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Hanford is a city of about 58,000 people in Kings County, in California's Central Valley between Fresno and Bakersfield. It was founded in 1877 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and named after the railroad's paymaster, James Madison Hanford, and grew as a farming center surrounded by orchards, dairies and cotton fields.
Hanford's historic downtown is one of the best preserved in the valley. The 1896 Kings County Courthouse, now home to shops and restaurants, stands in Civic Center Park beside the old jail, and the grand Neoclassical Hanford Civic Auditorium and the Fox Theatre, a 1929 atmospheric movie palace, host concerts and events.
The city also has a rich Chinese American history. China Alley preserves buildings from the town's 1880s Chinatown, including the Taoist Temple museum, and is listed among the most endangered historic places in America. Hanford is a gateway to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, about 90 minutes east.
The 1896 Romanesque Revival courthouse at the center of Hanford's Civic Park, with a red brick and stone facade and a tall clock tower. It no longer serves as a court and now holds offices, shops and event spaces. Walk around it to admire the details, then explore the surrounding historic downtown.
A Mission Revival style auditorium built in 1924 on the edge of Civic Park, with arched windows and a tiled roof, used for dances, performances and community gatherings. It is part of the historic civic center district. View it from the park, and check for events if you wish to see the hall inside.
A small castle-like former county jail from 1898 next to Civic Park, built of brick with turrets and battlements, and later converted into restaurant and event space. It is one of the most photographed buildings in town. See it during a walk around the square, and check whether a restaurant is open inside.
The leafy park at the heart of downtown Hanford, around the old courthouse, with lawns, mature trees, a bandstand, a veterans memorial and a fountain. It hosts concerts, holiday events and the Thursday evening market in warmer months. Benches and shade make it a pleasant spot for a break.
A large city park in north Hanford with lawns, a lake, walking paths, playgrounds, sports fields and picnic areas, popular for family gatherings and fishing. It is one of the greener spots in town during the hot summer. Free parking is available, and early morning or evening visits are best in summer heat.
A 1929 atmospheric movie palace with a Spanish-style interior and a ceiling made to look like a night sky, restored and now used as a concert venue for touring musicians, comedy shows and community events. Its neon marquee lights up Irwin Street. Check the event calendar and buy tickets ahead.
A historic lane that was the center of Hanford's Chinese community from the late 1800s, with old brick buildings such as the Taoist Temple and former herb shops and restaurants. It was named one of America's most endangered historic places. Guided tours run on certain days; check ahead with the preservation group.
An 1893 temple building in China Alley, one of the oldest of its kind in California, with an upstairs shrine and a ground floor that served as a school and boarding house for Chinese workers. Tours show original altars, furniture and artifacts. It is open by appointment and on special event days.
A local history museum in the 1905 Carnegie library building near Civic Park, with exhibits on Kings County farming, early settlers, the railroad and everyday life in the San Joaquin Valley. The building itself, with its dome and columns, is worth a look. It keeps limited hours; admission is modest.
An old-fashioned ice cream parlor in downtown Hanford, open since the 1920s and famous for its huge sundaes, shakes and homemade ice cream, served in pink booths. Portions are very large, so consider sharing. Lines form on summer evenings, and it is a classic stop for visitors to the Central Valley.
A well preserved historic downtown around Civic Park with early 1900s buildings, antique shops, local restaurants, cafes and the Fox Theatre. It hosts a popular Thursday night market and holiday parades. It is compact and easy to explore on foot, with free street parking around the square.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
Photo: Armona at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: David Prasad from Fresno, CA., United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Armona at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: David Prasad from Fresno, CA., United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Prasad from Fresno, CA., United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Armona at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Armona (talk) (Uploads), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Julie Jordan Scott from Bakersfield, California, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Prasad from Fresno, CA., United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Episcopal Church Of The Saviour, Hanford Ca, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: David Prasad from Fresno, CA., United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Julie Jordan Scott from Bakersfield, California, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Prasad from Fresno, CA., United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: R&sbwn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: David Prasad from Fresno, CA., United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Prasad from Fresno, CA., United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
