San Joaquin Valley: Forgotten California

[@Vaceline7639]

You did a great job describing the place I call home!!

[@Jamminjared]

What an awesome video! Born in Visalia, raised in Porterville, and ended up in Bakersfield. Thanks for explaining everything so well!!

[@GeographyKing]

Thanks!

[@danielcontreras3956]

Wow I’m born and raised in Porterville, CA just 40 minute drive from Visalia. So glad to see you mention all these places. Often people ask me where I’m from and they don’t even know where Tulare County is so I just say south of Fresno or north of Bakersfield lol

[@GeographyKing]

We gotta represent

[@jerryscott8608]

Why does he not mention Porterville?

[@TYSniper]

That's always how I would describe it when asked, hahaha.

[@allensturdivant3044]

And now, your area is famous! I hope you and yours stayed safe in the floods.

[@daymanfighterofthenightman]

I was literally just gonna type this 😅

[@vincegonzalez2171]

I coached football at a California Community College in the Bay Area, and we had to play a game at West Hills College Coalinga. One of the other coaches said "to get to Coalinga, drive south on the 5 until you smell cows. Then turn right." It's amazing how accurate that statement is.

[@olyvoyl9382]

The cows don't smell. Their poop does.

[@ramonalfaro3252]

lol

[@maxmulsanne7054]

lol... Yep, just past _Harris Ranch._

[@c3ramics]

@@maxmulsanne7054 some good food there too lol

[@selfdo]

At Fresno State, you can tell the wind direction by the smell...if it's cow shit, it's from the West...pig shit, from the East...chicken and turkey shit...the South, and sour wine..the North.

[@robfreedman6496]

San Joaquin Valley is awesome and I had a great time visiting Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon!

[@recoveringsoul755]

I climbed Mt Whitney a decade ago, and saw General Sherman again. Had been there as a child so it was nice to go with my own child.

[@toeg1]

I'm from Tracy, but my father was born in Visalia. I lived in Fresno too and worked on a farm near Madera. You spoke well of our part of the state. Much love for our part of the world, "the breadbasket of the US." There are tons of videos you could do about the valley: how the various crops found their way to it; how we tamed the various rivers with dams and levees; how we built canals to shepherd the water to the farms and SoCal; and so much more. Thanks for the vid!

[@YungWayne805]

Glad I found this video, I’m a truck driver & constantly up and down the state through this whole area, working a lot in Visalia/Exeter/Tulare

[@barneyfifesgrandma1356]

The Valley does not get enough love. That's for sure. Even though it's normally someplace I drive through to get to somewhere else, I recognize it's massive importance. It feeds America and even the world!

[@glennburns7898]

That is true but the people out here are weirdos. I can’t wait to move

[@bglrj]

Going to college in Turlock, I remember a full month when we didn't see the sun. It was foggy every single day. I once drove down the back roads to get to school with my car door open so that I could follow the lines in the middle of the road. The weird thing about that fog was that only extended about 30 feet in the air. When you drove into the valley it looked like a great soft blanket. But it was thick.

[@danielcarroll3358]

Once I was coming from Germany to SFO. It was one of those unusual days when tule fog had come from the delta. Only one runway was open. We had beautiful views of the Bay Area as we went around several times. When we landed it was brilliant sunshine until a few seconds before the wheels touched down. Then the lights went out. You could hear the gasp throughout the plane. We then taxied to the terminal which was in bright sunshine. Yes it's thick, but not deep.

[@Pepega_Pig]

A Stan State brother?

[@bglrj]

Yes! Turkey Tech!

[@ronnierowe7580]

Beautiful baby

[@bookiehillbilly]

Aw man, I can relate. I was driving home to Stockton from Cal State Stanislaus for the weekend, and the fog on the highway at night was so bad and I was so scared I was doing 30 in the slow lane. Anyways, go warriors! Lmao.

[@DanCapostagno]

As someone from Merced (now living in Tennessee) it was nice to see this loving tribute to my oft-maligned place of origin. You were 100% spot on with every point you made and didn't miss a single thing. And much like yourself, my opinion of the place has softened significantly now that I'm older than when I was growing up there. You sir have earned yourself a grateful subscriber.

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you very much! Welcome to the channel!

[@jeffmorse645]

Hi Dan. I lived in Merced during the 90s (went to Merced College) and its actually a very nice small city. Lots of trees compared to most places. Quite up and coming too with the University of California there.

