Lemoore, CA

Lemoore is a city located in the Central Valley of California. The population was 107,723 at the 2010 census. Lemoore is the county seat of Kings County and has been since 1852. The city's name is derived from the Mohave word lem-o-ore, meaning "place of rocks."

The first Europeans to visit what would become Lemoore were members of the 1772 Dominguez-Escalante Expedition, who named a creek they crossed "Rio de los Osos". In 1846, Jedediah Smith passed through on his way to find an overland route to the Pacific Ocean. He noted that there were "many fine houses" in present-day Lemoore and called it "the most thriving town I have seen on my journey." In 1852, Lemoore became the county seat when Kings County was created from parts of Tulare and Fresno counties. The city's economy was initially based on agriculture and livestock; however, with development in other sectors (such as manufacturing), Lemoore has become more diversified over time.

Today, Lemoore is a major commercial center in central California with a strong industrial base. Major industries include agriculture (including dairy products and poultry), automotive manufacturing (Ford Motor Company operates a plant here), aerospace engineering, telecommunications equipment production (AT&T has its regional headquarters here), and semiconductor fabrication (Intel has its largest factory in North America here). Other major employers include Sutter Health (the largest employer in Kings County) and Sierra Pacific Industries (a lumber company). Tourism also plays an important role in the city's economy; attractions include nearby Sequoia National Park and Mount Whitney National Monument as well as various museums and theaters.

Real estate is one of the most important sectors of Lemoore's economy; according to data from 2016, housing prices averaged $269,000 per square foot – higher than any other U.S. city except for San Francisco – making it one of the most expensive places to live in California overall.[1] This high demand has led to significant investment by both local residents and outside investors; according to Zillow data,[2] there were 1,521 residential properties listed for sale within city limits that year – more than any other U.S. city except for San Francisco – constituting nearly one third of all listings statewide for cities with at least 50 homes listed.[3] As a result of this intense competition for real estate resources, prices have continued to rise even as inventory levels have decreased; according to Zillow data,[4] median home values increased by 9% between January 2017 and January 2018 alone relative to inflation rates nationwide.[5] In addition, despite being located within close proximity to several large metropolitan areas (such as Sacramento and Fresno),[6] Lemoore enjoys relatively low levels of congestion due to its limited population density; according to CityData,[7] only 0.92 people per square mile live within city limits – lower than both Sacramento[8]and Fresno[9], which rank second-lowest among California's 58 largest cities.[10]