Fresno

Fresno, California 

Fresno is a city in central California and the county seat of Fresno since 1874. The town site was established in 1872 as a station on the Central (later Southern) Pacific Railroad. It is situated in the San Joaquin Valley, about 190 miles (305 km) southeast of San Francisco. After irrigation was introduced in the 1880s, Fresno (Spanish for "Ash Tree") evolved into a farming city. It refines and sells dairy products, cotton, sugar beets, grains, fruits, and wines. There is some manufacturing as well. The Sierra National Forest's headquarters and the entrance to the Sierra Nevada's resort regions are both in Fresno. California State University, Fresno was founded there in 1911, as was Fresno Pacific University in 1944. A community college was founded there in 1910, and a campus of the University of California, San Francisco's medical school is also located there. The Fresno Metropolitan Museum, which opened in 1984 and houses art, history, and science exhibits, the Fresno (modern) Art Museum, the Forestiere Underground Gardens, which were created by Sicilian immigrant Baldasare Forestiere, the Shinzen Japanese Garden, and Chaffee Zoo are just a few of the local attractions. East of Fresno are a variety of national parks and forests, such as Sequoia National Forest, Sequoia National Park, and Kings Canyon National Park. Population (2010): 494,665; Fresno Metro Area (2010): 930,450; Fresno Metro Area (2020): 542,107; Inc. 1885. 
 

Geography 

Fresno is located at 36°44′52′′N 119°46′21′′W and has a total area of 116 square miles (300 km2), of which 114.79 square miles (297.3 km2) are land and 1.21 square miles (1.04%) are water (3.1 km2). 

Due to its proximity to California's geographic center, Fresno is conveniently located away from several of the state's major urban hubs and recreational sites. It is the closest significant city to Yosemite National Park, being about 60 miles (97 km) south of the park. Similar distances exist between Sierra National Forest (40 mi), Kings Canyon National Park (60 mi), and Sequoia National Park (75 mi) (121 km). Bass Lake, Shaver Lake, and Huntington Lake are just a few of the lakes in the Sierra Nevada mountains that are close to the city. Additionally, Fresno is approximately 2.5 hours from the central coast, Big Sur, Monterey, and Carmel. 

Fresno is a key entry point for Yosemite visitors traveling from Los Angeles because it is situated at the intersection of Highways 41 and 99 (SR 41 is the southern entrance road to Yosemite National Park, and SR 99 bypasses Interstate 5 to service the urban areas of the San Joaquin Valley). Highway 168 and Highway 180 both lead from the city to the Sierra National Forest and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, respectively. 

Three sizable public parks are located in Fresno; two are inside the city limits and one is southwest of the city in county property. There are many picnic places and miles of pathways in Woodward Park, which houses the Shinzen Japanese Gardens. It is near the San Joaquin River Parkway and is in North Fresno. The Rotary Storyland and Playland as well as the Fresno Chaffee Zoo are located in Roeding Park, not far from Downtown Fresno. The largest park in the Fresno area, Kearney Park is home to the historic Kearney Mansion and hosts the annual Civil War Revisited, the biggest Civil War reenactment on the west coast of the United States. 

The Trust for Public Land, a national group dedicated to land conservation, noted that Fresno has one of the weakest park systems among the 50 most populous U.S. cities in its 2020 ParkScore assessment. The survey calculates the average park size, park acres as a proportion of the total area of the city, inhabitants' access to parks, park spending per resident, and playground density per 10,000 people. Due to the absence of any natural bodies of water within the city limits, Fresno will have a difficult time developing a well-developed park system. There are just artificial waterways; there are no natural lakes or rivers. 

Climate 

The Köppen climatic classification designates Fresno as having a Mediterranean climate (Csa), which features cold, rainy winters and extremely long, hot, dry summers. The coldest months are December and January, with average temperatures of 47.5 and 48.0 °F (8.6 and 8.9 °C), respectively. Eleven mornings have lows at or below freezing, with the coldest night of the year often bottoming out at 29 °F (1.7 °C). In general, there are 38 days with highs of 100 °F (37.8 °C) or higher and 113 days with highs of 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher. Between July and August, there are only 3.6 days where the high does not reach 90 °F (32.2 °C). July is the warmest month, with an average temperature of 83.5 °F (28.6 °C). Summers have a lot of sunshine, with July having over 96 percent of the maximum amount; in contrast, December has the least amount of sunshine, with just 42% of the daytime hours being in the sun due to tule fog. However, there is an average of 81% of the annual potential for sunshine, or 3550 hours.  

Given the region's seasonal precipitation patterns and average yearly temperature, its average annual precipitation of about 11 inches (279 mm) qualifies the region as having a hot semi-arid climate (BSh). Since winds are forced downhill along the axis of the California Central Valley, the majority of wind rose direction occurrences come from the northwest; nevertheless, in December, January, and February, there is an enhanced prevalence of southeastern wind directions in the wind rose data. In a nationwide U.S. Environmental Protection Agency research, Fresno meteorology was chosen for examination of equilibrium temperature for usage of ten-year meteorological data to represent a warm, dry location in the western United States. 