[@DanCapostagno]

@@jeffmorse645 That was also the impression when my parents settled down there in the early 80s to start their family. Upon reflection, I feel like Merced is perennially on the verge of a real boom. If they got a generation of leadership there with an aggressive vision, and the CA high-speed rail project that is supposed to have a major terminal there comes to fruition, we may end up sounding like those old-timers who remember when Southern California was "just a bunch of orange orchards."

[@malaquiasalfaro81]

Hey I just moved from Merced to Tennessee, which part are you?

[@DanCapostagno]

@@malaquiasalfaro81 of Tennessee? Nashville area.

[@elidelarosa7933]

*sees disneyland* "oh god no" lol

[@someinteresting]

😂😂😂

[@BillGreenAZ]

I laughed at that too. I used to live in Orange County so I've been to Disneyland quite a few times. People are coming from all over the world to visit so I don't know why it got that reaction from Kyle.

[@fchanMSI]

Funny that mention that you not from Disneyland but can be from Disney world, at least the “village” it resides in, as I know someone that was born in Disney World were there is corporate village there that you can live there.

[@BillGreenAZ]

@nick arvin Yes, that's obvious. What I was wondering is *why* he didn't like Disneyland.

[@michaelponce500]

We get dense fog advisors in Iowa. I just laugh and say "that's cute! I m from fresno!"

[@ramonalfaro3252]

I was raised in LA and moved to Texas for a few years. Whenever I heard the phrase "Everything is bigger in Texas!" I'd follow up with "Have you ever heard of a Giant Sequoia?"

[@noahpulitzer9102]

I logged in for the first time in years just to tell you how much I appreciate your channel. While my girlfriend isn't the biggest fan, it's right up my alley and I'm so happy that others share a love and curiosity for geography.

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you very much for the kind words. I'm glad you like the videos!

[@billbutler2452]

Raised my 3 kids in Lindsay, lived 3 miles out in the Orange & Olive groves. Really excellent video on our valley. One of the best, and saddest crops, is our kids. Once they grow up, graduate, need a career, mostly they have to leave to where ever the work is. Daughter became a librarian in So. Cal, son became math geek / teacher in the Inland Empire (Riverside to Temecula area), Youngest son in the Bay area bossing projects for major Ins. Co. One of the grandest features of living in the Orange Groves is when the industry declares the 'Orange Blossom'. The entire continent sends all the bee hives they can and the sound for hundreds of square miles is like living in a giant electric transformer, BUT... the air is so thick with the nectar odor of Orange it's almost intoxicating. The citrus doesn't need bees to pollinate like other crops, but the orange honey is pretty desirable, and profitable. My bias might be showing.

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you very much for your comment. The job market is certainly not the greatest but unfortunately the same situation is prevalent in rural parts of the South and urban parts of the industrial Midwest.

[@frzstat]

On my first business trip to California 20 years ago, I had to stay in Lindsay for a week because I could not get a room in Porterville. I stayed at the Olive Tree Inn. There were maybe 2 restaurants in Lindsay. Porterville was a lot bigger. I was a factory technician for a heating/air conditioning manufacturer and had to drive to Visalia for supplies. Visalia had great places to eat and most of the contractors I worked with lived there but a few were from Fresno. Over the next few years I worked on several projects in Bakersfield and Fresno and was able to visit Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite. When travel gets back to normal I would like to visit the SJ Valley again, and the National Parks!

[@olyvoyl9382]

What a fascinating bit of info. The orchards in bloom are to die for.

[@davidburrow5895]

I think that's true in farm country everywhere. I'm a teacher in rural Iowa, and most of my former students have moved to major cities--Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, and even New York and Los Angeles.

[@ManuelMartinez-zq3vq]

nit the market silly people livingin white trash or waste . New morality anew right and wrong we dont control america someone is asleep at thesteering wheel moneyis the parisite getter.the poverty farmworkers will strike again even if they are killed by thefarm owners covertly while the law looks elswhere@@GeographyKing

[@franciscolomeli8931]

I'm also from Tulare county and this video gave me a brand new appreciation for the place I call home.

[@masondicroce917]

I'm from Clovis (in Fresno county) and I'm going to be moving to Rochester soon. I'm mostly sick of this place, but videos like this really help me appreciate the good aspects of my home, great video!

