Central California
Encyclopedia
Central California, sometimes referenced as Mid-State, is an area of California
south of the San Francisco Bay Area
and north of Southern California
. It includes the southern portion of the San Joaquin Valley
south of the San Joaquin River Delta, the Central Coast and central hills of the California Coast Ranges, and the foothills and mountain areas of the central Sierra Nevada.
Central California is generally considered a sub-region within Northern California
. Both have their southern boundary where they meet Southern California at either the Tehachapi Mountains
or the county lines which cross the state west to east below Monterey
, Kings
and Tulare
Counties. Central California is considered to be west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada. (East of the Sierras is Eastern California
.)
The largest cities (over 50,000 population) in the region are Fresno
, Modesto
, Visalia
, Salinas
, Merced
, Turlock
, Madera
, Hanford
, and Porterville
.
and even larger portions of the Central Valley. Some have less or none of Central Coast.
Generally the widest definition of Central California is the middle third of the state by latitude. The southern boundary of that area would be 35° 41', which nearly coincides with the county lines already used for the southern boundary that cross the state west-to-east below Monterey, Kings and Tulare Counties. The northern boundary of that area at 38° 51' crosses just north of the Sacramento metro area. However, the San Francisco Bay, Sacramento and Stockton metro areas are traditionally considered parts of Northern California, intuitively grouped together as the northern urban center within the state. That leaves the most accepted definitions of Central California to the areas south of there.
The following regions are partly contained within Central California:
The University of California
has one campus in the region. University of California, Merced
opened on a newly-constructed site on the east side of Merced
in 2005.
The California State University
system has four campuses in the region. California State University, Monterey Bay
opened on the site of the former Fort Ord
army base in 1994. California State University, Bakersfield
opened in 1970. California State University, Stanislaus
in Turlock opened in 1957. California State University, Fresno
opened in 1911.
The Monterey Institute of International Studies
is a graduate school that offers eleven Master's degree programs in international policy
, international management, language teaching, and translation
and interpretation. The Monterey Institute of International Studies
is a graduate school of Middlebury College
.
San Joaquin College of Law
is a private, nonprofit law school located in Clovis
.
Fresno Pacific University
is a private university in Fresno.
The Naval Postgraduate School
and Defense Language Institute
are located in Monterey.
The following community college
campus sites are in the region:
There are no community colleges in Madera, Mariposa or San Benito Counties.
and State Route 99
are the primary highways in the San Joaquin Valley. US 101 and State Route 1
are the major coastal highways.
and Amtrak California San Joaquin routes.
The California High-Speed Rail
system is under planning. If built, it would have stations in Fresno and Merced on the initial line between San Francisco/San Jose and Los Angeles.
Freight rail is served by commercial railroads. Union Pacific Railroad
and BNSF Railway
operate mainline freight through the region in the Central Valley.
and Monterey Peninsula Airport
. Regional airline service is also available at Modesto City-County Airport
, Merced Municipal Airport
and Visalia Municipal Airport
.
General Aviation airports exist in all 10 counties. The largest are former military bases converted to civilian airports
An active military air base is at Naval Air Station Lemoore
in Kings County.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
south of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and north of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. It includes the southern portion of the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
south of the San Joaquin River Delta, the Central Coast and central hills of the California Coast Ranges, and the foothills and mountain areas of the central Sierra Nevada.
Central California is generally considered a sub-region within Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
. Both have their southern boundary where they meet Southern California at either the Tehachapi Mountains
Tehachapi Mountains
The Tehachapi Mountains , regionally also called The Tehachapis, are a mountain range in the Transverse Ranges system of California in the Western United States...
or the county lines which cross the state west to east below Monterey
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
, Kings
Kings County, California
Kings County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is located in a rich agricultural region. Kings County is also home to NAS Lemoore, which is the U.S. Navy's newest and largest master jet air station. The county seat is Hanford...
and Tulare
Tulare County, California
Tulare County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Fresno. Sequoia National Park is located in the county, as are part of Kings Canyon National Park, in its northeast corner , and part of Mount Whitney, on its eastern border...
