Clovis, California
Clovis, California | ||
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ZIP codes 93611–93613, 93619 | ||
Area code | 559 | |
FIPS code | 06-14218 | |
GNIS feature IDs | 1656303, 2409488 | |
Website | cityofclovis |
Clovis is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. Clovis was established in 1890 as a freight stop for the San Joaquin Valley Railroad by a group of Fresno businessmen and Michigan railroad speculator Marcus Pollasky. The railroad bought the land from two farmers and named the station after one of them, Clovis Cole. Pollasky then developed a town on the site, also named Clovis.
The completion of the lumber flume in 1894 led to the growth of the area around Clovis Station where a lumberyard and sawmill were built. Clovis was officially incorporated as a city in 1912. Today, Clovis celebrates its heritage as an American frontier town, known for its rodeo, Old Town Clovis historic district, and its motto "Clovis – A Way of Life."
The 2020 population was 120,124.[9] Clovis is located 6.5 miles (10.5 km) northeast of downtown Fresno,[10] at an elevation of 361 feet (110 m).[8]
History
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2013) |
The city of Clovis began as a freight stop along the San Joaquin Valley Railroad. Organized on January 15, 1890, by Fresno businessmen Thomas E. Hughes, Fulton Berry, Gilbert R. Osmun, H.D. Colson, John D. Gray, and William M. Williams, in partnership with Michigan railroad speculator Marcus Pollasky, the SJVRR began construction in Fresno on July 4, 1891, and reached the farmlands of Clovis M. Cole and George Owen by October of that year. The railroad purchased right-of-way from both farmers, half from each – the east side from Cole and the west side from Owen – and ran tracks up the borderline between the two properties. The railroad agreed to establish a station on the west side of the tracks and to call it "Clovis." The Clovis station, which was named after Clovis Cole, was positioned on the Owen side of the track.
Cole and Owen later sold land to Marcus Pollasky for the development of a townsite. Fresno civil engineer Ingvart Tielman mapped the townsite on behalf of Pollasky on December 29, 1891. The original townsite featured streets named for the officers and principal investors of the railroad: (Benjamin) Woodworth, (Marcus) Pollasky, Fulton (Berry), (Thomas) Hughes, (Gerald) Osmun, and (O. D.) Baron. The townsite, named "Clovis" after Clovis Station by Pollasky, was laid out on what was originally Owen's land.
The railroad was completed as far as the town of Hamptonville (now Friant) on the banks of the San Joaquin River, just 26 miles (42 km) from its point of origin in Fresno. Articles of Incorporation for the San Joaquin Valley Railroad indicate that the corporation intended to build 100 miles (160 km) of track, including sidings and spurs, through the agricultural acreage east of Fresno, then north to the timber and mineral resources of the Sierra foothills. At the time, Hamptonville was called "Pollasky". A celebration of the completion of track-laying was held at the Pollasky terminus on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving of 1891 with a reported 3,000 Fresnans attending. The railroad began official operation in January 1892.
The first year of operation of the railroad coincided with the beginnings of a deep national economic decline. Farmers were unable to get a profitable return on their crops, banks and railroads failed nationwide. The SJVRR was unable to generate sufficient revenues to pay its debt, was leased to the
At the same time that the railroad was being planned, a group of Michigan lumbermen began acquiring thousands of acres of timber in the Sierra Nevada about 75 miles (121 km) northeast of Fresno and founded the Fresno Flume and Irrigation Company in 1891. A dam was built across Stevenson Creek to create a lake that would enable them to move freshly cut timber to a mill beside the lake. They then constructed a 42-mile (68 km), 25-foot-high (7.6 m), V-shaped flume that started at the foot of the dam. As lumber was rough-cut at the mill, it was loaded into the flume and propelled by water to a planing mill east of the Clovis railroad station, where the Clovis Rodeo and Clark Intermediate School sit today.[11] The lumber mill and yard had its own network of rails to move lumber around the yard and to connect with the SJVRR just south of Clovis station.
