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{{Infobox settlement
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|name =
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|official_name =Downtown Visalia
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|settlement_type =Neighborhood of the City of Visalia <!--such as Town, Village, City, Borough etc.-->
If there is more than one native name, in different languages,
|total_type =
enter those names using {{lang}}, instead -->
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|settlement_type =[[List of districts and neighborhoods of Visalia|Neighborhood of the City of Visalia]] <!--such as Town, Village, City, Borough etc.-->
|total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
|motto =
|motto =
<!-- images and maps ----------->
<!-- images and maps ----------->
|image_skyline = Visaliap.jpg
|image_skyline = Visalia Panorama.jpg
|imagesize = 300px
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|image_caption = Downtown skyline during a clear day as seen from the new parking garage, February 2009.
|image_caption = Downtown skyline during a clear day as seen from the new parking structure, February 2009.
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|map_caption = California map showing Visalia
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|subdivision_name2 = [[Tulare County, California|County of Tulare]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Tulare County, California|County of Tulare]]
|subdivision_type3 = City
|subdivision_type3 = City
|subdivision_name3 = [[Visalia]]
|subdivision_name3 = [[Visalia, California|Visalia]]
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|parts = <!-- parts text, or header for parts list -->
|parts = <!-- parts text, or header for parts list -->
|p1 = [[Arts District, Visalia, California|Arts District]]
|p1 = [[Arts District, Visalia, California|Arts District]]
|p2 = [[East Downtown]]
|p2 = [[East Main]]
|p3 = [[East Main Extension]]
|p3 = [[East Main Extension]]
|p4 = [[Main Streetl]]
|p4 = [[Main Street]]
|p5 = [[Medical District]]
|p5 = [[Medical District]]
|p6 = [[North Downtown]]
|p6 = [[North Downtown]]
|p7 = [[Recreation Park]]
|p7 = [[Recreation Park (Visalia)|Recreation Park]]


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<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
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|postal_code =93291, 93292
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'''Downtown Visalia''' is the central business district of [[Visalia, California]], [[United States]]. Located in the geographic center of the metropolitan area, Downtown is home to numerous shops, restaurants, coffeehouses and a locally owned microbrewery as well as several venues for live music and a live children's theatre.
'''Downtown Visalia''' is the [[central business district]] of [[Visalia, California]], [[United States]], which is located close to the geographic center of the [[metropolitan area]]. The area features an array of public art and unique shopping opportunities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shopping |url=https://downtownvisalia.com/shopping/ |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Downtown Visalia |language=en-US}}</ref> The Downtown area is the hub for the city's public transport transit center.


Downtown is thought to be bounded by [[Giddings Street]] on the west, [[Murray Avenue]] on the north, [[Burke Street]] on the east, and [[California State Route 198]] on the south.
Downtown is generally thought to be bounded by Giddings Street on the west, [[Goshen Avenue|Murray Avenue]] on the north, [[Ben Maddox Way]] on the east, and the [[California State Route 198|Sequoia (198) Freeway]] on the south.


==History==
==History==
⚫
[[File:2009-0725-CA-Visalia-HydeHouse.jpg|thumb|right|The Hyde House is also on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Tulare County, California|NRHP]].]]
[[Image:Hisfoxvisalia.jpeg|thumb|left|Historic Fox Theatre]]


===Early years===
[[Image:The Depot.jpg|thumb|right|The old train depot, now a restaurant]]
⚫
When [[California]] achieved statehood in 1850, [[Tulare County]] did not exist. The land that is now [[Tulare County]] was part of the huge [[Mariposa 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 year [[Tulare County]] became a reality.


⚫
[[File:2009-0725-CA-Visalia-BankofItalty.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Bank of Italy (Visalia, California)|Bank of Italy building]], now the Bank of Sierra, is one of several buildings in Visalia on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Tulare County, California|National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP).]]
[[Image:Old Jailhouse.jpg|thumb|right|Old Jailhouse]]


⚫
One of the first inhabitants of a fort built by the settlers, unnecessarily as it turns out; to protect themselves from [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] was 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 the [[Kaweah River|Kaweah (River)]] and is destined to be the county seat of [[Tulare County|Tulare]].” In 1853 that prediction became a reality and Visalia has remained the county seat since that time.
⚫
[[File:2009-0725-CA-Visalia-BankofItalty.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Bank of Italy (Visalia, California)|Bank of Italy building]], now the Bank of Sierra, is one of several buildings in Visalia on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Tulare County, California|National Register of Historic Places]] (NHRP).]]


⚫
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 the [[Kern River]]. The [[gold fever]] brought 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.
⚫
[[File:2009-0725-CA-Visalia-HydeHouse.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Hyde House (Visalia, California)|Hyde House]] is also on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Tulare County, California|NRHP]].]]


