Fresno County, California

Fresno County (Template:IPAc-en), officially the County of Fresno, is a county 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.<ref name="Pop2020"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Fresno,<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="water.ca.gov">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="amp.sacbee.com">Template:Cite news</ref>

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 War.

Fresno County was formed in 1856 from parts of Mariposa, Merced and Tulare counties. Fresno is Spanish for "ash tree"<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.Template:Citation needed

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.<ref>History of the Coalinga area Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>California Department of Conservation, Oil and Gas Statistics, Annual Report, December 31, 2006, p. 66–67 (2–3 in PDF file)</ref>

More than thirty structures in Fresno County are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Fresno Water Tower, which once held over Template:Convert of water for the city of Fresno, the Meux Home, and Kearney Mansion Museum.Template:Citation needed

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Fresno County consists of about 38 smaller towns including Fresno, Selma, Parlier, Clovis, Reedley, Sanger, Kerman, Kingsburg, Coalinga, Firebaugh, Calwa, Friant, Mendota, Fowler, Shaver Lake, San Joaquin, Orange Cove, Del Ray, Yokuts Valley, Auberry, Huron, Caruthers, Riverdale, Laton, Big Creek, Tranquility, Biola, Raisin City, Easton, Three Rocks, Cantou Creek, Lanare, Minkler, Mayfair, Malaga, Bowles, Monmouth, and West Park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 Template:Convert 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.<ref name="water.ca.gov"/><ref name="amp.sacbee.com"/>

Fresno County is part of the Madera AVA wine region. However, Fresno was named after two particular ash trees that grew near the town of Minkler on the Kings River, one of which is still alive and standing.Template:Citation needed

Adjacent counties

• Madera County (north)
• Kings County (south)
• Mono County (northeast)
• Merced County (northwest)
• Tulare County (southeast)
• Monterey County (southwest)
• Inyo County (east)
• San Benito County (west)

National protected areas

• Giant Sequoia National Monument (part)
• Kings Canyon National Park (part)
• Sequoia National Forest (part)
• Sierra National Forest (part)

Geology

A number of minerals have been discovered in the county, including macdonaldite, krauskopfite, walstromite, fresnoite, verplanckite, muirite, traskite, and kampfite.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Demographics

2020 census

Fresno County, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	317,522	304,522	271,889	39.72%	32.73%	26.96%
Black or African American alone (NH)	40,291	45,005	44,295	5.04%	4.84%	4.39%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	6,223	5,979	6,074	0.78%	0.64%	0.60%
Asian alone (NH)	63,029	86,856	109,665	7.88%	9.33%	10.87%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	682	1,066	1,233	0.09%	0.11%	0.12%
Other Race alone (NH)	1,451	1,744	5,209	0.18%	0.19%	0.52%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	18,573	17,208	29,546	2.32%	1.85%	2.93%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	353,636	468,070	540,743	43.99%	50.31%	53.61%
Total	799,407	930,450	1,008,654	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010 census

Template:Citation needed span 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%).<ref>Template:USCensus2010CA</ref> 46.0% of Fresno County's population was of Mexican descent; 0.7% Salvadoran, and 0.3% of Puerto Rican origin.

