Visalia is a Central California city situate in the heart of California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, approximately 230 miles (370 km) southeast of San Francisco and 190 miles (310 km) north of Los Angeles. As of 2007, the city is estimated to have a population of 121,792 people and a metropolitan area of 429,006. Settled in 1852, it is the oldest permanent inland settlement between Stockton, CA and Los Angeles.