John Muir called the Valley "Eden," but the region's long-slithering serpent has been its economy, which in Stockton probably peaked between 1890 and 1925.
Ever since then - with exceptions such as Stockton's World War II militarization - the Valley's agricultural economy has lagged behind California's other regions.
And neither the federal nor the state government has done enough about it. Fortunately - quite fortunately - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken the Valley under his wing.
Unlike other governors, who favored coastal regions, Schwarzenegger seems genuinely interested in helping the San Joaquin Valley. He has visited it around 30 times, more than any governor in recent memory.
He was in Fresno on Tuesday to reauthorize the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, a sort of public-private think tank working up a Valley wish list.
It's natural to be curious about the roots of Schwarzenegger's attitude, as well as the partnership's priorities for the Valley. Might the outcome of it all be more economic parity with other parts of the Golden State?
Carol Whiteside, the director of the Great Valley Center, sits on the partnership board. Whiteside says four things seem to be inspiring the governor.
Obviously, the Valley is a political swing area. But courting votes alone denies Schwarzenegger due credit. Coastal cities, after all, offer more votes.
Whiteside thinks Schwarzenegger was affected by the 2005 congressional report comparing poverty in the San Joaquin Valley to rock-bottom Appalachian poverty.
Third, he is friends with Alan Autry, who played "Bubba" on "In the Heat of the Night" and now is the mayor of Fresno.
Lastly, a member of his Cabinet, Sunne Wright McPeak, secretary of the Business, Housing and Transportation Agency, grew up on a dairy farm in rural Livingston. She chairs the partnership and gives it a key to the governor's office.
There may be another factor: the Kennedy clan anti-poverty values of his wife, Maria Shriver.
Anyway, where it comes from is less important than where it's going. The partnership has a growing wish list.
Some big ones:
» Fix Highway 99. The Valley's Main Street, 99 projects an ugly, rundown image.
It's so bad that UC Merced's chancellor reportedly directs visitors to come via the Pacheco Pass so they do not form their impression of the UC campus from 99. The parallels to employers and other agents of prosperity are obvious.
» Health care. The partnership strongly supports the medical education program at UC Merced, which received a $500,000 grant this week to train nurses to ease the Valley's nursing shortage. The partnership is pointing state money at other medical programs, too.
» Air quality. An ambitious proposal would use government money to improve the Valley's dismal air quality through such steps as replacing diesel engines.
» A 50-year growth blueprint. An eight-county effort, this long-range look at the Valley's future already has revealed that "bringing in 3.5 million people at suburban density is ludicrous on its face," Whiteside said.
By analyzing development's impact on air quality, health, energy, transportation and other key areas, it is becoming clear that "we need a new model," Whiteside said.
Can the Valley get the big fixes it needs?
Already, $1 billion of the $6 billion required to upgrade Highway 99 is in the pipeline.
A possible setback is the expiration of McPeak's term on Jan. 1. She'll be missed. A Cabinet-level Valley supporter would be an optimum replacement.
Public participation is essential. Help from arts groups might be the difference between a smooth but ho-hum 99 and one with Valley character.
The main point: Arnie's listening. For that, he deserves enthusiastic Valley support, as do the partnership and the Great Valley Center.
Contact columnist Michael Fitzgerald at (209) 546-8270 or michaelf@recordnet.com Visit his blog.