1904 - The first recorded mosquito control efforts in California were under the direction of UC Professors and were directed at the
salt-marsh mosquitoes in the San Francisco Bay marshlands.
1908 - Malaria was devastating the central valley.
1910 - The first anti-Malaria program was started in the Sacramento Valley at Penryn.
1915 California Legislature adopted the 'Mosquito Abatement Act' which formed the basis for the formation, governing powers, and
functions of mosquito abatement and vector control districts.
1920
1922 DELTA MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT was formed with 16 sq miles including all of
the city of Visalia plus some adjacent suburban area. Malaria was a common
disease at that time, and pest mosquitoes provided an added stimulus
for the residents to obtain control.
The Visalia Women's club played a key part in our formation.
The Board held meetings downtown at a bank, and Percy Menefee was the
first Superintendent. Hired at the rate of $150/month.
1928 The total budget for the District was set at $1900 dollars.
April 1933 the adjacent area North and West of our boundaries were added because we needed to control producers that were
sending mosquitoes into the populated areas of the city.
1937 the District's budget was increased by $500 to include a new car.
1942 US Military requested our help in reducing mosquito numbers at the Visalia Airport, which they were using for military
purposes
1946, October: The area from Goshen to the Woodlake hills was included to the District.
Delta MAD and Tulare MAD jointly hired an entomologist that they shared for several years.
Land was purchased on Houston Avenue for $600.00
1947, February: The areas north and West of the then current District was annexed to the County line, with the border northeast
following a school district boundary
1947, November Exeter, Farmersville and Three Rivers areas were annexed into the District.
1947, November Areas were removed from the annexation by board member vote.
Aerial spraying was conducted by contracting with private agencies
1948 purchased used TD-9 tractor for land work
1957, July approximately 2 1/2 miles were added to the district
1958, Annexed this area
1959 Airplane was purchased for aerial spraying
1960, The proposal to provide residents in the City of Lindsay coverage was forwarded and later dropped due to a lack of support.
1973, March 14th: The District changed it's name from 'Delta Mosquito Abatement District' to 'Delta Vector Control District' to
reflect the program, which included the control of mosquitoes, flies and other vectors.
In 1976 it was proposed to annex an area West of Hiway 99 which would include the Visalia Wastewater treatment plant, and an
area south along Mooney Blvd to include Mooney's Grove. This was turned down by LAFCO.
The last district Boundary change left the District with approximately 712 Sq miles.
We serve a population of 190,000, including 58,000 households, the incorporated cities of Visalia, Exeter, Farmersville, Dinuba and
Woodlake.
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