Reedley Museum

History:

Reedley is located in the central San Joaquin Valley portion of California, lying just inland between the State's coastal mountain ranges and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Within an hours travel time, Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks can be enjoyed. The Monterey Peninsula and Pacific Ocean are less than three hours away. The valley floor is the richest intensive agricultural production area in the world. Reedley's economy continues as predominantly based upon agricultural production and agriculturally-oriented industry. Although it has diversified in recent years, local economy continues to be significantly dependent upon the underlying agricultural character of the region. The people in Reedley are some of the friendliest and most neighborly you will meet. Reedley’s citizens are a community mix of many converging cultures and peoples, from Asian, African, Central American, European, Mexican, Native American and South American, making for a tasteful community that provides some of the best exposure of social and cultural living in one place. Reedley College enhances our community with its multitude of programs and student exchange efforts. From pre-school to High School, our educational facilities are some of the very best in the Central Valley; from public to private we can possibly surpass your expectations.

Reedley is situated approximately twenty five miles southeast of the City of Fresno and equidistant from the City of Visalia situated southeast of Reedley. Manning Avenue, a four-lane divided major arterial street, connects the city with State Highway 99 twelve miles to the west. State Highway 180 is located eight miles north of the City, and both highways are heavily used by local, regional, and national residents, travelers, and motor carriers. In addition to its location near these major highways, the community lies adjacent to the Tulare Valley Railroad and the Southern Pacific Railroad lines. Reedley offers manifold opportunities for work, recreation and just plain living. The City offers multiple opportunities for business start up and growth for retail, commercial and industrial. Our 2010 Buxton Retail site analysis and propensity study is available to you in order to make those important and vital business decisions.

Civil war hero Thomas Law Reed settled here to provide wheat for Gold Rush miners in the mid 1800's. His donation of land for a railroad station site established the town as the center of the Valley's booming wheat business. Railroad officials commemorated his vision by naming the fledgling City in his honor. When mining fever began to fade, wheat demand slackened. Kings River water was diverted for crop irrigation, and the region began its over 100-year tradition of bountiful field, tree, and vine fruit harvests. Our hope is that you visit once just to taste how good the “World’s Fruit Basket” really is. We are confident you will decide on a second bite (pardon the pun) or even decide to stay. The City strives to build from its past and improve on its future. We invite your comments as to how we can better serve you and all who visit.

With water and railroad services in place, farming families of European immigrants were recruited, and the settlement was incorporated in 1913, with Ordinance No. 1 adopting and prescribing the style of a Common Seal on February 25, 1913. An important element in the early town was a colony of German Mennonites, whose strong traditions and values still shape Reedley's culture. The population today is diverse and multi-cultural and Reedley boasts a current population equal to 20,500. Each of the town's major ethnic groups has shown strong civic leadership, a desire to retain cultural and religious traditions, and the ability to work successfully together for Reedley's betterment. Among the community's 25 churches are Armenian, Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, and many other congregations. The area's forty-one organizations and twelve civic clubs include Filipino community organizations, a Finnish organization, and American Lebanese Women's Club, several Hispanic and Latin American organizations, and a Japanese organization among the many sports, cultural, conservation, charitable, and civic associations. In 1988 Reedley celebrated the first one hundred years of its multi-cultural heritage, and the 75th anniversary of incorporation. May you have a peaceful and productive day!.