Friant, California

Friant is a census-designated place in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 549 at the 2010 census, down from 778 at the 2000 census. Friant is located 11.5mi north of Clovis, at an elevation of 344 feet .GeographyThe CDP is located along the banks of the San Joaquin River and at the base of Friant Dam and Millerton Lake.According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.3sqmi, of which 96.2% is land and 3.8% is water.HistoryThe place was first called Converse Ferry for Charles Converse, who established a ferry across the San Joaquin River in 1852. It was renamed Jones Ferry for J.R. Jones, a local merchant. The post office came in 1881 and named the place Hamptonville, after William R. Hampton, its first postmaster. The Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1891 and named the place Pollasky for Marcus Pollasky, a railroad official. In the 1920s the place was renamed for Thomas Friant, a lumber company executive.Demographics2010The 2010 United States Census reported that Friant had a population of 509. The population density was 383.9 people per square mile (148.2/km²). The racial makeup of Friant was 433 (85.1%) White, 4 (0.8%) African American, 14 (2.8%) Native American, 7 (1.4%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 11 (2.2%) from other races, and 40 (7.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 63 persons (12.4%).