Overview

Valley for Dreams is a fascinating historical geography of 'forgotten California'—that portion of the Great Central Valley north of Sacramento. Structured around four key themes—the environment, people, economy, and landscape— the book analyzes how this region's lush natural environment changed as successive groups and individuals made it one of the fastest growing and ethnically diverse rural areas in North America. The book's numerous maps, graphs, tables, sketches, and photographs bring the area's geography to life. Valley for Dreams is an important work for geographers, historians, and local residents interested in their town geographies.

Full Product Details

9780847682850

Table of Contents

Reviews

Will give a sense of the region's special heritage. Especially fascinating are the details of immigrant and ethnic group settlements in specific towns. The Sacramento Valley's people, landscape, and economy are much more diverse and interesting than they appear to outsiders or to residents who know little of the region's history. -- James P. Allen, California State University, Northridge ^IValley for Dreams^R is the most important general overview of the Sacramento Valley to be published since 1961. -- Michael Magliari, California State UniversityChico Historical and topical in approach, Valley for Dreams covers many aspects of the Sacramento Valley. The book deserves five stars . . . The authors provide valuable new commentary on all of the traditional themes. They capture well the dynamism of the Valley's increasing ethnic diversity, rejuvenated agricultural base, maturing urban system, emerging high technology employment, and unlimited potential as a dual gateway . . . lively writing and inherently interesting. -- Dennis Dingemans, University of California, Davis The book beautifully and sympathetically captures the changing interplay between the many different cultural groups and their Sacramento Valley environment over the past two centuries. Hardwick and Holtgrieve's depth of knowledge and eloquence of style will make this book attractive to both scholars and general readers interested in California and the American West. -- Thomas Krabacher, Califorinia State University, Sacramento A new and comprehensive history of California's Sacramento Valley, providing an up-to-date focus on modern historical issues. * Western Historical Quarterly * . . . a comprehensive, authoritative, and very readable journey through the 'Valley for Dreams' * Chico Enterprise-Record *

Will give a sense of the region's special heritage. Especially fascinating are the details of immigrant and ethnic group settlements in specific towns. The Sacramento Valley's people, landscape, and economy are much more diverse and interesting than they appear to outsiders or to residents who know little of the region's history. -- James P. Allen, California State University, Northridge ^IValley for Dreams^R is the most important general overview of the Sacramento Valley to be published since 1961. -- Michael Magliari, California State UniversityChico Historical and topical in approach, Valley for Dreams covers many aspects of the Sacramento Valley. The book deserves five stars ... The authors provide valuable new commentary on all of the traditional themes. They capture well the dynamism of the Valley's increasing ethnic diversity, rejuvenated agricultural base, maturing urban system, emerging high technology employment, and unlimited potential as a dual gateway ... lively writing and inherently interesting. -- Dennis Dingemans, University of California, Davis The book beautifully and sympathetically captures the changing interplay between the many different cultural groups and their Sacramento Valley environment over the past two centuries. Hardwick and Holtgrieve's depth of knowledge and eloquence of style will make this book attractive to both scholars and general readers interested in California and the American West. -- Thomas Krabacher, Califorinia State University, Sacramento A new and comprehensive history of California's Sacramento Valley, providing an up-to-date focus on modern historical issues. Western Historical Quarterly ... a comprehensive, authoritative, and very readable journey through the 'Valley for Dreams' Chico Enterprise

Author Information

Susan Wiley Hardwick is professor of geography and Donald Holtgrieve is professor of geography and planning at California State University, Chico.

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