Region five: San Joaquin Valley.

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San Joaquin Valley Overview

The San Joaquin Valley Region is in the south-central portion of the state and is bordered by the Sacramento Region on the north, Nevada on the east, and mountain ranges on the south and east. It is comprised of 13 counties, ranging in size from 663-thousand acres to 6.5-million acres.

Its geography is very diverse, and with over 29-million acres of land, it accounts for just under one-third of California's total area. About half the land is government-owned and consists of national parks and forests along with several military installations.

The region is one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world, accounting for almost half the agriculture production in California.

Climate in the valley portion of the region is hot during the summer, and cold and wet during the winter. Rainfall averages five to fifteen inches per year. Mountain areas remain snow covered during the winter and cool during the summer period.

DEMOGRAPHICS:

The region's relatively low cost of living and availability of affordable housing is attracting people moving from the major urban areas. In the past, population growth has remained below the statewide level with agricultural emphasis and the mountainous terrain. Current population of the San Joaquin Valley Region is just under 3.1 million. Largest cities in the region are Fresno, Stockton, Bakersfield, and Modesto.

REGIONAL ECONOMY:

Most counties in the San Joaquin Region rely on agriculture and its related sectors for a sizable portion of employment. In 1989 agricultural employment accounted for 15.7 percent of the San Joaquin Valley's jobs. That figure contrasts the state figure of 3.6 percent for the same period. Fresno, Kern, and Tulare Counties account for two-thirds of the agricultural employment and produce almost 60 percent of the regional agricultural value.

Other sectors are growing to provide industry diversity which is slowly diminishing reliance on agriculture. Manufacturing increased by almost 21 percent from 1983 to 1988. Food and related products are the largest segment of the manufacturing sector, with non-electrical equipment, stone, clay and glass products important in Fresno and Kern Counties.

Mining, although accounting for only 2 percent of total regional employment, is significantly-higher than the statewide average of 0.3 percent. Kern County has 85 percent of the region's mining employment. Unlike Tuolomne County, whose mining is dependent on the construction industry, Kern County mining production is related to oil and gas field services.

LABOR FORCE:

The region experiences a large amount of seasonal agricultural employment which causes an elevated unemployment rate. For that reason, the San Joaquin Region experienced California's highest unemployment rate for 1992, at 15.2%. Employment now comes mainly from the services, trade, and government sectors. Combined, these three areas represent 57% of the regional employment.

REAL ESTATE AND HOUSING:

The median price of an existing, single-family detached home in this region is below the state level. The median price for a home in 1990 statewide was $196,078 and for the San Joaquin Valley Region was $113,168.

EDUCATION:

A new University of California campus is planned for the region. Regents are considering three locations and the final decision is expected later this year.

UC-San Joaquin is expected to open in the year 2000 with an estimated draw of about 100,000 people to the area. Fresno is home to the 19,000-student California State University at Fresno and three private colleges.

Two community colleges are within the region and a third is to open in the Madera Valley.

Counties of San Joaquin Valley

CALAVERAS COUNTY

It was gold that brought the first settlers to Calaveras County 140 years ago, but it's the golden opportunity of a better quality of life that lures new settlers today. Workers in the San Joaquin Valley and the Bay Area are finding they can enjoy a rural lifestyle with a manageable commute to the valley and beyond from reasonably priced homes in safe Calaveras communities.

The county offers an existing skilled workforce eager to trade the fast-paced lifestyles of the urban areas for a slower-paced, rural environment. A light industrial and commercial sector adds new dimension to the traditionally resource-based local economy. Growth is strong in Calaveras and is expected to continue. The challenge is to manage growth in a manner that will protect its sought-after rural lifestyle.

FRESNO COUNTY

With its location in the San Joaquin Valley, Fresno County is the most productive agricultural region in the country, with more than 220 different crops. Labeled the "Agribusiness Center of the World," the area's crops produce $2.9 billion a year. Grapes, cotton, tomatoes, melons, alfalfa, barley, rice, wheat, citrus, peaches and plums are all part of the agriculture of the San Joaquin Valley. Cattle, sheep and poultry production add to the success of the region as do oil wells in the southwestern area of the county.

