Fresno is a city located in Fresno County California. Fresno has a 2024 population of 546,718. It is also the county seat of Fresno County. Fresno is currently growing at a rate of 0.18% annually and its population has increased by 0.74% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 542,710 in 2020.
The average household income in Fresno is $85,872 with a poverty rate of 22.09%. The median age in Fresno is 32.1 years: 31.3 years for males, and 32.8 years for females.
Fresno is about 200 miles north of Los Angeles and 170 miles south of Sacramento. The greater Metropolitan Fresno area has a population estimated at 1.1 million. There are several well-known neighborhoods in Fresno, including Tower District, which is the city's hub for community events and the center of the city's LGBT and Hipster communities, and the West Side, which is culturally diverse and the center of Fresno's African American community with large Asian-American and Mexican-American populations.
Fresno has one of the largest urban populations in the United States. Fresno has a long history of Armenian immigrants as well. The first Armenians to move to the region were brothers Garabed and Hagop Seropian in 1881, with the Armenian population reaching 360 in Fresno by 1894. This number continued to grow with early immigrants heavily involved in agriculture and farming. By 1930, Armenians owned about 40% of the raisin acreage in the county. Many Anglicized their names due to widespread bigotry, and fear of immigrant land ownership caused the passage of laws to restrict their right to buy land. Today, there are about 40,000 Armenians in Fresno.
Between July 2012 and July 2013, Fresno County's population grew just over 1%, which is the county's highest growth rate in three years. Fresno is growing faster than the state of California as a whole, and quicker than other counties. The growth in the area is attributed to a growing Hispanic population, which makes up the first-time majority in Fresno. Between 2000 and 2010, the city of Fresno grew a whopping 41% as more Californians move inland to get away from the high cost of living on the coast.
The San Joaquin Valley area was first inhabited by the Yokuts people who traded with other tribes of Native Americans in the state. The County of Fresno was created after the California Gold Rush in 1856, and it was named for the ash trees along the river (Fresno is Spanish for ash tree). Within a few years, several settlements were established for settlers and traders.
The Central Pacific Railroad established a station close to Easterby's (a large wheat farm) in 1872 for the new Southern Pacific line. A store followed, and the town of Fresno Station -- later Fresno -- was formed. Many residents from nearby settlements moved to the new community, and Fresno was incorporated in 1885.
Before World War II, there were many ethnic neighborhoods in the city, such as Little Italy, Little Armenia, and German Town. The population in 1940 was 94% white, 2.7% Asian and 3.3% black.
During the second half of the 20th century, Fresno's population boomed, becoming one of the 100 largest cities in the country in 1960 with a population of 134,000. It hit 47th in 1990 and 37th place in 2000 with a population of 428,000.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Fresno was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 239,635 | 44.25% |
Two or more races | 100,193 | 18.5% |
Other race | 81,524 | 15.05% |
Asian | 76,413 | 14.11% |
Black or African American | 35,576 | 6.57% |
Native American | 7,193 | 1.33% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 994 | 0.18% |
White
Two or more races
Other race
Asian
Black or African American
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 177,757 | 2.99 | 48.1 | 51.9 |
Married | 71,596 | 3.81 | 64.3 | 35.7 |
Non Family | 59,628 | 1.32 | 37.7 | 62.3 |
Female | 31,723 | 3.95 | 32.6 | 67.4 |
Male | 14,810 | 3.71 | 44.9 | 55.1 |
3.67
Average Family Size
2.99
Average Household Size
48.1%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 33,758 | 10.14% |
Associates Degree | 31,151 | 9.35% |
Bachelors Degree | 54,685 | 16.42% |
Graduate Degree | 26,736 | 8.03% |
High School Graduate | 74,678 | 22.42% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 33,745 | 10.13% |
Some College | 78,295 | 23.51% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
Hispanic | 147,924 | 101,313 | 20,599 |
White | 105,314 | 98,735 | 38,606 |
