Mecca, California

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"Welcome to Mecca" sign

Mecca is a census-designated place (CDP) in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 5,402 at the 2000 census.

A 2006 documentary film, Mecca: A Legacy of Cesar Chavez, reveals details about the area. It was distributed nationwide by the National Educational Telecommunications Association and discusses poverty, health care, and farmworker history of the area.

[edit] Geography

Mecca is located at 33°34′24″N, 116°4′25″W (33.573388, -116.073536)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.4 km² (1.3 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 5,402 people, 1,049 households, and 958 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,604.4/km² (4,167.1/mi²). There were 1,059 housing units at an average density of 314.5/km² (816.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 24.10% White, 0.11% African American, 1.02% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 70.66% from other races, and 3.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 98.02% of the population.

Mecca Community and Health Care Center.

There were 1,049 households out of which 67.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.4% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 8.6% were non-families. 4.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 5.04 and the average family size was 4.97.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 39.8% under the age of 18, 14.4% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 13.1% from 45 to 64, and 3.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 128.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 135.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $22,973, and the median income for a family was $21,250. Males had a median income of $16,897 versus $11,901 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $6,389. About 43.0% of families and 45.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 52.1% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.