Other industries are settling in Fresno County, especially in manufacturing. The attraction comes from the low cost of land and buildings, an abundant labor supply and a reasonable cost of living. The county is the trade, financial and commercial hub of Central California, and as a major transportation center, it has two north-south highways, railroads, major airlines, bus and truck service.

INYO COUNTY

Inyo County is the second largest county in California with 6,463,000 acres -- larger than the State of Maryland. In addition to its tremendous tourist business which attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually, Inyo County has vast mineral resources, including silver, tungsten, copper, clay and pumice. It is an area of contrast in topography and climate with Mt. Whitney and Death Valley within 80 miles of one another in the same county.

With recreation the major strength of this vacation land, preservation of the beautiful, rural lifestyle is important to the economy. The City of Bishop is encouraging small- to medium-size businesses to locate in their area., and offers a favorable wage and salary structure. Residents enjoy a small-town lifestyle offering spectacular natural beauty and clean air, free of traffic congestion.

KERN COUNTY

Kern County is the third largest county in the state with an area of 5,229,000 acres. The county was created in 1988 from parts of Tulare and Los Angeles counties, and extends from the Sierra Nevadas and Mojave Desert to the lower Temblor Range and Tehachapi Mountains.

Agriculture is the mainstay of this county providing, 17 percent of its employment. Cotton and grapes are the major crops. About 60% of the water used for domestic and agricultural use is pumped from vast, closed underground basins, a major local river and two water-importing projects. With flood and drought conditions spaced between periods of normal supply, adequate water supplies have been brought about by careful management practices.

Mineral production from the Kern River area continues to be an economic strength, as are borax production and the manufacture of cement. Kern County is the second strongest cement producer in the state and yields half of California's output of oil.

KINGS COUNTY

The economic base of Kings County continues to be agriculture, with a production of over $700-million in gross annual income. The Tulare Lake Basin supports some of the most extensive and state-of-the-art farming operations in the country. The food processing and dairy industries continue to thrive due in part to their excellent location close to major market areas.

Lemoore Naval Air Station on the western edge of the county, contributes substantially to the economy as do two new state prisons. Industrial plant expansions have grown substantially over the past few years with an available labor pool made up of skilled and unskilled workers, abundant water, and competitive land prices. Continued assistance from community leaders helping business get established keeps the economy growing.

MADERA COUNTY

As the southernmost entrance to Yosemite, Madera County sees 1.3 million cars a year make their way into the national park. As a result, tourism is a strong industry. Many of the area's visitors become residents after enjoying the beauty of the area and finding reasonable housing rates. Approximately 20% of those living in the area are retirees. Major companies in the county include: Oberti Olives, a county mainstay for over 50 years; Ficklin and Quady Wineries; and CR On-Line, a computer games company.

Madera County extends from the valley floor to the summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. "Madera" means "lumber" in Spanish and accurately describes the area's major industry. Tourism is also a major economic mainstay.

MARIPOSA COUNTY

Mariposa County enjoys the lowest unemployment rate in the San Joaquin Region at 7.7%. A rural community, it relies heavily on the abundance of tourists brought to the county by Yosemite National Park and the Merced River. The area's four low-elevation, all-weather routes leading into Yosemite keep business related to tourism strong, with more than 3.5-million visitors a year.

Since the Gold Rush days, mining has had a strong influence on the Mariposa area. More than $60-million in gold has been taken from mines in the county, with many still in operation today.

Many tourists-turned-residents have chosen to leave populated urban areas and relocate to the peaceful, rural lifestyle offered by Mariposa County. In a desire to preserve the slower quality of life, most business being recruited to the area centers on the tourist industry.

MERCED COUNTY

The City of Merced is perhaps best known as the "Gateway to Yosemite," and is a city of urban development surrounded by open farmlands.

Merced County grows over 90 crops with a gross value of reported to be over one-billion dollars in 1989. Milk and related products make up the largest agricultural sector with over 450 commercial dairies in the county. The county's economy is balanced by light industry related to agricultural products.

MONO COUNTY

With the strong tourist trade in Mono County, the service industry offers the largest concentration of jobs. It is an employment level predicated on the success of the ski season. Mammoth Lakes is the fastest growing area in the county and center of winter sports activities. Retail trade and government are strong employers with mining, manufacturing and construction also significant to the county.

