Fresno : California

Introduction
The seat of Fresno County, Fresno is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of the San Joaquin Valley and the central California region. The city is the business and transportation hub for four separate agricultural regions in what has been called the agribusiness center of the world. Fresno is also known as the gateway to Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia national parks. The city is given an international flavor by a diverse citizenry representing more than 70 nationalities and the largest refugee population in the United States. Over the last two decades, Fresno has been one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Estimated population had exceeded 450,000 by 2003 and official census numbers revealed a 20.7 percent increase in population between 1990-2000. The community name derives from Spanish for "ash tree".

Geography & Climate
Fresno is located in the fertile San Joaquin Valley in the central part of California, about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The terrain in Fresno is relatively flat, with a sharp rise to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains about 15 miles eastward. The weather is usually sunny, with over 200 clear days each year. Summers are typically hot and dry, while winters are mild and rainy. Spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons.

Area: 99.1 square miles (2000)

Elevation: 328 feet above sea level

Latitude: 36.78 N

Longitude: 119.79 W

Average Temperatures: January, 39.6° F; August, 94.1° F; annual average, 62.5° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 9.86 inches

Population: 461,116 (as on July 2005)

Fresno attractions: Chaffee Zoo, Shinzen Japanese Garden, Forestiere Underground Gardens

Local festivals include:

· Big Fresno Fair