West Hills Community College
Nestled
in Pleasant Valley, at the edge of California's
Coast Range Mountains, and surrounded by hills,
ranches, and some of America's most productive
agricultural land, Coalinga is ten miles west of
Interstate 5, and sixty miles southwest of Fresno
- California's sixth largest city.
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The
City of Coalinga was never meant to be a town, but
was the result of happy circumstances. Coal was
discovered in the late 1800's, and the area became
a loading point for immediate transportation of
the ore. At first mule trains hauled the coal to
the nearest rail point; but in 1887, Southern
Pacific Railroad constructed a narrow gauge track
from the mine to the main track. Three loading
sites were selected: Coalinga Stations A, B, and C.
When
oil was discovered, oil boomers flocked to
Coaling Station A, and its name was soon
condensed to Coalinga. Today, Coalinga stands as
a virtual pillar of California that has remained
prosperous throughout the 20th Century. With a
higher per capita income than the national
average, Coalinga continues to prosper, due in
part to its highly coveted location. Located in
the heart of California, Coalinga is found in
Pleasant Valley, adjacent to the San Joaquin
Valley and within minutes of the I-5 Freeway.
Its central location, halfway between Los
Angeles and San Francisco, makes Coalinga an
advantageous site for distribution centers and
businesses.
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