Metropolitan Fresno Greater Fresno | |
|---|---|
| Fresno–Hanford–Corcoran, CA CSA | |
 Downtown Fresno skyline | |
 | |
| Coordinates:37°N120°W / 37°N 120°W /37; -120 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| Largest city | Fresno |
| Other cities | -Clovis -Madera -Chowchilla -Hanford -Corcoran |
| Area | |
• Total | 8,099 sq mi (20,980 km2) |
| Highest elevation | 14,249 ft (4,343 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 180.0 ft (54.86 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,171,617 (2020 census) |
| • Rank | 49th in the U.S. |
| • Density | 164.4/sq mi (63.49/km2) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | $60.151 billion (2023) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Metropolitan Fresno, officiallyFresno–Hanford–Corcoran, CA CSA, is a metropolitan area in theSan Joaquin Valley, in theUnited States, consisting ofFresno andMadera counties. It is the third-largestmetropolitan region inNorthern California, behind theSan Francisco Bay Area andGreater Sacramento. It is also the 49th-largest CSA in the U.S. as of2010 census.[2][3]
Metropolitan Fresno is anchored byFresno, the fifth-largest city in California and the 34th-largest in the United States. The metropolitan area is located in theCentral Valley, which is one of the world's most productive agricultural regions. It has a large agricultural economy despite being increasingly urbanized. In more recent years, statewidedroughts in California have further strained both the Fresno metropolitan area's and the entire Central Valley'swater security.[4][5]
| County name | Population (2020 U.S. census) | Land area |
|---|---|---|
| Fresno | 1,013,400 | 5,963 sq mi (15,440 km2) |
| Madera | 158,217 | 2,136 sq mi (5,530 km2) |
| Metropolitan Fresno | 1,171,617 | 8,099 sq mi (20,980 km2) |
Metropolitan Fresno, unlike the other metropolitan regions of California, is still largely agricultural, contains a large rural land area and is centered in theSan Joaquin Valley. The metropolitan area is located between the larger metropolitan areas of California, bordering the southernmost boundaries of theSan Francisco Bay Area in the west and separated from theGreater Sacramento andGreater Los Angeles Areas to the north and south respectively by long distances of rural areas and farmland. Additionally, the lifestyle and culture of Metropolitan Fresno does not reflect the San Francisco or Sacramento influence as other areas have in Northern California due to distance from the state capital and bordering an unpopulated area of the outskirts of the Bay Area. Instead, Metropolitan Fresno is more influenced by the interior valley region of California although as the area becomes more urbanized, it has become slightly more influenced by the other metropolitan areas of Northern California, particularly the Bay Area.
Fresno is the largest city in the area and in the Central Valley. Along withSacramento, it is the economic center of California's interior and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, with the region having a growth of over 20% since 2000. Fresno is a major transportation hub for visitors heading toYosemite,Kings Canyon andSequoia National Parks, which are 60 mi (97 km) and 75 mi (121 km) away from Fresno respectively with Fresno being the nearest major city from the parks. TheUnited States Military has a heavy presence in the Fresno area and numerous divisions are based in Metropolitan Fresno, including the40th Aviation Brigade and144th Fighter Wing.[6][7] Fresno County is the largest agricultural county and has the largest concentration of agriculture than any other county in the United States.
Madera County is primarily an agricultural county as well but its cities serve as suburbs of Fresno. Since 2010, statewidedroughts in California have further strained both the Fresno metropolitan area's and the entire Central Valley'swater security.[8][9]
Metropolitan Fresno is primarily located in theSan Joaquin Valley, which in turn is a part of the largerCentral Valley region of California, one of the world's most important agricultural areas. The eastern portions of the area border theSierra Nevada mountains and the western portions border theCoast Ranges, thus giving the edges of the area higher elevations than the inner valley areas. Several waterways traverse the region, including theSan Joaquin andKings rivers, theDelta-Mendota andMadera canals, and theCalifornia Aqueduct, providing water to crops. The California Aqueduct is one of the world's longest artificial aqueducts.[10]
Metropolitan Fresno has aMediterranean climate (KöppenCsa) with somesemi-arid factors due to its interior location (KöppenBsh), with mild, moderately wet winters and hot and dry summers. December is the coolest month, with an average of 53.4 °F (11.9 °C) during the day in downtown Fresno while summer temperatures can reach 110 °F (43.3 °C) or more. Thicktule fog is present in the valley areas during the winter. Rainfall is most common between December and April while snowfall is sometimes experienced in the higher mountain elevations.
