Get to know Hanford, CA

Hanford is the county seat of King County in the San Joaquin Valley.  The city was named for James Madison Hanford, a Southern Pacific Railroad executive.  Railroad tracks were lack in the area in 1877, and a town quickly grew around the line.  After several devastating fires, the town incorporated as a city in 1891 to gain fire protection.  That same year flour miller H.G. Lacey built an electrical generating plant, bringing electric lights to the city.  The Lacey Milling Company is still in existence today.  It had been a popular site for saloons until an anti-saloon movement took over in 1912.  Today it is an important commercial and cultural center.  The economy is based on services, government, and farming, with some manufacturing contributing as well.  Popular attractions include the Kings District Fair, The Bastille, and the Hanford Carnegie Museum.

Quick Facts

Population: 54,790

Median Household Income: $53,986

Median Property Value: $174,600