San Joaquin - agricultural town with almond farms on the Fresno outskirts
San Joaquin is a farming community in Fresno County, surrounded by plowed-dirt farms, which grow almonds and tomatoes. About 15 miles south of Kerman, with a population that is 95% Latino, its Main Street center has numerous Mexican restaurants and supermarkets in the deep country outskirts of Fresno. “A lot of people get lost in big cities, but San Joaquin is a small community,” says Corina Radilla, a property manager at Garden Valley Homes. “Everybody knows everybody. The people are friendly, and they support each other. It’s a very peaceful place to live.”
Mexican restaurants and supermarkets on Main Street
The modest Main Street center features markets and local establishments, like Maria's Mexican Restaurant, which serves breakfast dishes and traditional soups. Tacos Ayala is a well-established eatery that serves burritos in a casual bar. "Our most popular restaurant is Tacos Ayala," Radilla says. "It's been here for years, and I like their gorditas." One of the area's supermarkets is Los Amigos Family Food Center, which has fresh meat and produce. Food Land San Joaquin is another grocery store on Main Street.
Harvest events and festivals in nearby Kerman
Kerman is a larger town with additional shopping areas, restaurants and vibrant community events in Kerckhoff Park. The Kerman Almond Festival is on the first Saturday of May, with food vendors and a 5K run to celebrate the area’s agricultural roots. Locals can also attend the Kerman Harvest Festival is a four-day event in September with a parade, live music and carnival rides for the fall harvest.
Spanish-style homes on flat lawns with palm trees
Houses sit on flat lawns with towering palm trees, fenced-in backyards and DIY gardens. This community features Spanish Revival and ranch-style homes spanning 500 to 1,500 square feet. Lot sizes can reach a quarter-acre in San Joaquin, while the rural outskirts offer properties with hundreds of acres. Many houses are from the 1950s and 1990s, heavily influenced by Spanish-style architecture, with stucco exteriors and tile roofs. Prices range from $190,000 to $420,000. “Home prices are higher in Fresno and Kerman,” says Benita Urbieta, a Realtor with Vylla Home who has worked in the area for over 20 years. “People want to live in houses, so if they can find something more affordable in San Joaquin, they can stay there and work in agriculture.”
Like much of the Central Valley, Fresno County experiences poor air quality due to its topography, agriculture and nearby factories. It also has summer heat waves, with average temperatures nearing 100°F in July. While wildfires may affect the area, they are primarily a risk to local farms and land.
Local schools have dual enrollment and two-way immersion programs
San Joaquin Elementary School offers a K-8 curriculum with two-way immersion courses that encourage fluency in both English and Spanish. It earns a C-minus grade from Niche. Tranquility High School receives a C-plus and has a dual-enrollment program for students to earn college credit at West Hills Community College. It provides extracurricular activities such as cycling, barber shop and media production.
Sports fields and a skatepark nearby at Peter Rusconi Park
Recreation areas and green spaces are limited, and residents may need to travel for more parks. Peter Rusconi Park has a skatepark and picnic areas with a colorful mural. The San Joaquin Sports Park features soccer fields, a baseball diamond and a playground. Kerman has more green spaces, such as Lions Park, which has a basketball court and additional sports fields.
Taking SR-145 to Kerman and Fresno
The San Joaquin Transit system provides a reservation-based bus route to Kerman, which is roughly 15 miles north on state Route 145. Fresno is about 30 miles east of San Joaquin. The nearest emergency room is also in Fresno. The Fresno Yosemite International Airport is approximately 35 miles northeast, with direct passenger flights to cities in the U.S. and Mexico.
