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Wildflower, California facts for kids

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Wildflower
Wildflower is located in California
Wildflower
Wildflower
Location in California
Wildflower is located in the United States
Wildflower
Wildflower
Location in the United States
Country United States
State California
County Fresno County
Elevation
269 ft (82 m)

Wildflower (which used to be called Wild Flower) is a small place in Fresno County, California. It's known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a city or town with its own local government. Instead, it's managed by the county government, which in this case is Fresno County.

Wildflower is located about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of a city called Selma. It sits at an elevation of 269 feet (82 meters) above sea level.

History of Wildflower

Wildflower has a bit of history tied to its name. For a while, it even had its own post office!

The Wild Flower Post Office

A post office named "Wild Flower" was open in this area from 1878 to 1898. A post office is a place where people can send and receive mail. Having a post office usually means there was enough activity and people living in an area to need one. The fact that it operated for 20 years suggests that Wildflower was a small but active community during that time. After 1898, mail services for the area likely moved to a nearby larger town.

What is an Unincorporated Community?

You might be wondering what an "unincorporated community" really means. It's a common type of place in the United States.

How They Are Governed

When a place is unincorporated, it means the people living there don't have their own city council or mayor. Instead, the county government takes care of things like roads, police, and fire services. For Wildflower, this means Fresno County is responsible for these services.

Why Places Stay Unincorporated

There are many reasons why a community might remain unincorporated. Sometimes, the population is too small to form its own city. Other times, residents might prefer to have the county manage services, as it can sometimes be simpler or more cost-effective than setting up a new city government.

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