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Fresno County, California

Fresno County, officially the County of Fresno, is located in the central portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 1,008,654. The county seat is Fresno, the fifth-most populous city in California. Fresno County comprises the Fresno, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the Fresno–Madera, CA Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the Central Valley, south of Stockton and north of Bakersfield. Since 2010, statewide droughts in California have further strained both Fresno County's and the entire Central Valley's water security.

History
The area now known as Fresno County was the traditional homeland of Yokuts and Mono peoples, and was later settled by Spaniards during a search for suitable mission sites. In 1846, this area became part of the United States as a result of the Mexican-American War. Fresno County was formed in 1856 from parts of Mariposa, Merced and Tulare counties. Fresno is Spanish for "ash tree" and it was in recognition of the abundance of the shrubby local ash, Fraxinus dipetala, growing along the San Joaquin River that it received its name. Parts of Fresno County's territory were given to Mono County in 1861 and to Madera County in 1893. The original county seat was along the San Joaquin River in Millerton, but was moved to the rapidly growing town of Fresno on the newly built Southern Pacific Railroad line. A special election was held on March 23, 1874, to decide if Millerton should remain the County Seat or if the County Seat should be moved to another location. Fresno won the election that day and became the new Fresno County Seat. The settling of Fresno County was not without its conflicts, land disputes, and other natural disasters. Floods caused immeasurable damage elsewhere and fires also plagued the settlers of Fresno County. In 1882, the greatest of the early day fires wiped out an entire block of the city of Fresno, and was followed by another devastating blaze in 1883. At the same time residents brought irrigation, electricity, and extensive agriculture to the area. In 1865, William Helm brought his sheep to Fresno county, which was then a vast space of open land. Helm was the largest individual sheep grower in Fresno County. Moses Church developed the first canals, called "Church Ditches", for irrigation. These canals allowed extensive cultivation of wheat. Francis Eisen, leader of the wine industry in Fresno County, also began the raisin industry in 1875, when he accidentally let some of his grapes dry on the vine. Anthony Easterby and Clovis Cole developed extensive grain and cattle ranches. These and other citizens laid the groundwork for the cultivation of Fresno County – now one of the nation's leading agricultural regions. In more recent times cotton became a major crop in Fresno and the southern San Joaquin Valley, but recent drought and lower demand have lessened cotton's importance to the local economy. The discovery of oil in the western part of the county, near the town of Coalinga at the foot of the Coast Ranges, brought about an economic boom in the 1900s (decade), even though the field itself was known at least as early as the 1860s. By 1910, Coalinga Oil Field, the largest field in Fresno County, was the most richly productive oil field in California; a dramatic oil gusher in 1909, the biggest in California up until that time, was an event of sufficient excitement to cause the Los Angeles Stock Exchange to close for a day so that its members could come by train to view it. The Coalinga field continues to produce oil, and is currently the eighth-largest field in the state. More than thirty structures in Fresno County are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Fresno Water Tower, which once held over of water for the city of Fresno, the Meux Home, and Kearney Mansion Museum. ==Geography==
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.9%) is water. Fresno County consists of about 38 smaller towns including Fresno, Selma, Parlier, Clovis, Reedley, Sanger, Kerman, Kingsburg, Coalinga, Firebaugh, Friant, Mendota, Fowler, Shaver Lake, San Joaquin, Orange Cove, Del Ray, Squaw Valley, Auberry, Huron, Caruthers, Riverdale, Laton, Big Creek, Tranquility, Biola, Raisin City, Easton, Three Rocks, Cantua Creek, Lanare, Minkler, Bowles. Major watercourses are the San Joaquin River, Kings River, Delta-Mendota Canal, Big Creek, Friant Kern Canal, Helm Canal and Madera Canal. It is bordered on the west by the Coast Range and on the east by the Sierra Nevada. It is the center of a large agricultural area, known as the most agriculturally rich county in the United States. The county withdrew of fresh water per day in 2000, more than any other county in the United States. In recent years, statewide droughts in California have further strained both Fresno's and the entire Central Valley's water security. In October 2019, the Bureau of Land Management ended a five-year moratorium on leasing federal land in California to fossil fuel companies, opening 725,000 acres (1100 sq. miles; 29,000 ha) to drilling in San Benito, Monterey, and Fresno counties. ==Demographics==
