Porterville, California, is a small city situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It has a rich history and many cultural sites that are worth exploring. Through its long-standing presence in this region, Porterville is a place where people can come to connect with nature and discover their own identity.
The first settlers to arrive in what was then known as “Goulds Corral” were ranchers who built homesteads along the Tule River. In 1868, James B. Porter purchased part of the ranch from William Larkin Gould, giving birth to the town of Porterville. After construction began on a dam across Tule River for flood control purposes, agriculture blossomed and industry followed suit. Today, Porterville remains an agricultural hub but also boasts significant manufacturing capabilities such as those provided by nearby Castle & Cooke Foods Inc., which produces canned fruits and vegetables within its facility located here.
Porterville offers numerous historic sites including Courthouse Park Museum which houses artifacts from pre-Gold Rush days; Historic Union Cemetery featuring graves dating back to 1889; Sequoia State Forest offering outdoor recreation opportunities like camping or hiking through ancient redwood trees; Mooney Grove Park home to summer festivals and concerts; plus several other parks such as Rotary Hummingbird Plaza displaying sculptures made by local artists.