[@a.m.v.6938]

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. 😊

[@danielserrano929]

@@a.m.v.6938 too bad our grass is usually brown 😊

[@IanR1205]

I'm from the Bay Area, currently living in Pittsburg, but I drive freight trains for BNSF out of Stockton. One of my routes is from Stockton to Bakersfield so I get a good feel of the SJ valley from the railroad's perspective. Over the 20 years I've done this job I've grown to appreciate the central valley's climate, industry, culture and geography. You mentioned taco trucks, well that's the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the delicious and authentic Mexican food that can be found in the valley. Probably the best authentic stuff you can get anywhere outside Mexico itself. The Mexican and Chicano cultural influences are one of my favorite things about living in California. And I'm glad you mentioned this state is more than it's screwed up politics. People from the midwest or south who hate on California all the time annoy me because there are more conservatives living in Cali than there are people living in whatever flyover state they're from. California had more Trump voters than any other state besides Texas! People who hate California are un-American!

[@ArtamStudio]

Cali-haters have a severe case of envy. Their loss. 😁

[@whatabouttheearth]

Ah, Ive taken that line...by accident, I was pist, the rookie I was with was too scared to get off in Stockton when I told him way before we got on the wrong train, I told him if we get stranded in Bakersfield I'm gonna be pist, and we gpt stranded in Wasco amd had to hitch back up to Oakland. It sucked, never rode with him again...but thanks for the ride!!! The Cali haters are dumb and overboard and don't realize when Californians are complaining in their own way or when someones in their dumb insecurity club

[@kourtneybaker5945]

Well said!!

[@ManuelMartinez-zq3vq]

RIGHT ON THE TRUTH IS THE HISPANISCS DESERVE BETTER WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE UNIONS VERY LITTLE AND LATE BUT CAPITALIST NEED TO PAY ALIVING WAGE . Yes times 5. for the last 50 years call it 100 in colorado milia killed hundreds to protect mine owners the rich have fleeced the poor below 100000 when did youhave a vacation to Europe never mind a vacation period work overtime they dont work the money works and talk s for them and rhinos s demos nazis and rednecks corrup judges i feel third class. if they give you 10 dollars give them 10v dollars worth. Well same old politics and now issurection confederate flags people above thelaw they all got away .poor Indians chased and killed for fighting for thier woman and childrens survival wake up we are threatened we wer warned before trump a war withmexico more stock increases oh we dont own stock nor land nothing to call hoime what are we fighting for first second korean vietnam panama chile nichragua . Thats how the south got california they snuck in thru the back door as planned. 100,000 s of peple disappeared might make right steall the us army fremont kit carson lewis and clark all looling for the 3 G S SLAUTHER THE NATIVESD IN THE WAY . we cant have that again USAcan fight itself

[@FightOn-qi1vs]

I spent my first 10 years of my life in Bakersfield and seeing this video just brings me back. Keep up the good work!

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you!

[@Matt50gt]

Great explanation of the Central Valley! If ever I need to explain to someone where I'm from I'll show them this video!

[@moddude101]

I was born in Oakland and live in the East Bay. I've learned to appreciate farmlands , culture and the downtown areas of The Valley. Still learning. Thanks for the insight you give on not just here but other places. I really want to go to Bakersfield when they open up the Woolworths kitchen counter again. Also to mention is Western Music, The Bakersfield Sound, as well as the car culture in Modesto more so the cruise nights on McHenry which we used to go to back in late 80s early 90s.

[@TuddsCrapshoot]

I'm from Nashville, lived in Chatt for a couple years as well, so I'll never forget the first time visiting Sequoia in mid march. There was 6ft of snow up in the sierras, but it was 65 degrees, and then on the drive out it was 85 with palm trees and orange groves. Most intense climate whiplash I had experienced! Still one of my favorite parts of the country :)

[@nelschristianson7650]

Thank you for this excellent video. Your presentation is very pleasant and easy to take in. I was born and raised in Merced. My maternal grandparents operated the Hotel Pyrenees, the Basque boarding house and bar there, from 1938-64. Lots of Basques in the SJ Valley. My father ran the room and board part of the Bracero program at three sites in Merced County from 1942-64.

[@Nooobcub]

Just found your channel. Love it! I’m from Fresno. My dad was a dairy worker so I lived throughout Kings and Tulare counties. Cant wait to watch the rest of your videos!

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you! Welcome to the channel!

[@hadriel1228]

Awesome video! I'm from Bakersfield and I always feel a bit sad that the Central Valley is quite overlooked. My grandparents (who were from Mexico) were contractors for the garlic fields, and they passed down that business to two of my uncles. I also have an aunt and uncle who work in the grape vines and always bring us some delicious grapes.