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,008,654, and the median age was 33.3 years. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.9 males age 18 and over. The racial makeup of the county was 37.1% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 2.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 11.2% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 28.2% from some other race, and 16.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 53.6% of the population. 88.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 11.3% lived in rural areas. There were 319,296 households in the county, of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The racial makeup of Fresno County was 515,145 (55.4%) White, 49,523 (5.3%) African American, 15,649 (1.7%) Native American, 89,357 (9.6%) Asian (3.3% Hmong, 1.7% Asian Indian, 1.0% Filipino, 0.8% Laotian, 0.6% Chinese, 0.5% Japanese, 0.5% Cambodian, 0.3% Vietnamese, 0.2% Korean, 0.1% Pakistani, 0.1% Thai), 1,405 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 217,085 (23.3%) from other races, and 42,286 (4.5%) from two or more races. There were 468,070 Hispanic or Latino residents of any race (50.3%). 46.0% of Fresno County's population was of Mexican descent; 0.7% Salvadoran, and 0.3% of Puerto Rican origin. 2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 799,407 people, 252,940 households, and 186,669 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 270,767 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 54.3% White, 5.3% Black or African American, 1.6% Native American, 8.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 25.9% from other races, and 4.7% from two or more races. 44.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In terms of ancestry, the county was 7.5% German, 6.6% Irish, 6.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 59.3% spoke English, 31.5% Spanish and 3.1% Hmong as their first language. There were 252,940 households, out of which 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.59. In the county, the population was spread out, with 32.1% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males. The median income for a household in the county was $34,725, and the median income for a family was $38,455. Males had a median income of $33,375 versus $26,501 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,495. About 17.6% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.7% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over. Fresno County is also known for having the highest rate of chlamydia in the state. In 2006 it had 545.2 cases per 100,000 people, compared with the statewide average of 363.5. ==Metropolitan Statistical Area==
Metropolitan Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Fresno County as the Fresno, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The United States Census Bureau ranked the Fresno, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area as the 56th most populous metropolitan statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012. The Office of Management and Budget has further designated the Fresno, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area as a component of the more extensive Fresno–Madera, CA Combined Statistical Area, ==Government and policing==
Government and policing
Government The Government of Fresno County is defined and authorized under the California Constitution, law, and the Charter of the County of Fresno. Much of the Government of California is in practice the responsibility of county governments, such as the Government of Fresno County. The County government provides countywide services such as elections and voter registration, law enforcement, jails, vital records, property records, tax collection, public health, and social services. In addition the County serves as the local government for all unincorporated areas. The County government is composed of the elected five-member Board of Supervisors, several other elected offices including the Sheriff, District Attorney, Assessor-Recorder, Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, and Clerk/Registrar of Voters, and numerous county departments and entities under the supervision of the County Administrator. , the members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors are: • Brian Pacheco, District 1 • Garry Bredefeld, District 2 • Luis Chavez, District 3 • Buddy Mendes, District 4 • Nathan Magsig, District 5 Policing County Sheriff The Fresno County Sheriff provides court protection, jail administration, and coroner services for all of Fresno County and its population of approximately of 994,400 residents. They operate the Fresno County Jail in downtown Fresno. The department provides police patrol and detective services for the unincorporated areas of the county which encompasses approximately 250,000 residents, or 25% of the county's total population. The department also provides law enforcement services by contract with the city of San Joaquin, population 4100. Municipal police Municipal police departments in the county are: Fresno, population 500,000; Clovis, 110,000; Sanger, 25,000; Reedley, 24,000; Selma, 23,000; Coalinga, 17,000; Kerman, 14,000; Kingsburg, 12,000; Huron, 7,000; Firebaugh, 8,500; Fowler, 6,500. ==Politics==
Politics