The official record high and low temperatures for Fresno are 115 °F (46.1 °C) and 17 °F (8 °C), respectively. These records were set on July 8, 1905, and January 6, 1913, respectively. Although there was no freezing during the 1983–84 or 2020–21 winter seasons, the typical windows for temperatures of 100 °F (37.8 °C)+ are June 2 through September 15, for temperatures of 90 °F (32.2 °C)+, April 25 through October 10, and for freezing temperatures, December 14 through January 24. The "rain year" of July 1982 to June 1983 saw annual rainfall of 23.57 inches (598.7 mm), while rainfall from July 1933 to June 1934 was only 4.43 inches (112.5 mm). In November 1885, there was 9.54 inches (242.3 mm) of rain, and on November 18, 1885, there was 3.55 inches (90.2 mm) of rain in a single day. There is measurable precipitation on 46.5 days a year on average. Snow is hardly common; the greatest snowfall at the airport occurred on January 21–22, 1962, and was 2.2 inches (0.06 m). 

Economy 

The regional hub for the San Joaquin Valley and the larger Central Valley is located in Fresno, which is also the heart of Metropolitan Fresno. The unorganized region and small towns surrounding Fresno continue to be heavily dependent on industrial-scale agriculture. 

The BankAmericard credit card, later known as Visa, was initially introduced in Fresno in 1958. Fresno was chosen by Bank of America. 

Population 

California's Fresno County is home to the city of Fresno. It serves as Fresno County's County seat as well. It will have a population of 556,339 in 2023, making it the 32nd largest city in the United States and the fifth largest city in California. Fresno's population has grown by 2.63% from the most recent census, which showed a population of 542,107 in 2020. The city is now expanding at a rate of 0.86% annually. Fresno has a population density of 4,849 persons per square mile and a total length of nearly 116 miles. 

Fresno has a poverty rate of 30.35% and a $69,880 average household income. The median monthly cost of rent in recent years has been, and the median value of a home is. Males in Fresno are 30.7 years old on average, while females are 32.2 years old. 

Fresno is located 170 miles south of Sacramento and 200 miles north of Los Angeles. There are 1.1 million people living in the broader Metropolitan Fresno region. There are a number of well-known neighborhoods in Fresno, including the West Side, which is a culturally diverse neighborhood and the heart of the city's African American community with sizable Asian-American and Mexican-American populations, and the Tower District, which serves as the city's center for community events and as well as the LGBT and Hipster communities. 

Top 2 News Websites 

ABC30 

Online live streaming video and breaking news from Fresno. covering the broader Fresno area, the North Valley, the South Valley, and Sierra. 

YourCentralValley.com 

The news website for Fresno, California's KSEE24 and CBS47 is called YourCentralValley.com. With the power of two news stations, we provide news coverage for the entire Central Valley. 

Current City Mayor 

Jerry P. Dyer, who took office on January 5, 2021, is the 26th mayor of the City of Fresno. 

In order to bring Fresno together, Mayor Dyer entered office with the goal of creating a beautiful, thriving city where residents take pride in their communities and neighborhoods. a democratically-owned, responsive, and reliable government. This represents his "One Fresno" goal. 

The Mayor's Administration successfully carried out "Project Off-Ramp" after taking office, a project that moved more than 600 homeless people off Fresno's freeways and into secure housing with the aim of providing them with long-term housing and a productive life. 

An additional successful project aims to raise the city's curb appeal. Residents have gathered on weekends to pick up trash in communities distant from their homes as part of Mayor Dyer's "Beautify Fresno" project, which has not only cleaned up neighborhoods throughout Fresno. The mayor's challenge to collect one million pounds of trash was met in 2022 by Beautify Fresno initiatives, which also went above and beyond the target in just six months. 

In other communities, Mayor Dyer still places a high priority on housing of all types, from labor housing to market-rate housing. The Mayor's One Fresno Housing Strategy provides proof that there is a sufficient supply of affordable housing that serves all markets. 

Youth development has long been a priority for Mayor Dyer in Fresno. He has prioritized youth investment by initiating various projects, such as the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program. He was a former member of the Boys & Girls Club board. Through a paid internship with the City of Fresno that will eventually lead to employment with the City of Fresno and resources for homeownership options, this program offers more than 100 young people who are difficult to hire the chance to develop life and job skills. The program strives to assist young people who are underserved, such as those from low-income homes, those who have experienced the criminal justice system firsthand, or those who have been in foster care. 

The beginning of Fresno Chaffee Zoo Days and the reconstruction and reopening of Camp Fresno in 2021 are two more investments in youth. The camp offers young people the chance to experience nature, the great outdoors, and make lifelong experiences through Mayor Dyer's One Fresno Foundation. 

The City's primary revitalization endeavor is still being led by Mayor Dyer. His most recent suggestion is for the addition of a free trolley service that would run between downtown Fresno and Fresno State via the Mural and Tower Districts, Fresno City College, and the newly developed Blackstone Corridor. According to the mayor's vision, Downtown Fresno will be a dynamic community where people can live, work, and enjoy a booming entertainment scene with thriving companies that cater to both locals and tourists. 

Prior to his election, Mayor Dyer worked for the Fresno Police Department for 40 years, the last 18 of which he spent in the position of Police Chief. He holds the distinction of holding the position of police chief in Fresno for the longest period of time. 

The phrase "We Work For You" is a key part of his One Fresno vision and this expertise gives him unique insights into the City's operations. This is his agreement with the populace, a pledge that the people would be served by city government. Additionally, it guarantees his continuous efforts to raise public safety across the city. 

Although he was raised in the Fowler region and attended Fowler High School, Mayor Dyer was born in Fresno. He graduated from California State University, Fresno, with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology, and from California Polytechnic University, Pomona, with a Master of Science in Management. 

In 2018, the Fresno County Office of Education presented Mayor Dyer with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his selection as a Paul Harris Fellow for Rotary International. 

With his wife of 42 years, Diane, Mayor Dyer has been blessed with two children and five grandchildren. He attends New Covenant Community Church in Fresno with his wife.