Counties. Central California is considered to be west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada. (East of the Sierras is Eastern California
Eastern California
Eastern California is a term that refers to the eastern region of California, United States. It can refer to either the strip to the east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada, or to the easternmost counties of California.-Culture and history:...
.)
The largest cities (over 50,000 population) in the region are Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, Modesto
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
, Visalia
Visalia, California
Visalia is a Central California city situated in the heart of California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, approximately southeast of San Francisco and north of Los Angeles...
, Salinas
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
, Merced
Merced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
, Turlock
Turlock, California
Turlock is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States, part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, Turlock had a population of 80,549, up from 55,810 at the 2000 census, making it the second-largest city in Stanislaus County.-Geography:Turlock lies in the...
, Madera
Madera, California
Madera is a city in and the county seat of Madera County, California, United States. It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Madera County, and Metropolitan Fresno. It is located in California's San Joaquin Valley. As of the 2010...
, Hanford
Hanford, California
Hanford is an important commercial and cultural center in the south central San Joaquin Valley and is the county seat of Kings County, California. It is the principal city of the Hanford-Corcoran, California Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Kings County, including the cities...
, and Porterville
Porterville
Porterville may refer to:* Porterville, California* Porterville, Mississippi* Porterville, Texas* Porterville, Utah* Porterville, Western Cape in South Africa...
.
Geography
Central California can have widely varying definitions depending on the context. Some divide the state by lines of latitude making northern, central and southern sections. Others divide by county lines or watershed boundaries. Some definitions include more of the San Joaquin ValleySan Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
and even larger portions of the Central Valley. Some have less or none of Central Coast.
Generally the widest definition of Central California is the middle third of the state by latitude. The southern boundary of that area would be 35° 41', which nearly coincides with the county lines already used for the southern boundary that cross the state west-to-east below Monterey, Kings and Tulare Counties. The northern boundary of that area at 38° 51' crosses just north of the Sacramento metro area. However, the San Francisco Bay, Sacramento and Stockton metro areas are traditionally considered parts of Northern California, intuitively grouped together as the northern urban center within the state. That leaves the most accepted definitions of Central California to the areas south of there.
Counties
Central California as defined above includes the following 11 counties:
|
Monterey County, California Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas... San Benito County, California San Benito County is a county located in the Coast Range Mountains of the U.S. state of California, south of San Jose. As of 2010 the population was 55,269. The county seat is Hollister, which includes nearly two-thirds of the county's population. El Camino Real passes through the county and... Stanislaus County, California Stanislaus County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. As the price of housing has increased in the San Francisco Bay Area, many people who work in the southern reaches of the Bay Area have opted for the longer commute and moved to Stanislaus County for the... Tulare County, California Tulare County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Fresno. Sequoia National Park is located in the county, as are part of Kings Canyon National Park, in its northeast corner , and part of Mount Whitney, on its eastern border... Tuolumne County, California Tuolumne County is a county in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. The northern half of Yosemite National Park is located in the eastern part of the county. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,365, up from 54,501 at the 2000 census... |
Cities
Area cities and towns listed below are major regional centers or county seats.
|
Merced, California Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government... Monterey, California The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of... Salinas, California Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census... Sonora, California Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,903, up from 4,423 at the 2000 census. Sonora is the only incorporated community in Tuolumne County.-Geography:... Turlock, California Turlock is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States, part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, Turlock had a population of 80,549, up from 55,810 at the 2000 census, making it the second-largest city in Stanislaus County.-Geography:Turlock lies in the... Visalia, California Visalia is a Central California city situated in the heart of California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, approximately southeast of San Francisco and north of Los Angeles... Porterville, California Porterville is a city in the San Joaquin Valley, in Tulare County, California, United States. Porterville's population was 54,165 at the 2010 census. The city's population grew dramatically as the city annexed many properties and unincorporated areas in and around Porterville. Not included in the... |
Sub-regions
The following regions are entirely contained within Central California:- Big SurBig SurBig Sur is a sparsely populated region of the Central Coast of California where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. The name "Big Sur" is derived from the original Spanish-language "el sur grande", meaning "the big south", or from "el país grande del sur", "the big...