Overview Fresno County's voter registration shows a plurality of Democratic voters. Presidential elections have been competitive in recent decades. In 2020, Joe Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate since Lyndon Johnson in 1964 to win over 51% of the vote in Fresno County, only for Donald Trump to become the first Republican in 20 years to win the county just four years after Biden's victory. The cities of Clovis, Coalinga, and Kingsburg are considered solidly Republican, while the city of Fresno itself is split. The most Republican areas of Fresno are along the San Joaquin River bluffs, while southern Fresno itself is considered heavily Democratic. Most smaller cities in Fresno such as Firebaugh, Selma, and Sanger are split, with Democratic-leaning urban centers and Republican-leaning exteriors. Unincorporated Fresno County, as well as its mountain communities, are considered heavily Republican. According to the California Secretary of State, in October 2012, there were 410,188 registered voters in Fresno County. 158,267 (38.6%) were registered Republican, 164,663 (40.1%) were registered Democratic, 19,841 (4.8%) are registered with other political parties, and 67,417 (16.4%) declined to state a political party. Republicans have a plurality or majority of voter roll registration in the cities of Clovis, Coalinga, Kingsburg, Reedley, and the unincorporated areas. The other cities and towns have Democratic pluralities or majorities. From Fresno County's incorporation in 1856, it voted Democratic in every election until 1904, when President Theodore Roosevelt stood for re-election. Fresno County backed Roosevelt over his Democratic opponent Alton B. Parker. This did not immediately change the county's voting tendencies, however. It supported southern Democrat Woodrow Wilson in the elections of 1912 and 1916. Fresno County was generally Republican from the onset of the "roaring 1920s" until the Great Depression, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt forged the New Deal Coalition that benefitted the agrarian county. From 1932 to 1976, the county consistently voted Democratic, barring Richard Nixon's landslide victory over former Senator George McGovern (D-SD) in 1972. With President Jimmy Carter's defeat by Ronald Reagan, Fresno became a GOP-leaning swing county. It barely favored Reagan's successor (then) vice president George H. W. Bush in 1988. Fresno would narrowly vote Democratic for Bill Clinton in 1992, marking the first time that Democrats won the county since Jimmy Carter in 1976. Republicans won elections in Fresno County by increasing margins from 1996 to 2004, then again in 2024. In the United States House of Representatives, Fresno County is split among four congressional districts: • • • • In the California State Senate, the county is split among three legislative districts: • , • , and • . In the California State Assembly, Fresno County is split among four legislative districts: • , • , • , and • . Fresno tends to remain socially conservative but more moderate on economic issues, which can be seen in Fresno's support for both socially conservative proposition amendments and Democratic candidates in presidential elections, especially if economic times are poor. In contrast, gubernatorial elections are considered safe for Republicans in the county. It voted "Yes" in the 2021 gubernatorial recall election and has voted for the Republican gubernatorial candidate in every election since 1978. On November 4, 2008, Fresno County voted 68.6% for Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. Voter registration statistics Cities by population and voter registration ==Crime==
Crime
The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense. ==Economy==
Economy
Agriculture Agriculture is the primary industry in Fresno County. See Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter in California and Pierce's Disease in California. Pistachio production in the United States was 523,900 MT in 2021, with 40% of that number being from Fresno, California. The peach harvest was worth $264,139,238 in 2017. Fresno is the second highest cotton producer in the state, harvesting 223,443 bales in 2017. Due to its tremendous agricultural success, the county also has a tremendous problem with glyphosate resistance. Companies based in Fresno CountyGottschalks Department Stores (liquidated in 2010 ) • Sun-Maid Raisins • Pinnacle Armor, maker of the Dragon Skin Body ArmorPelco, maker of surveillance cameras (acquired by Schneider Electric October 2007) • David Sunflower Seeds, now part of ConAgra FoodsFlicks Candy CompanyHarris Ranch Beef CompanyJD FoodSaladino's IncNational Raisin CompanyPacific EthanolUnited Security BankCentral Valley Community BankElectronic Recyclers International Major employers ;Commercial/Industrial • CargillKraft FoodsFoster Farms DairyFoster FarmsE & J Gallo WineryDel Monte FoodsPepsi Bottling GroupPPG IndustriesChevronPelcoSun-MaidElectronic Recyclers InternationalSaladino's Inc.GrundfosAmazon ;Government • Internal Revenue ServiceCaltransMendota Federal PrisonPleasant Valley State PrisonCoalinga State Hospital144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard ;Healthcare • Children's Hospital Central CaliforniaCommunity Medical Center - ClovisCommunity Regional Medical CenterCoalinga Regional Medical CenterFresno Surgery CenterKaiser Foundation Hospital - FresnoKingsburg Medical CenterSan Joaquin Valley Rehabilitation HospitalSaint Agnes Medical CenterSanger General HospitalSelma Community HospitalSierra Kings Hospital - ReedleyUniversity Medical Center - FresnoVA Medical Center - Fresno ;Nonprofits (community-based organizations) • Fresno Regional Foundation • Big Brothers Big Sisters • Central California Legal Services • Centro La Familia • Comprehensive Youth Services • Fresno Rescue Mission • Marjaree Mason Center, Inc. • Poverello HouseUnited Way, Fresno County • Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission ==Education==
