Downtown Visalia

Downtown Visalia
Neighborhood of the City of Visalia
Downtown skyline during a clear day as seen from the new parking structure, February 2009.
Coordinates:36°19′43″N119°17′45″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	County of Tulare
City	Visalia
Subdistricts of Downtown	List Arts District East Main East Main Extension Main Street Medical District North Downtown Recreation Park
ZIP codes	93291, 93292
Website	downtownvisalia.com

Downtown Visaliais thecentral business districtofVisalia, California,United States,which is located close to the geographic center of themetropolitan area.The area features an array of public art and unique shopping opportunities.The Downtown area is the hub for the city's public transport transit center.

Downtown is generally thought to be bounded by Giddings Street on the west,Murray Avenueon the north,Ben Maddox Wayon the east, and theSequoia (198) Freewayon the south.

History

The Hyde House is also on theNRHP.

Early years

WhenCaliforniaachieved statehood in 1850,Tulare Countydid not exist. The land that is nowTulare Countywas part of the hugeMariposa County.In 1852 some pioneers settled in the area, then called Four Creeks. The area got its name from many watershed creeks and rivers flowing from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. All the water resulted in a widespread swampy area with a magnificent oak forest. The group of settlers petitioned the state legislature for county status and on July 10 of that same yearTulare Countybecame a reality.

TheBank of Italy building,now the Bank of Sierra, is one of several buildings in Visalia on theNational Register of Historic Places(NRHP).

One of the first inhabitants of a fort built by the settlers, unnecessarily as it turns out; to protect themselves fromNative Americanswas Nathaniel Vise. Nathaniel was responsible for surveying the new settlement. In November 1852 he wrote, "The town contains from 60-80 inhabitants, 30 of whom are children of school age. The town is located upon one of the subdivisions of theKaweah (River)and is destined to be the county seat ofTulare.”In 1853 that prediction became a reality and Visalia has remained the county seat since that time.

Visalia is thought to be named for Nathaniel Vises' ancestral home,Visalia, Kentucky.Early growth in Visalia can be attributed in part to the gold rush along theKern River.Thegold feverbrought many transient miners through Visalia along the way and when the lure of gold failed to materialize, many returned to Visalia to live their lives and raise families.

In 1858, Visalia was added to John Butterfield's Overland Stage route fromSt. LouistoSan Francisco.Included in the early crop of citizens were some notorious and nasty individuals who preyed upon the travelers along the Butterfield Stage route. Many saloons and hotels sprouted up around the stage stop downtown and commerce was brisk if a bit risky.

The next memorable event was the arrival of thetelegraphin 1860. Visalians then could get timely information of the events taking place on theEast Coastwhich would ultimately develop into theAmerican Civil War.

During theAmerican Civil Warmany citizens of Visalia couldn't decide whether Visalia should stand on the side of the North or the South, so they simply had a Mini Civil War of their own on Main Street. No one really knows the outcome of the war, but apparently it was concluded to the satisfaction of the participants and life returned to normal.

The federal government however, was not so easily convinced and reacting to concern about sedition banned Visalia's pro-southEqual Rights Expositornewspaper and established a military garrison. Camp Babbitt was built in 1862 to stop overt southern support as well as maintain law and order in the community. During these Civil War years, Visalia was incorporated which gave the town new rights. The second incorporation in 1874 moved Visalia into city status with a common council and anex officioMayor and President.

Attractions

• Recreation Park
• Main Street
• Visalia Playhouse Theatre
• Garden Plaza
• Visalia Rawhide
• Candy Cane Lane Parade
• Visalia Convention Center

Transportation

Public transportation

The Transit Center serves passengers for the City Coach Service that circulates to in-town business and shopping areas; the Tulare County Area Transit system which serves outlying cities and hamlets; and bus service to the Amtrak station in Hanford is available.

The Visalia Towne Trolley provides cheap downtown shuttle service from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday; from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. The price is now set at $0.25 for the Trolley, a price hike from the "free" status it has had for years. The Towne Trolley's includes the Transit Center, the Courthouse, hotels and The Convention Center, arriving at each stop every 15 minutes.

City scape

Garden Plaza

Parks and open space

Downtown Visalia is home to several public parks, plazas, gardens and other open space:

• Garden Plaza
• Memorial Park
• Mayors Park
• Mill Creek Linear Park
• Recreation Park

Kaweah Delta Medical Centeroffice alongMill Creek

Skyline

Despite its centralization, Visalia has a relatively small skyline, but development has grown in recent years and continues to grow.

Visalia's skyline consists mostly of medium-rise buildings. The tallest building in Visalia is the north tower of theKaweah Delta Medical Center.It is 6 stories and 105 feet tall.

The city has plans to construct even more medium rise buildings in the future. However, there are no plans for any high-rise buildings.

Some examples of medium-rise buildings include:

• 115 W Murray Ave, an 8-story residential tower that measures 88 feet tall.
• 300 S Court, an 8-story hotel.
• 128 E Main St, a 5-story mix-use.
• 205 S West St, a 5-story office building

Education

Redwood High School

Primary and secondary education

Downtown is served by theVisalia Unified School District.

• Redwood High School

External links

• Downtown Visalia
• Visalia Convention Center
• Public Transportation in Visalia