West Point, CA

West Point is a small town located in the San Joaquin Valley, about an hour north of Fresno. The population was just over 2,000 in 2010. The town's economy is largely based on agriculture and real estate.

The first settlers arrived in the area around 1848. They were Mexican Americans who had crossed the California border illegally. They established a small ranching community near what is now West Point. In 1856, gold was discovered in the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains, and the town began to grow rapidly as prospectors came to search for riches. By 1870, West Point had a population of 1,500 and was considered one of the most prosperous towns in California.

However, by the early 1900s, the mining industry had all but collapsed and West Point went into a period of decline. The town's economy slowly began to recover during the 1960s and 1970s as new businesses were established, but it wasn't until 2000 that it really started to boom. That year saw the completion of Interstate 5 and many people decided to move into West Point because it was close to major cities but still had a rural feel. Today, West Point is considered one of the fastest-growing towns in California and its economy is based largely on real estate