Education
Tertiary education Educational institutions in Fresno County include: • California State University, Fresno which opened in 1911. • California Health Sciences University is a private university established in 2012. It currently offers a College of Pharmacy and College of Osteopathic Medicine and is committed to health sciences research and improving the access and delivery of quality health care in the San Joaquin Valley. • San Joaquin College of Law is a private, nonprofit law school founded in 1969 and located in the City of Clovis. • Fresno Pacific University is a private university in the City of Fresno. Within the California Community Colleges System, Fresno County is mostly covered by the State Center Community College District and the West Hills Community College District. The following campuses are in Fresno County: • Clovis Community College near the City of ClovisFresno City College in the City of FresnoReedley College in the City of ReedleyWest Hills College Coalinga in the City of Coalinga K-12 education School districts include: K-12: • Caruthers Unified School District - Covers some areas for PK-12 and some for 9–12 only • Central Unified School DistrictClovis Unified School DistrictCoalinga-Huron Unified School DistrictCutler-Orosi Joint Unified School DistrictDos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School DistrictFirebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School DistrictFowler Unified School DistrictFresno Unified School DistrictGolden Plains Unified School DistrictKerman Unified School DistrictKings Canyon Joint Unified School DistrictLaton Joint Unified School DistrictMendota Unified School DistrictParlier Unified School DistrictRiverdale Joint Unified School District - Covers some areas for PK-12 and some for 9–12 only • Sanger Unified School DistrictSelma Unified School DistrictSierra Unified School District - Covers some areas for PK-12 and some for 9–12 only • Washington Unified School District - Covers some areas for PK-12 and some for 9–12 only Secondary: • Kingsburg Joint Union High School DistrictDinuba Unified School District (while it is a unified school district, in this county it only covers areas for grades 9–12) Elementary: • Alvina Elementary School DistrictBig Creek Elementary School DistrictBurrel Union Elementary School DistrictClay Joint Elementary School DistrictKingsburg Elementary Charter School DistrictMonroe Elementary School DistrictMonson-Sultana Joint Union Elementary School DistrictOrange Center Elementary School DistrictPacific Union Elementary School DistrictPine Ridge Elementary School DistrictRaisin City Elementary School DistrictWashington Colony Elementary School DistrictWest Park Elementary School DistrictWestside Elementary School District Public libraries In addition, the Fresno County Public Library operates public libraries throughout the county. ==Transportation==
Transportation
Major highwaysInterstate 5State Route 33State Route 41State Route 43State Route 63State Route 99State Route 145State Route 168State Route 180State Route 198State Route 201State Route 245State Route 269 RailBNSF RailwayUnion Pacific RailroadSan Joaquin Valley RailroadBiola Branch (Southern Pacific) (abandoned) • Shaver Lake Railroad (abandoned) • San Joaquin and Eastern Railroad (abandoned) Airports ;Commercial service • Fresno Yosemite Int'l Airport ;General AviationFresno Chandler Executive AirportFirebaugh AirportMendota AirportNew Coalinga Municipal AirportReedley Municipal AirportSierra Sky Park Airport Public transportationFresno Area Express or FAX is the local bus operator in Fresno, including daily service to Fresno Yosemite International Airport. • Clovis Transit Stageline is the bus service in Clovis. • Reedley Transit a.k.a. Dial-A-Ride services Reedley. • Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA) offers a variety of local and intercity transit services around Fresno County. • Greyhound, FlixBus, and Orange Belt Stages provide intercity, long-distance bus service. • Amtrak Gold Runner stop in Fresno. ==Attractions==
Communities
CitiesClovisCoalingaFirebaughFowlerFresno (county seat) • HuronKermanKingsburgMendotaOrange CoveParlierReedleySan JoaquinSangerSelma Census-designated placesAuberryBig CreekBiolaBowlesCalwaCantua CreekCaruthersCentervilleDel ReyEastonFort WashingtonFriantLanareLatonMalagaMayfairMillertonMinklerMonmouthOld Fig GardenRaisin CityRiverdaleShaver LakeYokuts ValleySunnysideTarpey VillageThree RocksTranquillityWest ParkWestside Unincorporated communitiesBurrelDunlapHighway CityHumeMercey Hot SpringsPratherRolindaTollhouseOleander Population ranking The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Fresno County. county seat ==See also==
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