HYE Society: How Armenians Shaped the Central Valley

In 1881, Hagop (Jacob) Seropian, right, was the first Armenian to settle in Fresno. He wrote to his family about the climate that was so much like their native Armenia. His brothers Garabed, left, and Simon soon joined him in Fresno. Photo courtesy of the Fresno City & County Historical Society - Fresno Bee Collection. All rights reserved.

While Kim Kardashian may be one of the earliest social-media influencers, she’s not the first Armenian-American to master the art of promotion. Hagop Seropian and his half-brothers came to Fresno in 1881, in large part to escape the long East Coast winter. When they arrived in the Central Valley, the Seropians wrote to their friends and family about how nice the area was, which prompted numerous Armenians to move West. 

Today, California has the largest Armenian population in the United States, and the Central Valley is home to over 75,000 Americans with Armenian roots. For the over-one-hundred-years they’ve called this place home, Armenian Americans have shaped our community in countless ways. 

“Armenians bring a strong work ethic, innovation, dedication to higher education, and a strong moral guide and code based on ancient Christian values,” said Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator at California State University, Fresno. 

These attributes have allowed Armenians to overcome early discrimination and thrive in agriculture and business. 

The Seropians began as grocers before expanding into dried-fruit packing. They were the first to send oranges and figs to Eastern markets, setting the stage for the influential role of Armenians in California’s grape, raisin and tree-fruit industries. By 1930, Armenian-Americans owned 40% of Fresno’s raisin-producing land and had become pioneers in melon and fig production. 

Akbar Setrakian’s Fresno Fruit Palace, located on Mariposa Street (today the site would be across from the Security Bank Building), was one of the best places to buy fruit in 1914. Setrakian is standing at center with clerk Ed Peters to his left. Photographer: Jose Frisina, The Fresno Bee. Photo courtesy of the Fresno City & County Historical Society - Fresno Bee Collection.  All rights reserved.

The number of Armenians in the Central Valley grew steadily in the late 1800s and early 1900s, with a large number of survivors of the Turkish genocide seeking refuge after World War I.

They would find this refuge in places like “Armenian Town,” a lively neighborhood on the southeast edge of downtown Fresno, and Armenian churches, which became the hub of the community.  

Armenian families established strong roots in Fowler, Selma, Kingsburg, Parlier, Del Rey and Reedley. In 1977, Fresno State created its Armenian Studies Program and, in 1991, founded the Center for Armenian Studies.

Arguably, the Central Valley’s most famous Armenian American is William Saroyan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose works celebrated the Armenian immigrant experience in California. 

Arguably the most famous writer to hail from Central California, and one of the greatest Armenian authors of all time, William Saroyan was born on the fringes of Fresno’s downtown on August 31, 1908. In 1940, he won the Pulitzer Prize for his play, The Time of Your Life. In 1943, he won an Academy Award for the film screenplay of The Human Comedy.  Photo courtesy of the Fresno City & County Historical Society - Fresno Bee Collection. All rights reserved.

That Armenians came to the Central Valley and thrived here is not a surprise for Der Mugrdechian, a third-generation Armenian.  “Armenians have always been at the forefront of leadership and striving for excellence,” he said. This influence continues to shape our valley today. 

To learn more about how Armenian-Americans have shaped our Valley, visit the Armenian Museum of Fresno and armeniansfresno.com.

This story is part of the Central Valley Community Foundation’s “Sixty Stories That Shaped Us” initiative to help mark 60 years since our founding. We invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone and this special place we call home. To learn more, visit centralvalleycf.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @centralvalleycf.