A two-acre parcel of the site was designated as César E. Chávez National Monument on October 8, 2012.{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/10/01/president-obama-establish-c-sar-e-ch-vez-national-monument|title=President Obama to Establish César E. Chávez Nat'l Monument|date=October 1, 2012|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=October 8, 2012}}
Demographics
{{US Census population
|2000= 339
|2010= 431
|2020= 469
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}
1860–1870{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1880-1890{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1900{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1910{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1920{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1930{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1940{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1950{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1960{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1970{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1980{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1990{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
2000{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 2010{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
}}
Keene first appeared as a census designated place in the 2000 U.S. Census.
=2020=
The 2020 United States census reported that Keene had a population of 469. The population density was {{convert|49.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Keene was 366 (78.0%) White, 9 (1.9%) African American, 8 (1.7%) Native American, 2 (0.4%) Asian, 2 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 27 (5.8%) from other races, and 55 (11.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 91 persons (19.4%).{{cite web |title=Keene CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0637946 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 22, 2025}}
The whole population lived in households. There were 184 households, out of which 56 (30.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 103 (56.0%) were married-couple households, 17 (9.2%) were cohabiting couple households, 31 (16.8%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 33 (17.9%) had a male householder with no partner present. 52 households (28.3%) were one person, and 29 (15.8%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.55. There were 119 families (64.7% of all households).{{cite web |title=Keene CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0637946 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 22, 2025}}
The age distribution was 90 people (19.2%) under the age of 18, 18 people (3.8%) aged 18 to 24, 114 people (24.3%) aged 25 to 44, 127 people (27.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 120 people (25.6%) who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 50.6{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males.
There were 215 housing units at an average density of {{convert|22.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 184 (85.6%) were occupied. Of these, 164 (89.1%) were owner-occupied, and 20 (10.9%) were occupied by renters.
=2010=
The 2010 United States Census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0637946|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715025939/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0637946|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Keene CDP|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}} reported that Keene had a population of 431. The population density was {{convert|44.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Keene was 385 (89.3%) White, 2 (0.5%) African American, 10 (2.3%) Native American, 8 (1.9%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 16 (3.7%) from other races, and 10 (2.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 47 persons (10.9%).
The Census reported that 431 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 186 households, out of which 38 (20.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 126 (67.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 12 (6.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 4 (2.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 9 (4.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 2 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 36 households (19.4%) were made up of individuals, and 13 (7.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32. There were 142 families (76.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.59.
The population was spread out, with 63 people (14.6%) under the age of 18, 22 people (5.1%) aged 18 to 24, 59 people (13.7%) aged 25 to 44, 213 people (49.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 74 people (17.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.
There were 225 housing units at an average density of {{convert|23.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 157 (84.4%) were owner-occupied, and 29 (15.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 14.7%. 361 people (83.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 70 people (16.2%) lived in rental housing units.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Clear}}
{{Kern County, California}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Census-designated places in Kern County, California
Category:Populated places established in 1876