Interesting Facts

Fresno, the current seat of Fresno County, derives its name from white ash trees once located in the area. The origin of the word is Spanish.
In the mid 19th century, Fresno County was formed from a number of other counties, and its seat was designated at Millerton. When the Central (Southern) Pacific Railroad built a station near present-day Fresno in 1872, the town was born, and Millerton's residents relocated to its environs. By 1874, the county seat was transferred, and in 1944, Friant Dam was built, flooding the original Millerton. Today, the one-time city lies beneath Millerton Lake.
Given its excellent growing conditions, Fresno County has become the United States' most productive agricultural locale. Top crops include grapes, strawberries, peaches, olives, and tomatoes.
About half the raisins eaten worldwide are grown and dried in California. Fresno, one of the state's largest producers, is referred to as the "Raisin Capital of the World."
Given the presence of grapes and raisins in Fresno, it should come as little surprise that wine-making is also a local industry. Fresno State University holds the distinction of being the only college campus in the US with its own commercial winery.
During the dark period of Japanese-American internment in California during World War II, the Fresno County Fairgrounds were the site of one of the region's detention camps.
Fresno is home to one of the nation's most notable racing families. Bill Vukovich, Sr. drove in the Indianapolis 500 in the '50s and is considered to be one of the sport's best drivers. He died in a 1955 race. His son, Bill Vukovich, Jr. was Rookie of the Year in 1968's Indianapolis 500. Billy Vukovich III, third generation driver, was Rookie of the Year in 1988's Indianapolis 500. He died in a car accident in 1990. Grandfather and grandson are both buried in Fresno's Belmont Memorial Park.
Although agriculture is king in Fresno, other industries supplement the county's economy. Among them are oil, plastics, carpeting, and machinery.
American-Armenian writer William Saroyan was born in Fresno in 1908, son of Armenian immigrants. Playwright and novelist, he won an Academy Award, the Drama Critic's Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize (which he did not accept). During his lifetime, Saroyan wrote more than 60 books, including "My Name is Aram" and "The Human Comedy."
Maintaining California's tradition of actor-politicians, Fresno proudly boasts Mayor Alan Autry. A former Green Bay Packer, Autry also appeared in "North Dallas Forty" and was police officer Bubba Skinner in TV's "In the Heat of the Night."