Downtown Visalia
Encyclopedia
Downtown Visalia is the central business district
of Visalia, California
, United States
, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area
. The area features an array of public art and unique shopping opportunities. Downtown is the hub for the city's growing transit center.
Downtown is generally thought to be bounded by Giddings Street on the west, Murray Avenue
on the north, Ben Maddox Way
on the east, and the Sequoia (198) Freeway
on the south.
achieved statehood in 1850, Tulare County did not exist. The land that is now Tulare County was part of the huge Mariposa County. In 1852 some pioneers settled in the area, then called Four Creeks. The area got its name from many watershed creeks and rivers flowing from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. All the water resulted in a widespread swampy area with a magnificent oak forest. The group of settlers petitioned the state legislature for county status and on July 10 of that same year Tulare County became a reality.
One of the first inhabitants of a fort built by the settlers, unnecessarily as it turns out; to protect themselves from Native Americans
was Nathaniel Vise. Nathaniel was responsible for surveying the new settlement. In November 1852 he wrote, "The town contains from 60-80 inhabitants, 30 of whom are children of school age. The town is located upon one of the subdivisions of the Kaweah (River)
and is destined to be the county seat of Tulare.” In 1853 that prediction became a reality and Visalia has remained the county seat since that time.
Visalia is thought to be named for Nathaniel Vises' ancestral home, Visalia, Kentucky
. Early growth in Visalia can be attributed in part to the gold rush along the Kern River
. The gold fever
brought many transient miners through Visalia along the way and when the lure of gold failed to materialize, many returned to Visalia to live their lives and raise families.
In 1858, Visalia was added to John Butterfield's Overland Stage route from St. Louis to San Francisco. Included in the early crop of citizens were some notorious and nasty individuals who preyed upon the travelers along the Butterfield Stage route. Many saloons and hotels sprouted up around the stage stop downtown and commerce was brisk if a bit risky.
The next memorable event was the arrival of the telegraph in 1860. Visalians then could get timely information of the events taking place on the East Coast
which would ultimately develop into the American Civil War
.
During the American Civil War
many of citizens of Visalia couldn't decide whether Visalia should stand on the side of the North or the South, so they simply had a Mini Civil War of their own on Main Street. No one really knows the outcome of the war, but apparently it was concluded to the satisfaction of the participants and life returned to normal.
The federal government however, was not so easily convinced and reacting to concern about sedition banned Visalia’s pro-south Equal Rights Expositor newspaper and established a military garrison. Camp Babbitt was built in 1862 to stop overt southern support as well as maintain law and order in the community. During these Civil War years, Visalia was incorporated which gave the town new rights. The second incorporation in 1874 moved Visalia into city status with a common council and an ex-officio Mayor and President.
The Visalia Towne Trolley provides cheap downtown shuttle service from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday; from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. The price is now set at $0.25 for the Trolley, a price hike from the "free" status it has had for years. The Towne Trolley's includes the Transit Center, the Courthouse, hotels and The Convention Center, arriving at each stop every 15 minutes.
Visalia's skyline consists mostly of medium-rise buildings. The tallest building in Visalia is the north tower of the Kaweah Delta Medical Center
. It is 6 stories and 105 feet tall.
The city has plans to construct even more medium rise buildings in the future. However, there are no plans for any high-rise buildings.
Some examples of medium-rise buildings include:
.
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Visalia, California
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
. The area features an array of public art and unique shopping opportunities. Downtown is the hub for the city's growing transit center.
Downtown is generally thought to be bounded by Giddings Street on the west, Murray Avenue
Goshen Avenue
Goshen Avenue is one of the principal east-west arterial roads in Visalia, California, United States. It was named after the community of Goshen...
on the north, Ben Maddox Way
Ben Maddox Way
Ben Maddox Way is one of the principal north-south arterial roads in Visalia, California, United States.-Overview:Running from St. Johns Parkway, just south of the St...
on the east, and the Sequoia (198) Freeway
California 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....
on the south.
History
Early years
When CaliforniaCalifornia
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...
achieved statehood in 1850, Tulare County did not exist. The land that is now Tulare County was part of the huge Mariposa County. In 1852 some pioneers settled in the area, then called Four Creeks. The area got its name from many watershed creeks and rivers flowing from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. All the water resulted in a widespread swampy area with a magnificent oak forest. The group of settlers petitioned the state legislature for county status and on July 10 of that same year Tulare County became a reality.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
was Nathaniel Vise. Nathaniel was responsible for surveying the new settlement. In November 1852 he wrote, "The town contains from 60-80 inhabitants, 30 of whom are children of school age. The town is located upon one of the subdivisions of the Kaweah (River)
Kaweah River
The Kaweah River in the U.S. state of California flows westward from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada into the Central Valley. It rises in forks in the southern Sierra Nevada inside Sequoia National Park, the longest of which is the Middle Fork, about long...
and is destined to be the county seat of Tulare.” In 1853 that prediction became a reality and Visalia has remained the county seat since that time.