Population reported at 2010 United States census
Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center
Fresno County	930,450	515,145	49,523	15,649	89,357	1,405	217,085	42,286	468,070
Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center
Clovis	95,631	67,758	2,618	1,320	10,233	218	8,857	4,627	24,514
Coalinga	13,380	7,734	549	171	407	36	3,937	546	7,161
Firebaugh	7,549	4,715	70	116	40	0	2,371	237	6,887
Fowler	5,570	2,634	104	136	610	8	1,800	278	3,687
Fresno	494,665	245,306	40,960	8,525	62,528	849	111,984	24,513	232,055
Huron	6,754	2,300	66	77	39	6	3,964	302	6,527
Kerman	13,544	6,860	68	173	1,091	14	4,675	663	9,711
Kingsburg	11,382	8,576	62	146	383	21	1,706	488	4,883
Mendota	11,014	5,823	107	153	82	5	4,465	379	10,643
Orange Cove	9,078	3,940	72	131	101	3	4,481	350	8,413
Parlier	14,494	7,251	85	180	77	9	6,387	505	14,137
Reedley	24,194	14,105	169	267	797	8	7,850	998	18,455
San Joaquin	4,001	1,966	31	54	37	0	1,766	147	3,825
Sanger	24,270	14,454	219	311	758	39	7,645	844	19,537
Selma	23,219	12,869	284	479	1,057	9	7,630	891	18,014
Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center
Auberry	2,369	2,048	10	105	24	2	68	112	309
Big Creek	175	158	1	1	5	0	3	7	27
Biola	1,623	510	6	43	316	2	692	54	1,196
Bowles	166	108	6	1	1	0	43	7	71
Calwa	2,052	995	24	67	43	9	846	68	1,848
Cantua Creek	466	244	5	3	1	0	199	14	461
Caruthers	2,497	1,224	14	38	221	0	904	96	1,591
Centerville	392	321	1	9	20	0	33	8	99
Del Rey	1,639	740	7	11	34	0	814	33	1,534
Easton	2,083	1,248	13	58	68	0	593	103	1,308
Fort Washington	233	209	4	1	7	0	1	11	26
Friant	509	433	4	14	7	0	11	40	63
Lanare	589	181	57	5	2	0	300	44	519
Laton	1,824	1,001	4	13	10	0	744	52	1,393
Malaga	947	418	12	15	11	2	464	25	891
Mayfair	4,589	2,030	169	99	310	14	1,738	229	3,010
Minkler	1,003	818	4	20	23	0	108	30	302
Monmouth	152	82	6	1	5	0	47	11	107
Old Fig Garden	5,365	4,000	105	54	209	10	733	254	1,532
Raisin City	380	123	5	31	6	0	203	12	308
Riverdale	3,153	1,826	33	59	27	5	1,051	152	2,106
Shaver Lake	634	611	0	5	3	0	8	7	44
Squaw Valley	3,162	2,700	30	77	47	2	159	147	525
Sunnyside	4,235	2,687	176	58	467	6	640	201	1,525
Tarpey Village	3,888	2,868	77	59	261	3	452	168	1,219
Three Rocks	246	129	0	1	0	0	102	14	235
Tranquillity	799	504	9	13	2	0	251	20	637
West Park	1,157	602	32	32	54	1	370	66	879
Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center	Template:Center
All others not CDPs (combined)	125,378	80,036	3,245	2,517	8,933	124	25,990	4,533	55,856

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 799,407 people, 252,940 households, and 186,669 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 270,767 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Fresno County as the Fresno, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area.<ref name="OMB_13-01">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=PopEstCBSA>Template:Cite web</ref>

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,<ref name="OMB_13-01"/> the 49th most populous combined statistical area and the 55th most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012.<ref name=PopEstCBSA/><ref name=PopEstCSA>Template:Cite web</ref>

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,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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. Template:As of, the members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors are:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• 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

Overview

Fresno County's voter registration shows a majority of Democratic voters.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 a majority 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.Template:Citation needed 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:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Template:Representative<ref>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref>
• Template:Representative<ref>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref>
• Template:Representative<ref>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref>
• Template:Representative<ref>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref>

In the California State Senate, the county is split among three legislative districts:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Template:Representative,
• Template:Representative, and
• Template:Representative.

In the California State Assembly, Fresno County is split between the 8th Assembly District, represented by Republican Jim Patterson, and Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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

Population and registered voters
Total population<ref name="CA-DOF-2020E1">State of California. Department of Finance. Forecasting. Demographics. "E-1 Population Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State — January 1, 2019 and 2020" http://dof.ca.gov/Forecasting/Demographics/Estimates/E-1/ Template:Webarchive . Retrieved November 12, 2020.</ref>	1,023,358
Registered voters<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV">County of Fresno. Registrar of Voters. October 19, 2020 - Statement of Registration Certification Template:Webarchive. Retrieved November 12, 2020.</ref><ref name="PCT-RV" group=note>Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.</ref>	496,482	48.5%
Democratic<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	195,697	39.4%
Republican<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	161,696	32.6%
Democratic–Republican spread<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	+34,001	+6.8%
American Independent<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	16,558	3.3%
Green<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	1,462	0.3%
Libertarian<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	4,252	0.9%
Peace and Freedom<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	2,542	0.5%
Unknown<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	2,304	0.4%
Other<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	4,197	0.8%
No party preference<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	107,774	21.7%