- Kings Canyon National ParkKings Canyon National ParkKings Canyon National Park is a National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno, California. The park was established in 1940 and covers...
- Metropolitan FresnoMetropolitan FresnoMetropolitan Fresno or officially Fresno-Madera, CA CSA is a metropolitan area in California's Central Valley consisting of Fresno and Madera counties in the southern area of Northern California...
- Pinnacles National MonumentPinnacles National MonumentPinnacles National Monument is a protected mountainous area located east of central California's Salinas Valley, just miles from the town of Soledad...
- Salinas ValleySalinas ValleyThe Salinas Valley lies south of San Francisco, California.The word "salina" is spanish for salt marsh, salt lake or salt pan.-Geography:The Salinas Valley runs approximately south-east from Salinas towards King City. The valley lends its name to the geologic province in which it's located, the...
- Sequoia National ParkSequoia National ParkSequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States. It was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans . Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly , the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the...
- Yosemite National ParkYosemite National ParkYosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
The following regions are partly contained within Central California:
- California Coast Ranges
- Central Coast
- Diablo RangeDiablo RangeThe Diablo Range is a mountain range in the California Coast Ranges subdivision of the Pacific Coast Ranges. It is located in the eastern San Francisco Bay area south to the Salinas Valley area of northern California, the United States.-Geography:...
- Gold CountryGold CountryGold Country is a region in the central and northeastern part of California, United States. It is famed for the mineral deposits and gold mines that attracted waves of immigrants, known as the 49ers, during the 1849 California Gold Rush.-Geography:State Route 49 was built through the Gold Country,...
- San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay AreaThe San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
- San Joaquin ValleySan Joaquin ValleyThe San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
- Sierra Nevada Mountains
Education
Central California has opened two new universities recently, one in each of the past two decades.The University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
has one campus in the region. University of California, Merced
University of California, Merced
The University of California, Merced, commonly referred to as UC Merced or UCM, is the tenth and newest of the University of California campuses. Located in the San Joaquin Valley in unincorporated Merced County, California, near Merced, UC Merced was the first American research university to...
opened on a newly-constructed site on the east side of Merced
Merced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
in 2005.
The California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
system has four campuses in the region. California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Monterey Bay is a small public university in the California State University system on the site of the former U.S. Army base Fort Ord, on the Central Coast of California. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.CSUMB was founded in 1994 with...
opened on the site of the former Fort Ord
Fort Ord
Fort Ord was a U.S. Army post on Monterey Bay in California. It was established in 1917 as a maneuver area and field artillery target range and was closed in September 1994. Fort Ord was one of the most attractive locations of any U.S. Army post, because of its proximity to the beach and California...
army base in 1994. California State University, Bakersfield
California State University, Bakersfield
California State University, Bakersfield is a public university located in Bakersfield, California, United States which was founded in 1965. CSUB opened in 1970 on a campus, becoming the 19th school in the California State University system...
opened in 1970. California State University, Stanislaus
California State University, Stanislaus
California State University, Stanislaus, also known as Cal State Stanislaus or simply Stan State is a campus in the California State University system which was established in 1957 in Turlock, California. It is also the only campus in the CSU system to offer a bachelor's degree in cognitive studies...
in Turlock opened in 1957. California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
opened in 1911.
