Kingsburg, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kingsburg, California
City
Seal
Motto(s):  Past, Present and Future: Celebrating Kingsburg
Location of Kingsburg in Fresno County, California.
Kingsburg, California Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Fresno
Incorporated	May 29, 1908
Named for	Kings River
Area
• Total	3.71 sq mi (9.60 km2)
• Land	3.71 sq mi (9.60 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation	302 ft (92 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,380
• Density	3,266.25/sq mi (1,261.04/km2)
Time zone	UTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−07:00 (PDT)
ZIP Code	93631
Area code(s)	559
FIPS code	06-38562

Kingsburg is a city in Fresno County, California. It is located about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Selma. The city sits on the banks of the Kings River at an elevation of 302 feet (92 meters). Kingsburg is about 21 miles (34 km) from Fresno. It is also about 130 miles (209 km) from the California Central Coast and the Sierra Nevada mountains. In 2020, the population of Kingsburg was 12,380 people.

History of Kingsburg

Kingsburg began as a railroad town in 1873. The Central Pacific Railroad built its Valley Line through the area. In the early 1870s, people from Sweden settled in a railroad stop called "Kings River Switch."

The town's name changed a few times. In 1874, it was called Wheatville and had a post office. Later that year, it became Kingsbury. Two years after that, it was Kingsburgh. Finally, in January 1894, it became "Kingsburg." The town was officially established in 1908.

By 1921, most people living near Kingsburg were Swedish-American. This gave the community the nickname "Little Sweden." To honor this history, many shops in town are designed with Swedish architecture.

Farming in Kingsburg

For a long time, the fields around Kingsburg were mostly grape vineyards. These grapes were used to make raisins and table grapes. Around 2002, there were too many raisins and grapes. This made their prices very low.

Because of this, farmers had to change what they grew. They started planting stone fruit like peaches and plums. Some farmers also sold their land to builders. This helped the town grow as more people moved in.

Kingsburg was once the main office for Sun-Maid Growers of California. This company makes raisins and other dried fruits. Today, its main office is in Fresno. Kingsburg is also home to the world's largest box of raisins. Students from California State University, Fresno built it.

Swedish Festival and Landmarks

Swedish coffee pot water tower over Kingsburg

One famous landmark in Kingsburg is its water tower. It is shaped like an old Swedish coffee pot. The water tower was first built in 1911. In 1985, it was changed to look like a coffee pot. This idea came from a resident who saw a similar water tower in Stanton, Iowa.

The Kingsburg coffee pot water tower is 122 feet (37 meters) tall. It is lit up at night and can be seen from Highway 99. It holds 60,000 US gallons (227,125 liters) of water.

The town celebrates its Swedish heritage with festivals. The Kingsburg Swedish Festival is very popular. It brings people from all over the country. It happens every year during the third weekend in May.

The festival has many fun activities. These include a Swedish pancake breakfast and a parade. There is also a crowning of the Swedish Festival Queen. Many booths, rides, and activities are set up along Draper Street in Downtown Kingsburg.

Geography of Kingsburg

Kingsburg is located in the middle of California's Central Valley. Its exact location is 36°30′50″N 119°33′14″W. The town is about two hours away from the Sierra Nevada mountains and the coast. It is also about 3 to 4 hours away from big cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento.

The United States Census Bureau says that Kingsburg covers a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Population Changes

Kingsburg's population has grown a lot over the years. In 1880, only 88 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown to 12,380.

Kingsburg in 2010

In 2010, the population of Kingsburg was 11,382. About 75% of the people were White. About 43% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.

There were 3,822 households in Kingsburg. Most people (99.3%) lived in homes. About 44% of households had children under 18. The average household had almost 3 people.

Kingsburg in 2000

In 2000, Kingsburg had 9,199 people. About 72% of the people were White. About 34% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. Many people had Swedish (28.6%), German (21.7%), or English (9.7%) backgrounds.

In 1920, a large part of Kingsburg's population was Armenians. About 46% of the town's 1,316 residents were Armenian.

Kingsburg School System

Kingsburg has a special school system for elementary and middle school students. It works like a charter school system. All students from Kindergarten to 8th grade go to specific schools together. The school year usually starts in late August.

• Kindergarten students go to Washington Elementary.
• First graders attend Roosevelt Elementary.
• Lincoln Elementary is for second and third graders.
• Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders go to Ronald Reagan Elementary.
• Seventh and eighth graders attend Rafer Johnson Junior High School.

Kingsburg High School is the high school for the community. Its school district is separate from the elementary and middle schools. The elementary school district also runs Central Valley Home School. This program helps families who choose to homeschool their children.

Notable People from Kingsburg

Many interesting people have come from Kingsburg:

• Tyler Bray – A former quarterback for the University of Tennessee and NFL free agent.
• Marcus Cabello – A professional soccer player for the Fresno Fuego.
• Monte Clark – An American football player and coach for NFL teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. He was born in Kingsburg.
• Larry Hillblom – One of the people who started DHL Worldwide Express.
• Jimmy Johnson – A cornerback who played for the San Francisco 49ers.
• Rafer Johnson – An Olympic gold-medal winner in the Decathlon. Rafer Johnson Junior High is named after him.
• Slim Pickens and Easy Pickens – Western film actors who were born in Kingsburg.
• Kody Swanson – A champion in the United States Auto Club Silver Crown Series multiple times.
• Andrew Vorhees – An American football offensive guard for the Baltimore Ravens.
• Jake Woods – A former Major League Baseball player.

See also

In Spanish: Kingsburg para niños