A roundup of Fresno, California facts:
Fresno is the Spanish name for 'Ash Tree,' and like so many places
bearing Spanish names throughout California, Fresno began in an era
under Mexican rule.
The original Fresno County seat was located at the town of Millerton
on the San Joaquin River-an area now flooded behind the Friant Dam.
When officials of the Central Pacific Railroad determined that their
next stopping point would be a place called Fresno, a site surrounded by
wilderness, but indicative of promise, the Millerton populace voted
Fresno as their new county seat.
Today, the population of Fresno County, now over 764, 800, represents
an emerging metropolitan center with a rich, cultural mix of more than
90 different nationalities. Fresno has all the amenities of a large
city, combined with the wonderful qualities of a small, familiar
community.
Fresno's Local Government - The City of Fresno is managed by a Strong Mayor form of Government.
The City Council is represented by seven elected councilpersons, one of
whom is the elected President of the Council. Fresno County is divided
into five districts. A chief administrative officer serves the elected
Board of Supervisors.
Culture - Culture, too, rates high among the unique characteristics of Fresno.
Fresnans enjoy a rich and varied life-style that blends the cultural
assets of much larger cities with an atmosphere of tranquillity that
often seems at odds with the area's dynamic growth. Fresno abounds with
fine regional and ethnic restaurants as well as a vibrant nightlife. Its
symphony, local theater companies, music and dance productions
distinguish Fresno as a city with access to a wide variety of cultural
events. The Fresno Metropolitan Museum, Fresno Art Museum and other
cultural organizations preserve the area's rich history and serve at the
forefront for future activities.
Beauty - Fresno County agrarian beauty is showcased yearly at the Fresno County
Blossom Trail, a 67 mile self-guided tour featuring the natural
allurement of California's agricultural heartland. A panorama of
blossoms such as peaches, nectarines, oranges, plums and almonds can be
found along the trail. The Blossom Trail kickoff is customarily set for
the end of February.
Fresno Area Business - For many years, Fresno basked in its plentiful sun and quiet and
stillness, breezing through the years with not too much turmoil,
steadily building on its ag-based foundation, and enjoying its
small-town amenities while the metropolitan centers to the north and the
south were concerned with "big city" issues.
We were a quieter place then.
Today, Fresno can boast about its 7,500 farmers harvesting 250 crops
on 1 million irrigated acres. Known as the number one agricultural
county in the world, Fresno grows cotton, tomatoes, lettuce, grapes,
citrus, and much more. The total annual gross revenue from Fresno County
crop production tops $3 billion.
Fresno County Farm Bureau statistics report that one in every three
jobs in the county relates to agriculture. But increasing numbers of
industrial, manufacturing, and service industries are finding Fresno
County to be an ideal location to base all types of operations.
A study conducted by Ernst and Young ranked Fresno high on the list of
preferred sites for manufacturing and distribution. The ranking was due
to the city's central location and access to over 35 million consumers
within a day's drive. Designated as a Port of Entry, Fresno's key
location in the center of the state and a comprehensive transportation
network make it a natural hub for distribution of a myriad of goods and
services.
Enterprise Zones is another one of Fresno's treasures available to
area businesses. The zones enable the city to offer tax credits, reduce
development fees, employee benefits, priority status for bond and
infrastructure financing, and numerous other incentives. The Fresno
County Economic Development and other local government agencies
spearhead the projects and continue to attract new businesses to Fresno
County.
Fresno is also home to nationally recognized organizations such as:
Quickie Designs, one of the country's largest wheelchair manufacturers;
Pelco, a worldwide distributor of camera and surveillance equipment;
Duncan Enterprises, the world's largest hobby ceramics manufacturer; and
Nisshinbo Industries, a leading Japanese textile manufacturer.
Downtown Revitalization - A new gust of wind has blown through downtown Fresno, one that is
sending the downtown area into a whirlwind of changes. One of the most
recent projects is the building of a new federal courthouse, adding
beauty to Fresno's skyline. Fresnans will soon see the building of the
Central California Regional Medical Network. Allowing the central valley
community to have hospitals like those at UCLA and Stanford. There is
also the hope of a new Amtrak Station and the most exciting news of
Triple A Baseball/Entertainment Stadium. The future is downtown Fresno!
Transportation - Fresno Yosemite International, continues to grow. This
state-of-the-art commercial and general aviation center for the San
Joaquin Valley has nearly 100 arrivals and departures daily. In
addition, charter flights or rentals are also available.
The Santa Fe and Southern Pacific rail companies provide service to
the Valley, and over 200 trucking services operate from the Fresno area.
Santa Fe railroad is currently looking to expand their operations in the
Fresno area. Amtrak passenger service links Fresno with northern and
southern California. Greyhound bus service connects travelers to other
destinations.
Convention and Tourism - Fresno is currently expanding its convention site due to its
popularity. Because Fresno had a central location it makes it a natural
site for various conventions. Fresno has more than 6,000 hotel/motel
rooms to accommodate the many organizations that gather here. Fresno
offers full-service conference hotels such as Holiday Inn Centre Plaza,
Fresno Hilton Hotel, Resorts at Bass Lake, Courtyard by Marriott,
Piccadilly Inn Hotels, Ramada Inn, and Yosemite Marriott-Tenaya Lodge.
Fresno, the only city surrounded by three national parks, provides
easy access to Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon. Also, Fresno
provides comfortable day trips to San Francisco, the California Coast
and the Los Angeles area. Serving businesses, the arts, and the
community, the Fresno Convention Center covers five city blocks and
includes, Selland Arena, used for concerts, sporting events, and
exhibits; the William Saroyan Theater, which seats 2,359 in an ideal
environment for concerts, stage plays, ballets and meetings; and the
Exhibit Hall, with 11 separate conference rooms and 32,000 square feet
of unobstructed area for banquets, conventions, and dances. In addition,
the Fresno Conference Center, located across the street from the
Convention Center, features a 13,000-square-foot ballroom and seven
meeting rooms.
Fresno content reprinted with permission from
Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce
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