Fresno was founded in 1872 in the middle of the vast, fertile San Joaquin Valley and quickly became the financial and social center of California. From the infinite amount of agricultural products to lumber, oil, water, and electrical power, the city thrived upon the multitude of natural resources that were abundantly available in the area. As the county seat, it was the political and cultural center of central California. Shown in this volume are postcards of the city in its heyday.