Fresno California Homes for Sale |
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Unfortunately a California Real Estate Agent has not been approved for Fresno. If you would like a member of our staff to recommend a Realtor®, click here.
Fresno is a city in central California
and the seat of Fresno County, located at the hub of the state’s fertile San Joaquin Valley, which is one of the richest farming areas in the United States. Fresno County is known as the raisin-producing capital of the world and produces more agricultural products than any other county in the United States. The region’s Mediterranean climate, which includes a warm, dry season, and a cool, damp season, contributes to Fresno’s agricultural bounty. The name Fresno, meaning "ash tree" in Spanish, was first applied to the nearby Fresno River because ash trees were seen growing along its banks. The city assumed the name in 1872 when the Central Pacific Railroad founded it as a station.The city of Fresno occupies a land area of 99.1 square miles. The downtown was revitalized in the 1960s with the completion of a major shopping mall and a convention center, which underwent expansion in the mid-1990s. At the center of the downtown area is Courthouse Park. Several structures of architectural and historical significance are located near the park. Northwest of the park is the old Fresno City Hall, constructed in the early 1940s and now the police headquarters. The new site of City Hall, built in 1992, is west of the park. Nearby is the city’s best-known landmark, the Old Fresno Water Tower (1894).
The surrounding district is a retail and residential neighborhood with mostly low-rise architecture. To the southeast is the Santa Fe Depot, a railway station built in 1896 in the California Mission Revival Style; a second nearby station was scheduled for construction by the end of the decade. South of this station is the Warehouse Row Historical District, containing several restored structures from the early 20th century.
The Fresno metropolitan area encompasses Fresno and Madera counties in addition to Fresno, the region includes the cities of Chowchilla,
Clovis, Firebaugh, Madera, Mendota, Sanger, and Selma.The driving force in Fresno’s economy is agriculture. Local farmers produce more than 250 different crops, including cotton, grapes, tomatoes, almonds, garlic, oranges, and nectarines. Fresno and the surrounding area produce about 60 percent of the world’s raisins and about 90 percent of the raisins sold on the U.S. market.
In recent years, the city’s economy has expanded to include manufacturing, service, and industrial operations. Fresno’s inexpensive land prices and low cost of living have helped to attract new businesses. Government employment also is an important part of the local economy. Among the largest public employers are the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the city and county governments.
Fresno is linked to northern and southern California by State Highway 99, which passes along the city’s western border. Highway 41 connects Fresno with the central coast and with Yosemite National Park. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railroads provide freight service to Fresno, and daily passenger service is available via Amtrak. The Fresno Yosemite International Airport serves more than 1 million passengers per year.
Fresno was the fastest-growing big city in the United States during the 1980s, with a growth rate of 61.3 percent. Much of the growth was fueled by the arrival of families from the more crowded
Los Angeles and San Francisco metropolitan areas, who were attracted by Fresno’s affordable housing and low cost of living. The relocation of businesses from other urban areas offered new employment opportunities.|
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