For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau defined Squaw Valley as a census-designated place (CDP).

[5] The Chukimena, the Yokuts tribe that occupied the valley before American colonization, named it Múshtihnau, after their main village.

[13][14][15] Nevertheless, the name "Squaw Valley" continued to refer informally to both communities, creating considerable confusion.

[16][17] From 2020 to 2023, a coalition that included members of local tribes petitioned the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to rename the community "Nuum Valley" and later "Yokuts Valley", citing the derogatory history of the town's previous name.

[21] A Fresno County Supervisor, Republican Nathan Magsig, solicited feedback from 1,400 households about the proposed renaming and says they prefer Bear Valley.

Some opposed it simply for the fact that the new name had not been chosen by residents, ironic to the native tribes who still live in the area.

Arguments in favor of the change came from Native activists and white residents of the town who wanted their home cleared of a name that degraded Indigenous women.

[23] A few days later, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law directing state and local authorities to remove "squaw" from geographic features and place names throughout the state, including "Squaw Valley", by 2025.

[24][25] In October, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution that acknowledged the state and federal renaming efforts while notifying the federal government that 87% of households that responded to Supervisor Magsig's survey opposed renaming the community.

[26] In January 2023, the Board on Geographic Names completed additional review on renaming the unincorporated populated place to "Yokuts Valley.

"[27][28] In February, a prominent welcome sign bearing the previous name was removed, prompting some local residents to call for its restoration.

[30] It reopened in 1923, renamed back to Squaw Valley in 1932, and closed again in 1945[30] in favor of the nearby Orange Cove post office.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 56.6 square miles (146.6 km2), of which over 99% is land.

[37] The Kings Canyon Unified School District serves Fresno County's mountain areas including Yokuts Valley.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office maintains a substation in Yokuts Valley.