The Monterey Institute of International Studies
Monterey Institute of International Studies
The Monterey Institute of International Studies is a graduate school of Middlebury College, located in Monterey, California, United States...
is a graduate school that offers eleven Master's degree programs in international policy
Master of Arts in International Policy Studies
The Master of Arts in International Policy Studies , one of several public policy degrees, is a master's level professional degree that provides training in policy analysis and program evaluation at public policy schools. The MAIPS program offers students an internationally-oriented curriculum....
, international management, language teaching, and translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
and interpretation. The Monterey Institute of International Studies
Monterey Institute of International Studies
The Monterey Institute of International Studies is a graduate school of Middlebury College, located in Monterey, California, United States...
is a graduate school of Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
.
San Joaquin College of Law
San Joaquin College of Law
San Joaquin College of Law is a private, non-profit law school in Clovis, California, US. It was founded in Fresno in 1969 by Fresno County Municipal Court Judge Dan Eyman, U.S. District Court Judge Oliver Wanger, and attorney John Loomis...
is a private, nonprofit law school located in Clovis
Clovis, California
Clovis is a city in Fresno County, California, United States, northeast of Fresno. The population is estimated to be 97,218 as of September, 2011. Clovis is located northeast of downtown Fresno, at an elevation of 361 feet .-History:...
.
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University also known as FPU is an accredited Christian university located in Fresno, California, United States. It was founded in 1944 by the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. The university awarded its first bachelor of arts degree in 1965...
is a private university in Fresno.
The Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
and Defense Language Institute
Defense Language Institute
The Defense Language Institute is a United States Department of Defense educational and research institution, which provides linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies and numerous and varied other customers...
are located in Monterey.
The following community college
California Community Colleges system
The California Community Colleges System consists of 112 community colleges in 72 community college districts in the U.S. state of California...
campus sites are in the region:
- Columbia CollegeColumbia College (California)Columbia College is a community college located in the Yosemite Community College District in Sonora, California. Established in September 1968 as Columbia Junior College, the college dropped "Junior" in 1978. The architectural style of the college is that of California during the Gold Rush era....
in Sonora, Tuolumne County - Fresno City CollegeFresno City CollegeFresno City College is a community college in Fresno, California. Established in 1910, it was the first community college in California and the second in the nation...
in Fresno, Fresno County - Hartnell CollegeHartnell CollegeHartnell Community College is a 2-year community college in Salinas, California, USA. It was founded in 1920 as Salinas Junior College, and renamed in 1948 for William Edward Petty Hartnell...
in Salinas, Monterey County - Merced CollegeMerced CollegeMerced College, established in 1963, is a community college located in Merced, California.-External links:*...
in Merced, Merced County - Modesto Junior CollegeModesto Junior CollegeThe Modesto Junior College is a community college located in Central Valley's Modesto, California.-Accreditation:Modesto Junior College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. In January 2008, the Western Association Colleges and Schools notified the college that it had...
in Modesto, Stanislaus County - Monterey Peninsula CollegeMonterey Peninsula CollegeMonterey Peninsula College commonly called MPC is a public community college located in Monterey, California. Established in 1947, it is a part of the California Community Colleges system.-External links:*...
, Monterey, Monterey County - Porterville CollegePorterville CollegePorterville College, established in 1927, is a community college located in Porterville, California.-External links:**...
in Porterville, Tulare County - Reedley CollegeReedley CollegeReedley College often referred to as Reedley, RC, or known to locals as The College is a public community college located in Reedley, California, USA southeast of the Fresno Metropolitan Area and only a 3 hour drive south to Los Angeles or 3 hour drive north to San Francisco...
in Fresno, Fresno County - College of the SequoiasCollege of the SequoiasCollege of the Sequoias is a public two-year community college located in Visalia in Tulare County, in California's San Joaquin Valley. The current enrollment of COS is 13,000 students, and the college offers a variety of transfer, vocational, and community-based classes, including the fire/police...
in Visalia, Tulare County - West Hills CollegeWest Hills CollegeWest Hills College is a public two-year community college serving students in the San Joaquin Valley. There are two campuses: the original campus in Coalinga, established in 1932, with 1,200 students, and the Lemoore campus, built in 2002 and serving 3,200 students...
in Coalinga, Fresno County- satellite campus in Lemoore, Kings County
There are no community colleges in Madera, Mariposa or San Benito Counties.