[@antoniovilla6768]

I grew up in Merced, Madera and Fresno counties and am now living in Modesto this is a very good description of the Valley. When i travel or move and people ask me where i'm from i'll show them this video. Keep up the great work. BTW: My girl friend is from Visalia and aside from Clovis (the wealthier suburb of Fresno) Visalia is the best city in the valley, the only thing it is missing is a big University

[@carscloseup]

In 2005 I had the pleasure to visit the US for the first time. Newly wed in LV, NV, we drove to the Sequoia National Park, more precisely to the Wuksachi Lodge and spend the night in this beautiful area. We really fell in love with the incredible scenery and trees. I’ll never forget this trip and I’m hoping that some day I can return to visit those mighty rocks and trees!

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

I grew up in and lived a great deal of my life in "Tracy, CA" which is of course at the Northern End of The "Great San Joaquin Valley" and The Namesake County of The Greater Valley, San Joaquin County.........That said, Tracy, CA holds a strange place in The San Joaquin Valley's Modern Make-Up as the only true "Bay Area Suburb" that is still firmly a San Joaquin Valley Town............ Due to its' placement nearest Altamont Pass going into the Bay Area and the convergence of I-580, I-5, and their connector I-205.........Oh and Good Work Bro !......One SJ Boy To Another !!!!

[@neoxu8588]

Haha I live in Tracy. 😁

[@gregorybrown9432]

Good job. I've lived here forever and you informed me of things I didn't even know.

[@agrofindastation]

I have so many memories of driving 152 to 33 to 140 as my dad I I did one of our camping trips up in the high Sierras, or visiting his friend in Atwater, seeing Castle Air Force Base. Then for long drives up 5, the smell outside of Kettleman City as we drove up and down 5. Thank you for this video!

[@bryandeviney4072]

I remember my parents driving the family to see the annual Air Force shows in Atwater, back when the base was still active.

[@angelicaarroyo1677]

Thank you for doing this video. I am from Dinuba in Tulare County. The central valley will always be my home.

[@vincegonzalez2171]

This was really cool! I've driven the 5 through the central valley so many times, that haze is no joke. When driving south to San Diego, I always said that once I can see the mountains, I know I'm close to the San Fernando Valley. California is so incredibly unique and people outside the Western US just don't know about it. PS Sequoia National Park is my favorite location in the entire United States.

[@TheFarmanimalfriend]

I grew up in Merced. I've ridden my bicycle to Yosemite. I love it here. The tule fog is a drag, but . . .

[@levicounts6761]

Awesome channel! Could you do a video on the Sacramento valley, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the old gold country towns like Nevada City, Placertown, and Auburn next?

[@GeographyKing]

I'll do a few more videos about parts of California that often don't get a lot of love, and that will certainly be one of them.

[@declansimonovich280]

@@GeographyKing a video about Northeastern California, Modoc county, and the surprise valley area would be really interesting I think, because I would argue that is the most forgotten and ignored part of the state. I went there on a trip a few years ago driving up highway 395 and it felt surreal, like it is by far one of the emptiest parts of the state and seeing no one on the road for hours was just crazy considering how pretty and unique the scenery was. You do an excellent job on doing these geographic profiling videos and I’d love to hear what you have to say on this region because I feel like it deserves more representation

[@jordanhowell3262]

@@GeographyKing Please give Chico, CA a shoutout if possible! I do not mean to nitpick, but your video mentions all the Walnuts and Olives are grown in San Joaquin valley, up here in the Sac Valley we produce plenty of walnuts and Olives (atleast I thought). I.e. Corning, CA is a major producer of olives, or was. Thanks for your videos, they are masterpieces!

[@jbrenth0079]

Thank you for sharing about the San Joaquin Valley and our home town of Visalia as well. We grew up there long before you, in the 1950s and 60's, when they were fazing out smudge pots in the orange groves and installing wind machines to prevent freezing. Oranges, cotton and walnuts were the biggest crops back then. Visalia was always the nicest city, even back then, and smog was not a problem. Visalia was famous for its high quality drinking water. At that time Visalia had two high schools, Mt. Whitney and Redwood. We went to Mt. Whitney.

[@skysurfer5cva]

Fresno, here. Good to see a video about our Valley. And, I agree that Visalia is the nicest city in the Valley.

[@Bakerism01]

I love these more in depth/nuanced views of the states. Keep the videos coming. Taco Trucks are my love language.

[@noelrios9320]

Most underrated channel on KZbin. 👌 fantastic work, keep it up.

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you!

[@petalstar842]

Cool vid! My family got its humble start in this great country in Modesto, CA. We eventually migrated East and now live in Charleston, SC.

[@Pepega_Pig]

Glad y’all got out of Modesto. Living 20 minutes from there and I’m nowhere near far enough away

[@malaquiasalfaro81]

Merced to East Tennessee here!

[@petalstar842]

@@malaquiasalfaro81 Cool that’s not too far

[@knittylibra]

Loved this video!! I grew up in the SJV and this makes me appreciate it more. I was excited to see foggy day school schedules get a shout out! That was one of my favorite things growing up and it's always fun to explain it to people who didn't grow up here.

[@AArchaicRadical]

I love your videos, you are honest, unbiased, and tell it all from a traveler's perspective. My girlfriend is from Turlock, your video is spot on! From your other videos, I guessed you were from the central valley actually. Especially after you said "Agg" in reference to agriculture. I'm from socal, but love to travel particularly via my Toyota. Cheers!

[@dinamonaghan7524]

Thank you for this excellent video. It made me homesick.

[@sammyhill93]

Kyle, I’ve watched a lot of your videos over the last month or two and I’ve enjoyed them all tremendously. But this was probably the best one yet for several reasons. The first was your intro, I was laughing pretty good lol. The second was your passion for your home area. The third was because I learned so much that I honestly had no clue about prior to watching. I feel I know quite a bit about America, but I will admit that I learned a lot from this video in terms of agriculture and just how important the San Joaquin valley is to the US and the wold. Thank you!

[@olyvoyl9382]

Wow! Thanks for your very thorough report. I am a Californian who needed a brush up on the facts. I knew that the Valley was a very important agricultural area. But I was stuck in the misconception that it was only a series of small cowtowns. My bad. Always proud of California.

[@pushing2throttles]

I lived in Atwater, CA (between Modesto and Merced) and I'll tell you, if one doesn't know when the almond harvest is that's ok because you can smell when it's time for the almond harvest. There is also an old SAC air force base that used to be a B-52 command at Castle Airport. Great Mexican food in that city. I'm pleased you mentioned the daily winter fog. It's zero viability for many areas. It's and incredible weather phenomenon.

[@tatianastoltz162]

I am from west sac the 3 biggest rice producing place In the world. Unfortunately you can’t smell rice

[@danielcarroll3358]

My aunt and uncle lived in Atwater. One day my aunt had to get out of her car and walk up to the street sign to figure out where she was, two blocks from home. *That's* tule fog.

[@skysurfer5cva]

Back in the late 1990s, I was the lead civil engineer for the federal prison on the back side of the old Castle AFB. The first phase of the project was demolishing about two dozen reinforced concrete nuclear weapons storage bunkers.

[@ManuelMartinez-zq3vq]

Great mexican people oh American Cityzens purple and stars brown silver ,farmers scientist also. Mention what makes the. southwest of america brown people kind and noble proud that desrve their dignity and pride as honest working souls that love apple pie get it. We hate being 2 nd class like our Black comrades.

[@recoveringsoul755]

Grew up in CA but this was a much better way of presenting information than whatever dry info I was given in school I ended up here after keeping an eye on all the fires from the lightning storms during this heat wave we're happening. Stay safe out there. I subbed because if you cover Geography of other places or states, I need to learn more about that.

[@GeographyKing]

Thanks for commenting and subbing. I'm glad you liked the video. I've got a lot of videos like this coming up.

[@dxmyr]

I've grown up all around here in the east bay and these videos are so great to watch. I've driven down 5 a few times and it's nice to get educated on this region I've seen so many times but had no idea about.

[@stevenneufeldmusic]

really great video. watched the whole thing. lived in bakersfield where my family is from from 1990-2005 or so.. this is all really cool interesting facts about the central valley of CA. good to know more about it! thanks for posting, sir!! :)

[@GeographyKing]

I'm glad you liked the video!

[@lynksis12]

"Visalia is the nicest city in the valley" *Clovis would like to have a word.*

[@GeographyKing]

Clovis is definitely the only other city that could make that claim. But since it's essentially a suburb of Fresno, I'll take Visalia.

[@uneducatedpoetry.bytheuned4330]

Omg. Now that's funny. Went to highschool in Clovis Clovis west class of 86!!

[@icewink7100]

I'm not really a fan of Clovis, I have family that lives there and I've visited a few times. The main thing that I remember is that there are fences absolutely everywhere, making it hard to see houses and buildings.

[@Pepega_Pig]

Ripon gang represent

[@blandis93312]

Clovis, the difference between you and Visalia is in the people.

[@CulturedCarlo]

Very informative great content you're going to blow up one day. I've seen good youtubers have some of their videos blow up years after they were uploaded just keep going!

[@GeographyKing]

Thanks! I appreciate the support. If the channel becomes big that'd be great, but for now as long as people enjoy the videos I'm happy with that.

[@berislavostupanj4518]

I'm from Croatia,live in Ireland and all I can say to you is Thank you

[@1967foghorn]

I worked at vvr this past summer and once a month spend 2 nights in Madera...driving thru the agri field areas at 3 in the morning is unreal. The smells in the air from all the crops is a fantastic experience...You're right about this being the best area.

[@AG-lh9ic]

This was a great video, I've been living in Visalia for a couple years now and I've always wanted to learn more about the region

[@redvine1105]

There’s an even more forgotten part of CA - the mostly empty Diablo range between the San Joaquin valley and the coast. Hollister CA, represent.

[@caryrodda]

Spot on. I grew up in SoCal and have lived in Sacramento for the last 25 years. I know some folks in the south and north look down on the San Joaquin Valley but not me. Once I discovered how much agriculture they supply to the nation I had tremendous respect for that area.

[@ryanjnunes]

Seen your vids in the past, but this one is making me subscribe. Modesto born and raised growing almonds! And about that snow, I remember it snowing at my house in 2009

[@GeographyKing]

Thanks a lot. Gotta represent the Valley!

[@laurat8679]

Thanks for jogging up some fun memories of Bakersfield. Loved the fog days where school was delayed! Regarding the bad air quality, I remember crop dusters spraying fields adjacent to our school while we were at recess (in the 70's). :( The dust storms and flying tumbleweeds on windy days were also a unique feature of the valley.

[@TYSniper]

I was born and raised in Tulare CA for the first 21 years of my life. Went down south to college, then moved to Texas. I do miss my old town often as I've gotten older and settled down, along with the mountains and the coast, primarily Pismo.

[@leachimeel]

I love your channel and was so excited when I saw you made one about home! Hanford native here.

[@machocatrandy]

Live right here in Fresno! Love the Central Valley, even though it has its problems. Such an overlooked area with so much going for it. Working on being a field biologist for this area and it’s such a unique area of the world. Always lived here, always will.

[@whatabouttheearth]

Im from several states including Cali (Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley/Balboa etc) and when got out of the military I moved to the Bay and took my first Environmental Biology class there, I've loved biology ever since. And Cali is awesome, some many biomes and ecosystems and variation.

[@silverbackscopesgeog]

Geography King, you're awesomesauce! Great, quality, genuine videos! Thank you.

[@hannecatton2179]

What an uplifting presentation ! Thank you Sir. With kind regards from the agricultural land of Denmark in cold , damp northern Europe. I envy you the warmth of California but not the pollution.

[@daveadalian4116]

I live in the San Joaquin Valley, and just learned today the Great Valley is actually larger than Denmark by about 400,000 ha.

[@PDiaz-mr3uj]

Born in Madera but raised and have lived in Fresno for most of my adult life. A good place to raise kids, good schools and great food. The coastal elites put us down but our great people prosper. The bread basket of the world. Go Dogs!

[@mpconnoisseur]

I live in Visalia. It was nice to see it mentioned. Thanks for the content!

[@voodude12]

Thank you so much for this video. I’m from Fremont but currently living in El Paso, TX. I’m about to move to the Modesto area. And I’m happy about it.

[@ramonalfaro3252]

I was raised in LA and moved to Texas for a few years. Whenever I heard the phrase "Everything is bigger in Texas!" I'd follow up with "Have you ever heard of a Giant Sequoia?"

[@claud1961]

You are right about the valley being taken for granted and even though I moved to the midwest 25 years ago I still consider it home. Porterville is my home town but it was a treat to go to Visalia when I was a kid, usually after church. Mom loved the mall and we always ate at Ole Frijole, that my dad always called Okie Frijole. My favorite places there were the music and book stores in the mall. There was also a used bookstore ran by a British expat I frequented quite often on Main. There was a budget theater down the road as well and we often saw movies long past release date at a fraction of the price. Moes To Go is still a place i would love to eat at again, I think they had the best pastrami I have ever had! What else? Mooney Grove Park. I remember when it was all open, the paddle boats and whatnot. It was a wonderful part of my childhood. Thanks for helping me appreciate the area again. I often watch content on the area and enjoy seeing my old stomping grounds. Who knows if I will ever get to go back again? Fortunately, there are those creators posting it for me. There are negatives, sure, but if I could smell orange blossoms again it would be great.

