Berenda, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Berenda
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 Berenda
Location in California
Berenda
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Madera County |
| Elevation | 253 ft (77 m) |
Berenda was once a small, unincorporated community in Madera County, California. An unincorporated community is a place that is not part of an official city or town. Its name, Berrenda, comes from the Spanish word for "female antelope."
This community was located near Berenda Creek. It was about 3.3 miles (5.3 km) southeast of Fairmead. It was also about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the city of Madera. Berenda was an important stop on the Southern Pacific Railroad line.
Contents
History
How Berenda Started
Berenda began in 1872. It was first called Berendo. The community grew when the Union Pacific Railroad was built. This railroad helped create many towns along its route. At first, Berenda had only a store and a hotel.
The name "Berendo" was a mistake. It was supposed to be "Berrenda," meaning "female antelope" in Spanish. By 1888, the name was officially changed to Berenda. However, the local post office kept using the old name until 1919.
Railroad and Growth
The railroad's arrival made Berenda an important farming center. Farmers could easily send their wheat and barley to other places. The community grew quickly. It soon had hotels, dining rooms, and general stores. There were also blacksmith shops, a laundry, and saloons.
A schoolhouse was built for the children. Henry Miller, a well-known landowner, gave the school five acres of land. This shows how much the community was growing.
A Gateway to Yosemite
Berenda became even more important in 1886. This was when a new railroad branch was finished. This branch connected Berenda to Raymond. Raymond was the main starting point for visitors going to Yosemite.
Because of this, Berenda became a key place. Passengers and goods traveling to Yosemite would transfer here. It was the main way for people to reach the famous national park.
Decline and Disappearance
In 1907, a big fire destroyed most of Berenda. But the community was rebuilt. However, its role as a Yosemite gateway soon ended. In the same year, 1907, the Yosemite Valley Railroad opened from Merced. This new route made it easier to get to Yosemite. Berenda was no longer the main transfer point.
The Berenda post office closed in 1935. The community slowly faded away. In 1949, most of Berenda was removed from maps. This happened when US 99 was expanded into a large, four-lane highway. Today, little remains of the original community.