Major highways
Most of the major highways in the region run north-south around the mountains. Interstate 5Interstate 5 in California
Interstate 5 is a major north–south route of the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. state of California. It begins at the Mexico – United States border at the San Ysidro crossing, goes north across the length of California and crosses into Oregon south of the Medford-Ashland metropolitan...
and State Route 99
California State Route 99
California State Route 99 , commonly known as Highway 99 or, simply, as 99 , is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California, stretching almost the entire length of the Central Valley...
are the primary highways in the San Joaquin Valley. US 101 and State Route 1
California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
are the major coastal highways.
|
 State Route 132California State Route 132 State Route 132 is a route in the Central Valley that leads to the Sierra Nevada foothills and the California Gold Country. It also connects the city of Modesto with the San Francisco Bay Area via I-580, although this route is discouraged due to it being a two-lane road between Modesto and... : San Joaquin Valley, Modesto, Gold Country  State Route 137California State Route 137 State Route 137 is a state highway in California, USA, running from Corcoran to State Route 65 in the San Joaquin Valley.-Route description:SR 137 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System.... : San Joaquin Valley  State Route 140California State Route 140 State Route 140 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California, 102 miles in length. It begins in the San Joaquin Valley at Interstate 5 near Gustine, and runs east into the Sierra Nevada, terminating in Yosemite National Park.... : San Joaquin Valley, Merced, Yosemite Nat'l Park  State Route 145California State Route 145 State Route 145 is a state highway in California, USA, which runs through the heart of the San Joaquin Valley from Interstate 5 north to Route 41 north of Fresno.-Route description:SR 145 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System.... : San Joaquin Valley, Madera  State Route 146California State Route 146 State Route 146 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California in Monterey and San Benito Counties. The route serves as an entryway to the Pinnacles National Monument, located in the Gabilan Mountains, from both the Salinas Valley on the west and State Route 25 on the east.This route is... : Pinnacles Nat'l Monument  State Route 152California State Route 152 State Route 152 is a state highway that runs near the latitudinal middle of the U.S. state of California from Watsonville to Route 99 southeast of Merced... : San Joaquin Valley  State Route 156California State Route 156 State Route 156 is a state highway in California, USA, running from Castroville to State Route 152 near Hollister.This route is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System.-Route description:... : Salinas Valley, Salinas, Hollister  State Route 168California State Route 168 State Route 168 is a state highway in California, USA, which is separated into three distinct segments, in part by the Sierra Nevada mountains.... : Fresno, Sierra Nevada  State Route 180California State Route 180 State Route 180 is a state highway in California, United States, which runs through the heart of the San Joaquin Valley from Mendota through Fresno to Kings Canyon National Park, with an unbuilt segment defined west to Paicines.... : San Joaquin Valley, Fresno, Kings Canyon Nat'l Park  State Route 190California State Route 190 State Route 190 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that is split into two parts by the Sierra Nevada. The western portion of begins at Tipton at a junction with State Route 99 and heads east towards Porterville before ending at Quaking Aspen in the Sequoia National Forest... : San Joaquin Valley, Sierra Nevada  State Route 198California State Route 198 State Route 198 is an east–west state highway that connects the California Central Coast to the mid-Central Valley at Visalia, although the most-traveled portion is in the Central Valley itself.... : Diablo Range, San Joaquin Valley, Hanford, Visalia, Sequoia Nat'l Park  State Route 201California State Route 201 State Route 201 is a state highway in the Central Valley of California, USA. It connects Route 99 in Kingsburg with Route 245. Route 63 bridges a discontinuity in the middle of the route.-Route description:... : San Joaquin Valley  State Route 233California State Route 233 State Route 233 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California in Madera County. It serves as an alternate route from Route 152 to Route 99, going through the city of Chowchilla instead of bypassing it.-Route description:... : Chowchilla  State Route 245California State Route 245 State Route 245 is a north–south highway that runs from near Exeter to near Kings Canyon National Park, connecting State Route 198 in Tulare County to State Route 180 in Fresno County. It runs through the city of Woodlake and the small unincorporated towns of Elderwood, Badger, and... : San Joaquin Valley, Kings Canyon Nat'l Park |
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Interstate 5: San Joaquin Valley
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U.S. Route 101: Salinas Valley, Salinas
Rail
Passenger rail in the region consists of the Amtrak long-haul Coast StarlightCoast Starlight
The Coast Starlight is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on the West Coast of the United States. It runs from King Street Station in Seattle, Washington, to Union Station in Los Angeles, California. The train's name was formed as a merging of two of Southern Pacific's train names, the Coast...
