About Allensworth

Allensworth Progressive Association

The Allensworth Progressive Association (APA) was established in 1908 by
the township’s founders as the official form of government, conducting the
community’s business and fostering civic engagement. Reestablished in
1997 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the APA is the community’s development
organization, serving a largely Latinx population, but with the same vision
and founded on the original living legacy cultivated by the APA’s
founders.
The APA is tasked with identifying, implementing, and managing
education, health, infrastructure, economic, and regional restoration and
revitalization projects, including the TAC Teaching and Innovation Farm and
improvements at Col. Allensworth State Historic Park. The APA is blessed to
partner and collaborate with a diverse array of agencies, organizations, and
friends, in cultivating a sustainable and thriving future for Allensworth
residents and neighbors.

Community & Capacity

Sustainable Agriculture & Water Resiliency

Col. Allensworth State Historic Park

Landscape Restoration & Conservation

About Allensworth

Allensworth Progressive Association

The Allensworth Progressive Association (APA) was established in 1908 by
the township’s founders as the official form of government, conducting the
community’s business and fostering civic engagement. Reestablished in
1997 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the APA is the community’s development
organization, serving a largely Latinx population, but with the same vision
and founded on the original living legacy cultivated by the APA’s
founders.
The APA is tasked with identifying, implementing, and managing
education, health, infrastructure, economic, and regional restoration and
revitalization projects, including the TAC Teaching and Innovation Farm and
improvements at Col. Allensworth State Historic Park. The APA is blessed to
partner and collaborate with a diverse array of agencies, organizations, and
friends, in cultivating a sustainable and thriving future for Allensworth
residents and neighbors.

Community & Capacity

Sustainable Agriculture & Water Resiliency

Col. Allensworth State Historic Park

Landscape Restoration & Conservation

The Town that Refuses to Die

Located where the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River once existed, where the Wowol Yokuts navigated, fished, lived, and loved for thousands of years, Allensworth was established. The highest-ranking Black officer in the Armed Forces and Baptist minister, Col. Allen Allensworth established the Allensworth township at the southernmost part of the dry Tulare/Ton Tache Lake bed bottom, in 1908.
Tulare/Ton Tache Lake was recorded officially dry in 1898, after the Wowol Yokuts population was decimated by settler diseases and the Lake was drained, to establish an agricultural stronghold. It was here that Col. Allensworth and the community’s original founders decided to realize their vision.
Colonel Allensworth’s dream of Black self-determination and prosperity, and the community he helped to found on those principles, flourished for a number of years. Allensworth, once a thriving Black agricultural community, lost most of its population due to the racist and hostile actions of a
neighboring white community. With the help of those in power, transportation and resources were shifted away from Allensworth and towards the adjoining white town, undermining Allensworth’s economic vision and sidelining the community’s growth for decades. In 1969, the community of Allensworth was facing impending demolition when residents hailing from founding families petitioned the state to recognize Allensworth as a historic site. In 1974, Col. Allensworth State Historic Park (CASHP) was established and the adjoining community of Allensworth was given new life as well, becoming home to families that plant, harvest and process the renowned agricultural abundance of the Central Valley.
Almost five decades later, Allensworth continues to demonstrate the resilient nature of its Founding Fathers. Allensworth is the town that refuses to die, because we deserve to live and we deserve to thrive.
All About TAC Teaching and Innovation Farm

TAC FARM

The TAC Teaching and Innovation Farm is a model for re-envisioning Agriculture in the Central Valley through it's mission to nourish healthy rural BIPOC communities and demonstrate the inherent benefits of integrating Community and Agricultural Education through the Central Valley BIPOC Farmer Training Program.
Although the community of Allensworth is located in one of the top-producing agricultural regions of the world, the community itself resides within a food desert. Large-scale monoculture agriculture has stressed regional groundwater supply to its limits, increasing water supply contamination, and depleting soil health. Rural communities in California are predominantly communities of color and therefore face the brunt of environmental degradation and its effects on human health and are already more greatly impacted by the effects of climate change.
TAC Teaching & Innovation Farm aims to become the model for re-envisioning agriculture in the Central Valley and nourishing healthy rural communities of color. TAC Farm’s goal is to establish an economic engine in Allensworth that can generate economic growth, provide education in organic and regenerative agriculture, housing development and stronger support for the Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. TAC Teaching & Innovation Farm will provide hands-on training in organic farming, rabbitry, and composting to adults and youth throughout the Central Valley, cultivating community-grown solutions to ongoing challenges faced by Central Valley rural communities..
Allensworth Community Advocate, Organizer & Leader