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Strategically located in the heart of Northern California's dynamic growth corridor, San Joaquin County is ideally situated for business and industry. What began as a Gold Rush town, quickly evolved into a vital trading and industrial center, due to the county's strategic location and proximity to major California consumer and industrial markets.

While agricultural and food processing remain an integral part of the economy, electronics, construction materials, manufacturing and large-scale product distribution have seen an increase in employment. San Joaquin has experienced substantial growth in recent years, due in part to the increased demand for housing by Bay Area commuters.

A wide range of choices in commercial real estate suitable to manufacturing operations is available. The county seat of Stockton, with its close proximity and easy access to the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and Sacramento, is an obvious location for much of the industrial growth being generated from the Bay Area. Stockton's deep-water port provides access to ocean-going vessels.

Stanislaus County

Stretching from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and California Coast Range, across the fertile fields of the Central Valley, abundant crops prosper in the area's rich soil. Business and industry have joined in the area's prosperity by recognizing the strategic location, affordable housing and quality of life available in Stanislaus County. Its available workforce is also contributing to the growth of the retail and service businesses.

Modesto is the largest city in Stanislaus County and is located about 70 miles from the high-employment centers of the Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, and has become a growing bedroom community for workers in those areas. Out-of-state businesses looking to break into the California and Pacific Rim markets, recognize the reasonable costs associated with locating in Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto. The county's population and employment are projected to double within the next two decades.

Tulare County

Agriculture accounts for almost one-third of the employment in Tulare County and ranks second in the state for agricultural production. Tulare's county seat is Visalia, a city with a population over 75,000 and among California's fastest growing cities, due in part to its central location between the state's urban areas. Visalia is strategically situated equidistant from San Francisco and Los Angeles on a 24-square-mile area. Because of low rainfall and warm temperatures, Visalia's weather is referred to as Mediterranean.

Tulare County recognizes the need to retrain workers as he economy evolves and utilizes an extensive network of job training providers. Main economic development is occurring in the manufacturing, commercial and service sectors. Fisher Manufacturing has acquired a 50,000 square-foot facility to manufacture and distribute commercial faucets, and VitaPakt, Inc. selected Tulare County for its 70,000 square-foot marmalade processing plant, employing 60 people.

Tuolumne County

Two state parks, Columbia and Railtown, along with Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park, make tourism the number one employer in Tuolumne County. More than 80% of the area's business is related to tourism. Cattle raising in the lower elevations and logging in the higher elevations, add to the area's income. The Sonora Mining Company is an active, large gold mine employing 300 people and is the biggest single employer in the county.

With an elevation low enough to just sample the nearby mountain snows, and high enough to just miss the fog line, Sonora, the county seat, attracts new residents searching for an excellent quality of life. It is an area of spectacular fall colors, beautiful winterscapes, and delightful spring flowers.

FIGHTING BACK ... SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RECIPES FOR SUCCESS

* In the Sonora area of Tuolumne County, many people are relocating from the urban areas to enjoy the clean air, slower pace and excellent quality of life. An interesting domino-effect economy has been generated among the newly-created bedroom communities. With so many people commuting to the Bay Area and Sacramento from communities like Tracy, Modesto and Stockton, a service industry has evolved in those cities. As commuters depart those valley towns for the urban jobs, residents in the Sonora area of Tuolumne have now begun commuting to Tracy, Modesto and Stockton to handle the services needed by residents there.

* The Calaveras County Economic Development Company is working to create jobs close to home for workers currently commuting to the Bay Area and into the San Joaquin Valley. Light manufacturing in the 20- to 50-employee range is in keeping with the attractive rural lifestyle. With the expansion of current business and the relocation of new business to the area, workers are able to cut commute time and live and shop closer to home, which further improves the economy.

* The Calaveras County Economic Development Company was instrumental in relocating a pneumatic control device manufacturer to the area. Pneucon, a division of Low Tech Automation, Inc., cited the cooperative efforts of CCEDC in selecting local employees. The firm has hired 12 people and plans to become the anchor of a business park on property recently purchased by the company.

