California's Central Valley - Part I: Fresno

plinko · #1 Posted **May 2, 2026, 11:59 PM**

In 27 years (WTF?) of posting photo threads here, one of the most successful was a thread I did on California’s Central Valley cities in 2007. That thread is long lost to the archives, but I still venture through and around the CV a few times a year.

The Central Valley is an odd place. Ringed by amazing mountains that you rarely can see due to the smog. Set so low in elevation that the fog rolls in and then stays…for weeks sometimes. An agricultural paradise, but one which results in an extremely segregated environment. An area of millions of people, but with those in power seemingly at odds with California’s goals of being a steward for the environment. It is a curious place, as I said.
The majority of people going from LA to SF or the other way jump on the 5 and put it in cruise control down the western side of the Valley, straddling the San Andreas fault. On the eastern side though are some interesting towns and cities. They are generally bloated, overgrown, and very sprawly, but not entirely without their own charms.

These photos are from my last couple of trips through the CV, all the way up to top in Redding, where the Valley finally gives way to the Sierras.

We shall start with Fresno.

I’ve long since given trying to understand this place. It’s a metropolis larger than many places such as Buffalo or Tulsa or Omaha. It’s a center of industry, but the least ‘urban’ of any industry you might think of: agriculture. And while most of the CV cities are dependent upon agriculture, Fresno doesn’t have much to augment that with like Bakersfield for oil, Modesto for wine, Stockton for its port, or Sacramento for the capitol. The resultant city is well…just dreary. I spent a few hours there recently roaming downtown and the nearby Tower District.

FRES 001 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

Someday…sigh…

FRES 002 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

Most Southern Californian’s experiences with Fresno likely result in it being a pitstop on the way to Yosemite…

FRES 003 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 004 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 005 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 006 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 007 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 008 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 009 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 010 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 011 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 012 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 013 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 014 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 015 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 016 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 017 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 018 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 019 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

Fresno City Hall was designed by Candian architect Arthur Erickson (who also designed California Plaza and DTLA). The form is meant to mimic the relatively nearby Sierra.

FRES 021 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 020 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 022 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 023 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 024 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 025 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 026 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 027 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 028 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 029 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 030 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 031 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 032 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 033 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 034 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 035 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 036 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 037 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 038 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 039 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 040 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 041 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 042 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 043 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 044 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 045 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

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FRES 047 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 048 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 049 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 050 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 051 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 052 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 053 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

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FRES 055 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

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FRES 058 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 059 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 060 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 061 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

The Fresno Grizzlies for years had a AAA Pacific Coast League team, but with the reshuffling of the minor leagues are now just a single A team. Sad, because their ballpark is beautiful.

FRES 062 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 063 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 064 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

Fulton Street was for many years a pedestrian mall. I’m not sure when they re-opened it to vehicles.

FRES 065 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 066 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 067 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 068 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 069 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 070 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 071 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 072 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

FRES 073 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr