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Facts and
Figures The
City of Selma is centrally located along Highway 99
between California's two largest market areas. The
community sits 207 miles north of Los Angeles and 209
miles south of San Francisco. Selma is within
convenient traveling distance to major metropolitan areas
and the recreational areas of the Sierra Nevada Mountains
and California's Coastal Region.
Selma began with the founding of the Valley
View School District in 1880 and following a four farmer
partnership of Whitson, Tucker, Otis and Snyder, a
town-site was established in 1893. The City of Selma
was incorporated three years later. The "Selma" name
was chosen from a list of names that had been submitted by
the Central Pacific Railroad that was built through the
community in 1880.
Selma's first major industry was wheat farming, but with
the arrival of irrigation the community became known as
"Home of the Peach" as the wheat fields gave way to
orchards of peaches. Grape vineyards took over the acres
of land that surrounded the Selma community producing
93% of the world's raisin crop and the name "Raisin
Capital of the World" was adopted in 1963. The acres
of grapes also produce product for table
grapes and wine.
Selma is a progressive, growing
community that
strives to retain small town qualities and life style.
Selma's quaint Central Business District has continued to
thrive and it's five other shopping areas provide
the complete shopping experience for Selma's wide-range of
ethnic and cultural backgrounds that make Selma an
All-American city.
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Population: 24,000
Selma Businesses:
760
Selma Chamber Members: 340
Selma is the fifth largest
city in Fresno County.
Schools:
11, with an enrollment of 6,000 (including High
School, Middle School, Elementary, and Alternative Schools)
Selma also has several private school facilities, from
pre-school to sixth grade levels. Selma offers
College:
Higher education possibilities are within 20 minutes of
Selma, California State University at Fresno, Fresno
Pacific College, Reedley Community College and Fresno City
College. There are several vocational schools in the
Fresno County area, also.
Medical Facilities: Selma Community Hospital, Kaiser Permanente Medical
Clinic, Selma Community Health Center, Central Valley
Family Health, Bethel Lutheran
Home, Selma Convalescent Home, Eye-Q Vision Center
Complete Emergency
Response Teams: Selma Fire Department, EMT's, Paramedics,
Ambulance Services, Selma Police Department, Domestic
Violence Units and Volunteers in Policing.
Housing: 203 homes built
in 2003, 176 in 2004, 168 in 2005, 96 in 2006, 39 in 2007
and 74 projected
for 2008.
Selma has 35
churches, 58 restaurants, 6 shopping centers, bowling
alley, 6 screen movie theater, theatre/performing arts
group, 7 city parks, a county branch library, senior
citizen center, community recreation department, and much
more to offer it's citizens and visitors.
Selma's growth is at the
rate of 3.7% currently.
ECONOMIC PROFILE
Economic Development info.
call Roseann Galvan at (559) 891-2200, ext. 3106 and
for Planning and Building info. call (559) 891-2208/2209
Local Community Information
call
the Chamber Office
Cindy Howell ~ (559)
891-2235, Extension 3701. |
