The Raisin Capital of the World, Fresno serves as the economic hub of California’s Central Valley. The following information may be useful, if you plan on relocating to Fresno.

Fresno is the sixth-largest city in California. The county seat of Fresno County has been one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. An estimated 471,479 lived in the city in 2005 census estimates. Compared with the census of 1980, the population has more than doubled. Over one million people reside in the Fresno metropolitan area. The city’s diverse citizenry is comprised of more than 70 nationalities and hosts the largest refugee population in the U.S. The Hispanic race is predominant at nearly 40% of the population. White non-Hispanic accounts for 37.3%, 11.2% are Asian and 8.4% are Black. Foreign born population accounts for over 20% of residents. The crime rate was high in 2005, over 220 points above the national average. Especially high is the number of registered sex offenders living in Fresno at one in every 419 residents.

Consider low income and high poverty rates if you are relocating to Fresno. The average household earnings is below the California average and unemployment tends to be high. According to the 2000 census, the yearly average household income for Fresno residents was $32,236. Per capita income was well below the national average at $15,010 annually. Poverty has also been a problem. The city has the highest percentage of those living below the federal poverty level in concentrated areas. Over 26% of the population were below the poverty line in 2000. On the upside, the cost of living is reasonable and homes are affordable. Median house value for 2000 was $97,300. Asking prices were starting out much lower at $76,100. Even more affordable is the average monthly rent. Advertised for-rent units were going for $404, median gross rent was $538 per month.

If you can’t make good wine, make raisins. That’s how Fresno made the most of an economic opportunity. Once a barren community, irrigation led to grape-growing in the valley by 1885. Many immigrants relocated to Fresno to own and operate vineyards. But the wine proved less than satisfactory, so the sunny valley was used to turn those grapes into raisins. So it’s no wonder that agriculture is the backbone of Fresno, making up 20 percent of the workforce. Fresno County is the number one agricultural county in the U.S. Grapes, cotton, cattle, tomatoes, milk, oranges, peaches and nectarines are just a few of the most important commodities. Food processing is also key. Fresno’s locale is ideal for manufacturing and distribution centers, within one day's drive of 35 million people. Among the most notable companies located in the city are Sun-Maid and Kraft Foods.

If you plan on relocating to Fresno, count on plenty of sunshine with over 200 clear days each year. In the heart of California, Fresno’s terrain is flat for the most part before reaching the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Temperatures can fluctuate greatly. Summers tend to be hot and dry with an average temperature of 94.1 in August. Winters are likely to be mild and rainy with an average 39.6 degrees in January. Spring and fall are the most favorable of seasons in Fresno. Be fore warned, it doesn’t rain much with precipitation averages of 10 inches a year.

Fresno is also the gateway to some well-known national parks offering visitors views of canyons, waterfalls, and the oldest forests and giant sequoia trees. Visitors coming from Los Angeles can access the Yosemite National Park, just an hour’s drive away. The city serves as entrance to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The Sierra Nevada Mountains also offer a popular attraction. Add Death Valley National Park to the mix and you’ll find everything from flat, scorching deserts to high mountains with streams and everything in between. Some of California's finest trout and largemouth bass fishing are found in the area. It’s also a great place for rafting, camping, hiking and skiing.

Yosemite International Airport is the city’s largest airport. Over 1.2 million passengers annually board domestic and international flights. Amtrak provides rail service with the renovation of the historic Santa Fe Railroad Depot located downtown. There are plans to increase rail service to relocate 68 million passengers annually by 2020. The city is home to California State University-Fresno with its full-time enrollment of 16,035 students.

Lou Ross is with MovingCompaniesforYou.com - a directory of moving companies along with helpful advice on moving issues.