Fresno's Wilson Island and Rosanna Cooper Wilson, the Woman Behind It

The story of Fresno’s Wilson Island begins with its creator, Rosanna Cooper Wilson. She is an example of the often-forgotten role of women in the early development of California’s Central San Joaquin Valley. A descendant of Alta California land grant families, Rosanna was a diminutive woman born in 1859 who was proud of her Spanish heritage. She left a legacy to Fresno, California, that is today one of only four registered historic districts in Fresno. It played a pivotal role in the northern ex