Wastewater Treatment Plant & Sewer Trunk Line Design-Build Program
City of Coalinga - General Overview Located in Pleasant Valley, at the edge of California's Coast Range Mountains, and surrounded by hills, ranches, and some of America's most productive agricultural land, Coalinga is ten miles west of Interstate 5, and sixty miles southwest of Fresno - California's sixth largest city.
Coalinga is a General Law City operating in a Council - Manager form of Government, with five Council members elected to four year staggered terms. The City Council chooses a Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem from among its members.
Coalinga is a full - service city, with a Redevelopment Agency, Public Finance Authority and a new municipal airport. Coalinga provides highly professional Community Development, Transit, Public Works and public safety services (Police, Fire and EMT/Ambulance) and water, wastewater treatment, sanitation, recycling and natural gas utility services. The City also operates the Claremont Custody Center under contract with the State of California
Coalinga History
In the early years of railroading, before the extensive development of oil production in California, the steam locomotives were powered by the burning of coal obtained from the northern foothills of Mount Diablo. The Southern Pacific Railway established the site as a coaling station in 1888, and it was called simply Coaling Station A. Local tradition has it that an official of Southern Pacific made the name more sonorous by adding an a to it and Coalinga was established as an early railroad and mining development. In 1889, the Coalinga post office was established and in 1891 Southern Pacific Railroad purchased the 160 acres homestead of M. L. Curtis and laid out the town site of Coalinga. The extension of the railroad coincided with a significant worldwide interest in oil productions. As the local coal mines decreased in production, the second "oil rush' of 1890 proved Southern Pacific's investment to be a sound one. With the continual prosperity of the area due to several decades of success in local oil production, mining and agricultural, a handful of local citizens began the process of incorporation, which was completed in April 1906 and the City of Coalinga was born. By 1910, Coalinga was the third largest shipping point for the railroad in California with nearly all tonnage connected with oil production.
Drinking water has always been a precious commodity and at times in short supply in Pleasant Valley. To meet this challenge, Coalinga's drinking water has always been imported. Until 1972, every Coalinga residence had three water faucets in the kitchen; hot water, cold water and drinking water. Until 1960 the major source of drinking water was water wells in Armona owned by Southern Pacific. This water shipped to Coalinga in tank cars for distribution. In 1960, Coalinga was a site selected from experimental systems to soften hard water in order to create a potable water source. The first of these was an ionic system that was later replaced by the reverse osmosis method that is commonly used throughout the world to convert brackish and seawater to drinking water standards. The third faucet was not to become an unused conversation piece until 1972 when Coalinga received its first delivery of San Luis Canal water from the state water system. This April 1972 date came almost 66 years to the day following incorporation of the City. The City currently operates a municipal water treatment plant and distributes potable water throughout their service area.
The first high school in Coalinga was built in 1910 and the first graduation class — all three members — graduated in 1912. Recognizing the need for an opportunity for the youth of the city to expand their education beyond a high school, a junior college was established in 1932. The West Hills College campus is where the WAMBOBASS balloon festival is held each November. This annual celebration is held on the weekend closest to the anniversary of man's first successful balloon flight.
The biggest test for the existence of the City came on May 2, 1983, when Coalinga experienced the 6.7 earthquake that leveled a significant portion of the business district and caused over $31 million in damages. The earthquake was the catalyst that inspired the City to revitalize in more ways than just new buildings. The City was successful in their effort to have the Department of Corrections locate a major prison facility in the Pleasant Valley. The $36 million industry was the major revenue source to replace a fading oil income. With this as an economic base, the City has developed a 40-acre industrial park in addition to an airport facility with a 100' by 5,000' runway. In 1988 local residents approved a bond issue for a new hospital. The facility is state of the art and has successfully attracted highly qualified doctors to locate in the community, Coalinga Regional Medical Center, with the latest in medical technology, has also constructed new office buildings to accommodate the medical practitioners who choose to practice here. In 1991, Coalinga completed an 800 acre annexation, increasing the city limits by 25%
The City just celebrated its 100th birthday in 2006. Coalinga has many fun events and activities in addition to the Hot Air Balloon Festival held in November, including the Plaza Market in the summer. One of Coalinga’s longest traditions is the Annual Horned Toad Derby, which is held every Memorial Day weekend and includes a carnival, parade, Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast, Horned Toad Races and many more fun family festivities.