Introduction to Clovis, California
The California city of Clovis, known as "Gateway to the Sierras," sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in Fresno County, only nine miles away from its larger neighbor to the southwest, the city of Fresno. Situated in the midst of California's agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley, Clovis is bisected by California State Highway 168 and is located near State Highways 41, 99 and 180.
Named for Clovis M. Cole, one of its most prominent early residents, Clovis originated as a freight stop along the San Joaquin Valley Railroad (later to become the Southern Pacific Railroad). The community's development was aided by a burgeoning lumbering industry and further boosted by a growing prominence in the grain production and livestock industries. Incorporated as a city in 1912, Clovis took shape as a distinctly western town and has since maintained its small town community flavor. The city today has an economic base consisting chiefly of retail sales and services and light manufacturing, and carries a reputation of being a great place to live.
Clovis Points of Interest
A popular vacation destination, Clovis is only a short drive to the Sierra Nevada, home to Yosemite and Sequoia National parks. Visitors come to Clovis for many other reasons too. Old Town Clovis is the city's oldest and most charming area, having benefited from an impressive redevelopment effort begun more than 20 years ago. Brimming with classic brick sidewalks leading to quaint antique shops and a variety of ethnic restaurants, Old Town is a turn-of-the-century western getaway. Among the city's annual events is the Clovis Rodeo, held on the last weekend in April and September's ClovisFest, an annual event which draws over 70,000 people and includes the "Red Hot & Real BBQ Championship" competition. Sports fans are only minutes away from professional action in the neighboring city of Fresno, home of three minor league pro teams. The Fresno Grizzlies play in the Pacific Coast League and serve as the Class Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants. Hockey's Fresno Falcons play in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and Fresno is also home to the Central Valley Coyotes of the Arena Football 2 (Af2) League.