* Fresno's Economic Development Council and the Chamber of Commerce are working together to upgrade the downtown area. The city is being revitalized into a series of districts, each with a separate function. One area involves the University of California looking to develop a regional medical center in the downtown Medical District. A university offering law school and psychology school programs is planned for the Campus District. A Farmers Market is also in the works with restaurants a part of the plan. Changes in traffic patterns in the downtown area are being made to accommodate traffic, while making the area pedestrian friendly.

* In Kings County, the Crown Development Corporation, a non-profit group in Hanford, assists with the availability of desirable and affordable land. They provide quick and effective loan packaging services.

* The Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce is distributing a production manual of sites and services available for film and production companies. It is being distributed to film makers looking for sites in the Mariposa.

KERN COUNTY MARKETS FOR BUSINESS

The Kern County Board of Trade publishes a monthly business newsletter which includes the listings of sites being considered by firms looking to relocate to the county, and by those expanding within the region. Included in the extensive list are:

In Bakersfield, the MacSoft Company, a high-tech "think tank" dedicated to the development of computer software, selected Bakersfield as a location for its company because of the quality of life and the enthusiastic attitude of local citizens. MacSoft President Rob McCarthy says they are an international firm whose success depends heavily on the staff he recruits, some coming from as far away as London and as nearby as San Diego.

McCarthy gives several reasons for locating in Bakersfield: An excellent quality of life coupled with the low price of real estate as compared with other areas, an ideal family environment, a great place to raise children with beautiful, secure neighborhoods, excellent schools and well-kept parks. The local labor pool is fed by California. State University and Bakers field College.

* California City has been selected to receive one of six prisons proposed by the California Department of Corrections, pending funding and site selection.

* The 20-acre site of the Fruitville Industrial Park in Bakersfield is scheduled for construction.

* Select-A-Switch is constructing a 27,000 square-foot electrical parts distributing company in Tehachapi. The company will employ 50 people.

* The Mojave Pipeline Operating Company is in the process of determining market interest for a 300-mile extension of its natural gas line out of Kern County into Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area.

* The R.R. Lochead Company, a vanilla extract factory, has purchased a two-acre site at the Wasco Industrial Park in Wasco. The 35,000 square foot factory will employ 20 people if approved.

* PETsMART recently opened its first San Joaquin Valley operation in Bakersfield, employing 35 people.

Contact: Ann Gutcher, Manager and Executive V.P., Kern County Board of Trade, 2101 Oak Street, Bakersfield, CA 93302, 805 861-2367, FAX [phone]

OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE

The San Joaquin Valley Region contains three entire national parks -- Yosemite, Sequoia and King Canyon. Stanislaus National Forest lies in this region in Tuolumne County. It is a magnificent area of lush parks and forests, snow-capped mountains and dry, desert valleys.

It's an area rich in gold. Of the nine counties comprising California's Gold Country, four of them are within this region. It's an Agriculture hub of rich farmland mingling with year-round recreation activities.

It's an area of rural and urban lifestyles blended with the lakes and rivers of the high mountain peaks, down to the water-rich delta below. It has the highest and the lowest, the oldest and some of the biggest of things in the country located in this region -- all wrapped in a cover of magnificent scenery and unspoiled beauty.

QUALITY OF LIFE: INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES

Calaveras County lies east of the Central Valley of California, in the heart of the Mother Lode region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This pie-shaped county extends from the great canyons of the Mokelumne River on the north and the Stanislaus River to the south; dips to nearly sea level at the San Joaquin Valley on-the west, and slopes sharply upwards to elevations over 8,000 feet to the Sierras in the east.

Its climate is varied with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters predominating in the western foothills; and cool summers and cold, snowy winters in the mountainous eastern Sierras.

The natural resources continue to attract residents and visitors alike to this rural community, much as the gold seekers were drawn in the 1850's. Today's visitor finds an enriched lifestyle and peace-of-mind, leaving behind the hectic pace of metropolitan cities.

The heritage of the Gold Rush days is preserved in the 42 State Historic Landmark areas within Calaveras County. The County's most celebrated event is the annual Jumping Frog Jubilee in May.

