Central Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central Valley |
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| Great Central Valley, Great Valley, The Valley, Golden Empire | |
Topography, major regions, and cities of the Central Valley
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| Length | 450 mi (720 km) |
| Width | 40 to 60 mi (64 to 97 km) |
| Area | 18,000 sq mi (47,000 km2) |
| Depth | 2,000 to 6,000 ft (610 to 1,830 m) |
| Geology | |
| Type | Alluvial |
| Age | 2–3 million years |
| Geography | |
| Location | California, United States |
| Population centers | Redding, Chico, Yuba City, Sacramento, Stockton, Porterville, Tulare, Modesto, Manteca, Turlock, Merced, Fresno, Visalia, Bakersfield, Clovis |
| Borders on | Sierra Nevada (east), Cascade Range, Klamath Mountains (north), Coast Range, San Francisco Bay (west), Tehachapi Mountains (south) |
| Traversed by | Interstate 5, Interstate 80, State Route 99 |
| Rivers | Sacramento River, San Joaquin River, Kings River |
The Central Valley is a huge valley right in the middle of California, in the United States. It's also known as the Great Central Valley. This valley is about 42,000 square miles (108,779 square kilometers) in size. That's roughly the same size as the state of Tennessee!
The Central Valley is actually made of two connected valleys. The northern part is called the Sacramento Valley. The southern part is known as the San Joaquin Valley.
High mountains surround this large valley. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are on its east side. The Coast Range borders it on the west. The Sacramento River flows through the northern part. The San Joaquin River flows through the larger southern part. Both rivers eventually meet. They then flow into the Pacific Ocean through San Francisco Bay.
Sacramento, the capital city of California, is in the northern Central Valley. The entire valley stretches for about 450 miles (720 km) from north to south.
Farming is super important to the Central Valley's economy. Many of California's most productive farmlands are here. However, this farming has created some environmental challenges. For example, materials like pesticides can wash into rivers. This can affect the water quality in the San Francisco Bay.
Contents
What is the Central Valley's Geography Like?
The Central Valley floor is a very flat area. It covers about 42,000 square miles (108,779 square kilometers). It is about 450 miles (720 km) long. It is also around 40 miles (64 km) wide. This huge valley spans across 18 different counties in California.
What Mountains Surround the Central Valley?
The Sierra Nevada mountains are on the eastern side of the valley. These mountains are very tall and steep. Many rivers and streams flow down from the Sierra Nevada. Mount Whitney is the highest peak in the Sierra Nevada. It stands at 14,495 feet (4,418 meters) tall. Mount Whitney is also the tallest mountain in California. It is the highest point in the United States, except for Alaska and Hawaii.
On the western side of the valley are the California Coast Ranges. These mountains are part of the larger Pacific Coast Ranges. Their highest point is about 8,848 feet (2,697 meters).
What Rivers Flow Through the Central Valley?
The Sacramento River starts in the northern part of the Central Valley. It begins near Mount Shasta in the Cascade Range. Most of its length flows through the Central Valley. The Sacramento River flows south for about 447 miles (719 km). It eventually reaches San Francisco Bay. Some smaller rivers, called tributaries, flow into it. These include the Pit River, Feather River, and American River. All these rivers come from the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The San Joaquin River starts in the southern Sierra Nevada. It flows west and then north into the Central Valley. It also empties into San Francisco Bay. This river is about 330 miles (530 km) long. The San Joaquin River can be more affected by pollution than the Sacramento River. Sometimes, about 63 miles (101 km) of it can even be dry.
Together, the Sacramento-San Joaquin river system is very important. It provides water for 22 to 23 million people in California.
What is the Central Valley's Climate Like?
The climate is different in the northern and southern parts of the Central Valley. The Sacramento Valley, in the north, has a Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers. It also has cool, wet winters.
The San Joaquin Valley, in the south, is much hotter and drier. Most of it has a Mediterranean steppe climate. This is similar to Mediterranean but warmer and drier. Some areas can even be close to a desert climate. This southern part of the Central Valley sometimes has challenges with air quality.
Who Lives in the Central Valley?
The Central Valley is home to many people. Some main areas include the North Sacramento Valley and the Sacramento Metropolitan area. There are also the North San Joaquin and South San Joaquin regions.
The four biggest cities in the Central Valley are spread out. From south to north, they are Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, and Redding. These cities are important centers for business and travel in their regions.
How Many People Live in Central Valley Cities?
As of 2010, about 7.2 million people lived in the Central Valley. It was one of the fastest-growing areas in California. The largest city is Fresno. The state capital, Sacramento, is the second largest.
Here are some of the biggest city areas by population:
| City Area | Population |
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| Sacramento Metropolitan Area | 2,527,123 |
| Fresno Metropolitan Area | 930,450 |
| Bakersfield Metropolitan Area | 839,361 |
| Stockton Metropolitan Area | 696,214 |
| Modesto Metropolitan Area | 518,522 |
What Languages are Spoken in the Central Valley?
After English and Spanish, Punjabi is the third most common language spoken here. The Central Valley has the largest Sikh population in the United States.
How Does the Central Valley Make Money?
Farming, also known as agriculture, has always been the main way the Central Valley makes money. The city of Sacramento focuses more on government jobs. But most of the rest of the valley relies on farming. Many immigrants work on the farms in the Central Valley. About 12.3% of all jobs in the Central Valley are directly related to agriculture. If you don't count Sacramento County, this number goes up to 16%.
How Do People Travel in the Central Valley?
The main roads for travel through the Central Valley are Interstate 5 and California State Route 99. Both of these highways run from north to south. Interstate 5 is bigger and carries more traffic. Highway 99 is older. It separates from Interstate 5 at the south end of the valley and rejoins it at the north end.
Trains also travel through the Central Valley. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) and the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) have lines here. Amtrak is a popular passenger train service in the Central Valley. It is also used in many other parts of California.
Where Does the Central Valley Get Its Water?
The California Aqueduct is a very long water channel. It runs for 715 miles (1,150 km) through the Central Valley. Water from the northern Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada mountains flows into this aqueduct.
The Central Valley Project is another big water supply system. This project includes several important dams and canals:
- Shasta Dam and Shasta Lake (a large water storage area)
- Delta Cross Channel
- Delta-Mendota Canal
- Friant Dam
- Madera Canal
- Friant-Kern Canal
- Contra Costa Canal
- Folsom Dam
Images for kids
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Map of California counties, showing population density. Less populated counties are in lighter color.
