Thomas Hughes was considered one of Fresno's leading citizens. But in 1893, he led the effort to break Fresno County in two.

How the 'Father of Fresno' helped split Fresno County in two, giving birth to Madera County

KVPR's Central Valley Roots explores the history, people and places of Central California. Discover something new about our region, past and present, with each episode. From Fresno and Bakersfield, to Visalia and Merced, the Central Valley is full of rich stories that make the place we call home special. Send us your question about local history or places to roots@kvpr.org and we might answer it in a future episode. Hear the series on the radio weekdays at 5:06 a.m., 9:04 a.m. and 5:32 p.m. or listen to our podcast.

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How the 'Father of Fresno' helped split Fresno County in two, giving birth to Madera County

How the 'Father of Fresno' helped split Fresno County in two, giving birth to Madera County

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