[@deanwheeler627]

I grew up in Lodi and fog was the big weather event I remember.

[@flat5th]

I was born in Stockton because the town in the River Delta I grew up in, Rio Vista, did not have a hospital. Thank you for this appropriate and loving tribute. I love the photos with snow-capped Sierras in the background. I love your work.

[@danielleporter1829]

Fresno has a special place in my heart , even though I've never been there, I do have a special link to the city being that my mom grew up there. I find that the higher education options in the Central Valley such as Fresno State, UC Merce, Cal State Stanislaus etc, are largely overlooked for the more well known universities like Stanford, UCLA Cal Berkeley, UC Irvine, USC . Anyone who's even driven North to South or vice versa along the Grapevine (for Non Californians or anyone outside of the US The Grapevine is another name is n reference to interstate 5 which runs the length of the interior portion of California from San Diego to Seattle) knows that once you start seeing fields, you have hit the San Joaquin Valley. The reason this stretch of interstate 5 is called the Grapevine is partially due to that that 🍇 are grown in this part of the state but also because also because there's a city called Grapevine that I-5; runs through

[@CarlosRodriguez-hb3vq]

Thanks Kyle. I grew up in Reedley, and we used to cruise Mooney in Visalia. (Blackstone was just a little too scary.) Great place to grow up, but historically a lot of youth left to attend college and find work.

[@thomasdosborneii]

You told me so many things I had never know before, but all of it was fascinting and impressive! I have now subscribed and am scarfing up the information that you are imparting--thank you so very much!

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you!

[@henryvillarreal2789]

Great explanation of the greatest valley that ever lived. Thank you Henry Villarreal

[@LailaSuleiman-n6r]

A very unique presentation of this region. The Grapevine pass is similar to Khyber Pass, and it brings to.mind a nostalgic connection. I love SJV for its beautiful.fields and surrounding mountains!

[@BAYAREA_PizzaParty]

From the Bay Area, still waiting for my visit to the Central Valley including some of the parks.

[@AzPoolguy]

Really enjoy your videos. Educational for sure but with humor and levity thrown in. Keep up the good work.

[@lavanyar5249]

Your videos are fantastic. Keep introducing us to such forgotten and overlooked places. Great content! I hope this video reaches folks who don't have a clue that this place exists. :)

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you!

[@Jojo-oj1uz]

Yes, I just drove thru San Joaquin Valley. Absolutely stunning unique and beautiful US farmlands. Love it.

[@danielcarroll3358]

My mother was born in Waukena. Most people in the valley have never heard of it. Drive north-east from Corcoran and when the road jogs you're there. Has a bar, a store and a grammar school that is the only school in a school district larger than San Francisco. Used to have passenger train service, but that was in the 1930's. The one time small rail yard explains the jog.

[@jaxondeboef6361]

that's so crazy, I'm from Visalia too!!

[@cckatgurl19]

Had your "Climate in the U.S." video come up in my recommendations and I liked it so much I decided to check out the rest of your channel. Imagine my surprise and delight to see this video -- and then to find out that you're from the Valley too! I was born and raised in Hanford, going to school in Fresno right now. Everything you said in this video was so accurate! Getting up to view the Foggy Day Schedule on TV or walking outside to only to get blindsided by the stench of freshly laid manure on the fields made up my childhood. I actually have a friend (who also grew up in Hanford) who's going to school at a rich kids' film school in the LA area, and it drives her crazy when all of the Silicon Valley kids say that they're from "the Valley," and then pull puzzled faces when she tells them she's from the San Joaquin Valley -- you know, the giant, actual valley? Even in California we're overlooked by other Californians! Anyway, great work on this video! I loved it!

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you! I went to Cal State Northridge in the San Fernando Valley and remember reminding folks that "the valley" is the one that takes up that giant chunk of space in the middle of the state, not a small corner of L.A.

[@mousetreehouse6833]

Ok, this is one video I plan on watching several more times; there was so much information to take in with only 1 viewing, thank you , Kyle! (You have a lot to be proud of 😎🤗👍)!

[@TristouMTL]

I love your videos. Thank you for sharing your considerable knowledge and making it so entertaining.

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you! I'm glad you like the videos. I try to cover a lot of topics that are not overdone by other corners of KZbin.