⚫
In 1858, Visalia was added to John Butterfield's Overland Stage route from [[St. Louis]] to [[San 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.
Located a couple minutes east of [[California State Route 99|Highway 99]]. Visalia is the oldest town between [[Stockton]] and [[Los Angeles]] and indeed is the Crown Jewel of the [[San Joaquin Valley]].


⚫
The next memorable event was the arrival of the [[telegraph]] in 1860. Visalians then could get timely information of the events taking place on the [[East coast of the United States|East Coast]] which would ultimately develop into the [[American Civil War]].
⚫
When [[California]] achieved statehood in 1850, [[Tulare County]] did not exist. The land that is now [[Tulare County]] was part of the huge [[Mariposa County]]. In 1852 some adventuresome pioneers settled in this 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 industrious group of settlers petitioned the state legislature for county status and on July 10 of that same year [[Tulare County]] became a reality.


⚫
During the [[American Civil War]] many 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.
⚫
One of the first inhabitants of a fort built by the settlers, unnecessarily as it turns out; to protect themselves from [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] was [[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 the Kaweah (River) and is destined to be the county seat of [[Tulare County|Tulare]].” In 1853 that prediction became a reality and Visalia has remained the county seat since that time.


⚫
The federal government however, was not so easily convinced and reacting to concern about sedition banned Visalia's pro-south ''[[Equal Rights Expositor]]'' newspaper 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 an ''ex officio'' Mayor and President.<ref>[http://downtownvisalia.com/?Page=history.ascx Visalia History]</ref>
⚫
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 the [[Kern River]]. The gold fever brought 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 from [[St. Louis]] to [[San Francisco]]. A plaque commemorating the location can be found in front of Togni Branch Stationers at 116 East Main Street. 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 the [[telegraph]] in 1860. Visalians then could get timely information of the events taking place on the [[East coast of the United States|East Coast]] which would ultimately develop into the [[Civil War]].

⚫
During the [[Civil War]] many of 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-south Equal Rights Expositor newspaper 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 an ex-officio Mayor and President.

Once a creek side settlement, Visalia is now a thriving city with over 130,000 inhabitants and has become a community that takes great pride in the small town feel and high quality of life that accompanies big city amenities.<ref>[http://downtownvisalia.com/?Page=history.ascx Visalia History]</ref>


==Attractions==
==Attractions==


[[Image:Visalia.JPG|thumb|right|New Office Building along one of the many creeks through downtown]]

*[[Recreation Park (Visalia)|Recreation Park]]
*[[Recreation Park (Visalia)|Recreation Park]]
*[[Main Street, Visalia|Main Street]]
*[[Main Street]]
*[[Visalia Playhouse Theatre]]
*Visalia Playhouse Theatre
*[[Garden Plaza]]
*Garden Plaza
*[[Visalia Rawhide]]
*[[Visalia Rawhide]]
*[[Candy Cane Lane Parade]]
*Candy Cane Lane Parade
*[[Visalia Convention Center]]
*[[Visalia Convention Center]]


==Transportation==
==Transportation==
===Public 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.<ref name="Transportation">{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitvisalia.org/Transportation |title=Transportation |access-date=2009-09-12 |archive-date=2009-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091124071310/http://www.visitvisalia.org/Transportation |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[Image:vtown at best.jpg|thumb|left|Visalia Transit Center]]


⚫
The Visalia Towne Trolley provides cheap downtown shuttle service from 7:30&nbsp;a.m. to 5:30&nbsp;p.m. Monday thru Thursday; from 7:30&nbsp;a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; and on Saturday from 9:30&nbsp;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.<ref name="Transportation"/>


==City scape==
[[Image:Garden Plaza (Visalia, CA).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Garden Plaza]]


===Parks and open space===
⚫
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.<ref name="Transportation">[http://www.visitvisalia.org/Transportation Transportation]</ref>
Downtown Visalia is home to several public parks, plazas, gardens and other open space:
*Garden Plaza
⚫
*[[Memorial Park (Visalia, California)|Memorial Park]]
*[[Mayors Park]]
*Mill Creek Linear Park
*[[Recreation Park (Visalia)|Recreation Park]]


[[Image:Visalia.JPG|thumb|right|[[Kaweah Delta Medical Center]] office along [[Mill Creek (Tulare County)|Mill Creek]]]]
⚫
The Visalia Towne Trolley provides free 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 Towne Trolley's includes the Transit Center, the Courthouse, hotels and The Convention Center, arriving at each stop every 15 minutes.<ref name="Transportation"/>


