Central California can have widely varying definitions depending on the context. Some divide the state by lines of latitude making northern, central and southern sections. Others divide by county lines or watershed boundaries. Some definitions include more of the San Joaquin Valley and even larger portions of the Central Valley. Some have less or none of Central Coast.
Countiesedit
The rough definition of Central California includes some or all of the following 15 counties:
Oakhurst Community College Center in Oakhurst, Madera County[5]
There are no community colleges in Mariposa or San Benito Counties.
Transportedit
Major highwaysedit
Most of the major highways in the region run north-south around the mountains. Interstate 5 and State Route 99 are the primary highways in the San Joaquin Valley. US 101 and State Route 1 are the major coastal highways.
The California High-Speed Rail system is under construction between Merced and Bakersfield. In Central California, the system will have stations in Merced, Madera, Fresno, and the Kings–Tulare area. Planning is underway to extend the initial line to San Francisco/San Jose and Los Angeles.
Variations on significant/influential definitions of the term central California are collected in this section.
The following counties are self-described as being in central California or central within California:
Fresno County
Fresno County's intro paragraph on its web site says it is in central California.[6]
Madera County
Madera County describes itself as located "in the exact center of California."[7]
Madera County Economic Development Commission describes the county as "located in the geographical center of California".[8]
Tulare County
Tulare County describes itself as "centrally located within the State of California".[9]
The following are definitions by influential organizations:
The National Register of Historic Places splits California three ways with lines across the map, with central California being approximately above Los Angeles County and below Santa Clara and Merced Counties.[10]
^"Drought.gov". Retrieved November 20, 2021.[title missing]
^Boxall, Bettina; St. John, Paige (November 10, 2018). "California's most destructive wildfire should not have come as a surprise". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^"Advancing Drought Science and Preparedness across the Nation". National Integrated Drought Information System. Archived from the original on November 11, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^"College Listings". California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
^"Oakhurst Community College Center". Oakhurst Community College Center. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
^"About the County". Fresno County, California. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
^"Madera County Statistical Information". Madera County, California. Archived from the original on January 16, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
^"Madera County Economic Development Commission". Madera County Economic Development Commission. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
^"About Tulare County". Tulare County, California. Archived from the original on January 10, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
Metcalf, Gabriel; Terplan, Egon (November 12, 2007). "The Northern California Megaregion". Urbanist (466). San Francisco Planning & Urban Research. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
External linksedit
California portal
Central Valley Tourism Association
CA Central Valley & Foothills, project area of the American Land Conservancy