Fresno, California
21 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1923 and the latest in 1982. It stands in the Fresno census division. The Survey maps it on the Fresno South quadrangle. 542,107 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 308 feet above sea level.
Research this city
Then and now
1923 to 1982The same ground, surveyed 59 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.


On record in Fresno
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 12 of 33 shown
Fresno Sanitary LandfillNational Historic Landmark · listed 2001
Azteca Theaterlisted 2017
Bank of Italylisted 1982
H. H. Brix Mansionlisted 1983
Einstein Houselisted 1978
Forestiere Underground Gardenslisted 1977
Fresno Bee Buildinglisted 1982
Fresno Brewing Company Office and Warehouselisted 1984
Fresno County Hall of Recordslisted 2011
Fresno Memorial Auditoriumlisted 1994
Fresno Republican Printery Buildinglisted 1979
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Churchlisted 1986
Population over time
2 figuresFresno grew from 494,665 to 542,107 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 494,665 | |
| 2020 | 542,107 | +47,442 (+10%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
13 surveys from 21 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1923 USGS Fresno quadrangle1:31680, 2 printings
- 1946 USGS Fresno South quadrangle1:24000
- 1947 USGS Fresno South quadrangle1:24000
- 1948 USGS Fresno quadrangle1:250000
- 1955 USGS Fresno quadrangle1:250000
- 1956 USGS Fresno quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Fresno quadrangle1:250000
- 1960 USGS Fresno quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1962 USGS Fresno quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1963 USGS Fresno quadrangle1:62500
- 1963 USGS Fresno South quadrangle1:24000, 4 printings
- 1966 USGS Fresno quadrangle1:250000
- 1982 USGS Fresno quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
1,237 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 1,237 fires within 5 miles of Fresno between 1992 and 2020, burning about 990 acres in total. 2 started naturally. 142 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 847 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 142 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 102 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 60 |
| Debris and open burning | 52 |
| Smoking | 29 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 2 |
| Natural | 2 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 2019 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Fresno-Kings Unit | not named |
| 9 September 2019 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Fresno-Kings Unit | not named |
| 9 September 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection | not named |
| 9 September 2017 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection | not named |
| 9 September 2011 | Arson/incendiarism | 1.0 acres | Fresno-Kings Unit | MARTIN L KING JR BL FRES |
| 9 September 2007 | Misuse of fire by a minor | 1.0 acres | California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection | not named |
| 8 September 2011 | Misuse of fire by a minor | under an acre | Fresno-Kings Unit | WILLOW |
| 8 September 2008 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Fresno-Kings Unit | ORANGE |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
7 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 7 workings within 5 miles of Fresno: 4 producers, 2 unknowns, 1 past producer. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Clay, Gold, Silver. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Santoni Lonestar Mill | Gold, Silver | Unknown | ||
| Raymond Quarry Plant No. 2 | Granite | Producer | ||
| Clay Pit | Clay | Unknown | ||
| Craycroft Brick Co. | Clay | Producer | ||
| Builders Concrete Inc | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| De Paree Pit and Mill | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Pacific Cement and Aggregates | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
Storms near this place
55 since 1994Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Fresno in 55 storm reports between 1994 and 2019: 15 heavy rain, 13 hail, 8 flood, 6 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1997 | Wildfire | Fresno | $1,900,000 | Named the "Choke Fire" it burned more than 3900 acres in the high country of the Southern Sierra Nevada in the Sequoia National Forest. It was a lightning caused fire from thunderstorms associated with monsoonal moisture. |
| February 1998 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | $1,600,000 | no account filed |
| May 1997 | Lightning | Fresno | $1,500,000 | no account filed |
| May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fresno | $500,000 | A National Weather Service survey team along with eyewitness accounts describe the damage path of high wind and hail from a severe thunderstorm through an area three miles wide and 19 miles long starting 15 miles east of Fresno. Numerous large, old oak trees were felled taking down power lines and in two instances falling on houses. Hail in excess of one inch also occurred and combined with the high wind caused major agricultural damage to this section of rural Fresno County. Toward the easternmost portion of the damage path the width had expanded to a little over five miles. This cell is likely the same one that supported 1745 PDT tornado activity at Fresno. Crop damage was extensive with nearly $17 million damage caused by hail/wind stripping trees of leaves and early fruit set of both deciduous and late citrus. Five head of livestock were also killed. Radar reflectivity reached 71 dBZ with this cell. |
| March 1994 | Hail | Fresno | $500,000 | no account filed |
| April 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fresno | $350,000 | Storm analysis and survey concluded that two straight line wind events occurred within a few minutes of each other in and around the California State University Campus in North Fresno. An initial gust from the southwest was followed closely by another from the west-northwest. Large trees and roof damage was noted in clearly distinct damage areas. Some evidence existed for rotation by debris but the likely culprit was some gustnado action on the leading edge of the outflows. Convection was noted on radar immediately to the south and west at the time of the event but note overhead. The largest damage track was close to 0.75 miles and up to 1/8 mile wide. |
| May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fresno | $150,000 | no account filed |
