Facts And Information About Fresno And Clovis Counties

Located in the San Joaquin Valley of central California, Harlan Ranch is nestled in Fresno County, one of the largest, fastest growing and most diverse counties in the state.

Quick Facts:

  • Fresno’s population is greater than 850,000
  • Over 60% of the county's total population is in Fresno and Clovis
  • 220 miles south to Downtown Los Angeles
  • 160 miles west to Monterey
  • 185 miles north to San Francisco
  • 65 miles north to southern entrance of Yosemite National Park
  • 55 miles east to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
  • The average warmest month is July
  • 12.0 inches yearly average precipitation
  • The most precipitation on average occurs in March


Clovis History:

The city of Clovis began as a railroad station. The stop was named Clovis, after Clovis Cole, who sold land for the railroad station. Cole was a farmer who owned many thousands of acres of land. The San Joaquin Valley Railroad began construction on July 4, 1891 and ended near Friant on January 20, 1892.

The railroad was built in part because of the Fresno Flume Irrigation Company. This company built a log flume that was 42 miles long. It started at a site now under Shaver Dam, elevation 5,275 feet, and traveled 42 miles into the valley, dropping 4,900 feet in elevation. The flume ended on the south side of Fifth Street, east of Clovis Avenue.

Fresno History:

Fresno County is named after the Spanish word for ash or ash tree. In 1856, Fresno County was created, though its present boundaries were not established until 1909. The first county seat was the foothill community of Millerton.

Early inhabitants of the area probably were here between 7,000 and 50,000 years ago. The first European settlers in the early 1800's found the Yokuts tribe living in the valley floor and in the foothills along the major rivers of the area, the San Joaquin and the Kings Rivers. The Monache Tribe lived further up the rivers. After the initial Spanish explorers came, others began to arrive including trappers and hunters. The famous mountain man, Kit Carson explored the area during the 1840's.

The county was a part of the mining boom of California from its early years until the mid 1860's. Once gold fever subsided, the county experienced its stock raising and general farming period. Later, after water controversy was worked out, the county made a transition to orchards and vineyards from its general farming.