Dos Palos, California is located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the wordl.  Currently, however, unemployment exceeds 60 % and the central valley economy is caught in the middle of a long running  dispute over water use and water allocation. Part of the high unemployment is caused by the reduction of water for farm use leading to the end of employment of farm based jobs.

To  locate Dos Palos, it is about 150 miles southeast from San Francisco, 90 miles southwest from Sacramento, and 75 miles southeast from San Jose, California.