| County seat |
| City | County | Population (January 1, 2010)[11] | Land area[12] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chowchilla | Madera | 18,698 | 7.1 sq mi (18 km2) |
| Clovis | Fresno | 97,218 | 22.03 sq mi (57.1 km2) |
| Coalinga | Fresno | 19,065 | 5.9 sq mi (15 km2) |
| Firebaugh | Fresno | 6,941 | 2.8 sq mi (7.3 km2) |
| Fowler | Fresno | 5,764 | 2 sq mi (5.2 km2) |
| Fresno | Fresno | 502,303 | 104.4 sq mi (270 km2) |
| Huron | Fresno | 8,062 | 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2) |
| Kerman | Fresno | 14,381 | 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km2) |
| Kingsburg | Fresno | 11,504 | 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) |
| Madera | Madera | 58,243 | 12.3 sq mi (32 km2) |
| Mendota | Fresno | 9,966 | 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km2) |
| Orange Cove | Fresno | 11,089 | 1.5 sq mi (3.9 km2) |
| Parlier | Fresno | 13,658 | 1.6 sq mi (4.1 km2) |
| Reedley | Fresno | 26,227 | 4.4 sq mi (11 km2) |
| Sanger | Fresno | 25,664 | 4.7 sq mi (12 km2) |
| San Joaquin | Fresno | 4,071 | 1 sq mi (2.6 km2) |
| Selma | Fresno | 23,435 | 4.3 sq mi (11 km2) |
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Owing to its gateway location to numerous national parks as well as being in between the largerGreater Los Angeles andSan Francisco Bay Area andGreater Sacramento regions, Metropolitan Fresno serves as a transportation hub in the California interior. However, unlike the larger metropolitan areas of California, Metropolitan Fresno does not have a large public transit system but is served by numerous freeways and highways.
Metropolitan Fresno is served by a large number of highways and freeways that are vital in linking the rest ofNorthern California withSouthern California and its location in between the three larger metropolitan areas of the state allows for a large trucking industry as well as services to travelers. Highways and freeways in Metropolitan Fresno include:
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TheFresno Yosemite International Airport is the only commercial airport in the region and is the major gateway intoYosemite National Park,Sequoia National Park, andKings Canyon National Park. Additionally, there are several general aviation airports in the area, includingFresno Chandler Executive Airport,Firebaugh Airport,Sierra Sky Park Airport andMadera Municipal Airport.
Metropolitan Fresno's central California location allows it to be a large rail transport center. TwoAmtrak rail stations are located in the area,Santa Fe Passenger Depot andMadera which are on theGold Runner line.Fresno Area Express and Madera County Express serve as bus transit lines connecting to downtown Fresno.Greyhound andOrange Belt Stages provide long-distance bus travel to the area. California High Speed Rail, a currently under-construction high speed rail line, will connect Los Angeles and San Francisco via a station in Fresno and Madera.
Unlike the other metropolitan areas of California, Metropolitan Fresno has historically been a strongRepublican stronghold and the region reflects theCoastal California and interior California divide in which coastal areas and urbanized areas of California tend to leanDemocratic while interior areas tend to lean Republican. Exceptions to this areOrange County in Greater Los Angeles, which has been a Republican stronghold since the 1940s, and most of Greater Sacramento, which is a politically competitive area where the major parties are often divided in pluralities although recently there have been Democratic majorities.[13] Metropolitan Fresno has begun to become a politically competitive region as well, as in the2008 presidential election, the region was split with Fresno County going forBarack Obama with the majority of the votes, whileJohn McCain carried Madera County with a comfortable margin. Locally, Democratic concentrations are found in much of Fresno and most non-agricultural suburbs while Republican concentrations are found in Madera County and most rural towns.
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