Twin Palms

An agricultural hub in the San Joaquin Valley, Dinuba is known as the Raisin City -- roughly 40 percent of the world's raisins are grown and dried in Dinuba, which equals about 300,000 tons of raisins every year. Other crops include plums, citrus, peaches, nuts, and cotton. Dinuba is also home to the Ruiz Foods manufacturing facility and the Best Buy Regional Distribution Center. Ruiz Foods is the largest private employer in Tulare County. Dinuba's charming downtown shopping district -- complete with brick-paved roads, shade trees, wide sidewalks, and colorful murals -- contains a variety of boutiques, antique stores, restaurants, and cafes.

Situated about 27 miles southeast of Fresno and roughly 18 miles northwest of Visalia, Dinuba is part of a fast-growing region. With Sequoia National Park less than an hour east, residents can explore the 404,064 acres, which includes the Giant Forest, home to the General Sherman Tree -- the largest tree in the world.