Downtown Visalia

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

Downtown Visalia is the central business district of Visalia, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The area features an array of public art and unique shopping opportunities. Downtown is the hub for the city's growing 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

Early years

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.