California's Central Valley.Seeking lower costs and accommodating communities, the flow of companies into the Central Valley has increased. Companies that have realized they can access the enormous coastal California Coastal California refers to the coastal regions of the US state of California. The term is not primarily geographical as it also describes an area distinguished by sociological, economical and political attributes. and overseas markets as a result of the Central Valley's extensive transportation network are evidence that a relatively rural location can be extremely viable. There is a trend in the Central Valley for manufacturers of component parts and supplies to locate because of the ease of moving their products to assembly and supply points. Trim Masters, Inc., a 400 employee joint venture between Johnson Controls Johnson Controls, Inc. (NYSE: JCI) is a United States company, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, specializing in the design, manufacturing, and installation of automotive systems, automotive batteries (Optima[1] based in Denver, Colorado) and climate control systems. , Toyota Tsusho Toyota Tsusho Corporation (豊田通商), TYO: 8015 , based in Nagoya Japan, is the Sogo shosha (trading company) for the Toyota Group. It is one of the largest trading companies in Japan. America, and ARACO Corporation, established a 100,000 square foot manufacturing facility in the region. The company manufactures automobile interiors in Modesto because of the proximity and ease of shipment to the New United Motors Manufacturing plant in Fremont, Trim Masters' best customer. There has also been explosive growth of distribution facilities in the Valley. Major retailers are establishing enormous facilities that are designed to supply not only their outlets in major metropolitan areas of California but often other states and sometimes the entire west coast. Gottschalks Inc. with 425,000 square feet in Madera, Sears Logistics with 1 million square feet in Delano, Wal-Mart with 1.2 million square feet in Porterville, and Safeway Stores with 1.8 million square feet in Tracy are examples of distribution companies that employ over 2,600 people. Small manufacturers, operations between 25,000 and 75,000 square feet, are the mainstay of the Central Valley. The growth continues with strides being made in one industry in particular, plastics. California is traditionally the most plastic-hungry state in the nation. Anticipating the increasing appetite, companies such as Hancor Inc., NAMPAC, Zarn Inc., Continental PET Technologies, and Florestone Products developed operations in the last eighteen months. These companies are producing an entire spectrum of products from beverage containers and bath and shower accessories to plastic drainage pipe. These investments resulted in the creation of 325 new jobs. The Central Valley is traditionally agricultural. It is home to the number one and number two highest-producing counties in the state. Six of the eight San Joaquin Valley Noun 1. San Joaquin Valley - a vast valley in central California known for its rich farmland Calif., California, Golden State, CA - a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes counties are in the top ten. The Valley is arguably ar·gu·a·ble adj. 1. Open to argument: an arguable question, still unresolved. 2. That can be argued plausibly; defensible in argument: three arguable points of law. the most prolific agricultural region in the world. It is only natural that the region attracts the nation's major food processors and a multitude of small to medium size companies. Over the last eighteen months eleven new facilities or expansions in the food processing Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food for consumption by humans or animals. The food processing industry utilises these processes. industry have occurred throughout the Central Valley. These projects have created 1,000 new jobs. The Valley's pro-business attitude is a major consideration for companies seeking to relocate. The California Central Valley Economic Development Council (CCVEDC) is a team of economic development professionals from the 8-county San Joaquin Valley. The team also includes the California Department of Commerce and the Pacific Gas and Electric Company
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) , (NYSE: PCG), is the utility that provides natural gas and electricity to most of Northern California. . The CCVEDC can guide a client company through every phase of the development process. Environmental permits, energy efficiency engineering, available buildings and land, employee training, tax incentives, and local government cooperation become very important issues to a company planning an expansion or relocation. The CCVEDC provides a "one stop shop" for addressing all of these issues with the confidentiality expected by the business community. Even in the light of a nationwide recession the Central Valley has proven very attractive to companies positioning themselves for the economic recovery. The region holds all of the keys to success -- low fixed costs fixed costs, n.pl the costs that do not change to meet fluctuations in enrollment or in use of services (e.g., salaries, rent, business license fees, and depreciation). , proactive business-friendly communities, and easy accessibility to any of the lucrative markets of California and the Pacific Rim Pacific Rim, term used to describe the nations bordering the Pacific Ocean and the island countries situated in it. In the post–World War II era, the Pacific Rim has become an increasingly important and interconnected economic region. . The Central Valley produces bottom line results. Kern County Created in 1866 from portions of Tulare and Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. counties, Kern is the third largest county in the state, covering 8,172 square miles A square mil is a unit of area, equal to the area of a square with sides of length one mil. A mil is one thousandth of an international inch. This unit of area is usually used in specifying the area of the cross section of a wire or cable. of varied topography. Kern extends from the Sierra Nevadas and Mojave Desert Mojave or Mohave Desert, c.15,000 sq mi (38,850 sq km), region of low, barren mountains and flat valleys, 2,000 to 5,000 ft (610–1,524 m) high, S Calif.; part of the Great Basin of the United States. in the east to the lower Temblor Range The Temblor Range lies at the southwestern end of the San Joaquin Valley in California in the United States. It runs in a northwest-southeasterly direction along the borders of Kern County and San Luis Obispo County. The name of the range is from the Spanish word for earthquake. in the west, with the Tehachapi Mountains Te·hach·a·pi Mountains A range of southern California extending from east to west between the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges north of Los Angeles. on the south. Kern County's primary population centers are in the San Joaquin San Joaquin (săn wäkēn`), river, c.320 mi (510 km) long, rising in the Sierra Nevada, E Calif., and flowing W then N through the S Central Valley to form a large delta with the Sacramento River near Suisun Bay, an arm of San Francisco Bay. and Antelope Valleys. Agriculture provides the backbone of Kern County's economy, providing employment to a large segment of the labor force and putting millions of dollars into the local economy.
