Raymond (formerly, Wildcat Station) is an unincorporated community in Madera County, California.[1] It is located 22 miles (35 km) north-northeast of Madera,[2] at an elevation of 948 feet (289 m).[1]
Raymond
Wildcat Station (former name) | |
|---|---|
  Raymond Location in California  Raymond Raymond (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 37°13′02″N 119°54′20″W / 37.21722°N 119.90556°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Madera County |
| Elevation | 948 ft (289 m) |
| ZIP Code | 93653 |
| Area code | 559 |
Raymond has fewer than 1,000 residents. It is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) north of Madera at Green Mountain Road and Road 600. The community is part of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area. The ZIP Code is 93653. The community is inside area code 559.
History
editThe area was named either for Israel Ward Raymond, a park commissioner who urged the preservation of Yosemite Valley,[3] or for T. Raymond of Raymond & Whitcomb Travel Association in San Francisco,[2] or for Walter Raymond of Raymond & Whitcomb Travel Association in Boston. Walter Raymond founded the Raymond Hotel in Pasadena in 1886. He planned the hotel and received money for its construction from his father Emmons Raymond, who was a stockholder in the Santa Fe Railroad. When the town of Raymond was dedicated, its residents approached Walter Raymond and offered to name the town after him if he would cut the ribbon at the ceremony.[4]
The first post office opened in 1886.[2] The original name, Wildcat Station, was replaced by Raymond when the San Joaquin Valley and Yosemite Railroad reached the town in 1886.[2]
Quarry
editRaymond has a quarry for sierra white granite. This stone was used to face the Oakland California Temple.[5]
Notable people
edit- Thomas Hill (1829-1908), an early California artist. He died in Raymond, California.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Raymond, California
- ^ a b c d Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
- ^ Raymond Genealogy, Vol I - Descendants of Richard Raymond (Samuel Edward Raymond, 1972)
- ^ Raymond, Arthur. (1983). A Gentleman of the Old School: A Biography of Walter Raymond. Pasadena Historical Museum.
- ^ "History of Oakland Temple." Temple Hill. Accessed July 11, 2021.
- ^ "THOMAS HILL (1829-1908)". sullivangoss.com. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
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