| Oakhurst | |
|---|---|
| — census-designated place — | |
| Hauling logs at Sugar Pine (near Oakhurst) ca. 1915 | |
| Location in Madera County and the state of California | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Madera |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 6.006 sq mi (15.556 km2) |
| • Land | 5.999 sq mi (15.537 km2) |
| • Water | 0.007 sq mi (0.019 km2) 0.12% |
| Elevation[2] | 2,274 ft (693 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 2,829 |
| • Density | 471/sq mi (181.9/km2) |
| Time zone | Pacific (PST) (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 93644 |
| Area code(s) | 559 |
| FIPS code | 06-52764 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0277565 |
Oakhurst (formerly, Fresno Flats)[3] is a census-designated place (CDP) in Madera County, California, 14 miles (23 km) south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Oakhurst is located on the Fresno River 3 miles (4.8 km) south-southwest of Yosemite Forks,[3] at an elevation of 2274 feet (693 m).[2] It is part of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the population was 2,829, down from 2,868 people at the 2000 census. (Read more below in Demographics.)
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A small community located in central California near Yosemite National Park. Oakhurst is located at the junction of Highways 41 & 49, at the southern end of California's gold country.
Oakhurst is located at .[2]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.0 square miles (16 km2), of which, 6.0 square miles (16 km2) of it is land and 0.12% is water.
The Fresno Flats post office opened in 1873, moved and changed its name to Oakhurst in 1912.[3] MLB pitcher Ted Lilly attended high school at Yosemite High School, one of two of the towns high schools.
The 2010 United States Census[4] reported that Oakhurst had a population of 2,829. The population density was 471.0 people per square mile (181.9/km²). The racial makeup of Oakhurst was 2,532 (89.5%) White, 22 (0.8%) African American, 61 (2.2%) Native American, 44 (1.6%) Asian, 3 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 66 (2.3%) from other races, and 101 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 473 persons (16.7%).
The Census reported that 2,772 people (98.0% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 57 (2.0%) were institutionalized.
There were 1,226 households, out of which 301 (24.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 515 (42.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 153 (12.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 76 (6.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 61 (5.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 14 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 386 households (31.5%) were made up of individuals and 216 (17.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26. There were 744 families (60.7% of all households); the average family size was 2.80.
The population was spread out with 526 people (18.6%) under the age of 18, 228 people (8.1%) aged 18 to 24, 567 people (20.0%) aged 25 to 44, 758 people (26.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 750 people (26.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.4 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
There were 1,379 housing units at an average density of 229.6 per square mile (88.6/km²), of which 691 (56.4%) were owner-occupied, and 535 (43.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%. 1,485 people (52.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,287 people (45.5%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 2868 people, 1,250 households, and 773 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 484.8 people per square mile (187.1/km²). There were 1,380 housing units at an average density of 233.3 per square mile (90.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 87.62% White, 0.45% African American, 2.93% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 6.03% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.94% of the population.
There were 1,250 households out of which 23.7% had children under 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 26.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $27,679, and the median income for a family was $35,495. Males had a median income of $36,979 versus $21,111 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,851. About 12.8% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over. Tourism constitutes the major industry.
On February 5, 2008 residents voted on Measure C. The outcome decided that Oakhurst would not incorporate as a city. The residents voted to remain unincorporated.
In the state legislature Oakhurst is located in the 14th Senate District, represented by Republican Tom Berryhill, and in the 25th Assembly District, represented by Republican Kristin Olsen. Federally, Oakhurst is located in California's 19th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +10[6] and is represented by Republican Jeff Denham.
In February 2008 Measure C, to incorporate Oakhurst as a city was defeated at the ballot box.
Oakhurst earned the nickname of "birthplace of computer gaming" being home to the pioneering computer game developer Sierra On-line from 1981 to 1999.
Many industry firsts were achieved in Oakhurst including the development of the first 3D adventure game (King's Quest, 1984) and one of the first online gaming networks (The Sierra Network, 1989).
Sierra Entertainment, headquartered in Los Angeles, CA continued to publish games for the personal computer and popular gaming consoles until 2008 when their parent company Vivendi Universal merged with games publisher Activision. The Sierra name was then closed down for possible future sale.
Cable television services for the town of Oakhurst are contracted to Northland Cable TV.[7]
Sierra Telephone Company, which serves northern Madera County and much of adjoining Mariposa County, is based in Oakhurst.