Yettem in Tulare County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Yettem
ԵԴԵՄ - Garden of Eden
Photographed by Dr Samuel Gregg George Chapter 1855 of E Clampus Vitus
1. Yettem Marker
Founded in the early 1900, by Armenian immigrants seeking new beginnings, Yettem became one of California's earliest Armenian settlements drawn to the fertile soil and a landscape reminiscent of their homeland. These families established a close-knit farming community rooted in faith, resilience, and shared heritage.
In 1905, the United States Post Office established the Yettem post office - the first and only Armenian named post office in the United States - taking its name from the Armenian word for "eden." This marked the first official use of the community's name.
By 1910, the Santa Fe Railway renamed the nearby Lovell Station to Yettem, recognizing the growing Armenian presence in the Churchill District.
In 1921, a new schoolhouse was built on the old Churchill school grounds and renamed Yettem School, further solidifying the community's identity. This monument honors the Armenian pioneers who transformed this land into a place of hope, culture, and enduring community.
Dedicated April 25, 2026
Erected by Dr Samuel Gregg George Chapter 1855 of E Clampus Vitus.
Topics and series. This historical
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Location. 36° 29.173′ N, 119° 15.092′ W. Marker is in Yettem, California, in Tulare County. It is on Avenue 384, on the right when traveling east. Monument is located on the west side entrance of the St Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church. It is in the parking lot area next to the big Cross. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14395 Avenue 384, Yettem CA 93670, 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Alta Irrigation District (approx. 8.7 miles away); Tulare County Election Tree (approx. 9.8 miles away); Woodlake (approx. 10 miles away); Venice School (approx. 10.1 miles away); Camp Babbitt (approx. 10.6 miles away); The Old Tulare County Jail (approx. 10.9 miles away); Visalia Southern Pacific Depot (approx. 10.9 miles away); The Hanging of J.G. McCrory (approx. 10.9 miles away).
Also see . . . St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church and the Yettem Community: A Comprehensive Historical Study. (Submitted on April 27, 2026, by Frank Gunshow Sanchez of Hollister, California.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2026, by Frank Gunshow Sanchez of Hollister, California. This page has been viewed 40 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on April 26, 2026, by Frank Gunshow Sanchez of Hollister, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
