Alpaugh

History

Alpaugh's location (once also called Hog Island, Root Island, and Atwell's Island) was once either on an island or a narrow peninsula near the south end of the huge and rich Tulare Lake. A.J. Atwell was a Visalia attorney (and newspaper owner) who raised hogs on the island. The lake at different times supported a very large Native American population, a commercial fishery, herds of tule elk, countless game birds, and much more. The island was a regular port of call for the lake's commercial ferry service. The last time the lake was brim full and overflowed into the San Joaquin River to the sea was 1878. Water diversions of its source waters have since caused the lake to shrink into the tiny remnant of today. Local efforts have been undertaken to increase the lake's size for water storage and wildlife. Los Angeles real estate developers, the California Home Extension Association, promoted, developed or founded Alpaugh, nearby Wasco, and several other California towns. It has also been referred to as "W.H. Wilber's Second Home Extension Coloney that purchased eight-thousand acres of land surrounding Alpaugh." Los Angeles newspaper articles of the time explained that they were not the original landowners. "The California Home Extension association does not represent land owners; it has no lands of its own for sale." In 1920 and 1921 both oil and large gas fields were found near Alpaugh.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all of it land. The site is located on the historic shoreline of Tulare Lake, once the largest freshwater lake in the USA outside of the Great lakes. Other towns built on its historic shores include Lemoore and Kettleman City. Despite being on the edge of the ancient Tulare lakebed, the town is without access to safe drinking water, as high levels of arsenic are found in the municipal water supply. Locals are forced to drink, cook and bathe using bottled water or expose themselves to this hazard.

Race & ethnicity

Most recent

• M 2.74 — 2026-08-25
  17 km SSE of Shandon, CA
• M 2.82 — 2026-08-23
  4 km NW of Parkfield, CA
• M 2.85 — 2026-08-21
  8 km WNW of Corcoran, CA
• M 3.34 — 2026-08-04
  10 km NNE of Kettleman City, CA
• M 2.79 — 2026-07-29
  10 km SW of Lamont, CA
• M 2.55 — 2026-07-12
  13 km SSW of Cantua Creek, CA