| The Raisin Capital of the World, Fresno serves as the | | | | backbone of Fresno, making up 20 percent of the |
| economic hub of California's Central Valley. The | | | | workforce. Fresno County is the number one |
| following information may be useful, if you plan on | | | | agricultural county in the U.S. Grapes, cotton, cattle, |
| relocating to Fresno. | | | | tomatoes, milk, oranges, peaches and nectarines are |
| Fresno is the sixth-largest city in California. The | | | | just a few of the most important commodities. Food |
| county seat of Fresno County has been one of the | | | | processing is also key. Fresno's locale is ideal for |
| fastest growing cities in the U.S. An estimated | | | | manufacturing and distribution centers, within one |
| 471,479 lived in the city in 2005 census estimates. | | | | day's drive of 35 million people. Among the most |
| Compared with the census of 1980, the population | | | | notable companies located in the city are Sun-Maid |
| has more than doubled. Over one million people reside | | | | and Kraft Foods. |
| in the Fresno metropolitan area. The city's diverse | | | | If you plan on relocating to Fresno, count on plenty |
| citizenry is comprised of more than 70 nationalities | | | | of sunshine with over 200 clear days each year. In |
| and hosts the largest refugee population in the U.S. | | | | the heart of California, Fresno's terrain is flat for the |
| The Hispanic race is predominant at nearly 40% of | | | | most part before reaching the foothills of the Sierra |
| the population. White non-Hispanic accounts for | | | | Nevada Mountains. Temperatures can fluctuate |
| 37.3%, 11.2% are Asian and 8.4% are Black. Foreign | | | | greatly. Summers tend to be hot and dry with an |
| born population accounts for over 20% of residents. | | | | average temperature of 94.1 in August. Winters are |
| The crime rate was high in 2005, over 220 points | | | | likely to be mild and rainy with an average 39.6 |
| above the national average. Especially high is the | | | | degrees in January. Spring and fall are the most |
| number of registered sex offenders living in Fresno | | | | favorable of seasons in Fresno. Be fore warned, it |
| at one in every 419 residents. | | | | doesn't rain much with precipitation averages of 10 |
| Consider low income and high poverty rates if you | | | | inches a year. |
| are relocating to Fresno. The average household | | | | Fresno is also the gateway to some well-known |
| earnings is below the California average and | | | | national parks offering visitors views of canyons, |
| unemployment tends to be high. According to the | | | | waterfalls, and the oldest forests and giant sequoia |
| 2000 census, the yearly average household income | | | | trees. Visitors coming from Los Angeles can access |
| for Fresno residents was $32,236. Per capita income | | | | the Yosemite National Park, just an hour's drive |
| was well below the national average at $15,010 | | | | away. The city serves as entrance to the Sequoia |
| annually. Poverty has also been a problem. The city | | | | and Kings Canyon National Parks. The Sierra Nevada |
| has the highest percentage of those living below the | | | | Mountains also offer a popular attraction. Add Death |
| federal poverty level in concentrated areas. Over | | | | Valley National Park to the mix and you'll find |
| 26% of the population were below the poverty line | | | | everything from flat, scorching deserts to high |
| in 2000. On the upside, the cost of living is reasonable | | | | mountains with streams and everything in between. |
| and homes are affordable. Median house value for | | | | Some of California's finest trout and largemouth bass |
| 2000 was $97,300. Asking prices were starting out | | | | fishing are found in the area. It's also a great place |
| much lower at $76,100. Even more affordable is the | | | | for rafting, camping, hiking and skiing. |
| average monthly rent. Advertised for-rent units were | | | | Yosemite International Airport is the city's largest |
| going for $404, median gross rent was $538 per | | | | airport. Over 1.2 million passengers annually board |
| month. | | | | domestic and international flights. Amtrak provides rail |
| If you can't make good wine, make raisins. That's | | | | service with the renovation of the historic Santa Fe |
| how Fresno made the most of an economic | | | | Railroad Depot located downtown. There are plans to |
| opportunity. Once a barren community, irrigation led | | | | increase rail service to relocate 68 million passengers |
| to grape-growing in the valley by 1885. Many | | | | annually by 2020. The city is home to California State |
| immigrants relocated to Fresno to own and operate | | | | University-Fresno with its full-time enrollment of |
| vineyards. But the wine proved less than satisfactory, | | | | 16,035 students. |
| so the sunny valley was used to turn those grapes | | | | Lou Ross is with - a directory of moving companies |
| into raisins. So it's no wonder that agriculture is the | | | | along with helpful advice on moving issues. |