| November 1999 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | $50,000 | The first substantial autumn rain (and first since 4/12/99) led to transmission line transformer shorts and power loss to 14,000 local utility customers in the Central and Southern San Joaquin Valley. The problems were repaired by the afternoon of the 8th. Rainfall amounts on the San Joaquin Valley floor varied from 0.20 to 0.66 of an inch of rain ... and 1.0 to 1.5 inches in the adjacent foothills. |
| May 1995 | Tornado (F0) | Fresno | $50,000 | A National Weather Service (NWS) survey team along with eyewitness accounts concluded a weak F0 tornado briefly occurred in the vicinity of the Fresno Fairgrounds. Light roof damage, a damaged car, and an uprooted tree were observed. The tornado was observed heading east but no other damage was reported in this vicinity. Roof damage estimated at $50 thousand. A "meso" was reported by Doppler Radar about the time of the event. |
| May 1995 | Tornado (F0) | Fresno | $50,000 | Spotter reports and county sheriff indicated a tornado at 1415 PDT 14 WSW of Fresno Air Terminal moving west-to-east for approximately one mile. Occurrence in a rural area of the county with crop damage unassessed and other damage limited to broken tree limbs, small objects moved such as a camper shell, some structural damage to roofs, and windows broken. The tornado was visible from 14 miles away by the observer at the Fresno Air Terminal with an United States Aviation Observation taken. This event was also captured on video. Dime to nickel-size hail also occurred with the event; a month late spotter report also indicated that three-quarters inch hail occurred with the event (A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was being issued as the tornado was observed; Tornado Warning issuance instead). |
| October 2007 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | $50,000 | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Flood | Fresno | $30,000 | no account filed |
| April 2012 | Flood | Fresno | $25,000 | Trained spotters and local media reported flooding near CSU Fresno, road 80 near Dinuba, downtown Fresno at the Second Street ramp. |
| November 1997 | Tornado (F0) | Fresno | $10,000 | Very small F0 tornado with damage to small rural structures and fencing. Path width by witness at 10-15 yards. Tornado accompanying convective band sweeping southwest to northeast through east-Central San Joaquin Valley. |
| February 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fresno | $1,000 | Thunderstorm wind downed a tree at Van Ness and Garland in Fresno. |
| November 1997 | Tornado (F0) | Fresno | $1,000 | Apparently very small tornado (F0) or gustnado accompanied a line of convection through the east-Central San Joaquin Valley. Tornado/gustnado path was from SSE to NNW. Damage confined to minor roof damage and uprooting small trees in a north Clovis suburb. |
| April 2003 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | $1,000 | no account filed |
| May 2019 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | - | Broadcast media reported that over 60 percent of the cherry crop in Fresno County was destroyed by the persistent rains that took place during the two storms that impacted the area between May 15 and May 19. There was also substantial damage to strawberries and carrots. |
| July 2004 | Wildfire | Fresno | - | The Peterson Fire burned only 73 acres near Shaver Lake but it cost $856K to fight. There were no injuries nor were any structures reported as lost. |
| May 2002 | Lightning | Fresno | - | Lightning strikes (2) in close proximity to overhead aircraft approaching Fresno Air Terminal. |
| January 1998 | Flood | Fresno | - | Small hail and heavy rain led to numerous intersections and streets being flooded within North-Central Fresno. The small hail piled up 2-3 inches deep thereby plugging drains and contributing to the overall urban flooding problems. |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fresno | - | Spotter reports of three-quarters hail in north-central Fresno associated with the passage of a line of thunderstorms from southwest through northeast through the central San Joaquin Valley. No reports of damage were received. |
| January 2005 | Lightning | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| April 2005 | Hail | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| April 2005 | Funnel Cloud | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| April 2005 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| December 2003 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| April 2003 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| May 2002 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| November 2002 | Flood | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| March 2001 | Flood | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| February 2001 | Hail | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| April 2001 | Hail | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| November 2001 | Flood | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| March 2000 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| June 2000 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| February 2000 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| October 2000 | Flood | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| October 2000 | Lightning | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Hail | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Tornado (F0) | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Hail | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Hail | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| December 1996 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| November 1996 | Hail | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| October 1996 | Tornado (F0) | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| March 1996 | Flood | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| March 1996 | Hail | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| March 1996 | Hail | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| March 1996 | Hail | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| March 1996 | Funnel Cloud | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| October 1996 | Hail | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| October 1996 | Hail | Fresno | - | no account filed |
| October 1996 | Heavy Rain | Fresno | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond | 1.1 miles | 20 | |
| Cincotta | 1.3 miles | 20 | |
| Calwa | 2.7 miles | 21 | |
| Granz (historical) | 3.3 miles | 20 | |
| Goldleaf | 3.4 miles | 20 | |
| Eshel (historical) | 3.8 miles | 20 | |
| Cameo | 3.8 miles | 22 | |
| Las Palmas | 3.9 miles | 22 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Fresno | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q43301 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 277606. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.