Nettie Morrison

Before moving to Allensworth in 1979, Nettie Morrison knew the history of Allensworth, Ca. and was a member of the Study Panel that created the Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. As founder of the Friends of Allensworth, Nettie set about coordinating and organizing hundreds of community and state park events, highlighting and cele-
brating both the history and the future of Allensworth.
Nettie Morrison was christened ‘Mayor’ by fellow community members and Tulare County officials because she was who they would call when anything in Allensworth needed addressing. Water well troubles? Call Nettie. School needs funds for a youth program? Call Nettie. Church needs an addition? Call Nettie. Turkey processing plant trying to move next door? Call Nettie.
Her leadership was recognized in December 2011 by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors in a proclamation “honoring Nettie Morrison for 30 years of advocacy and dedicated leadership to the community of Allensworth. “
Allensworth Progressive Association

The Work Done

COL. ALLENSWORTH STATE HISTORIC PARK ESTABLISHED

1974 | California State Parks purchases land within the township of Allensworth, creating the Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. Restored and reconstructed early 20th-century buildings—such as the historic schoolhouse, Baptist church, and Colonel’s house—once again dot farm
country, giving new life to the dreams of these visionary pioneers.www.parks.ca.gov

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS

2007 | Community leader Nettie Morrison moves to action when hearing that two mega dairies will be built next to Allensworth, immediately organizing supporters from throughout the state. Busloads of supporters attend the Board of Supervisors meetings to express concerns over the dairy’s negative impacts. As a result, the CA Assembly establishes a 2.5 mile “dairy-free” buffer around CASHP that summer.

NOURISHING THE SPIRIT OF ALLENSWORTH

Nettie Morrison established the Food Commodities Program for Allensworth to ensure that essential commodities are distributed to the community on a monthly basis. She also founded the Allensworth Christian Church and both lobbied and fundraised for its move from the State Park into the Allensworth Community where it was strengthened and renovated.

What We Do?

We’re on a Mission to Solve
The Problems

THE ALLENSWORTH + ALPAUGH WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM (A+A WBL)

The A+A WBL Program is a 4-week long youth summer program from the communities of Allensworth and Alpaugh. By providing hands-on activities, mentoring opportunities, and exploratory field trips , the local youth begin to hone and expand their awareness of the landscape and ready them with skills needed to address drought, flood, and other climate change issues our region faces.

ELECTROCHEMICAL ARSCENIC REMEDIATION (ECAR) RESEARCH PROJECT

Electrochemical arsenic remediation (ECAR) is a technology developed out of the Gadgil Lab, as a potential solution to US arsenic contamination issues, an longtime issue affecting Allensworth drinking water. A field trial was conducted in 2019 on TAC Teaching and Innovation Farm in Allensworth by a UC Berkeley PhD in Environmental Engineering Student. The results were very positive and next steps are being explored for the best way to develop and spread this technology.

THE HISTORIC ALLENSWORTH CEMETERY

An endeavor prompted by community leader Nettie Morrison, her family and with assistance from Self-Help Enterprises, the Tulare County Planning Dept. is currently working with appropriate agencies to transfer ownership of the Allensworth Historic Cemetery to the Allensworth Community Services District. Once this process is complete, the District can apply for funding to address historic preservation.

CA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION’S (CPUC) AFFORDABLE ENERGY PILOT PROGRAM

After tremendous community advocacy the CPUC , approved 11 affordable energy projects for communities throughout the Central Valley. Allensworth was a recipient and the community, along with partners, are making the way to establish solar power as an alternative energy source for Allensworth.

The Future of Allensworth is Bright

On the horizon, the Allensworth Progressive Association is dedicated to bringing these projects to fruition, to honor the dreams and aspirations of Community Stewards before us, and to support the community after us.