Stratford (formerly, Stratton)[2] is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kings County, California, United States.

Stratford is located 14 miles (23 km) southwest of Hanford,[4] at an elevation of 203 feet (62 m).

The Kings River flows through an artificial channel into the normally dry Tulare Lake bed about 10 miles (16 km) south of Stratford.

[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, Stratford has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2), all of it land.

The name was changed to Stratford in 1906 due to the efforts of the local women's club.

[7][8] Many local residents are employed in agriculture, affected by the Great Recession and the California drought.

[13] Highway 41 runs north-northeast on the west side of town, connecting it with Kettleman City on the south and Lemoore on the north.

Federally, Stratford is located in California's 21st congressional district and is represented by Democrat TJ Cox.

There were 328 housing units at an average density of 480.3 per square mile (185.4/km2), of which 206 (66.0%) were owner-occupied, and 106 (34.0%) were occupied by renters.

At the 2000 United States Census,[17] there were 1,264 people, 292 households and 259 families residing in the CDP.