[@tonyschwarz9501]

I'm San Diego born and raised, amd we used to go visit my aunt and uncle up in bakersfield during the summer. My favorite part was getting to buy and shoot off our own fireworks on the 4th of July.

[@uneducatedpoetry.bytheuned4330]

Ol FRESNO my old stompin grounds. ❤❤GREAT VIDEO MAN I LOVED IT😁

[@danielm4114]

One of my favorite musicians is from the central valley- Brian Kenney Fresno, a one man show Warr guitarist who writes and performs songs about life and living in Fresno CA and surrounding communities, peppered with obscure specific references to the city of Fresno and the entire San Joaquin valley. Fascinating dude, check out his music. Love the channel.

[@zzz6valvoline]

I love the valley. I love visiting home. Great video.

[@soldierofgod7564]

❤❤❤❤your video clip was amazing!!! God bless you for sharing this information to the world❤❤❤❤

[@justinledden9998]

So comprehensive and interesting, well put-together. Definitely worth subscribing.

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you! Welcome to the channel!

[@Mazer2721]

Wow... that Tule fog day thing gave me major nostalgia. Born and raised in Visalia as well.

[@gregorymarr3593]

and forgive me, but I'll add a postscript....I'm a high school geography teacher from Australia. I've driven several times across the USA over the years, and love it to bits. Your love of geography shines through and I"m glad I've discovered your channel.

[@Nathan_Lara]

Loved this video. Of course the valley isn't perfect but I'm proud to be from here. I'm from Fowler and loved going to: Clovis, Tulare, parts of Fresno, Visalia, etc. Some of my favorite memories came from those foggy day schedules😂😂 so thanks for the vid and highlighting how important the valley is while keeping it honest.

[@slow1874]

Thanks for this thorough description, that's much more than 'only' geography! I found this video doing some research about places with this type of climate. Our climate down here in Mendoza, Argentina, is quite similar and it's amazing how many things we've got in common!

[@ramonalfaro3252]

My family moved to LA when i was 2yo in 1970. LA has changed so much since then. One of the things I like about San Joaquin Valley are the old downtowns that remind me of San Fernando Valley (SFV) in the 70's. I would estimate that The SFV was about 40% agriculture or open land back then. All that's left are a few strawberry fields now. Now The SFV is just houses and apartments from one hillside to the others.

[@Kiyan3100]

you're an underrated channel really appreciate your input on US states, what would be sorta interesting is to do a video on the meaning behind state highway symbols

[@GeographyKing]

Thanks for the compliment. And I'm always looking for new ideas for videos. That sounds like an interesting topic

[@Jdksub]

Great video filled with great info. I am from Madera so it was cool seeing this 👍 although I’m thinking about moving to NM... so I need to check out your other videos 😊

[@GeographyKing]

Thank you. Not a lot of people representing Madera out there.

[@emmanuelmayoral9779]

Even the Greyhound station in Visalia is pretty well kept up. That stuck with me when I passed through there. And it does seem like a very good place to live a very regular life.

[@lancelessard2491]

I spent many a Summer as well as Christmas vacations at my aunt and uncle's walnut orchard on the banks of the Stanislaus near a little town called Oakdale, just North of Modesto , and I can verify the truth of dense fog in the Winter months. They also raised kiwi fruit and sweet corn. They paid us kids minimum wage ($3.10 per hr at the time) to mow the grass in the rows of trees as well as pruning the walnut trees and kiwi vines and laying out irrigation lines and hoses. It was a lot of hot, hard work and you'd be totally worn out at the end of the day. One Summer we went to the Mariposa county fair and blew all the money we earned on games, rides, and food. It was great fun!

[@jeffmorse645]

I grew up in Oakdale (actually, two miles out of town on the Stanislaus River bluff). Love that town.

[@lancelessard2491]

@@jeffmorse645 My aunt and uncle lived at the end of Brady road.

[@InlandEmpiresoccer909]

Do one on the inland empire and high & low desert! We are often just apart of the greater LA area but I swear we are different!

[@dustymadison]

Thank you for this video. I grew up in Stanislaus county and after 13 years of living in different states along the east coast I'm moving back to take a job in San Joaquin county in a few months. You've painted a rosy picture of the Central Valley.

[@strange_air]

Hey Kyle, I'm just now watching this video after driving through this area just last weekend, up and down 101 through Paso Robles, King City, Soledad and Salinas on my way to Laguna Seca Raceway. The morning fog is no joke, and once it lifted, I saw miles and miles of agriculture fields with workers gathering crops. It's definitely a different view of California that most folks don't see.