Kern County 1980 1990 %Change
Population: 403,085 543,477 34.83
Labor Force: 185,200 232,400 25.49
Employment: 170,900 208,000 21.71
Unemployment: 14,300 24,400 70.63
Taxable Sales (billions): $2.91 $4.31 48.32
Housing Unit Permits: 3,000 4,956 65.20
Housing Stock: 154,352 201,533 30.56
Median Education (years): 12.4
Per Capita Income: $14,296
Avg. Wages Per Job ('88): $19,428
In 1989, farm products had a value of $1.6 billion, positioning Kern County into third place among the agricultural counties in the state. Cotton is Kern's most valued agricultural product, and together with grapes, accounts for 40 percent of the county's agricultural revenues. The discovery of rich mineral deposits in the Kern River Kern River A river rising in the Sierra Nevada of eastern California and flowing about 249 km (155 mi) south and southwest to the southern San Joaquin Valley. area had brought an influx of prospectors and settlers early in the 1800s and minerals today continue to be a mainstay of the Kern economy. One of the world's largest borax borax or sodium tetraborate decahydrate (sō`dēəm tĕ'trəbôr`āt dĕk'əhī`drāt), chemical compound, Na2B4O7·10H2O; sp. gr. 1. deposits is located in eastern Kern County where borax was hauled out during the 1800s by the legendary 20-mule teams. Kern is also the second largest cement producing county in California. Kern County is the nation's leading petroleum-producing county and yields half the total California output of oil. The largest flight test center in the world, Edwards Air Force Base Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. in eastern Kern County, also benefits from a prosperous local economy. Construction, trade and service industries are anticipated to continue their recent strong upward growth trends. Kings County Kings County, which adjoins Fresno, Tulare and Kern, is located in the center of the southern San Joaquin Valley. It is the home of the cities of Avenal, Corcoran, Lemoore and Hanford.
Kings County 1980 1990 %Change
Population: 73,738 101,469 37.61
Labor Force: 36,500 35,150 -3.70
Employment: 33,575 31,325 -6.70
Unemployment: 2,925 3,825 30.77
Taxable Sales (billions): $370.25 542.86 46.62
Housing Unit Permits: 619 635 2.58
Housing Stock: 25,578 32,074 25.39
Median Education (years): 12.3
Per Capita Income: $12,496
Avg. Wages Per Job ('88): $17,858
The roots of the Kings community are in agriculture, a big business that produces over $700 million in gross income each year. One of the outstanding features of the central portion of Kings County is the highly productive Tulare Lake Tulare Lake, intermittent lake, in the Central Valley, central Calif. The Kings, Kaweah, and Kern rivers at one time flowed into the lake, but their waters have been diverted for irrigation. The land in the lake's basin has a high salt content. Basin, which supports some of the nation's most modern and extensive farming Extensive farming (as opposed to intensive farming) is an agricultural production system that uses little inputs on vast areas of land, such as the Great Plains. Extensive farming most commonly refers to sheep and cattle farming in areas with low agricultural productivity. operations. Major expansions by the food processing industry have recently taken place in Kings County. Dairying dairying, business of producing, processing, and distributing milk and milk products. Ninety percent of the world's milk is obtained from cows; the remainder comes from goats, buffaloes, sheep, reindeer, yaks, and other ruminants. is continuing to grow in importance due to the ability of the rich land to provide ample high protein feeds and because of the proximity to the major market areas. Kings County is proud of the Lemoore Naval Air Station A Naval Air Station is an airbase of the United States Navy. Such bases are used to house Naval Aviation squadrons and support commands. List of Functioning US Naval Air Stations