Located in the verdant San Joaquin Valley, Fresno County boasts 6,000 square miles of fields planted with fruits, vegetables, cotton and numerous other crops. Selma is the "Raisin Capital of the World," headquarters of the Sunmaid Raisin Company.

The urban side of the Fresno area offers opportunities with the charm of a small town. The county is an area of 3.8-million-acres with a population of 723,000, and is growing steadily as more people abandon the larger metropolitan areas for the affordable, slower-paced lifestyle of the San Joaquin Valley.

In the foothills surrounding the City of Fresno, the Shaver, Bass, and Pine Flat lakes, fed by Sierra snow runoff are a recreational paradise. Huntington Lake, just north of Fresno, is often described as one of the most beautiful lakes in the United States.

Located in the heart of Fresno is Roeding Park, on 167 acres with huge deciduous trees and flowering plants. Fishing lakes, picnic areas, a zoo and amusement rides are a part of this varied park. Numerous museums such as the Discovery Center, a hands-on science museum; the Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art, History, and Science; and the Fort Miller Block House, add to the city's cultural resources.

Described by "Outside Magazine" as one of the "Most beautiful, rugged, sporting, livable places in the U.S.," Inyo County is a mixture of nature's beauty and contrasts. The Sierra Nevada with majestic Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the continental United States, to Death Valley and the lowest point in the country, provide the setting for a lifestyle set in the outdoors.

Most of the population is centered in the Owens Valley running north and south along the base of the Sierra Nevada. The Owens River and its mountain runoff streams which flow into the valley made it a natural basin. Bishop, the largest community and the only incorporated city in the area, is located at the upper edge of the county. Recreation abounds with camping, hiking, rock hounding, boating, fishing and hang gliding. The oldest living trees on earth are found in the Inyo National Forest.

Kern County, "The Heart of the Californias," is the third largest county in the state in land area, with 5.2-million acres. The Kern River's picturesque valley at the Southern Sierra Nevada, is surrounded by the 1.1 million acres of Sequoia National Forest. Nearly half of this unspoiled beauty has been designated as wilderness area. Beautiful terrain dotted with giant sequoias and tall pines, clear, cool streams and towering granite peaks make up this area.

Lake Isabella is one of the largest reservoirs in Southern California with its 11,000 acres. The Kern River begins its journey high in the Sierra Nevada near Mt. Whitney and is best known as a whitewater rafting and kayaking river, with thousands of visitors guided through its roaring rapids each year.

Kings County has a land area of 919,000 acres and is situated alongside California's Temblor Mountain Range. Hanford, the county seat, was once one of the largest Chinese communities in the state. Hanford's serene rural life is mixed with a strong economic base, contributing to local employment. Madera County.

Eastern Madera County is the official geographical center of California, with excellent quality of life, the beauty of Yosemite National Park "next door," and a rural lifestyle just minutes from major urban centers.

Historically a lumber community, in 1886 a famous flume was built to carry cut lumber 63 miles from the Sugar Pine Lumber Company, high in the Sierra, to the city of Madera in the valley. This remained in service until 1932.

Madera County experiences a temperature range of 10 to 100 degrees, rainfall up to 45 inches and an elevation of 1,000 to 5,000 feet. The slopes of Yosemite's Badger Pass host the West's oldest ski resort and a family-oriented skiing mecca. Recreation is available with lake fishing, boating, and water skiing at Bass Lake.

Mariposa County enjoys some of the world's most magnificent scenery with rolling hills of the Sierra Nevada range to the west, and rugged peaks and valleys in Yosemite National-Park to the east. The climate brings cool mild winters with heavy precipitation during a few of the winter months, and warm summers. Elevations range from 300 to 12,000 feet, with Yosemite National Park accounting for nearly 23% of the county's area.

In Merced County recreational opportunities abound. Several reservoirs, including the largest, San Luis with 65 miles of shoreline, offer a variety of water sports. The Merced River, originating high in the Sierras offers a mixture of white-water rapids and cool, gentle waters that makes the area popular for rafting and canoeing.

There are several museums in the county, including Castle Air Museum at Castle Air Force Base where vintage military aircraft from World War II to the present are on display.

The resort town of Mammoth Lakes is a fast growing community and the center of winter sports in the southern part of Mono County. It is one of California's most popular four-season resorts and provides access to recreational facilities in the Inyo National Forest.

