Set about 20 miles south of Red Bluff, Corning exudes an unhurried lifestyle within a rural atmosphere. “It’s mostly country and orchards here,” says veteran Harry Finefrock, Realtor with Moller Realty Group, who's been selling for 25 years. “And when I first came here there wasn’t a stop light on Main Street, but now there are three.” Incorporated in 1907, Corning is known as the Olive Capital of the World. During the late 19th century, area farmers discovered olive trees were more resistant to pests than fruit trees, which helped sustain an industry. Today, the city of 8,000 is home to Bell-Carter Foods, Inc., the largest table olive processor in the United States.
A woman walks to work along the rows of olive trees in Corning.
Main Street hosts a variety of restaurants and shops for locals to walk and enjoy.
Corning is known as the Olive Capital of the World.
Corning is home to Bell-Carter Foods, one of the larges processors of olives in the world.
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Median home sale prices lower than national average
The median sale price for single-family homes here is $310,000, much lower than state and national medians. Corning’s residential streets are laid out in a grid pattern, featuring ranch-style and new traditional Craftsman-style homes. Built during the 1950s to early 2000s, these dwellings typically have three bedrooms and range from around $250,000 to $430,000, depending on lot size. Custom homes with more acreage rest outside the city limits, costing over $500,000. Vacant lots of up to 5 acres in less populated areas of the city range from about $390,000 to $575,000.
A Craftsman-style home sits comfortably on corner lot along peaceful streets of Corning.
Grid patterned streets make navigating neighborhoods in Corning a breeze.
A small Craftsman-style home sits on generous lot with lush green grass in Corning.
A ranch style home with mountain views has acreage near the Corning city limits.
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Parks for recreation and entertainment
Recreation gravitates toward city parks, which offer play structures, courts for organized sports and gathering spaces. Parks are also designated for community events. Youth sports leagues and clubs operate through the Parks and Recreation Department, and the city’s museum exhibits artifacts representing the area’s cultural heritage. The city hosts a number of events and parades throughout the year, including the annual Olive Festival. Also, about 5 miles east of town stands the 15-foot-tall Giant Green Olive, paying further homage to the olive city. “We also have one of the most successful Indian casinos in the state,” says Finefrock. “It’s on private land, but it’s always full of people and has great restaurants and a brewery.”
Woodson Park in Corning gives locals a beautiful and quiet place to meet up for activities.
A skateboarder manuals around an angled concrete ledge at Corning Skate Park.
Rolling Hills Casino welcomes residents of Corning to make the three mile drive for a night of fun.
Take a break from playing slots and grab a bite to eat at vibrantly decorated Rock & Brews, inside the Rolling Hills Casino near Corning.
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Variety of cuisine and one shopping center
Finefrock says Corning’s significant Hispanic population adds to the culture, foods and social atmosphere. Other types of cuisine include Italian and American eateries along Solano Street, which stretches through the center of town. Asian cuisine and a few locally owned cafes are found here as well. Specialty stores, grocers and a shopping center with chain retail stores border restaurants along the same strip.
Grab some authentic Mexican food while in Corning at Los Costenos.
Keep an eye out for food trucks while shopping along Solono Street in Corning.
Locally owned cafes and businesses like the Olive Pit make eating and shopping in Corning a one of a kind experience.
Corning locals pick up groceries at the conveniently located Safeway.
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Interstate and highway access and local bus routes
Interstate 5 runs along the western edge of Corning and leads about 20 miles north to Red Bluff and 114 miles south to Sacramento. An alternative route to both destinations is State Highway 99W. Tehama Rural Area eXpress (TRAX) bus services are offered here, with stops at the Transportation Center and near I-5. Clinics and physicians’ offices line Solano Street, but the nearest hospital is in Red Bluff. “Really, the only traffic we have comes early in the morning getting kids to school and then in the afternoon when they come home,” says Finefrock, “and I-5 stays pretty busy.” Corning has a one-runway airport, but there’s a domestic airport in Red Bluff and a regional airport in Chico roughly 27 miles southeast.
Digital tools and scholarships at Corning Unified District schools
Corning Union Elementary School District, which earns a C-minus from Niche, serves nearly 2,000 students. The Corning Union High School District earns a B from Niche and serves roughly 1,140 students. Corning also has an adult school with English learning and Career Technical skills programs.
The Corning Union Elementary School District office is across the street from West Street Elementary campus.
Kids run and play on the West Street Elementary School field.
Corning Union High School scores a B from Niche.
Teens prepare for college at Corning Union High School.
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Decreasing crime rates,
According to FBI statistics, Corning’s violent and property crime rates have been higher than the state and national figures over the last five years. Both rates are decreasing. There’s a minor risk of flooding near the Sacramento River, which flows a few miles east of town.
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