Central Valley Roots
KVPR's Central Valley Roots explores the history, people and places of Central California. Discover something new about our region, past and present, with each episode. From Fresno and Bakersfield, to Visalia and Merced, the Central Valley is full of rich stories that make the place we call home special. Send us your question about local history or places to roots@kvpr.org and we might answer it in a future episode. Hear the series on the radio weekdays at 5:06 AM and 9:04 AM or listen to our podcast.
Latest Episodes
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The river we know today as the San Joaquin has had many names over the years. -
Highway 99 passes through most of the Central Valley's major cities, while Interstate 5 bypasses them. Why is that? -
In the 1890's sugar magnate Claus Spreckels funded a railroad from Stockton to Bakersfield that broke the Southern Pacific's transportation monopoly in the region. -
The town along Highway 152 is named for natural pools along Los Banos Creek near Pacheco Pass. -
By making ranchers responsible for damage to crops from livestock, the "No Fence Law" helped grow the valley's farms. -
Around thirty miles from today's City of Fresno, nothing remains from this early settlement, known as "Fresno City." -
Today's Bravo Lake is a reservoir, but it began as a natural lake, likely fed by floodwaters on the St. John's River in Tulare County. -
The tree that gives the town its name has been a landmark and meeting place for over 250 years. -
Scandal ended his career in Congress, but his legacy is still felt today in federal civil rights law. -
Muir called the region "the floweriest piece of world" during his visit in 1868.
