California Archives - Page 2 of 8

Part of a "story map" of Paddle-to-the-Sea's journey through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic, prepared by the International Water Institute and based on Holling Clancy Holling's 1941 book.

James Fallows
July 23, 2021

A "geo-historical narrative" captured the imagination of many children in mid-20th century America. Maps have always had power to shape perceptions of reality. A memoir about their influence--and an introduction of what's to come.

Students on university campus at tree-planting event

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Civic Life

‘New Old Ideas’: A Modern CCC

James Fallows
May 24, 2021

American history doesn't repeat, but it rhymes. Crises keep cropping up—and so do ideas and solutions. Many innovations from the 1930s have new relevance for the post-pandemic 2020s. Here is an example, and the thinking behind it.

Three people holding shovels planting trees.

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Trees

A Plan to Grow 90,000 Trees in Los Angeles

James Fallows
May 17, 2021

Using tree planting as an axis to connect job creation, climate sustainability, urban renewal, and economic equity and inclusion.

An early 1900s image of the old Toledo Post Office.

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Entrepreneurs

When a Company Invests in an ‘Underdog City’

James Fallows
February 25, 2021

The story of how a company that started in one of these places is now involving people and businesses in anotherâ€”and why that matters in the next stage of equitable American recovery.

Bent Paddle’s newly distanced outdoor seating.

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Breweries & Distilleries

What happens to small companies now?

James Fallows
July 31, 2020

The path small, locally conscious firms are taking to survive the current economic and public health disaster.

Bitwise sit in an auditorium with their hands raised.

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Entrepreneurs

A Company That Helps You Find Job B

James Fallows
April 30, 2020

The tech-training and incubator company Bitwise, based in Fresno in California’s agricultural Central Valley, has been an important test case for the proposition that new, valuable, job-creating and wealth-expanding businesses…

A "fly-brary," courtesy of the Deschutes Public Library, at the Redmond, Oregon, airport.

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Libraries

Looking at Libraries

Deborah Fallows
December 26, 2019

Continuing the photo essay about public libraries, which showed many examples of children’s rooms and adult spaces, this collection shows some of the multitude of activities happening at public libraries. It also…

Mehmet McMillan, founder of WildPlaces, and Shelley Forbes, of Otis College, at the seedling-shipping ceremony last week.

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Trees

Planting a ‘Trail of Giants’

James Fallows
November 11, 2019

Last month, as part of a “Big Little Ideas” series, I mentioned a surprisingly valuable short-term step that communities can take, on their own, for positive climate effects. That is to start planting…

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Trees

Start Planting Trees

James Fallows
October 13, 2019

Recently Deb Fallows kicked off a series of “Big Little Ideas”—innovations or reforms that could be applied fairly easily at the local level and that might have cumulatively very important effect.…

The Peavey Memorial Library in Eastport, Maine (Courtesy of the Tides Institute & Museum of Art)

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Libraries

The Gift of a Public Library

Deborah Fallows
August 28, 2019

A legacy that continues.

Jake Soberal and Irma Olquin, co-founders and co-CEOs of Bitwise Industries in Fresno, which announced a big expansion today (Courtesy of Bitwise Industries)

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Entrepreneurs

Bitwise Goes Big

James Fallows
June 19, 2019

Fresno tech startup, Bitwise gets $27 million in funding to expand its operations.

Outside the Putah Creek Cafe in downtown Winters, California (James Fallows / The Atlantic)

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Economic Development

National Policies Have Local Effects

James Fallows
May 14, 2019

Changes—in trade policies, and for refugees—are making the United States more closed, rather than more open

Concept drawing for Bitwise facility the State Center warehouse.

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Economic Development

‘Let’s Care About Someone Who Does Not Belong to Our Tribe’

James Fallows
January 19, 2017

We could use a little positive news at the moment, right? Here you go: Over the past three years we’re written a lot about Fresno in general, one of the unglamorous…

N435SR parked at its new home at the San Bernardino Airport in California (Deborah Fallows)

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Travel

The End of the Journey

Deborah Fallows
January 18, 2017

Arriving in Tucson, we felt the inklings of coming full circle with our American Futures project. Only one more leg of our journey, about 400 miles, before we reached our destination of…

Barn at the Deerwood Ranch wild horse refugee, outside Laramie, Wyoming. (Deborah Fallows)

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Economic Development

All Progress Is Local: New Year’s Notes From Around the Country

James Fallows
January 1, 2017

New Year's Notes from Around the Country

Another gigantic turbine blade is delivered in Spearville, Kansas (Nicolas Pollock / The Atlantic)

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Environment & Sustainability

What the Renewable-Energy Economy Looks Like

James Fallows
November 3, 2016

At its peak, nearly one century ago in 1920, the coal-mining industry employed nearly 800,000 people in the United States. Decade by decade, as America’s population has swelled and its…

Town: California

Why Maps Matter, Starting in Childhood and Even More Now

‘New Old Ideas’: A Modern CCC

A Plan to Grow 90,000 Trees in Los Angeles

When a Company Invests in an ‘Underdog City’

What happens to small companies now?

A Company That Helps You Find Job B

Looking at Libraries

Planting a ‘Trail of Giants’

Start Planting Trees

The Gift of a Public Library

Bitwise Goes Big

National Policies Have Local Effects

‘Let’s Care About Someone Who Does Not Belong to Our Tribe’

The End of the Journey

All Progress Is Local: New Year’s Notes From Around the Country

What the Renewable-Energy Economy Looks Like