Introduction to Hanford, California
Hanford, California, in Kings county, is 19 miles W of Visalia, California (center to center) and 29 miles S of Fresno, California. The city is situated in the south central portion of the San Joaquin Valley and is regarded as a prominent commercial and cultural center for the region. The municipality features a flat landscape, hot summers and cool winters. It includes a large Hispanic population and a Chinese community. Services, government and farming are the primary employers. A large number of residents work at the nearby NAS Lemoore, a large U.S. Navy base and the nearby prisons.
Hanford History
The Tachi Yokut Indians were the original inhabitants. The area began to thrive due to the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1877. The city was named in tribute to a railroad executive named James Madison Hanford. The Mussel Slough Tragedy occurred in 1880 over a land title dispute between the area's settlers and the Southern Pacific Railroad. Seven men died during the confrontation. The city was incorporated in 1891.
Hanford Attractions
- The Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture showcases noteworthy exhibits of Japanese artwork.
- Hanford Carnegie Museum features attractive Romanesque architecture.
- Kings District Fair.
- Renaissance of Kings Cultural Arts Faire attracts a large crowd.
- The Superior Dairy is a popular 1920's style ice cream parlor.
- Kings Art Center offers a wide variety of exhibits.
- Moon Festival.
- Hanford Fox Theatre features a variety of concerts.
- The Kings County Courthouse is an impressive structure.
- The Bastille.
- Sentinel Criterium bicycle races.
- China Alley.
- The Tachi Palace offers video slot machines.
Hanford Transportation
Amtrak provides service to Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Hanford Higher Education
The city is home to a campus of Chapman University and a campus of the College of Sequoias.