Cities by population and voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration
City	Population<ref name="CA-DOF-2020E1"/>	Registered voters<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/> <ref name="PCT-RV" group=note/>	Democratic<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	Republican<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	D–R spread<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	Other<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>	No party preference<ref name="CA-FRE-ROV"/>
Clovis	116,609	61.9%	29.8%	44.7%	-14.9%	6.5%	18.9%
Coalinga	16,944	34.1%	34.7%	32.5%	+2.2%	7.0%	25.7%
Firebaugh	7,980	37.7%	51.7%	15.9%	+35.8%	5.5%	26.8%
Fowler	6,220	57.7%	41.1%	38.4%	+2.7%	5.7%	24.9%
Fresno	542,012	48.5%	43.2%	27.2%	+16.0%	6.5%	23.1%
Huron	7,302	16.4%	57.4%	11.4%	+46.0%	5.4%	25.7%
Kerman	15,767	42.4%	43.6%	25.3%	+18.3%	6.9%	24.2%
Kingsburg	12,551	57.9%	24.6%	51.0%	-26.4%	6.3%	18.2%
Mendota	12,278	23.6%	60.7%	12.5%	+48.2	3.9%	22.9%
Orange Cove	9,460	33.2%	56.5%	13.4%	+43.1%	5.5%	24.5%
Parlier	15,658	30.3%	56.0%	13.0%	+43.0%	5.0%	26.0%
Reedley	25,873	40.1%	39.8%	32.7%	+7.1%	5.9%	21.7%
San Joaquin	4,144	23.8%	61.5%	8.7%	+52.8%	4.8%	25.0%
Sanger	27,005	46.0%	47.9%	25.1%	+22.8%	5.3%	21.7%
Selma	24,402	43.2%	45.1%	25.5%	+19.6%	5.8%	23.5%

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Population and crime rates
Population<ref name="US-CB-B02001">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.</ref>	920,623
Violent crime<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11">Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Template:Webarchive. Retrieved November 14, 2013.</ref>	4,694	5.10
Homicide<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	69	0.07
Forcible rape<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	178	0.19
Robbery<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	1,453	1.58
Aggravated assault<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	2,994	3.25
Property crime<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	20,071	21.80
Burglary<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	7,912	8.59
Larceny-theft<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/><ref name="LT-note" group="note">Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.</ref>	21,749	23.62
Motor vehicle theft<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	5,491	5.96
Arson<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	491	0.53

Economy

Agriculture

Agriculture is the primary industry in Fresno County.<ref name="FCFB-stats" /> Template:Convert are under cultivation, almost half the total county area of Template:Convert.<ref name="FCFB-stats" /> Ag production totaled $7.98 billion in 2017, making it the number one agricultural county in the nation.<ref name="FCFB-stats" /> Over 300 different crops are grown here.<ref name="FCFB-stats" /> Major crops and livestocks include:

• Grapes (see also Grape in California)
• Pistachios
• Cotton
• Almonds
• Tomatoes (see also Tomato in California)
• Turkeys
• Cattle
• Milk
• Plums (see also Plum in California)
• Oranges
• Peaches (see also Peach in California)
• Nectarines (see also Nectarine in California)

The grape harvest brought in $1,046,356,645 in 2017.<ref name="FCFB-stats" /> Production is chronically threatened by the presence of the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter and the disease it carries, Pierce's Disease.<ref name="County-GWSS">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="GWSS-CDFA">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="CDFA-PDCP">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="2021-virtual-Lodi">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The peach harvest was worth $264,139,238 in 2017.<ref name="FCFB-stats">Template:Cite web</ref>

Fresno is the second highest cotton producer in the state, harvesting 223,443 bales in 2017.<ref name="census-2017" /> This is a close second to neighboring Kings.<ref name="census-2017">Template:Cite web</ref>

Due to its tremendous agricultural success, the county also has a tremendous problem with glyphosate resistance.<ref name=mares/> Okada et al., 2013 finds a high degree of resistance in Marestail (Conyza canadensis).<ref name=mares>Template:Cite journal Template:Cite journal These reviews cite Okada: Template:Cite journal</ref>

