Kerman in Fresno County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Kerman

Photographed by Lester J Letson, circa Sept 2003

1. Kerman Marker

Originally named Collis prior to 1890, renamed Kerman in 1906

Inscription. Originally, in the late 1800's Kerman was called "Collis" in honor of the Southern Pacific Railroad President at the time, Collis P. Huntington. The Southern Pacific Railroad line was built through Kerman in 1891. The name was changed to Kerman in 1906 when two Los Angels Capitalists, William G. Kerckhoff and Jacob Mansar, purchased a large tract of land from the insolvent Bank of California. With a water supply and electrical power being brought to the area the town quickly grew. The city of Kerman was incorporated in 1946.

Erected 2003 by Jim Savage Chapter 1852, E Clampus Vitus. (Marker Number 42.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus, and the Southern Pacific Railroad series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.

Location. 36° 43.233′ N, 120° 3.62′ W. Marker is in Kerman, California, in Fresno County. It is at the intersection of South Madera Avenue (State Highway 145) and West California Avenue, in the median on South Madera Avenue. Marker is located at the end of Plaza Park, a park in the median of Madera Avenue (State Highway 145). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 South Madera Avenue, Kerman CA 93630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 6 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sycamore Point (approx. 6.9 miles away); John Charles Fremont (approx. 7.8 miles away); Site of Fresno City (approx. 8.4 miles away); Forestiere Underground Gardens (approx. 11.6 miles away); Borden Chinese Cemetery (approx. 14.1 miles away); a different marker also named Borden Chinese Cemetery (approx. 14.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kerman.

Other markers no longer nearby. Sycamore Point (was approx. 7 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Sierra Sky Park (was approx. 13.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Regarding Kerman. The story is that Kerchoff and Mansar combined their names to form the name Ker-Man for the city name. Additional research shows that Mansar may have been ethnically Persian. There is a much older town of Kerman in the country of Iran.

Kerman Marker with dignitaries image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lester J Letson, Sept 2003

2. Kerman Marker with dignitaries

Marker at the end of Plaza Park with members of E Clampus Vitus, the Mayor of Kerman, and the President of the Fresno County Historical Society during the dedication of the monument.

Kerman's Plaza Veterans Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lester J Letson, August 29, 2010

3. Kerman's Plaza Veterans Park

Photographed by Lester J Letson, August 29, 2010

4. Kerman's Plaza Veterans Park

Picture of Kerman's Plaza Veterans Park taken from the marker

Historic Kerman mural by Claudia Fisher image. Click for full size.

circa 2008

5. Historic Kerman mural by Claudia Fisher

Sycamore Point just outside of Kerman is identified as the end of riverboat navigation on the San Joaquin River. Riverboats traveled from the ocean all the way to Sycamore Point at Skaggs Bridge from around 1852 until November of 1911. The streetsigns of Kerman include a steamboat on them to commemorate this era.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. This page has been viewed 2,493 times since then and 95 times this year. Last updated on July 28, 2023, by Ronald D. (Ron) Trigueiro of Fresno, California. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 20, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 3, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.