The completion in 1894 of the lumber flume and commencement of mill operations provided the impetus for further development of the area around the Clovis Station. The town began to take shape as lumber yard employees built homes close to their employment. Service businesses, churches, and schools became necessary, and the town was begun. Clovis's first post office opened in 1895.[10] An 1896 newspaper article describes the town as having a population approaching 500 citizens.
Clovis was incorporated as a city in February 1912. Principal streets in the town center were named for the railroad's officers. Fulton Street was later named Front Street, then Main Street, and is now Clovis Avenue.
The lumber mill burned in 1914 and was not rebuilt. The grounds are now occupied by
The last surviving structure built by the railroad is a depot now located near the site of the original Clovis Station. The earliest photos, from about 1910, show the depot situated in front of the Tarpey winery south of the intersection of Ashlan and Clovis Avenues. In 1999 it was moved to its present location in the town's center, at the northeast corner of Clovis Avenue and Fourth Street, and was restored by the Clovis Big Dry Creek Historical Society with financing, labor, and materials donated by local businesses and contractors.
Marcus Pollasky was a lawyer, born in Michigan, living in
Many buildings in the town core have been renovated. Older storefronts on Clovis Avenue, the main street running through town, have been restored and new buildings have been designed with facades that resemble those found in the early 20th century. The historic center has been reborn as "Old Town Clovis".
Geography
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.28 square miles (60.29 km2), all of it land.
Clovis is situated midway between
The formation of
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1920 | 1,157 | — | |
1930 | 1,316 | 13.7% | |
1940 | 1,626 | 23.6% | |
1950 | 2,766 | 70.1% | |
1960 | 5,546 | 100.5% | |
1970 | 13,856 | 149.8% | |
1980 | 33,021 | 138.3% | |
1990 | 50,323 | 52.4% | |
2000 | 68,468 | 36.1% | |
2010 | 95,631 | 39.7% | |
2020 | 120,124 | 25.6% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[9] |
2010
At the
The census reported that 95,243 people (99.6% of the population) lived in households, 130 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 258 (0.3%) were institutionalized.
There were 33,419 households, 13,718 (41.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 17,975 (53.8%) were
The age distribution was 26,851 people (28.1%) under the age of 18, 9,572 people (10.0%) aged 18 to 24, 25,542 people (26.7%) aged 25 to 44, 23,559 people (24.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 10,107 people (10.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 34.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
There were 35,306 housing units at an average density of 1,516.7 per square mile (585.6/km2),of which 33,419 were occupied, 20,804 (62.3%) by the owners and 12,615 (37.7%) by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.4%. 60,767 people (63.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 34,476 people (36.1%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
At the
The age distribution was 30.7% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median
Economy
Top employers
According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[18] the top employers in the city are:
# | Employer | # of Employees |
---|---|---|
1 | Clovis Unified School District | 5,263 |
2 | Clovis Community Hospital | 1,994 |
3 | Alorica | 720 |
4 | City of Clovis | 671 |
5 | Walmart
|
620 |
6 | Wawona Frozen Foods | 540 |
7 | Anlin Industries | 400 |
8 | Costco | 354 |
9 | Target | 325 |
10 | Save Mart | 234 |
Cityscape
The Sierra Vista Mall is a 78-acre (32 ha) enclosed regional shopping center anchored by Target, Kohl's, Sierra Vista Cinemas 16, and MB2 Indoor Raceway.[19][20][21]
Public transportation within the city is provided by Clovis Transit; some areas also are served by Fresno Area Express, providing connections to Fresno.
