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Kingsburg, California

Kingsburg, California
City
City of Kingsburg
Official seal of Kingsburg, California
Seal
Motto: Past, Present and Future: Celebrating Kingsburg
Location in the U.S. state of California
Location in the U.S. state of California
Kingsburg, California is located in the US
Kingsburg, California
Kingsburg, California
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 36°30′50″N 119°33′14″W / 36.51389°N 119.55389°W / 36.51389; -119.55389Coordinates: 36°30′50″N 119°33′14″W / 36.51389°N 119.55389°W / 36.51389; -119.55389
Country United States
State California
County Fresno
Incorporated May 29, 1908
Government
 • Mayor Michelle Roman
 • Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Blayney
 • State Senate Anthony Cannella (R)
 • State Assembly Joaquin Arambula (D)
 • U. S. Congress David Valadao (R)
Area
 • Total 2.828 sq mi (7.325 km2)
 • Land 2.828 sq mi (7.325 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation 302 ft (92 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 11,382
 • Density 4,000/sq mi (1,600/km2)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code 93631
Area code(s) 559
Website www.cityofkingsburg-ca.gov

Kingsburg (formerly, Kings River Switch, Wheatville, Kingsbury, Drapersville, Farleyville, and Kingsburgh) is a city in Fresno County, California. Kingsburg is located 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Selma at an elevation of 302 feet (92 m), on the banks of the Kings River. The city is half an hour away from Fresno, and two hours away from the California Central Coast and Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The population was 11,382 at the 2010 census.

Kingsburg was established as a railroad town, its site set by the Central Pacific Railroad when it completed the Valley Line in 1873. In the early 1870s, Swedish natives settled in a railroad town called "Kings River Switch". Kingsburg started out as a flag stop on the Central Pacific Railroad called Kings River Switch. In 1874 Kingsburg was called Wheatville and had a post office, later that year they changed the name to Kingsbury. During this time period, Josiah Draper and Andrew Farley each owned a quarter section, about 160 acres (65 ha), Draper on the east side of the railroad tracks and Farley on the west side of the tracks. So it was suggested that the east side be called Drapersville and the west side called Farleyville. Two years after that it became Kingsburgh and in January 1894 took on its present spelling, "Kingsburg", which was finally established as a town in 1908. By 1921, ninety-four percent of the population within a three-mile radius of Kingsburg was Swedish-American, giving the community the nickname of "Little Sweden". To keep up with the town's Swedish history they have most retail businesses designed in Swedish architecture.

For much of the town's history, the fields around Kingsburg were mostly grape vineyards which produce mainly raisin and table grapes; however in 2002 a large surplus of raisins and grapes drove the price for these commodities down to an all-time low. Subsequently, farmers were forced to replant the fields with stone fruit, or (particularly on the west side of town) sell their land to developers to help cope with the rising population. Kingsburg is the headquarters of Sun-Maid Growers of California, a producer of raisins and other dried fruits. Kingsburg is home to the world's largest box of raisins, built by students at California State University, Fresno.


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