Lockeford is an unincorporated community in San Joaquin County, California, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Lockeford as a census-designated place (CDP). The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name. The population was 3,521 at the 2020 census, up from 3,233 at the 2010 census.

Lockeford
Downtown Lockeford
Downtown Lockeford
Location in San Joaquin County and the state of California
Location in San Joaquin County and the state of California
Lockeford is located in the United States
Lockeford
Lockeford
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 38°9′27″N 121°9′5″W / 38.15750°N 121.15139°W / 38.15750; -121.15139
Country United States
State California
CountySan Joaquin
Government
  SenateJerry McNerney (D)[1]
  AssemblyHeath Flora (R)[1]
  U. S. CongressJosh Harder (D)[2]
Area
  Total
8.387 sq mi (21.723 km2)
  Land8.341 sq mi (21.603 km2)
  Water0.046 sq mi (0.120 km2)  0.55%
Elevation
102 ft (31 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
3,521
  Density422.1/sq mi (163.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
  Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
95237
Area code209
FIPS code06-42104
GNIS feature ID0277543
Reference no.365[4]

History

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Lockeford is registered as California Historical Landmark #365.[4] The town is named after Dean Jewett Locke, who, with his brother Elmer, settled in the area in 1851. Dean Locke then established a ranch and later the town in the region. It was Dean Locke's wife Delia who first coined the name "Lockeford" in 1859, referencing the ford that he built across the Mokelumne River.[4] Delia Locke's diaries chronicled the early history of Lockeford and her family's history in founding the town. They are available at the University of the Pacific.[5]

On June 13, 2022, Amazon announced that customers in Lockeford will be among the first in the United States to receive Amazon orders via the Amazon Prime Air drone delivery program.[6]

Geography

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Lockeford is located at 38°9′27″N 121°9′5″W / 38.15750°N 121.15139°W / 38.15750; -121.15139 (38.157565, -121.151455).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.4 square miles (22 km2), 99.45% of it land, and 0.55% of it water.

The town is served by California State Route 88, one of four routes that crosses over the Sierra Nevada in the region.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19801,852
19902,72247.0%
20003,17916.8%
20103,2331.7%
20203,3333.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1980[9]
1990[10] 2000[11] 2010[12]

Lockeford first appeared as a census designated place in the 1980 United States census.[9]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, Lockeford had a population of 3,333 and a population density of 399.6 inhabitants per square mile (154.3/km2).[13]

The age distribution was 22.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% aged 18 to 24, 23.0% aged 25 to 44, 26.2% aged 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.2 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.6 males age 18 and over.[13]

The census reported that 99.4% of the population lived in households, 19 people (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized. There were 1,179 households, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.9% were married-couple households, 5.8% were cohabiting couple households, 18.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.0% of households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81, and there were 839 families (71.2% of all households).[13][14]

There were 1,237 housing units at an average density of 148.3 units per square mile (57.3 units/km2), of which 1,179 (95.3%) were occupied. Of the occupied units, 77.9% were owner-occupied and 22.1% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%.[13]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[15]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[16]
RaceNumberPercent
White2,09662.9%
Black or African American210.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native331.0%
Asian581.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander120.4%
Some other race58817.6%
Two or more races52515.8%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)1,16334.9%

Income and poverty

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In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $93,438, and the per capita income was $47,494. About 6.5% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line.[17]

2010 census

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The 2010 United States census[18] reported that Lockeford had a population of 3,233. The population density was 385.5 inhabitants per square mile (148.8/km2). The racial makeup of Lockeford was 2,526 (78.1%) White, 10 (0.3%) African American, 22 (0.7%) Native American, 64 (2.0%) Asian, 13 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 413 (12.8%) from other races, and 185 (5.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 956 persons (29.6%).

The Census reported that 3,217 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 16 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,142 households, out of which 401 (35.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 650 (56.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 103 (9.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 73 (6.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 70 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 5 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 257 households (22.5%) were made up of individuals, and 127 (11.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82. There were 826 families (72.3% of all households); the average family size was 3.32.

The population was spread out, with 829 people (25.6%) under the age of 18, 264 people (8.2%) aged 18 to 24, 743 people (23.0%) aged 25 to 44, 929 people (28.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 468 people (14.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.

There were 1,221 housing units at an average density of 145.6 per square mile (56.2/km2), of which 862 (75.5%) were owner-occupied, and 280 (24.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 11.1%. 2,278 people (70.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 939 people (29.0%) lived in rental housing units.

Notable people

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References

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  1. 1 2 "Final Maps | California Citizens Redistricting Commission". Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  2. "California's 9th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  3. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Lockeford". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  5. "All Delia Locke Diaries | Delia Locke Diaries | University of the Pacific". scholarlycommons.pacific.edu. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  6. "Amazon Prime Air prepares for drone deliveries". US About Amazon. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  9. 1 2 "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  10. "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  11. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  12. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  14. "Lockeford CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  15. "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  16. "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  17. "Lockeford CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  18. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Lockeford CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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