Mammoth Mountain offers one of the country's longest ski seasons, sometimes running through the Fourth of July. Cross-country skiing, dog sledding, and sleigh rides abound in the winter. Hiking the John Muir Wilderness, backpacking through the high country, fishing, mountain climbing and hot air ballooning are popular in the warmer months.

In the Bridgeport area of Mono County, and within the Inyo National Forest, Mono Basin Scenic Area covers 116,000 acres surrounding Mono Lake. The lake itself provides an eerie picture of lava-strewn islands and volcanic tower-like formations.

The popularity of San Joaquin County continues to grow as Californians and others from all over the United States look for quality lifestyles. The area offers big-city amenities and affordable housing, easy commute, and access to cultural and recreational amenities.

A wide range of 18 school districts make up the county, with the urban opportunities in Stockton's magnet programs, to the one-school rural districts. Institutions of higher learning include the University of the Pacific at Stockton, a satellite campus of the California State University, National University and Humphreys College.

The City of Stockton, the county seat, grew 42 percent to a population over 211,000 -- a figure predicted to reach 230,000 by the year 2000.

The marshy river delta and snow pack on nearby mountains, keep the valley lush and green all year long. San Joaquin County's rain falls only a few months of the year and the remainder of the time, weather is sunny, warm days with cool, ocean breezes at night. But as the snow melts in the mountains, it flows into the valley below to be stored for use throughout the year.

Stanislaus County was established in 1854 and contains 973,400 acres extending 55 miles across the floor of the San Joaquin Valley. Despite abundance of water provided by the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers, occasional flooding and drought conditions were early problems which resulted in construction the La Grange Dam and reservoir in 1893.

1912 Modesto became the first city in the country to charter a municipal airport and 1991 a new terminal building was completed.

Once a sleepy railroad town, Modesto has maintained its small-town ambiance while growing to include the best jobs, homes, services and amenities of big-city living.

Tulare County, surrounded by rich farmland, Visalia, with its more than 100 restaurants and 1,000 tourist rooms, is the "Gateway to the Sequoias." The nearby Sierra Nevada with its national parks, forests, foothills, and snow-fed lakes and rivers, provides year-round outdoor recreation with excellent fishing, water-skiing, and sailing.

Considered the Central Sierra Gold Country, Tuolumne County's first gold was discovered near Jamestown in 1848. It is believed that more gold was taken from Woods Creek than from any other stream its size in the state. The county offers many historical points of interest, year-round sporting and recreational activities and charming, vintage shops.

The San Joaquin Partnership

Economic development on the cutting edge

With the growth of the San Joaquin area, a group of business, civic, and public-sector leaders organized to make sure that growth in the San Joaquin County area is well planned to accommodate new employment, while retaining the quality of life -- a cutting-edge economic vision. Its goal is to directly assist in the creation of 35,000 new jobs over the next five years and make its plan, set forth in the detailed "Vision 2000 -- A Blueprint for the Future," a reality.

Rick Weddle, president and CEO of the Partnership, is involved in sixty economic development projects throughout the United States. Weddle says, "We believe San Joaquin County has much to offer businesses looking to relocate or expand."

As the lead agency for business and industry recruitment in the county, the Partnership looks for potential business prospects through advertising, community programs and direct sales programs. The basic philosophy of the organization is that new business and industry must be attracted and local business growth enhanced in order to provide expanding employment opportunities.

Their 1993 plan includes contacting decision makers in target firms and major site location consultants. It is emphasized that key to their programs is the importance of promptly and accurately servicing client requests.

The need to carefully balance growth and development with efforts to protect the environment and natural resources is included in the Partnership's program.

"Jobs are moving to areas with lower land and labor costs and cheaper taxes whether within or outside of the state," says Weddle. "We believe we can offer an attractive package to companies that are looking to relocate or expand. It's just a matter of aggressively pursuing them and having the financial resources and solid commitment from County leaders to do so. We believe we have both."

Contact: Rick Weddle, President, The San Joaquin Partnership, 2800 West March Lane, Suite 470, Stockton, CA 95219, 209 956-3380. (Fax) 209 956-1520.