Clovis, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clovis, California
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Pollasky Avenue, Old Town Clovis
|
|||
|
|||
| Motto(s):
"Gateway to the Sierras"
|
|||
Location of Clovis in Fresno County, California
|
|||
 Clovis, California
Location in California
Clovis, California
Location in the United States
|
|||
| Country |  United States |
||
| State |  California |
||
| County | Fresno | ||
| Incorporated | February 27, 1912 | ||
| Named for | Clovis M. Cole Clovis Station |
||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council–manager | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 25.91 sq mi (67.10 km2) | ||
| • Land | 25.79 sq mi (66.79 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2) 0% | ||
| Elevation | 361 ft (110 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • Total | 120,124 | ||
| • Rank | 46th in California 221st in the United States |
||
| • Density | 4,657.95/sq mi (1,798.44/km2) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Clovisian | ||
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | ||
| ZIP codes |
93611–93613, 93619
|
||
| Area code | 559 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-14218 | ||
| GNIS feature IDs | 1656303, 2409488 | ||
Clovis is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. It started in 1890 as a stop for trains carrying goods, called a freight stop. Businessmen from Fresno and a railroad expert named Marcus Pollasky helped create it.
The railroad bought land from two farmers, one of whom was Clovis Cole. They named the train station after him. Pollasky then built a town around the station, also calling it Clovis.
In 1894, a special wooden channel for moving lumber, called a flume, was finished. This helped the area around Clovis Station grow. A lumberyard and sawmill were built there. Clovis officially became a city in 1912.
Today, Clovis celebrates its history as an old American frontier town. It is famous for its rodeo, the historic "Old Town Clovis" area, and its motto: "Clovis – A Way of Life."
In the 2020 census, about 120,124 people lived in Clovis. The city is located about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) northeast of downtown Fresno. It sits at an elevation of 361 feet (110 m) above sea level.
Contents
History of Clovis
.jpg)
The city of Clovis began as a train stop for the San Joaquin Valley Railroad (SJVRR). This railroad was started in 1890 by several Fresno businessmen and Marcus Pollasky. Construction began in Fresno in July 1891. By October, the tracks reached the farms of Clovis M. Cole and George Owen.
The railroad bought land from both farmers. They built the tracks along the border between their properties. The railroad agreed to build a station on Owen's side and name it "Clovis" after Clovis Cole.
Cole and Owen later sold more land to Marcus Pollasky to build a town. A civil engineer named Ingvart Tielman mapped out the town in December 1891. The streets were named after the railroad's leaders. Pollasky named the town "Clovis" after the station.
The railroad tracks were finished up to Hamptonville (now Friant) in 1891. This was about 26 miles (42 km) from Fresno. The railroad officially started running in January 1892.
Around the same time, a group of lumbermen from Michigan bought many acres of timber in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They started the Fresno Flume and Irrigation Company in 1891. They built a dam and a 42-mile (68 km) long, V-shaped wooden flume. This flume used water to float cut lumber from the mountains to a mill near the Clovis railroad station.
The lumber mill and yard had its own small train tracks. These tracks moved lumber around the yard and connected to the SJVRR. The completion of the lumber flume and the start of the mill in 1894 helped the area around Clovis Station grow.
Workers at the lumberyard built homes nearby. Soon, businesses, churches, and schools were needed. Clovis's first post office opened in 1895. By 1896, the town had nearly 500 people.
Clovis officially became a city in February 1912. The main streets in the town center were named after the railroad's officers. What is now Clovis Avenue was once called Fulton Street, then Front Street, and then Main Street.
The lumber mill burned down in 1914 and was not rebuilt. Today, Clark Intermediate School and the Clovis Rodeo Grounds are on that land. Clovis is known for its western heritage and the slogan "Clovis – A Way of Life."
Since 1914, the Clovis Rodeo has been held every year in late April. It includes a parade and rodeo events. Other popular events include Big Hat Days, ClovisFest, and the weekly Friday Night Farmer's Market.
The old train depot, built by the railroad, is still standing. It was moved in 1999 to its current spot in the town center. Local businesses helped restore it.
Many buildings in the center of Clovis have been updated. Older shops on Clovis Avenue have been restored. New buildings are designed to look like those from the early 1900s. This historic area is now called "Old Town Clovis."
Geography of Clovis
| Weather chart for Clovis, California | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2.2
54
32
|
2.1
61
41
|
2.2
66
45
|
0.8
74
48
|
0.4
83
55
|
0.2
91
61
|
0
97
66
|
0
95
65
|
0.3
89
60
|
0.7
78
52
|
1.1
63
42
|
1.3
53
29
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches source: Weather.com / NWS |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Metric conversion
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Clovis covers about 23.28 square miles (60.29 km2) of land. It is located in the middle of California, between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It borders Fresno in the rich farming area of the San Joaquin Valley.
Clovis is at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This mountain range includes famous places like Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks. Because of its location, Clovis has been called "Gateway to the Sierras" since 1912.
The land in Clovis is mostly flat. This is due to the way soil and rocks have been deposited over time. The elevation of Clovis is about 355 feet (108 m) above sea level. Some parts of Clovis are in a 100-year flood zone. This means there's a 1% chance of flooding in any given year.