and Amtrak California San Joaquin routes.
The California High-Speed Rail
California high-speed rail
The California High-Speed Rail project is a planned future high-speed rail system in the state of California and headed by the California High-Speed Rail Authority . Initial funding for the project was approved by California voters on November 4, 2008, with the passage of Proposition 1A...
system is under planning. If built, it would have stations in Fresno and Merced on the initial line between San Francisco/San Jose and Los Angeles.
Freight rail is served by commercial railroads. Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
and BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
operate mainline freight through the region in the Central Valley.
Air
Major and regional airline service are available at Fresno Yosemite International AirportFresno Yosemite International Airport
Fresno Yosemite International Airport , formerly known as Fresno Air Terminal, is a joint civil-military public airport located in eastern Fresno, in Fresno County, California. The airport is more than south of Yosemite National Park on California State Route 41. The airport covers and has two...
and Monterey Peninsula Airport
Monterey Peninsula Airport
Monterey Peninsula Airport is a regional airport located three miles southeast of the central business district of Monterey, a city in Monterey County, California, USA. It was created in 1936....
. Regional airline service is also available at Modesto City-County Airport
Modesto City-County Airport
Modesto City-County Airport , also known as Harry Sham Field, is located two miles southeast of the central business district of Modesto, a city in Stanislaus County, California, USA.- History :...
, Merced Municipal Airport
Merced Municipal Airport
Merced Regional Airport , also known as MacReady Field, is a public airport located two miles southwest of the central business district of Merced, a city in Merced County, California, United States. The airport is owned by the City of Merced. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is also...
and Visalia Municipal Airport
Visalia Municipal Airport
Visalia Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located four nautical miles west of the central business district of Visalia, a city in Tulare County, California, United States...
.
General Aviation airports exist in all 10 counties. The largest are former military bases converted to civilian airports
- Castle AirportCastle AirportCastle Airport is a public use airport located seven nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Merced, a city in Merced County, California, United States. It is operated by the Merced County Department of Commerce, Aviation, and Economic Development.The airport is located at...
in Merced County - Marina Municipal AirportMarina Municipal AirportMarina Municipal Airport is a public airport located two miles east of the central business district of Marina, a city in Monterey County, California, United States...
in Monterey County - Porterville Municipal AirportPorterville Municipal AirportPorterville Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Porterville, a city in Tulare County, California, United States...
in Tulare County - Salinas Municipal AirportSalinas Municipal AirportSalinas Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southeast of the central business district of Salinas, a city in Monterey County, California, United States.-Facilities and aircraft:...
in Monterey County
An active military air base is at Naval Air Station Lemoore
Naval Air Station Lemoore
Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore is a United States Navy base, located in Kings County and Fresno County, California. Lemoore Station, California, a census-designated place, is located inside the base's borders....
in Kings County.