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Archiver > NORCAL > 1998-03 > 0889085277


From: Nancy Howard <>
Subject: Fwd: History of Mendota, CA
Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 00:07:57 -0800 (PST)


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note: forwarded msg attached.

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Received: from [206.170.218.120] by send1d; Wed, 04 Mar 1998 23:16:46 PST
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 23:16:46 -0800 (PST)
From: Nancy Howard <>
Subject: History of Mendota, CA
To:
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Hi Maggie,
Mendota is a very small dusty town in west Fresno County out in
the alkali flats. I abstracted this from Clough and Secrest; "Fresno
County: The Pioneer Years":

The Southern Pacific Railroad set up a switching and storeage
facility there in early 1891. The surrounding land was used to graze
cattle and sheep. (Currently, due to irrigation, grapes and
cantaloupes are grown there.) The town was located nine miles
southeast of Firebaugh because it was thought Firebaugh, also a small
dusty town, was too rowdy and lawless. The reason for naming Mendota
has been lost according to Gudde in 'California Place Names'. There
were a number of Mendotas in the midwest at the time.
There were several saloons and bars and "a hotel started by
private hands". Drinking water had to be shipped in.
Mendota's population climbed to approximately 200 by the mid-1890s.
The primary employer was the railroad but it was also a sheep shearing
center. It's slogans were: "Mendota, City of Destiny" and "City of
Constant Revelry".
The Maupin name goes way back on various lists in CA
history. There were many Maupins in the City of Fresno.
I suggest you search the county sites.

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