==City Scape==
===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 the [[Kaweah Delta Medical Center]]. It is 6 stories and 105 feet tall.<ref>[http://www.valleyvoicenewspaper.com/vvarc/2006/december62006.htm Steel Up at Visalia's Tallest Building] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828112825/http://www.valleyvoicenewspaper.com/vvarc/2006/december62006.htm |date=2008-08-28 }}</ref>

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<ref>[http://www.valleyvoicenewspaper.com/vv/stories/2000x/kddhoffice.htm Kaweah Delta’s Office Complex To Break Ground] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717184104/http://www.valleyvoicenewspaper.com/vv/stories/2000x/kddhoffice.htm |date=2011-07-17 }}</ref>


==Education==
==Education==
[[Image:Rhsfront.jpg|thumb|right|Redwood High School]]
[[Image:Rhsfront.jpg|thumb|right|Redwood High School]]

⚫
[[Redwood High School (Visalia)|Redwood High School]] is the only school in the Downtown district.
===Primary and secondary education===
Downtown is served by the [[Visalia Unified School District]].
⚫
*[[Redwood High School (Visalia)|Redwood High School]]


==References==
==References==
Line 200: Line 206:
==External links==
==External links==
*[http://downtownvisalia.com/ Downtown Visalia]
*[http://downtownvisalia.com/ Downtown Visalia]
*[http://www.enchantedplayhouse.org/ The Enchanted Playhouse Theatre Company]
*[http://www.ci.visalia.ca.us/depts/convention_center/default.asp Visalia Convention Center]
*[http://www.ci.visalia.ca.us/depts/convention_center/default.asp Visalia Convention Center]
*[http://www.comfortsuites.com/hotel/ca451 Comfort Suites Hotel]
*[http://www.fandango.com/regalvisaliastadium10_aalun/theaterpage?radius=30 Regal 10 Studios]
*[http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/vismc-visalia-marriott-at-the-convention-center/ Visalia Marriott]
*[http://www.foxvisalia.org/Visalia_Fox_Theatre/Visalia_Fox_Theatre.html Visalia Fox Theatre]
*[http://www.ci.visalia.ca.us/depts/transit/ Public Transportation in Visalia]
*[http://www.ci.visalia.ca.us/depts/transit/ Public Transportation in Visalia]


⚫
[[Category:Visalia, California]]
[[Category:Neighborhoods in Visalia, California]]
[[Category:Neighborhoods in Visalia, California]]
[[Category:Geography of Tulare County, California]]

Latest revision as of 01:41, 8 January 2025

36°19′43″N 119°17′45″W / 36.32861°N 119.29583°W / 36.32861; -119.29583

Downtown Visalia
Neighborhood of the City of Visalia
Downtown skyline during a clear day as seen from the new parking structure, February 2009.
Downtown skyline during a clear day as seen from the new parking structure, February 2009.
Map
Coordinates: 36°19′43″N 119°17′45″W / 36.32861°N 119.29583°W / 36.32861; -119.29583
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyCounty of Tulare
CityVisalia
Subdistricts of Downtown
List
ZIP codes
93291, 93292
Websitedowntownvisalia.com

Downtown Visalia is the central business district of Visalia, California, United States, which is located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The area features an array of public art and unique shopping opportunities.[1] 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 Avenue on the north, Ben Maddox Way on the east, and the Sequoia (198) Freeway on the south.

History

[edit]
The Hyde House is also on the NRHP.

Early years

[edit]

When California achieved statehood in 1850, Tulare County did not exist. The land that is now Tulare County was part of the huge Mariposa 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 year Tulare County became a reality.

The Bank of Italy building, now the Bank of Sierra, is one of several buildings in Visalia on the National 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 from Native Americans was 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 the Kaweah (River) and is destined to be the county seat of Tulare.” 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 the Kern River. The gold fever brought 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 from St. Louis to San 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 the telegraph in 1860. Visalians then could get timely information of the events taking place on the East Coast which would ultimately develop into the American Civil War.

During the American Civil War many 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-south Equal Rights Expositor newspaper 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 an ex officio Mayor and President.[2]

Attractions

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]

Public transportation

[edit]

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.[3]

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.[3]

City scape

[edit]
Garden Plaza

Parks and open space

[edit]

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

Kaweah Delta Medical Center office along Mill Creek

Skyline

[edit]

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 the Kaweah Delta Medical Center. It is 6 stories and 105 feet tall.[4]

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[5]

Education

[edit]
Redwood High School

Primary and secondary education

[edit]

Downtown is served by the Visalia Unified School District.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Shopping". Downtown Visalia. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  2. ^ Visalia History
  3. ^ a b "Transportation". Archived from the original on 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
  4. ^ Steel Up at Visalia's Tallest Building Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Kaweah Delta’s Office Complex To Break Ground Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Downtown_Visalia&oldid=1268073468"