2+ Races | 52,133 | 38,908 | 9,550 |
Other Race | 47,980 | 30,511 | 5,945 |
Asian | 47,730 | 37,202 | 15,212 |
Black | 21,768 | 19,406 | 4,095 |
Native American | 4,371 | 3,377 | 328 |
Islander | 563 | 477 | 92 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 93.75%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 36.66%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $59,533 | $67,718 | $55,036 |
Graduate Degree | $85,438 | $97,917 | $80,179 |
High School Graduate | $34,232 | $38,169 | $28,540 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $26,716 | $30,125 | $20,081 |
Overall | $40,964 | $45,390 | $36,827 |
Some College | $41,190 | $47,911 | $35,088 |
$40,964
Average Earnings
$45,390
Average Male
$36,827
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
56.79% of Fresno residents speak only English, while 43.21% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 29.75% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
Hispanic | 269,073 | 69,351 | 25.77% |
Multiple | 98,883 | 22,852 | 23.11% |
Other | 79,290 | 21,755 | 27.44% |
White | 134,430 | 18,814 | 14% |
Asian | 75,650 | 15,070 | 19.92% |
Black | 34,636 | 10,995 | 31.74% |
Native | 7,026 | 1,661 | 23.64% |
Islander | 964 | 341 | 35.37% |
22.09%
Overall Poverty Rate
20.56%
Male Poverty Rate
23.6%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Fresno is Islander, with 35.37% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Fresno is White, with 14% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 4.24%. Among those working part-time, it was 22.34%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 33.02%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 30.05% |
High School | 21.11% |
Some College | 14.42% |
Bachelors or Greater | 7.87% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 38.43% |
Male Unemployed | 33.54% |
Female Employed | 11.02% |
Male Employed | 8.26% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $71,430 | $96,173 |
Households | $63,001 | $85,872 |
Married Families | $92,651 | $120,941 |
Non Families | $38,314 | $57,427 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
39.7%
Overall Marriage Rate
41.2%
Male Marriage Rate
38.2%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
18,399
Number of Veterans
16,937
Male Veterans
1,462
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 6,086 |
Second Gulf War | 4,424 |
First Gulf War | 3,433 |
Korea | 1,132 |
World War II | 622 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
75+ | 4,448 |
65 to 74 | 4,304 |
35 to 54 | 4,109 |
55 to 64 | 3,441 |
18 to 34 | 2,097 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 11,950 | 6.56% |
Hispanic | 5,255 | 2.89% |
2+ Races | 1,717 | 2.73% |
Black | 1,703 | 6.61% |
Other Race | 1,448 | 2.48% |
Asian | 1,164 | 2.12% |
Native American | 389 | 7.35% |
Islander | 28 | 4.08% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
12.62%
Veteran Poverty Rate
38.02%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
62.2%
Labor Force Participation
56.4%
Employment Rate
9%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
70.45%
Born in Fresno
81.04%
Native Born
18.96%
Foreign Born
8.92%
Non Citizen
10.05%
Naturalized
81.04% of Fresno residents were born in the United States, with 70.45% having been born in California. 8.92% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 551,728 | 1,002 | 0.18% |
2028 | 550,726 | 1,002 | 0.18% |
2027 | 549,724 | 1,002 | 0.18% |
2026 | 548,722 | 1,002 | 0.18% |
2025 | 547,720 | 1,002 | 0.18% |
2024 | 546,718 | 1,002 | 0.18% |
2023 | 545,716 | 463 | 0.08% |
2022 | 545,253 | 1,078 | 0.2% |
2021 | 544,175 | 1,465 | 0.27% |
2020 | 542,710 | 13,337 | 2.52% |
2019 | 529,373 | 2,752 | 0.52% |
2018 | 526,621 | 2,683 | 0.51% |
2017 | 523,938 | 3,633 | 0.7% |
2016 | 520,305 | 2,897 | 0.56% |
2015 | 517,408 | 3,356 | 0.65% |
2014 | 514,052 | 5,059 | 0.99% |
2013 | 508,993 | 3,439 | 0.68% |
2012 | 505,554 | 3,931 | 0.78% |
2011 | 501,623 | 3,860 | 0.78% |
2010 | 497,763 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 427,652 | 73,450 | 20.74% |
1990 | 354,202 | 136,711 | 62.86% |
1980 | 217,491 | 51,836 | 31.29% |
1970 | 165,655 | 31,726 | 23.69% |
1960 | 133,929 | 42,260 | 46.1% |
1950 | 91,669 | 30,984 | 51.06% |
1940 | 60,685 | 8,172 | 15.56% |
1930 | 52,513 | 7,427 | 16.47% |
1920 | 45,086 | 20,194 | 81.13% |
1910 | 24,892 | 12,422 | 99.62% |
1900 | 12,470 | 1,652 | 15.27% |
1890 | 10,818 | 9,706 | 872.84% |
1880 | 1,112 | -550,616 | -99.8% |