Coalinga and other towns scattered throughout the western edge of the San Joaquin valley sprang up more than one hundred years ago. There were families with ranchers, farmers, oilmen, shopkeepers, bankers, and even a doctor. People in Coalinga knew they were a long way from the big city. Traveling all the way to Fresno might be fun for a day of shopping, but if someone had a medical emergency, that drive could mean the difference between life and death. This is where the story of Coalinga Healthcare District begins.