Oh how I wish growing up in The Central Valley could be only just a smidgen similar to that of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. Their beauties do not compare. Although it is often displayed as a paradise, Hawaii's natural environment has a nasty side. There are volcanoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, cold frosts, gusty winds, intense rainfall, and occasionally waterspouts. The Central Valley does not experience such vast amounts of weather severity. The volcanic soils and mild climate of Hawaii supported a healthy harvest of tropical crops, especially sugar cane and pineapples. The Central Valley dominates the agricultural industry of the United States but it does not produce coffee. The Kona Coffee Belt is part of the United States; only coffee-producing region. Other tropical crops include macadamia nuts, papaya fruits, and lei flowers. The two regions have very few similarities. The Central Valley does not support a booming tourism economy like the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands. Because of it's isolation, the islands are forced to import most of their commodities. Most likely crops from California's Central Valley!
Most of the Pacific Northwest's economic history has been involved in reaping the land of it's resources like lumbering and fishing, but recently high technology and the tourism industry have become vastly more important. Both of which are opposite to the ideals of the Central Valley. The central valley reaps the bountiful harvests, then easily replaces it for next seasons picks. It is quite difficult to replace a tree after it has been cut down.
While the Central Valley is more focused on agriculture to boost it's economy, powerhouse industries such as Starbucks Coffee and Microsoft dominate these economic activities. Internationally know to be associated with Seattle, Amazon and Boeing proudly boast there home there in the state of Washington.
A study of 65 rural California towns indicates that labor-intensive agriculture contributes to poverty and welfare demands in rural communities by attracting large numbers of unskilled foreign workers and offering most of them poverty-level wages. In the 65 towns, 28% of the residents live in households with below-poverty incomes. Major policy choices for ameliorating this situation include modifying immigration and labor laws that affect farming to help farm workers earn higher wages. The Pacific Northwest's economic strength and diversity, high incomes, scenic amenities, and high quality of life differs from the life seen for many people in California's Central Valley and it has been one of the fastest growing regions of North America for the past 60 years.
The Central Valley is smack dab in the center of the namesake of this chapter, California. California can be split up into three large areas: mountains that parallel the coast, interior valleys, and higher mountain ranges in the east. California is famous for the Gold Rush in 1849, and the Central Valley hosts the town of Coarsegold. The place was first called Texas Flat after miners from Texas discovered gold there in 1849. The current name derives from the California Gold Rush of the mid-19th century, when prospectors discovered coarse lumps of gold in a nearby creek. At one time, several dozen gold mines operated in the area. The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, a federally recognized tribe, is headquartered in Coarsegold. In June 2000, the Picayune Rancheria Tribe of Chukchansi Indians announced plans of constructing a resort casino close to Yosemite National Park.The casino opened on June 25, 2003, while the resort opened on August 22, 2003.
The Central Valley's population demographic is very similar to that of MexAmerica. The agricultural industry offers bountiful amounts of jobs for laborers. Most of MexAmerica lacks natural resources that could support a bountiful agricultural industry. It also includes a great deal of dry, rugged terrain that is poorly suited for agriculture. Areas in this region are so dry they include deserts. Although the Central Valley is hot and dry they do not compare to these areas. The driest place in North America resides in MexAmerica. Death Valley, California experiences three inches of rainfall per year. "Other places such as the Mojave Desert in Southeastern California, the Sonoran Desert of southern and central Arizona, and the Chihuahuan Desert of Eastern Arizona and New Mexico are nearly as dry (Hardwick)." Latinos make up the largest “minority” population in the Central Valley, 36.19 percent of residents identified as Latino or “Latino and White.” Flash flooding is a major concern throughout the region of MexAmerica. While the Central Valley does not normally suffer from flash flooding, it was subject to disaster during The Great Flood of 1862 that effected Oregon, California and Nevada.
The Central Valley of California, although close in proximity to The Intermontane West, do not share many similarities. The Intermontane West hosts dramatic scenery, colorful history, and natural wonders. While most people think the majority of the Central Valley is somewhat of an eyesore.....and terribly smelly. The major difference between the Intermontane West and the Central Valley is the major economic activity of tourism. The Central Valley does not boast tourism like the latter. Northwestern Wyoming is home to Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park. Sun Valley, Idaho and Park City, Utah bring in thousands of winter sports enthusiasts to their world renowned ski resorts. Biggest of all, Nevada hosts the incredibly profitable cities of Reno and Las Vegas that boasts legal gambling, which got the state of Nevada out of crippling debt. In both the Intermontane West and California's Central Valley they share the precious resource of water from The Colorado River. Both constantly fight over this hot commodity for vital reasons. This river gives life to many, as drinking water and irrigation water. Settlement of Native Americans and First Nations was prevalent in The Intermontane West. Which is similar to The Central Valley.
There is not much to look at during your drives in the Central Valley.
The Rocky Mountain Region and California's Central Valley could not be more polar opposite. The topography is vastly different. The Rocky Mountains are characterized by it name: they have many "rocky mountains". While the Central Valley does as well, characterized by a long flat valley floor. The Rocky Mountain region's weather can turn ferocious and life-threatening in a moment's notice, and The Central Valley does not share that fact. This area often experiences snow, which makes it difficult to host bountiful harvests similar to the Central Valley. In fact, "much of the Rocky Mountain region is unsuitable for agriculture because most of it's terrain is rugged, steep, or arid. The Central Valley may see frost, but most of the time NEVER sees any snow. Even though the two places seems vastly different, they both hosted many tribes of Native Americans. "The northern Rockies in Alberta, British Columbia, and northern Idaho and Montana were home to such tribes as the Kalispel, Coeur d;Alene, Flathead, Nez Perce, Kootenai, and Black Feet (Hardwick)." All tribes were skilled hunters. The Rocky Mountain region and the Central Valley are both experiencing rapid population growth. Unfortunately, with that comes traffic congestion, environmental degradation and urban sprawl.
The Great Plains of America, consisting of 12 states and parts of three canadian provinces shares both similarities and differences with California's Central Valley. The Central Valley lives in a constant booming economy in the agricultural industry. While The Great Plains unfortunately must deal with a boom-bust economy that is unreliable for the economy. Similarly to The Dust Bowl of the 1930's in The Great Plains, California's Central Valley commonly suffers from droughts. Both natural causes and man made problems make it difficult for farmers to acquire all the water they may need to support their crops. Both the Central Valley and Great Plains once shared an abundant amount of bison in their grasslands. Sadly, in most places these populations have declined. "Biologists estimate that as many as 60 to 80 million bison inhabited The Great Plains before 1800, but during the 19th century they were nearly exterminated. Their hides were made into leather and their bones became fertilizer. Only about 100 remained alive by 1900, and all of these survivors lived in Yellowstone National Park." In The Central Valley the extinction of their entire megafauna has been due to their depletion of natural wetlands and grasslands and fire. "Early reports from explorers indicate that vast herds of grazing animals in the Central Valley rivaled the numbers of bison on the Great Plains(source here)." Many young people have been leaving The Great Plains, leaving the area to experience population loss in recent years. The opportunities in urban and suburban areas have been a pull factor for those leaving. Unlike The Great Plains, about 6.5 million people live in the Central Valley today, and it is the fastest growing region in California.
