Corning is a city in Tehama County, California, United States that is located approximately south of Red Bluff and about north of Sacramento. The population was 8,244 at the 2020 census, up from 7,663 at the 2010 census.
History
Corning had its start in 1882, when the railroad was extended to that point. The community was named after John Corning, a railroad official.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
thumb|left|High-density [[Arbequina|Arbequina olive orchard in Corning]]
Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Corning has a Hot-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Corning had a population of 8,244 and a population density of . The median age was 32.3 years. 30.3% of residents were under the age of 18, 9.4% were aged 18 to 24, 26.8% were aged 25 to 44, 21.2% were aged 45 to 64, and 12.4% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males age 18 and over.
The census reported that 99.6% of the population lived in households, 0.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.
There were 2,811 households in Corning, of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.5% were married-couple households, 9.7% were cohabiting-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92. There were 2,017 families (71.8% of all households).
There were 2,940 housing units at an average density of , of which 95.6% were occupied. Of occupied units, 48.7% were owner-occupied and 51.3% were occupied by renters. Of all housing units, 4.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.9%. Of those aged 25 or older, 77.7% were high school graduates and 13.4% had a bachelor's degree.
2010 census
At the 2010 census Corning had a population of 7,663 people. The population density was . The racial makeup of Corning was 5,510 (71.9%) Caucasian, 44 (0.6%) African American, 201 (2.6%) Native American, 82 (1.1%) Asian, 11 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 1,496 (19.5%) from other races, and 319 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,271 individuals (42.7%).
The census reported that 7,638 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 19 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 6 (0.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,630 households, out of which 1,193 (45.4%) had children under age 18 living in them, 1,136 (43.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 533 (20.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 179 (6.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 224 (8.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 12 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 633 households (24.1%) were one person and 259 (9.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90. There were 1,848 families (70.3% of households); the average family size was 3.44 persons.
The age distribution was 2,479 people (32.4%) under age 18, 864 people (11.3%) aged 18 to 24, 1,931 people (25.2%) aged 25 to 44, 1,617 people (21.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 772 people (10.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.2 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
There were 2,871 housing units at an average density of , of which 1,302 (49.5%) were owner-occupied, and 1,328 (50.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%. 3,765 people (49.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,873 people (50.5%) lived in rental housing units.
Government
In the California State Legislature, Corning is in , and in .
In the United States House of Representatives, Corning is in .
Major industries
thumb|An olive grower shows [[Koroneiki|Koroneiki olives ripe for harvest.]]
The major local industry is growing and preparing table olives. Corning also has a significant agricultural industry based on olive oil, dried plums (prunes, including the Sunsweet label), walnuts, and almonds.
;Bell-Carter Foods
Corning is home to Bell-Carter Foods, Inc., the second-largest table olive processor in the world and the largest in the United States. Bell Carter produces Lindsay Olives.
Corning Olive Festival
right|thumb|The old Sevianno olive tree in Corning, April 2015
The annual Corning Olive Festival, held on the second Saturday in October, is the longest-running olive festival in the United States. Started in 1946 by the local Catholic church as a fundraiser, the festival is now organized and operated by the Corning Chamber of Commerce.
Transportation
Interstate 5 and Highway 99 both serve Corning, along with the California Northern Railroad. The California Northern has been leasing and operating the line between Davis and Tehama through Corning from Southern Pacific (now Union Pacific) since September 26, 1993. The line was built by Southern Pacific's subsidiary, the Northern Railway Company, in August / September 1882.
Corning Municipal Airport (0O4), a public-use facility, is located just to the north of the high school. Its runway (numbered 17 and 35) is long and sits above sea level. The airport was activated in 1940. Its area control center is Oakland Center, while its flight service station is Rancho Murieta.
Notable people
Births
People born in Corning:
- Ralph Goings (1928–2016), artist
- Matt Maiocco (born 1967), sportswriter
- Tyler Reddick (born 1996), NASCAR driver
- Harry R. Stone (born 1942), MLB player
- Jeff Stover (born 1958), NFL player
- Blaire White (born 1993), YouTube personality
Inhabitants
People who live/lived in Corning at some point:
- Priscilla Duffield (1918–2009), secretary for Manhattan Project
- Keith Daniel Williams (1947–1996), triple murderer
- Monte Wolfe (1886–c.1940), pioneer
Deaths
People who died in Corning:
- Lee Grissom (1907–1998), Major League Baseball pitcher
- Silas M. Holmes (1816–1905), politician
Other
People associated with Corning in some other way:
- Clair Engle (1911–1964), U.S. Senator; practiced law in Corning
- France Silva (1876–1951), Marine; buried in Corning