[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16700]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 CITY OF KINGSBURG'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating the 100th anniversary of the city of Kingsburg, a family-
oriented community located in California's San Joaquin Valley.
  The story about the city of Kingsburg, like many other communities 
throughout the San Joaquin Valley, can be traced to its fertile soils, 
Mediterranean climate, and industrious population. In the early 1870s, 
the lure of a better and more stable life prompted two Swedish natives 
to settle in a Central Pacific Railroad town called Kings River Switch. 
In 1874, the site for the present-day town site was drawn up and the 
name was changed to Kingsbury. Two years later, the name was changed to 
Kingsburgh to reflect the Swedish heritage of many of the town's 
residents. In 1894, the city's name took on its current spelling, 
Kingsburg. On May 19, 1908, the city of Kingsburg officially became an 
incorporated city in Fresno County.
  The city of Kingsburg has grown from a sleepy railroad town, at its 
founding, to a vibrant community of nearly 10,000 that rests in the 
middle of one of the most dynamic regions of California. Kingsburg is 
where Olympic legend Rafer Johnson and his brother, Pro Football Hall 
of Famer, Jimmy Johnson, spent their formative years and honed their 
athletic skills. Today the city of Kingsburg proudly embraces it 
Swedish heritage and its status as the ``Swedish Village.'' The city's 
landscape features distinctive Swedish architecture and brightly 
painted Dala horses, traditional wooden statuettes of horses and a 
national symbol of Sweden.
  If its first century is any indication, it is clear that the city of 
Kingsburg will continue to grow and reach new heights in the years to 
come. The story of the city's first one hundred years is a testament to 
the value of community. As the residents of Kingsburg gather to 
celebrate this auspicious occasion, I congratulate them on their 
centennial anniversary and wish them continued good fortune and 
success.

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