The 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.
Demographics
2010
At the 2010 census Friant had a population of 509. The population density was 383.9 people per square mile. The racial makeup of Friant was 433 White, 4 African American, 14 Native American, 7 Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 11 from other races, and 40 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 63 people. The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized. There were 224 households, 47 had children under the age of 18 living in them, 111 were opposite-sex married couplesliving together, 21 had a female householder with no husband present, 9 had a male householder with no wife present. There were 12 unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 5 same-sex married couples or partnerships. 61 households were one person and 33 had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.27. There were 141 families ; the average family size was 2.75. The age distribution was 83 people under the age of 18, 35 people aged 18 to 24, 82 people aged 25 to 44, 169 people aged 45 to 64, and 140 people who were 65 or older. The median age was 51.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.9 males. There were 252 housing units at an average density of 190.1 per square mile,of which 224 were occupied, 171 by the owners and 53 by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%. 381 people lived in owner-occupied housing units and 128 people lived in rental housing units.
2000
At the 2000 census there were 519 male and 259 female people, 226 households, and 148 families in the CDP. The population density was 384.6 people per square mile. There were 236 housing units at an average density of 174.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.21% White, 1.93% Native American, 1.93% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 2.70% from other races, and 4.05% from two or more races. 10.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 226 households 19.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 27.9% of households were one person and 9.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.70. The age distribution was 18.7% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 25.0% 65 or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.9 males. The median household income was $30,234 and the median family income was $35,792. Males had a median income of $24,808 versus $32,188 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,878. About 12.7% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Climate
Climate type occurs primarily on the periphery of the true deserts in low-latitude semiarid steppe regions. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "BSk".
