Places in Fresno County
Auberry
It’s home to Mono Wind Casino, which is known as the Friendliest Little Casino in California.
Big Creek
Some of the giant steel pipes that carry water from Huntington Lake to the hydroelectric plant, visible running up the mountainside, were purchased from Nazi Germany before World War II. Some of these penstocks are stamped with a swastika.
Biola
The Biola Branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad was a 15-mile freight line serving the raisin and agricultural area west of Fresno.
Burrel
There’s a Burrel in Albania, too.
Calwa
The name was taken from the acronym for “California Winemakers’ Association.” (CalWA).
Cantua Creek
Cantua Creek was made famous because it was the hideout of California’s most famous bandit, Joaquin Murrieta and his gang.
Caruthers
It’s home to California’s largest free-gate fair.
Centerville
A tiny, unincorporated village, it remains one of Fresno County’s earliest towns.
Clovis
It is known for its rodeo and high school athletic teams.
Coalinga
On May 2, 1983, the town was heavily damaged by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake.
Conejo
The community name derives from Spanish for “rabbit.”
Del Ray
Census data shows a 93.5% Hispanic population in the 1.22 square mile community.
Dinkey Creek
Swimming, trout fishing and hiking into the John Muir Wilderness are just some of the activities to enjoy here.
Dunlap
A special attraction is the Sierra Endangered Cat Haven.
Easton
The Quick Stop MiniMart has a World War II-era airplane that looks like it crash-landed on the roof.
Firebaugh
The town is named for Andrew Davidson Firebaugh, an area entrepreneur. During the Gold Rush, Firebaugh’s most famous local enterprise was a ferry boat. It shuttled people across the San Joaquin River.
Five Points
Red Rock Ranch in Five Points was the site of one of three drainage water research projects done by the University of California.
Fowler
Fowler was incorporated May 26, 1908. The community was named for rancher Thomas Fowler, an early 1870s California state senator.
Fresno
It is the cultural and economic center of the Fresno metropolitan area.
Friant
It is located along the banks of the San Joaquin River and at the base of Friant Dam and Millerton Lake.
Hume
Since the summer of 1946, Hume Lake Christian Camps have ministered to 900,000 young people and adults.
Huntington Lake
The lake is host to the annual High Sierra Regatta boat race.
Kerman
One point of interest is the M. Young Botanic Garden.
Kingsburg
The town is known for its Swedish heritage and annual Swedish festival.
Lakeshore
It is home to some of the best Sierra snowmobiling.
Laton
Laton Unified School District is comprised of three schools: Laton High School, Laton Elementary and Conejo Middle School.
Malaga
Malaga was established by the pioneer raisin grower of the state, G.G. Briggs.
Mendota
About 50 percent of its population, mostly Mexican immigrants, are employed in agricultural jobs.
Minkler
Blink, and you’ll miss it. It was once for sale on eBay.
Mono Hot Springs
It offers trout fishing, scenic hiking, boating, horseback riding, healthful hot springs and a historical resort.
Navelencia
Local landmarks include Camacho Park, Monument Hill Park, Pioneer Park, Reedley Beach, Wahtoke Lake and Wahtoke Park.
Orange Cove
Orange Cove was incorporated in 1948. Situated at the edge of the Sierra foothills, major crops are citrus, tree fruit and grapes.
Parlier
Many people know it as P-Town.
Piedra
The community name derives from Spanish for “stone.”
Pinedale
The community was the site of one of several temporary detention camps that represented the first phase of the mass incarceration of 97,785 Californians of Japanese ancestry during World War II.
Pinehurst
Pinehurst’s elevation is 4,003 feet.
Pineridge
Pineridge appears on the Shaver Lake U.S. Geological Survey Map.
Prather
The community was named for settler Joseph L. Prather.
Raisin City
Raisin City is an unincorporated area of Fresno County. The 2000 Census showed a population of 165.
Reedley
It is known for its impressive high school band, the Green Machine.
Riverdale
Riverdale Elementary School was built in 1880 in a Western Stick architectural style. It was located at Mount Whitney Avenue, between Cornelia and Brawley avenues.
Rolinda
Rolinda Store, (a.k.a. Rolinda Liquor,) is a landmark of the community along State Route 180.
Shaver Lake
Surrounded by lush pine forests, this recreation haven has plenty of lodging, camping and outdoor activities in the winter and summer.
Squaw Valley
This Squaw Valley is NOT the location of Squaw Valley Ski Resort or the 1960 Winter Olympics.
San Joaquin
It was part of the James Ranch, founded by Jefferson G. James in the mid-1850s.
Sanger
Tom Flores, former Oakland Raiders football coach, is from Sanger.
Selma
It is known as the raisin capital of the world.
Three Rocks
Three Rocks is a rugged area of hard sandstone outcroppings located in the hills about 20 miles northwest of Coalinga. The area is dominated by three large rock outcroppings that overlook the San Joaquin Valley to the northeast.
Tivy Valley
At the base of Tivy Mountain amid rolling hills dotted with orchards are the vineyards of Tivy Mountain Vintners Winery and Bed & Breakfast.
Tollhouse
The name “tollhouse” comes from the fact that the community was also built in connection to a now-defunct toll road running up the steep slopes of Sarver Peak to Pine Ridge.
Tranquillity
In 1978, a pilot flying for a crop-dusting operation near Tranquillity spotted a UFO.