Downtown Land-Use Change: A Historical Geography of Fresno, California's Central Business District, 1860–2010.

Fresno, California, has dramatically changed from a small agricultural community in the early 1800s to a sprawling metropolitan area 200 years later. While the city continues to expand, its downtown has suffered. Urban sprawl has caused residents and businesses to locate farther away, while the downtown struggles to survive with limited functions and a poverty stricken population. By investigating primary sources, this paper documents the history of Fresno's downtown, from its humble beginnings and prosperous expansion to its present-day revitalization efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]