Atwater, CA

Atwater is a small town located in the San Joaquin Valley, in eastern California. The population was just over 10,000 as of the 2010 census. The town is located about 20 miles east of Bakersfield and about 45 miles west of Fresno.

The Atwater area was first settled by the Yokuts people around 1000 AD. In 1852, gold was discovered in the nearby hills and Atwater quickly became a mining town. However, by the late 1800s most of the mines had closed and Atwater began to grow as a agricultural community. In 1906, the Southern Pacific Railroad built a line through Atwater and it soon became an important transportation hub for farmers in eastern California.

In 1940, Atwater became a city after voters approved incorporation by a margin of almost 2 to 1. The city's economy has been based largely on agriculture and manufacturing since its inception, but during the past few decades there has been significant growth in commercial and residential real estate development. Today, Atwater is considered one of the fastest-growing cities in California and has seen substantial growth both in its downtown area and throughout its neighborhoods.

The downtown area is currently experiencing rapid redevelopment with new businesses opening up all along Main Street (the main thoroughfare). This redevelopment has helped to revitalize the downtown area which now features several restaurants, shops, galleries and offices that cater to both locals and tourists who come to visit this historic town. There are also several new housing developments being built near downtown which are expected to bring much needed additional housing stock to Atwater as well as provide residents with convenient access to shopping, dining and entertainment options.

Outside of downtown, many neighborhoods have also experienced significant growth over recent years due to increasing demand for homes among families who are looking for affordable housing close to amenities such as schools, parks and recreational facilities. Many new homes have been developed near major roads such as Highway 99 (which runs through central Atwater) or Highway 58 (which runs through northern Atwater). These developments have helped make many neighborhoods more vibrant while also providing residents with plenty of space to enjoy their homes without having them encroached upon by large commercial developments or dense concentrations of population density.