The City of Visalia, a steadily growing community with a population of slightly over 126,000, is located in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley, with the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the east and the Coastal Mountains on the west. Visalia serves as the County seat and is the principal trading center for Tulare County, which consistently ranks as one of the four most productive counties in the United States in terms of agricultural output. Visalia has enjoyed steady and consistent growth in population. In 1960, the City’s population was 15,791. The City’s general plan projects the City population within the urban boundary will be 165,000 by the year 2020. The City of Visalia was founded in 1852, incorporated in 1874 and became a charter city in 1923. Visalia, a full service city, operates under a Council-Manager form of government with a five-member City Council. Council members are elected at-large to four-year overlapping terms and the Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor for a two year term. The Council appoints a City Manager who serves at the pleasure of the Council.
