Mendota, California  Mendota is a U.S. city in Fresno County, California. The population was 11,014 at the 2010 U.S. Census. CA State Routes 180 and 33 run through the agricultural city. Mendota is located south-southeast of Firebaugh, at an elevation of 174 feet (53 m). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total land area of , over 99%. At the 2000 census, according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total land area of . It is located next to the San Joaquin River, near where the Delta-Mendota Canal intercepts it to bring extra water to the dry riverbed. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Mendota has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. Beginning in 1891, Mendota thrived as a Southern Pacific Railroad storage and switching facility site. Southern Pacific management borrowed the name from Mendota, Illinois. The first post office opened in 1892. The city incorporated in 1942, and is mostly recognized for its immense production of cantaloupes. Consequently, the city of Mendota is identified as The Cantaloupe Center of the World. State water projects brought irrigation to the region, setting the stage for the tremendous growth of agriculture. In 2007 a new Mendota Branch Library opened, part of the San Joaquin Valley Library System. The city suffers from chronic unemployment averaging 20%. In 2009 a drought combined with a recession caused unemployment to surge above 40%. The unemployment was quoted at 45% in May 2011. At the 2010 census Mendota had a population of 11,014. The population density was 3,356.3 people per square mile (1,295.9/km²). The racial makeup of Mendota was 5,823 (52.9%) White, 107 (1.0%) African American, 153 (1.4%) Native American, 82 (0.7%) Asian, 5 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 4,465 (40.5%) from other races, and 379 (3.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10,643 persons (96.6%). The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized. There were 2,424 households, 1,583 (65.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,309 (54.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 457 (18.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 319 (13.2%) had a male householder with no wife present.