The demographic jolt to Kings County from two new state prisons has been considerable. Activity associated with the prisons will permanently impact the economic growth of Kings County and serve as a buffer against a depressed farm economy. An unusual surge of industrial plant expansions occurred in Kings County during the past years. Kings County has the basic requirements for sound economic growth and a readily available labor force made up of skilled and unskilled workers, abundant water, attractively priced land, transportation facilities and community leaders who have gained a reputation for helping new businesses establish themselves. With total personal income in the county approaching $1.6 billion and total taxable sales of nearly $543 million in 1989, Kings County typifies the prosperity and growth that mark the Central Valley. It is home to fully developed prime industrial and commercial sites, complemented by quality water, sewage, electrical and communications services -- offered at competitive prices. Madera County Madera County was carved out of Fresno County in 1893. The name of the county is the Spanish word for wood or lumber, and modern day visitors will discover fine timberland still covers the county's upper elevations. Madera County covers 2,144 square miles and is located in the geographical center of California. The county is bisected by State Freeway 99, along which most of the county's industrial and residential activity is sited. Agriculture and allied food processing form the basis of Madera County's economy, making up 35% of the county's total wage and salary employment. In 1989, cash farm receipts totaled over $470 million and the leading revenue commodities were grapes, almonds, milk, cotton, turkeys, cattle and alfalfa/hay. Despite a projected increase in the number of acres under cultivation as well as expected higher yields, employment levels in agriculture are expected to decline throughout the 1990s. Trends toward a larger farm size, greater use of mechanization mechanization Use of machines, either wholly or in part, to replace human or animal labour. Unlike automation, which may not depend at all on a human operator, mechanization requires human participation to provide information or instruction. and technological improvements will reduce the need for farm workers. This reduction increases the available labor supply for jobs in industry, which is expected to expand. Thirteen manufacturing projects were completed in Madera County during 1988, representing 800 new jobs.
Madera County 1980 1990 %Change
Population: 63,116 88,090 39.6
Labor Force: 29,800 38,250 28.36
Employment: 27,225 33,525 23.14
Unemployment: 2,575 4,725 83.50
Taxable Sales (millions): $283.53 $503.88 77.70
Housing Unit Permits: 767 1,558 103.1
Housing Stock: 24,172 32,250 33.41
Median Education (years): 12.3
Per Capita Income: $13,003
Avg. Wages Per Job ('88): $16,720
Merced County Merced County was formed on April 19, 1855 from a part of Mariposa county. Sixty percent of the county's 2,000 square miles is made up of agriculturally rich alluvial plain Noun 1. alluvial plain - a flat resulting from repeated deposits of alluvial material by running water alluvial flat flat - a level tract of land; "the salt flats of Utah" through which flow the Chowchilla, San Joaquin and Merced rivers. Some 92 crops are grown in Merced County in commercial quantities. The gross value of agricultural products in 1989 was over one billion dollars, with milk and milk products the largest contributors. There are more than 450 commercial dairies in the county. Other leading commodities are cattle and calves, almonds, sweet potatoes and alfalfa/hay. The county's economy is balanced by light industry geared to agriculture-related products. Recently strong building activity, an accelerating demand for goods and services In economics, economic output is divided into physical goods and intangible services. Consumption of goods and services is assumed to produce utility (unless the "good" is a "bad"). It is often used when referring to a Goods and Services Tax. and a growing tourist trade have characterized the healthy economic expansion experienced in the county. Merced is located on Highway 140, the major year-round road to Yosemite.