Population of Clovis
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 1,157 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,316 | 13.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,626 | 23.6% | |
| 1950 | 2,766 | 70.1% | |
| 1960 | 5,546 | 100.5% | |
| 1970 | 13,856 | 149.8% | |
| 1980 | 33,021 | 138.3% | |
| 1990 | 50,323 | 52.4% | |
| 2000 | 68,468 | 36.1% | |
| 2010 | 95,631 | 39.7% | |
| 2020 | 120,124 | 25.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Data
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 46,186 | 55,021 | 57,916 | 67.46% | 57.53% | 48.21% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,207 | 2,360 | 2,993 | 1.76% | 2.47% | 2.49% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 679 | 754 | 738 | 0.99% | 0.79% | 0.61% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 4,322 | 9,965 | 15,147 | 6.31% | 10.42% | 12.61% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 75 | 187 | 270 | 0.11% | 0.20% | 0.22% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 131 | 153 | 666 | 0.19% | 0.16% | 0.55% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1,992 | 2,677 | 5,800 | 2.91% | 2.80% | 4.83% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13,876 | 24,514 | 36,594 | 20.27% | 25.63% | 30.46% |
| Total | 68,468 | 95,631 | 120,124 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2020, Clovis had a population of 120,124 people. The city is growing and becoming more diverse.
2010 Census Data
In 2010, Clovis had 95,631 people. About 70.9% of the population was White. Other groups included 2.7% African American, 1.4% Native American, and 10.7% Asian. About 25.6% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Most people in Clovis, 99.6%, lived in homes. The average household had about 2.85 people. Many households, 41.0%, had children under 18. The median age in Clovis was 34.1 years.
2000 Census Data
In 2000, Clovis had 68,468 people. The population density was about 4,000 people per square mile. The racial makeup was 75.8% White, 1.9% African American, and 6.5% Asian. About 20.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 41.7% of households had children under 18. The median age was 33 years.
Economy in Clovis
Major Employers
Here are the top employers in Clovis, based on a 2024 report:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clovis Unified School District | 5,228 |
| 2 | Clovis Community Hospital | 2,988 |
| 3 | County of Fresno | 1,874 |
| 4 | Walmart | 890 |
| 5 | City of Clovis | 767 |
| 6 | Wawona Frozen Foods | 735 |
| 7 | Anlin Industries | 526 |
| 8 | Costco | 435 |
| 9 | Target | 406 |
| 10 | Cen Cal Builders | 350 |
Shopping and Transportation
The Sierra Vista Mall is a large shopping center in Clovis. It has stores like Target and Kohl's, plus a movie theater and an indoor race track.
Public transportation in Clovis is provided by Clovis Transit. Some areas also have service from Fresno Area Express, which connects to Fresno.
Education in Clovis
Clovis Unified School District
The Clovis Unified School District serves students in Clovis. It includes many schools:
- Elementary schools:
- Boris, Bud Rank, Cedarwood, Century, Clovis, Cole, Copper Hills, Cox, Dry Creek, Fancher Creek, Fort Washington, Freedom, Fugman, Garfield, Gettysburg, Jefferson, Liberty, Lincoln, Maple Creek, Mickey Cox, Miramonte, Mountain View, Nelson, Pinedale, Red Bank, Reagan Elementary, Riverview, Sierra Vista, Tarpey, Temperance-Kutner, Valley Oak, Weldon, Harold L. Woods, Red Bank
- Middle schools:
- Clark Intermediate, Kastner Intermediate, Alta Sierra Intermediate, Reyburn Intermediate, Granite Ridge Intermediate
- High schools:
- Buchanan High School, Clovis East High School, Clovis High School, Clovis West High School, Clovis North High School, Enterprise High School, Excel High School, Gateway High School
Colleges in Clovis
Clovis also has several colleges for higher education:
- Clovis Community College
- San Joaquin College of Law
- California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- California Health Sciences University College of Pharmacy
Public Libraries
The Fresno County Public Library operates the Clovis Regional Library.
Notable People from Clovis
Many interesting people have come from Clovis:
- Ryan Beatty, pop singer
- Connor Brogdon (born 1995), Philadelphia Phillies baseball player
- Tyler Clutts, former NFL fullback, attended Clovis High
- Chris Colfer, singer, actor (from Glee) and author (Land of Stories book series)
- Terry Cooney, American League baseball umpire
- Colby Covington, mixed martial artist, former UFC champion
- Zubin Damania, MD, founder of Turntable Health
- Bryson DeChambeau, 2020 and 2024 U.S. Open golf champion
- Jason Donald, former MLB infielder
- Jordan Feliz, Christian pop singer/songwriter
- Zack Follett, former linebacker for the Detroit Lions; attended Clovis High
- Matt Giordano, American football safety and teacher at Buchanan High School
- Aaron Hill, actor (from Greek TV show)
- Valarie Kaur, documentary filmmaker, civil rights activist, and Sikh leader
- Eric Kendricks, linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings
- Daryle Lamonica, former quarterback for the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders
- Alysa Liu, figure skater
- Sam Long (born 1995), San Francisco Giants baseball player
- Mary Loveless, immunologist
- Kendall Milton, college football player for the Georgia Bulldogs
- Garrett Olson, former MLB pitcher; attended Buchanan High
- Jenna Prandini, track and field athlete and Olympian
- Aaron Ruell, Kip in Napoleon Dynamite
- Kate Scott, sportscaster for the Philadelphia 76ers
- John Taylor, former wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers
- Jason Von Flue, professional mixed martial artist
- Justin Wilson, professional MLB pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, attended Buchanan High
See also
In Spanish: Clovis (California) para niños