Education
Clovis Unified School District
- Elementary schools:
- Boris, Bud Rank, Cedarwood, Century, Clovis, Cole, Copper Hills, Cox, Dry Creek, Fancher Creek, Fort Washington, Freedom, Fugman, Garfield, Gettysburg, Jefferson, Liberty, Lincoln, Maple Creek, Mickey Cox, Miramonte, Mountain View, Nelson, Pinedale, Red Bank, Reagan Elementary, Riverview, Sierra Vista, Tarpey, Temperance-Kutner, Valley Oak, Weldon, Harold L. Woods, Red Bank
- Middle schools:
- Clark Intermediate, Kastner Intermediate, Alta Sierra Intermediate, Reyburn Intermediate, Granite Ridge Intermediate
- High schools:
- Clovis North High School, Enterprise High School, Excel High School, Gateway High School
Colleges
- Clovis Community College
- San Joaquin College of Law
- California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- California Health Sciences University College of Pharmacy
Public libraries
Fresno County Public Library operates the Clovis Regional Library.[22]
Notable people
- Ryan Beatty, pop singer
- Connor Brogdon (born 1995), Philadelphia Phillies baseball player
- Tyler Clutts, former NFL fullback, attended Clovis High, class of 2003
- Land of Storiesbook series.
- Terry Cooney, American League umpire, 1974–92
- Colby Covington, mixed martial artist, former UFC Interim Welterweight Champion
- Zubin Damania, MD, founder of Turntable Health, a direct primary care clinic in Las Vegas
- Bryson DeChambeau, 2020 U.S. Open golf champion
- Jason Donald, former MLB infielder
- Jordan Feliz, Christian pop singer/songwriter
- Zack Follett, former linebacker for the Detroit Lions; attended Clovis High
- Matt Giordano, American football safety who is currently a physical education teacher at Buchanan High School
- ABC Family TV show, Greek
- Sikhinterfaith leader
- Eric Kendricks, linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings
- Daryle Lamonica, former quarterback for the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders
- Alysa Liu, figure skater
- Sam Long (born 1995), San Francisco Giants baseball player
- Mary Loveless, immunologist
- Kendall Milton, college football player for the Georgia Bulldogs
- Garrett Olson, former MLB pitcher; attended Buchanan High
- Jenna Prandini, track and field athlete and Olympian
- Aaron Ruell, Kip in Napoleon Dynamite
- Larissa Schuster, convicted murderer
- Kate Scott, sportscaster, play-by-play announcer for the Philadelphia 76ers
- John Taylor, former wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers
- Jason Von Flue, professional mixed martial artist; UFC and The Ultimate Fighter, season 2 veteran
- Justin Wilson, professional MLB pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, attended Buchanan High
See also
References
- ^ "City of Clovis, California". City of Clovis, California. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
- ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Clovis City Council". Clovis California. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
- ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
- ^ "California's 22nd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Clovis". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
- ^ Bos, Peg (July 10, 2018). "Let's Talk Clovis: Heroic pioneers and their amazing flume". clovisroundup.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
The flume dropped 4,900 feet (27 ½ feet per mile) as it descended 42 miles to the property now occupied by the Clovis Rodeo Association and the C. Todd Clark Intermediate School.
- ^ Los Angeles Herald article, March 28, 1896
- ^ San Francisco Call article, December 24, 1896
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, Clovis Towne Center, Clovis, California, Earth Metrics Inc report 10283, October, 1989
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey, Clovis, California, 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, 1964, (photorevised 1972).
- ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Clovis city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020" (PDF). City of Clovis. November 10, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ "Sierra Vista Mall Clovis California. About us". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
Sierra Vista Mall is a 78-acre regional shopping center...
- ^
Marybeth Nibley (November 25, 1989). "Customers cram into stores, malls". The Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, VA. Associated Press. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
Thousands stopped by the 59-store Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis, Calif.,
- ^ Chuck Harvey (March 13, 2014). "Go-karts near green flag at Sierra Vista Mall". The Business Journal. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
The Clovis City Council last year approved the...construction of the racecourse... ...general manager of the Sierra Vista Mall...said the go-kart facility will attract people from as far away as Bakersfield...
- ^ "Clovis Regional Library". Fresno County Public Library. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
- The Advocate. Archived from the originalon May 5, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2011.