Visalia is thought to be named for Nathaniel Vises' ancestral home, Visalia, Kentucky
Visalia, Kentucky
Visalia was a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 111 at the 2000 census. The city government was dissolved in November 2006.-Geography:Visalia is located at ....
. Early growth in Visalia can be attributed in part to the gold rush along the Kern River
Kern River
The Kern River is a river in the U.S. state of California, approximately long. It drains an area of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield. Fed by snowmelt near Mount Whitney, the river passes through scenic canyons in the mountains and is a popular destination for...
. The gold fever
Gold Fever
Gold Fever was the name of a BBC documentary shown in August 2000, which followed Steve Redgrave and his coxless four team in the years leading up to the Sydney Olympics, where Redgrave was looking to claim his fifth consecutive gold medal...
brought many transient miners through Visalia along the way and when the lure of gold failed to materialize, many returned to Visalia to live their lives and raise families.
In 1858, Visalia was added to John Butterfield's Overland Stage route from St. Louis to San Francisco. Included in the early crop of citizens were some notorious and nasty individuals who preyed upon the travelers along the Butterfield Stage route. Many saloons and hotels sprouted up around the stage stop downtown and commerce was brisk if a bit risky.
The next memorable event was the arrival of the telegraph in 1860. Visalians then could get timely information of the events taking place on the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
which would ultimately develop into the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
many of citizens of Visalia couldn't decide whether Visalia should stand on the side of the North or the South, so they simply had a Mini Civil War of their own on Main Street. No one really knows the outcome of the war, but apparently it was concluded to the satisfaction of the participants and life returned to normal.
The federal government however, was not so easily convinced and reacting to concern about sedition banned Visalia’s pro-south Equal Rights Expositor newspaper and established a military garrison. Camp Babbitt was built in 1862 to stop overt southern support as well as maintain law and order in the community. During these Civil War years, Visalia was incorporated which gave the town new rights. The second incorporation in 1874 moved Visalia into city status with a common council and an ex-officio Mayor and President.
Attractions
- Recreation ParkRecreation Park (Visalia)Recreation Ballpark is a minor league baseball park in Visalia, California. With only 1,888 seats , it is the smallest professional ballpark in the United States. The ballpark is undergoing its most extensive renovation since its construction in 1946...
- Main Street
- Visalia Playhouse Theatre
- Garden Plaza
- Visalia Rawhide
- Candy Cane Lane Parade
- Visalia Convention Center
Public transportation
The Transit Center serves passengers for the City Coach Service that circulates to in-town business and shopping areas; the Tulare County Area Transit system which serves outlying cities and hamlets; and bus service to the Amtrak station in Hanford is available.The Visalia Towne Trolley provides cheap downtown shuttle service from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday; from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. The price is now set at $0.25 for the Trolley, a price hike from the "free" status it has had for years. The Towne Trolley's includes the Transit Center, the Courthouse, hotels and The Convention Center, arriving at each stop every 15 minutes.
Parks and open space
Downtown Visalia is home to several public parks, plazas, gardens and other open space:- Garden Plaza
- Memorial ParkMemorial ParkMemorial Park may refer to:In the United States:* Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California* Memorial Park * Memorial Park, Houston, Texas* Memorial Park , Nebraska...
- Mayors Park
- Mill Creek Linear Park
- Recreation ParkRecreation Park (Visalia)Recreation Ballpark is a minor league baseball park in Visalia, California. With only 1,888 seats , it is the smallest professional ballpark in the United States. The ballpark is undergoing its most extensive renovation since its construction in 1946...
Skyline
Despite its centralization, Visalia has a relatively small skyline, but development has grown in recent years and continues to grow.Visalia's skyline consists mostly of medium-rise buildings. The tallest building in Visalia is the north tower of the Kaweah Delta Medical Center
Kaweah Delta Medical Center
The Kaweah Delta Medical Center is a 454-bed hospital located in Visalia, California, USA. It is operated by the Kaweah Delta Healthcare District, a political subdivision of the State of California which is governed by an elected board of directors.-Overview:...
. It is 6 stories and 105 feet tall.
The city has plans to construct even more medium rise buildings in the future. However, there are no plans for any high-rise buildings.
Some examples of medium-rise buildings include:
- 115 W Murray Ave, an 8 story residential tower that measures 88 feet tall.
- 300 S Court, an 8 story hotel.
- 128 E Main St, a 5 story mix-use.
- 205 S West St, a 5 story office building
Primary and secondary education
Downtown is served by the Visalia Unified School DistrictVisalia Unified School District
The Visalia Unified School District is a school district in Tulare County, California. VUSD was established in 1885, and is the oldest school district in Tulare County...
.
- Redwood High SchoolRedwood High School (Visalia)Redwood High School is a secondary school in Visalia, California, United States. The public high school serves students from the north central section of the city....