"Miguel came from a small town in northern Mexico / He came north with his brother Louis to California three years ago / They crossed at the river levee, when Louis was just sixteen / And found work together in the fields of the San Joaquin" - (Bruce Springsteen, "Sinaloa Cowboys")
Residents of the San Joaquin Valley may often get written off as a bunch of po-dunk farmers and backwards rednecks, but theres more to Hanford than fields and migrants. For instance, Hanford heartily embraces its historic past and recognizes that residents want both modern options and old-fashioned culture. So, there are shopping malls aplenty, with all the latest Forever 21 fashions, as well as a historic downtown with old-timey stores and restaurants, like the Star Restaurant, which opened in 1901 for antiques sake. Theres even a Kings Symphony Orchestra and the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture for people to patronize during their downtime. No one can accuse Hanford of being one-dimensional now. Plus, all this is extra surprising because its not only a farming town, but its a military one too. If youre still on the fence, hop off. Wide-open spaces, big houses and inexpensive living like you wont find elsewhere in California are the final nails in the coffin. Pack your stuff; were headed to the San Joaquin Valley!
Theres no getting around it; Hanford is decidedly rural
