Manhole Covers of Selma, California

Created 8 July 2006

This page was last updated on 23 November 2008
All photos copyrighted by David L. Magney 2006

This is a study of manhole covers from Selma, Fresno County, California.

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Manhole Covers of Selma, Fresno County, California

Selma is a small rural farming community in the San Joaquin Valley, in Fresno County south of Fresno, at an average elevation of 308 feet above sea level. Selma was a railroad stop/farm town, named by a couple of Mexican prospectors working the area. Selma was founded in 1880 along the Southern Pacific Railroad line, , serving as a rail station for agricultural goods to be shipped north. Selma was incorporated on 15 March 1893. The police station was originally the railroad station. Selma currently has a population of about 19,444 people (2000). Selma citizens are composed of 43.9% Caucasians, 71.8% Hispanics, 3.2% Asians, and 1.6% Native American. The median household income for Selma residents is $34,713 and the per capita income is $12,834.

Two highways pass through Selma, U.S. Highway 99 and State Route 43. The average commute time for working Selma residents is 25 minutes, indicating that a large percentage works out of town. Centerville and Kingburg Canal (Creek) a distributary of the Kings River, passes through town. This is the first place I had a root beer freeze; refreshing on a hot summer day!

Selma's first crop consisted primarily of wheat, which was displaced by orchards and vineyards (for raisins and table grapes), and later fruits (peaches and plums). Raisins soon became the major crop, for which Selma claims to be the world capital for, the same claim made by neighboring Fresno. In 1963, 90% of the U.S. raisins were produced within 8 miles of Selma, hence Selma's claim. Will the real raisin capital please stand up? Selma used to call itself the "Home of the Peach" and as "A Peach of a City". Additional information about Selma can be found at Selma Info and at the Official Selma site.

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