Fresno County, California - info, facts, communities on Key to the City

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Information & Facts about Alpine County, California

Attractions & other Information - Climate - Economy - Genealogy - Geography -
Government - History - Libraries - Location - Organizations & Groups -
Other Facts & Figures - Population - Schools

Government

Fresno County official page

The City of Fresno is one of 15 incorporated cities in Fresno County, all located on the valley floor. Over 60 percent of the County's total population is in the neighboring cities of Fresno and Clovis.

Council of Fresno County Governments
2100 Tulare Street, Suite 619
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 233-4148
Fax: (559) 233-9645

City of Fresno - County Seat

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Population:

2000 - 799,407
2001 - 823,900
2003 – 879,800
2005 - 877,584
2007 - 1,002,284

Population Density:
2000 - 135 persons per square mile

According to the 2000 Census, Fresno County is one of the largest, fastest growing, and most diverse counties in the state of California

Housing Units:
2000 - 270,767

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Location:

Fresno County is in the San Joaquin Valley of central California. Downtown Los Angeles is 220 miles to the south and east, Monterey, on the Pacific Coast, is almost directly to the west, 160 miles by road, and San Francisco is 185 miles to the north and west. The southern entrance to Yosemite National Park is about 65 miles to the north, while the entrance to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is about 55 miles to the east.

Try this map page with links to several different maps.

Neighboring Counties:

North - Madera County
Northeast - Mono County
East - Inyo County
South - Tulare County
South - Kings County
Southwest - Monterey County
West - San Benito County
Northwest - Madera County

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Climate:

Fresno County is subject to a Mediterranean climate. Low elevations are hot and dry in the summer and in the winter moderate temperatures and relatively light precipitation are common.

Yearly average precipitation: 12.0 inches

Here is a weather page for the area. This weather page is from the National Weather Service

Average annual high temperature: 76.5
Average annual low temperature: 50.1

Average summer high temperature: 96.0
Average summer low temperature: 63.1

Average winter high temperature: 56.5
Average winter low temperature: 38.3

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Other Facts and Figures:

Median household income:
2000 - $34,725

Per capita income:
2000 - $15,495
2002 - $23,492

Median age:
2005 - 29.9 years

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History:

Fresno County is named for the Spanish word for ash or ash tree. In 1856, Fresno County was created, though its present boundaries were not established until 1909. The first county seat was the foothill community of Millerton.

Early inhabitants of the area probably were here between 7,000 and 50,000 years ago. The first European settlers in the early 1800's found the Yokuts tribe living n the valley floor and in the foothills along the major rivers of the area, the San Joaquin and the Kings Rivers. The Monache Tribe lived further up the rivers. After the initial Spanish explorers came, others began to arrive including trappers and hunters. The famous mountain man, Kit Carson explored the area during the 1840's.

The county was a part of the mining boom of California from its early years until the mid 1860's. Once gold fever subsided, the county experienced its stock raising and general farming period. Later, after water controversy was worked out, the county made a transition to orchards and vineyards from its general farming.

Here is a history page for Fresno and the County

Highlights of Fresno County's first 100 years

A Guide to historic architecture in Fresno and the area

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Geography:

Land area: 5,963 Square miles
Water area: 5,963 Square miles
Total area: 6,017 Square miles

Fresno County is located near the center of California's San Joaquin Valley which, together with the Sacramento Valley to the north, form the Great Central Valley, one of the distinct physical regions of the state. The Coast Range foothills, which form the county's western boundary, reach a height of over 4,000 feet near Coalinga while some peaks along the crest of the Sierra Nevada, the county's eastern boundary, exceed 14,000 feet. The valley floor in between is fifty to sixty miles wide and has an elevation near the city of Fresno of about 325 feet. (Environment of Fresno County, Fresno County Planning Dept., 1975).

Rich soil, irrigation, and the hard work of farmers who came from all over the world combine to make Fresno County the richest and most productive agricultural county in America. In the year 2000, Fresno County growers grossed over 3.4 billion dollars from the production of more than 200 commercial crops.

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Genealogy:

California history and genealogy room
2420 Mariposa St.
Fresno, CA 93721-2285
Telephone: (559) 488-3195, option #5

Fresno County GenWeb Project
Kindred Trails page for Fresno County
Cemeteries of Fresno County
Linkpendium genealogy page for Fresno County

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Libraries:

Fresno County Library
Headquarters & Central Library
2420 Mariposa St.
Fresno, California 93721
Phone: 559-488-3195

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Schools:

Fresno County Office of Education
Clovis Unified School District
Fresno Unified School District

California State University at Fresno
Fresno City College

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Economy:

Agriculture is the principal industry in the county. In 2000, in terms of production, it was the top county in the nation. A few of the major crops are: grapes, cotton, almonds, tomatoes, fruit and milk. Government industries include the Internal Revenue Service, Mendota Federal Prison, Pleasant Valley State Prison and Coalinga State Hospital.

Fresno County Economic Development Corporation
906 N Street, Suite 120
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-233-2564

Fresno County Workforce Connection

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Organizations & Groups

Better Business Bureau of Fresno
2519 West Shaw, Suite 106
Fresno, CA 93711
Phone: (559) 222-8111
Fax: (559) 228-6518

Fresno City and County Convention and Visitors Bureau
848 "M" Street
Fresno, California 93721
Toll-free: 800-788-0836
Phone: 559-233-0836
FAX: 559-445-0122
TELEX: 172406 HQFSO

Fresno City and County Historical Society
7160 West Kearney Boulevard
Fresno, CA
Phone: 559-441-0862

Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce
2331 Fresno Street
Fresno, California 93721
Phone: 559-495-4800
Fax: 559-495-4811

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Attractions & Other Information

Fresno County is the only county in the country that can claim three national parks in its backyard.

Chaffey Zoo in Fresno

Downing Planetarium at California State University Fresno

Fresno Art Museum
2233 N. First St.
Fresno, CA 93703
Phone: (559) 441-4221

Fresno Metropolitan Museum
1555 Van Ness (Museum Part)
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 441-1444

Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra
2377 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 101
Fresno, CA 93711
Phone: (559) 261-0600

The Fresno Grizzlies Baseball Club
1800 Tulare Street
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 320-4487

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This page was last updated on 19 April 2010 at 3:10 pm