Northern California Living – “Clovis – a Way of Life”

Century 21 M&M and Associates‘ Clovis office is located at 275 N Clovis Avenue Ste 137. Servicing the area are some of  Clovis’ and Fresno’s finest Realtors®.  Century 21 M&M Clovis real estate agents are ready to help you with all of your real estate needs; buying a home, selling a home, commercial and agriculture. Call toll free at (800) 696-5305 to consult with a member of this award winning real estate team.

Historically, Clovis has always been a western style town. Located in Fresno County, just northeast of Fresno, this city has an estimated population of 97,218 and a long time slogan; “Clovis – a Way of Life”.

The City of Clovis started out as a freight train stop along the San Joaquin Valley Railroad. On July 4th, 1891, the SJVRR began construction on the railroad tracks from Fresno to the farmlands in the area that was to become the City of Clovis.

The railroad was completed as far as the town of Hamptonville (now Friant) on the banks of the San Joaquin River, just 26 miles from its point of origin in Fresno. A reported 3000 Fresno citizens attended a celebration that marked the completion of the RR tracklaying on the day before Thanksging in 1891. The railroad began official operations in January 1892.

The first year of operation of the railroad coincided with the beginnings of a deep national economic decline. The economy took a big hit when the farmers were unable to get profitable return on their crops. Banks and railroads failed nationwide. The SJVRR was unable to generate sufficient revenues to pay its debt, was leased to the Southern Pacific Railroad. Southern Pacific was able to turn a small profit by reducing the railroad’s schedule of operation and trimming costs during the first years after its acquisition.

The town of Clovis began to take shape in 1894 due to the presence of a local lumber mill and the employment it provided. Service businesses, churches and schools were established and the first post office opened in 1895. In 1896, the local newspaper described the town as having a population of close to 500 citizens.

Clovis was incorporated as a city in February 1912. Principal streets in the town center are still named for the railroad’s officers, except Fulton Street, which was later named Front Street, then Main Street, and is now Clovis Avenue.

The grounds once occupied by the lumber mill (which burnt down) are now occupied by Clark Intermediate School and the Clovis Rodeo Grounds.

Today, the Clovis Station, built by the raiload, is the last surviving structure in the Clovis area. This RR station is now located near the site of the original Clovis Station.

Clovis has a long history as a western-style town has long been known for it’s slogan “Clovis – a Way of Life”.  Since 1914, the Clovis Rodeo has been held on the last weekend in April, with a parade on Saturday morning, followed by the rodeo that afternoon and all day Sunday. Besides the Rodeo, there are a number of street festivals celebrated in Clovis; Big Hat Days, ClovisFest and the weekly Friday Night Farmers Market held from mid-May to mid-September every year.

In “Old Town Clovis”, older storefronts on Clovis Avenue that have been restored and newer buildings have been designed with facades that resemble the buildings found in Clovis in the early 20th century.

The top 10 employers in Clovis are; Clovis Unified School District, Pelco, Clovis Community Medical Center, City of Clovis, Target, Alorica, Walmart, AT&T Inc, Save Mart and Costco

Clovis, like much of Central California has year-round pleasant weather:

• On average, the warmest month is July.
• The highest recorded temperature was 115°F in 1905.
• On average, the coolest month is December.
• The lowest recorded temperature was 17°F in 1913.
• The maximum average precipitation occurs in March.