Merced County 1980 1990 %Change
Population: 134,560 178,403 32.58
Labor Force: 62,500 73,100 16.96
Employment: 55,775 64,625 15.87
Unemployment: 6,725 8,475 26.02
Taxable Sales (millions): $569.59 $963.63 69.18
Housing Unit Permits: 851 1,178 38.43
Housing Stock: 48,996 60,074 22.68
Median Education (years): 12.3
Per Capita Income: $12,782
Avg. Wages Per Job ('88): $16,310
Every major industrial group has registered payroll gains, with the retail trade and services industries responsible for over 40% of new job opportunities. Nearly all the areas of Merced County have experienced a recent building boom, especially the cities of Merced and Atwater. San Joaquin County The county came of age during California's Gold California's Gold is a PBS travel program that explores the numerous natural, cultural and historical wonders of the Golden State. The show, now in its 13th year, is produced and hosted by Huell Howser. Rush. Stockton became a staging center for miners arriving from San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden by riverboat riv·er·boat n. A boat suitable for use on a river. on the San Joaquin River San Joaquin River River, central California, U.S. Formed by forks rising in the Sierra Nevada, it flows past Stockton, Calif., to join the Sacramento River above Suisun Bay. It is 350 mi (560 km) long and is dammed for hydroelectric power. , destined des·tine tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines 1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic. 2. for the southern mines of the Mother Lode Mother Lode, belt of gold-bearing quartz veins, central Calif., along the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The term is sometimes limited to a strip c.70 mi (110 km) long and from 1 to 6 1-2 mi (1.6–10.5 km) wide, running NW from Mariposa. . As the mines played out, miners returned to the San Joaquin Valley to till the fertile soil in the county. During the 1870s and 80s the area became a bread basket bread basket an agricultural area, such as the U.S. Midwest, that provides large amounts of food to other areas. [Am. Hist.: Misc.] See : Farming where miles and miles of wheat produced new gold. Flour mills and grain elevators lined the Stockton waterfront with riverboats transporting a steady stream of products to San Francisco, much of which was destined for foreign markets. While wagon trails were transformed to major highways, San Joaquin County's position as a significant agriculture and transportation hub Transportation hub is a location where traffic is exchanged across several modes of transport. These modes may include any of railway, tramway, rapid transit, bus, automobile, truck, airplane, spacecraft, ship, ferry, pedestrian or any other kind of transportation. expanded. Population increased steadily through the 1920s and continued into the 1930s when the Port of Stockton The Port of Stockton is a major inland deep water port in Stockton, California located on the San Joaquin River before it joins the Sacramento River to empty into Suisun Bay, eighty miles inland. facilities were built and the deep water channel was dredged to accommodate ocean-going vessels. The deep water port serves the world through the 37-foot deep Stockton Channel to San Francisco Bay San Francisco Bay, 50 mi (80 km) long and from 3 to 13 mi (4.8–21 km) wide, W Calif.; entered through the Golden Gate, a strait between two peninsulas. . Ocean-going vessels regularly make the 75 nautical mile voyage from the Golden Gate. San Joaquin County has ranked among the top 10 counties in the U.S. in value of agricultural production for many years. Dairy products dairy products dairy npl → produits laitier dairy products dairy npl → Milchprodukte pl, Molkereiprodukte pl account for approximately 20 percent of the county's total agriculture production which is nearly $1 billion. Grapes are second in value with about 10 percent of the total and tomatoes are about 7 percent.
San Joaquin County 1980 1990 %Change
Population: 347,342 480,628 38.37
Labor Force: 165,100 196,700 19.14
Employment: 147,100 177,500 20.67
Unemployment: 18,000 19,200 6.67
Taxable Sales (billions): $1.87 $3.55 89.75
Housing Unit Permits: 2,498 3,188 27.62
Housing Stock: 135,580 168,306 24.14
Median Education (years): 12.4
Per Capita Income: $14,186
Avg. Wages Per Job ('88): $19,633
Other crops in descending order of value include eggs, cattle and calves, hay, asparagus asparagus, perennial garden vegetable (Asparagus officinalis) of the family Liliaceae (lily family), native to the E Mediterranean area and now naturalized over much of the world. , almonds, walnuts, sugar beets, corn and cherries. San Joaquin County's number of manufacturing establishments grew from 465 to 537 between 1982 and 1987, and during that period the county's total manufacturing payroll grew from $338.6 million to $581.1 million. Stanislaus County Stanislaus County has long been known for its rich soil and abundant crops, stretching across fertile fields of the Central Valley, to the foothills of both the Sierra Nevada and California Coast Range. In the last decade, another abundance has emerged. Business and industry have recognized the incredible economic promise of Stanislaus County. They have recognized its strategic location, affordable housing, and quality of life. They have also recognized the available workforce and strong work ethic work ethic n. A set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. work ethic Noun a belief in the moral value of work . Founded in 1858, Stanislaus County's agriculture-related activities have formed the basis of the county's economy. In 1989, Stanislaus County ranked 7th in California, providing 4.7% of all agriculture production -- a value estimated at over $963 million. But in recent years, retail and service operations have been on the rise, as well as construction projects. Whatever the reason for Stanislaus County's rapid growth, business is flourishing and generating billions of dollars in transactions each year. Regional, national or international in scope, business and industry represent the new abundance in the Central Valley. The growth in housing and construction in Stanislaus County underscores the progress in the Central Valley, where population and home construction are on the increase. Housing permits jumped more than 70 percent between 1980 and 1990.
Stanislaus County 1980 1990 %Change
Population: 265,900 370,522 39.35
Labor Force: 129,900 163,600 25.94
Employment: 112,900 145,000 28.43
Unemployment: 17,000 18,600 9.41
Taxable Sales (millions): $1.47 $3.01 104.99
Housing Unit Permits: 2,314 3,951 70.74
Housing Stock: 102,287 136,159 33.11
Median Education (years): 12.4
Per Capita Income: $13,913
Avg. Wages Per Job ('88): $18,555
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