Visalia is an agriculturally dependent city spanning 28.6 square miles. San Francisco is 230 miles northwest from the city and Los Angeles is 190 square miles south. The city, with a population of 125,921, is currently the 46th largest city within California and the 204th biggest in the United State. It was ranked the 3rd fastest growing city in California and the 19th fastest growing city within the US in the year 2007. The city is located within the center of the San Joaquin Valley in Central California. Residents proudly refer to themselves as "Visalians." Visalia is nicknamed the "Jewel of the Valley" and is considered to be the Gateway to the Sequoias.
The town of Visalia was established during 1852, and is considered to be the very first permanent inland settlement between Stockton and Los Angeles in the Sequoia Valley. Located a few miles away is the tallest mountain range within the US, the Sierra Nevada. Visalia is also the closest city to the Sequoia National park. Giant Sequoia trees, among the biggest living things on earth, can be found here.
The financial system in Visalia mainly consists of agriculture, in particular: olives, grapes, cotton, citrus, and nursery products. What's more, driving the financial system are the distribution, manufacturing and livestock facilities (mostly electronic and paper products). The fastest growing employer base is in the light manufacturing and industrial/commercial distribution sectors.
According to the 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top ten of the employers of the city comprise County of Tulare, Cigna, City of Visalia, College of the Sequoias, International Paper, Jo-Ann Stores, Visalia Medical Clinic and Kaweah Delta Medical Center.
There is one drawback to living in Visalia is that it is in close nearness to the Pacific Ring of Fire. There are approximately 10,000 earthquakes that hit the Pacific Ring of Fire every year. There have been no major earthquakes that have ever hit the city, though it does feel some of the aftershocks. Luckily, the majority are too low of an intensity to be felt. Nearly all areas in the San Joaquin Valley are at risk to blind thrust earthquakes. Some parts of the city are vulnerable to floods.