Companies based in Fresno County

• Gottschalks Department Stores (liquidated in 2010 )
• Sun-Maid Raisins
• Pinnacle Armor, maker of the Dragon Skin Body Armor
• Pelco, maker of surveillance cameras (acquired by Schneider Electric October 2007)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• David Sunflower Seeds, now part of ConAgra Foods
• Flicks Candy Company
• Harris Ranch Beef Company
• JD Food
• Saladino's Inc
• National Raisin Company
• Pacific Ethanol
• United Security Bank
• Central Valley Community Bank
• Electronic Recyclers International

Major employers

Commercial/Industrial

• Cargill
• Kraft Foods
• Foster Farms Dairy
• Foster Farms
• E & J Gallo Winery
• Del Monte Foods
• Pepsi Bottling Group
• PPG Industries
• Chevron
• Pelco
• Sun-Maid
• Electronic Recyclers International
• Saladino's Inc.
• Grundfos
• Amazon

Government

• Internal Revenue Service
• Caltrans
• Mendota Federal Prison
• Pleasant Valley State Prison
• Coalinga State Hospital
• 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard

Healthcare

• Children's Hospital Central California
• Community Medical Center - Clovis
• Community Regional Medical Center
• Coalinga Regional Medical Center
• Fresno Surgery Center
• Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fresno
• Kingsburg Medical Center
• San Joaquin Valley Rehabilitation Hospital
• Saint Agnes Medical Center
• Sanger General Hospital
• Selma Community Hospital
• Sierra Kings Hospital - Reedley
• University Medical Center - Fresno
• VA Medical Center - Fresno

Nonprofits (community-based organizations)

• Fresno Regional Foundation<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Central California Legal Services
• Centro La Familia
• Comprehensive Youth Services
• Fresno Rescue Mission
• Marjaree Mason Center, Inc.
• Poverello House
• United Way, Fresno County
• Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission

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:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Clovis Community College near the City of Clovis
• Fresno City College in the City of Fresno
• Reedley College in the City of Reedley
• West Hills College Coalinga in the City of Coalinga

K-12 education

School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

K-12: Template:Div col

• Caruthers Unified School District - Covers some areas for PK-12 and some for 9–12 only
• Central Unified School District
• Clovis Unified School District
• Coalinga-Huron Unified School District
• Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District
• Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District
• Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District
• Fowler Unified School District
• Fresno Unified School District
• Golden Plains Unified School District
• Kerman Unified School District
• Kings Canyon Joint Unified School District
• Laton Joint Unified School District
• Mendota Unified School District
• Parlier Unified School District
• Riverdale Joint Unified School District - Covers some areas for PK-12 and some for 9–12 only
• Sanger Unified School District
• Selma Unified School District
• Sierra 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 District
• Dinuba Unified School District (while it is a unified school district, in this county it only covers areas for grades 9–12)

Elementary: Template:Div col

• Alvina Elementary School District
• Big Creek Elementary School District
• Burrel Union Elementary School District
• Clay Joint Elementary School District
• Kingsburg Elementary Charter School District
• Monroe Elementary School District
• Monson-Sultana Joint Union Elementary School District
• Orange Center Elementary School District
• Pacific Union Elementary School District
• Pine Ridge Elementary School District
• Raisin City Elementary School District
• Washington Colony Elementary School District
• West Park Elementary School District
• Westside Elementary School District

Public libraries

In addition, the Fresno County Public Library operates public libraries throughout the county.

Transportation

Major highways

• File:I-5 (CA).svg Interstate 5
• File:California 33.svg State Route 33
• File:California 41.svg State Route 41
• File:California 43.svg State Route 43
• File:California 63.svg State Route 63
• File:California 99.svg State Route 99
• File:California 145.svg State Route 145
• File:California 168.svg State Route 168
• File:California 180.svg State Route 180
• File:California 198.svg State Route 198
• File:California 201.svg State Route 201
• File:California 245.svg State Route 245
• File:California 269.svg State Route 269

Rail

• BNSF Railway
• Union Pacific Railroad
• San Joaquin Valley Railroad
• Biola Branch (Southern Pacific) (abandoned)
• Shaver Lake Railroad (abandoned)
• San Joaquin and Eastern Railroad (abandoned)

Airports

Commercial service

• Fresno Yosemite Int'l Airport

General Aviation

• Fresno Chandler Executive Airport
• Firebaugh Airport
• Mendota Airport
• New Coalinga Municipal Airport
• Reedley Municipal Airport
• Sierra Sky Park Airport

Public transportation

• Fresno 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 San Joaquins stop in Fresno.

