Dating back to 1877, Hanford began when the Southern Pacific Railway laid its railroad lines and crossed through a sheepherder’s camp. As a result, the camp was named for the railroad’s auditor, James Madison Hanford. He began selling land effectively transitioning the camp to a settlement and eventually a town. In 1891, Hanford officially became a city. 

Throughout the next century, building and development boomed including places of worship, schools, housing and the only opera house between Los Angeles and San Francisco. In 1923 construction began on the Civic Auditorium, which is still standing in downtown Hanford nearly one hundred years later. 

Residents of Hanford today appreciate its many parks, splashpads, pools, events (both safely in person and virtually), schools, community garden plots and planned housing communities. There are children’s and adult sports leagues as well as community centers for teens, seniors and veterans. 

We chose to build home communities in Hanford because it’s a great place to live, retire and raise families. Presently we have two adjacent neighborhoods offering homes: Bonterra and Bella Vista. 

At Bonterra, residents enjoy homes that feature Mediterranean, Craftsman and traditionally styled exterior designs. An all single-story neighborhood, Bonterra homes range from 1,342 to 1,788 square feet with three to four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The interiors are open styled with large great rooms with adjoining kitchen and dining rooms. 

Bella Vista is set in northwest Hanford, close to downtown with quick access to Highway 198 and near by the Naval Air Station at Lemoore. Bella Vista’s homes are elegant and spacious and range from 1,890 to 3,205 square feet with three to five bedrooms and two to 3.5 baths. Choices include one- and two-story designs with two- and three-car garages, as well as a porte cochère and expanded outdoor living spaces such as a courtyard and covered patios. 



If you are searching for a new home, please know San Joaquin Valley Homes is still busy building homes throughout the Central Valley. Our model homes are open daily, we offer private in-person appointments and our virtual tours are available on our website.