Attractions

• China Peak Ski Resort
• Courtright Reservoir
• Dinkey Lakes Wilderness
• Fashion Fair Mall
• Forestiere Underground Gardens
• Fresno Art Museum
• Fresno Chaffee Zoo
• Fresno Fairgrounds
• Fresno Metropolitan Museum (dissolved January 2010)
• Fresno Water Tower

• Hume Lake
• Huntington Lake
• Kings Canyon National Park
• Lost Lake
• Millerton Lake
• Mount Darwin
• North Palisade
• Pine Flat Lake

• River Park
• Roeding Park
• Shaver Lake
• Sierra Vista Mall
• Simonian Farms
• William Saroyan Theatre
• Save Mart Center
• Wishon Reservoir
• Woodward Park

File:Forestiere Gardens.jpg

Forestiere Underground Garden

Communities

Cities

• Clovis
• Coalinga
• Firebaugh
• Fowler
• Fresno (county seat)
• Huron
• Kerman
• Kingsburg
• Mendota
• Orange Cove
• Parlier
• Reedley
• San Joaquin
• Sanger
• Selma

Census-designated places

• Auberry
• Big Creek
• Biola
• Bowles
• Calwa
• Cantua Creek
• Caruthers
• Centerville
• Del Rey
• Easton
• Fort Washington
• Friant
• Lanare
• Laton
• Malaga
• Mayfair
• Millerton
• Minkler
• Monmouth
• Old Fig Garden
• Raisin City
• Riverdale
• Shaver Lake
• Yokuts Valley
• Sunnyside
• Tarpey Village
• Three Rocks
• Tranquillity
• West Park
• Westside

Unincorporated communities

• Burrel
• Dunlap
• Highway City
• Hume
• Mercey Hot Springs
• Prather
• Rolinda
• Tollhouse
• Oleander

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Fresno County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2010 Census)
1	† Fresno	City	494,665
2	Clovis	City	95,631
3	Sanger	City	24,270
4	Reedley	City	24,194
5	Selma	City	23,219
6	Parlier	City	14,494
7	Kerman	City	13,544
8	Coalinga	City	13,380
9	Kingsburg	City	11,382
10	Mendota	City	11,014
11	Orange Cove	City	9,078
12	Firebaugh	City	7,549
13	Huron	City	6,754
14	Fowler	City	5,570
15	Old Fig Garden	CDP	5,365
16	Mayfair	CDP	4,589
17	Sunnyside	CDP	4,235
18	San Joaquin	City	4,001
19	Tarpey Village	CDP	3,888
20	Yokuts Valley	CDP	3,162
21	Riverdale	CDP	3,153
22	Caruthers	CDP	2,497
23	Auberry	CDP	2,369
24	Easton	CDP	2,083
25	Calwa	CDP	2,052
26	Laton	CDP	1,824
27	Del Rey	CDP	1,639
28	Biola	CDP	1,623
29	West Park	CDP	1,157
30	Minkler	CDP	1,003
31	Malaga	CDP	947
32	Tranquillity	CDP	799
33	Shaver Lake	CDP	634
34	Lanare	CDP	589
35	Friant	CDP	509
36	Cantua Creek	CDP	466
37	Centerville	CDP	392
38	Raisin City	CDP	380
39	Three Rocks	CDP	246
40	Fort Washington	CDP	233
41	Cold Springs Rancheria<ref>[1]Template:Dead link</ref>	AIAN	184
42	Big Creek	CDP	175
43	Bowles	CDP	166
44	Monmouth	CDP	152
45	Big Sandy Rancheria<ref>[2]Template:Dead link</ref>	AIAN	118
46	Table Mountain Rancheria<ref>[3]Template:Dead link</ref>	AIAN	64

See also

• Fresno County Library
• List of museums in the San Joaquin Valley
• List of school districts in Fresno County, California
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Fresno County, California

External links

• Template:Official website
• Charter of the County of Fresno
• Fresno County Public Library
• Fresno County Sequicentennial
• Size of California Counties