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Oakhurst, California

Coordinates: 37°19′41″N 119°38′58″W / 37.32806°N 119.64944°W / 37.32806; -119.64944
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Oakhurst
Census-designated place
Oakhurst seen from the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway
Oakhurst seen from the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway
Oakhill Cemetery
Oakhill Cemetery
State Route 41 Welcome Sign
State Route 41 Welcome Sign
Location in Madera County and the state of California
Location in Madera County and the state of California
Oakhurst is located in the United States
Oakhurst
Oakhurst
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 37°19′41″N 119°38′58″W / 37.32806°N 119.64944°W / 37.32806; -119.64944[1]
Country United States
State California
CountyMadera
Area
[2]
 • Total
33.46 sq mi (86.7 km2)
 • Land33.45 sq mi (86.6 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.026 km2)  0.02%
Elevation
[1]
2,274 ft (693 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total
5,945
 • Density177.7/sq mi (68.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
93644
Area code559
FIPS code06-52764
GNIS feature ID277565

Oakhurst (formerly Fresno Flats)[4] is a census-designated place (CDP) in Madera County, California, United States. It lies in the Sierra Nevada foothills about 14 miles (23 km) south of the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park, at the junction of Highway 41 and Highway 49. Oakhurst is at the southern edge of California’s Gold Country and had a population of 5,945 at the 2020 United States census.[3]

Founded in 1858 as Fresno Flats, the community developed first as a cattle stop and later as a logging center before becoming a gateway for Yosemite-bound travel. The surrounding region had long been a gathering place for the Miwok, Yokuts, and Mono peoples and was the site of early conflicts after California statehood, including the opening battle of the Mariposa War. In the late 20th century, Oakhurst gained attention in the computer game industry as the headquarters of Sierra On-Line, publisher of influential graphic adventure titles and creator of one of the first online gaming networks.[5]

Geography

[edit]
Deadwood Peak Lookout

Oakhurst lies along the Fresno River, 3 miles (5 km) south-southwest of Yosemite Forks, at an elevation of 2,274 feet (693 m).[1]

Set in the upper foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the community is bordered by the Fresno River to the west and north. Roads from Oakhurst extend south to the San Joaquin Valley, east to Yosemite National Park and the High Sierra, north along State Route 49 through California’s Gold Country, and west toward the valley floor.[6] Historically, this crossroads location made Oakhurst a gathering point for Native American groups in the region.

Nearby communities include Ahwahnee, Coarsegold, and Bass Lake. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers 33.5 square miles (87 km2).[2]

History

[edit]

Native people

[edit]
Skeane S. Skeenes, first militia casualty of the Mariposa War, buried at Oakhill Cemetery, Oakhurst.[7]

Oakhurst was a common meeting ground for the Miwoks, Yokuts, and Monos[8] before the time of the California Gold Rush.

Many Native Californians were displaced by white settlers following the enactment of the Act for the Government and Protection of Indians in 1850. This act facilitated the removal and displacement of Native Californian Indians from their traditional lands, and led to the Mariposa War, the first battle of which was fought near present-day Oakhurst on January 11, 1851.[9][7] By June 1851, most Native Americans in the region had been relocated to the Fresno River Farm Reservation, opening the region to the first permanent white settlers.

Fresno Flats

[edit]
Fresno Flats, circa 1900.

Oakhurst originated in 1858 as Fresno Flats, named for the Spanish word fresno (ash tree) and the flat meadowlands in the area.

Unlike many nearby towns along what is now the Golden Chain Highway, Fresno Flats was not founded as a mining camp.[10] The first recorded settler was rancher John Robert Nichols, who arrived in 1858.[11] Other families followed, raising livestock and planting orchards.

After the California Gold Rush, the first Chinese family settled near a creek feeding into the Fresno River. As more Chinese residents arrived, the waterway became known as China Creek, a name that endures.[12]

A post office was established in 1873.[4] The following year, the Madera Flume and Lumber Company began constructing a log flume along the Fresno River, launching the local timber industry. By 1876, a wagon road from Madera to Yosemite was completed, and Fresno Flats became an important stop on the route to Wawona. By 1884, the town supported hotels, stores, a blacksmith, skating rink, dance hall, schoolhouse, and several saloons.[13]

The first school, a log structure built in 1871, recorded an average attendance of about 27 students with a single teacher by 1884.[14]

Name change

[edit]

Fresno Flats lost its name in 1912 after a resident secretly petitioned the town be renamed over fear that the town's reputation was forever tarnished because of a local stagecoach robbery.[15] The town was renamed Oakhurst by an Act of Congress that took most people in town by surprise.[16]

Highway Era

[edit]

Oakhurst declined in the early 20th century following the collapse of the local mining industry, the end of stagecoach travel to Yosemite, and the 1931 closure of the Madera Sugar Pine Company. The opening of the All-Year Highway in 1926 redirected Yosemite-bound automobile traffic through Merced, reducing visitor numbers and economic activity in Oakhurst. In the 1930s, construction of the Fresno–Yosemite road, now California State Route 41, restored a direct connection from Fresno to Yosemite Valley, shortening the trip by about 35 miles.[17][18]

Today, more than 1.2 million visitors a year enter Yosemite through the park’s south gate, with most passing through Oakhurst on Highway 41. Tourism remains the town’s primary economic driver, with activity concentrated in the summer months. At that time, hotel occupancy is highest and local employment expands in lodging, dining, retail, and transportation. In 2017, accommodation and food service sales in Oakhurst totaled $36.5 million.[19][20]

Sierra On-Line

[edit]

The pioneering computer game developer Sierra On-Line was based in Oakhurst from 1981 to 1999.[21] The company achieved many industry firsts, 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).

Demographics

[edit]
Raley's shopping center in Oakhurst

According to the United States Census Bureau, Oakhurst had populations of 2,868 in 2000, 2,829 in 2010, and 5,945 in 2020.[22][23][19]

2020

[edit]

The 2020 census recorded 5,945 residents across 2,180 households. Of the total population, 18.2% were under 18, 3.1% under 5, and 25.6% were 65 or older. Women accounted for 56.5% of the population. Racially, the community was 87.8% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.8% Asian, and 7.7% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents comprised 12.0%. Veterans made up 357 residents, and 5.7% of the population was foreign-born.

Housing consisted of 1,742 owner-occupied units (79.9%) and 441 renter-occupied units (20.1%). The median value of owner-occupied housing was $369,900; median monthly costs were $2,189 for owners with a mortgage and $637 without. Median gross rent was $1,303.

Households averaged 2.29 persons. About 10.5% spoke a language other than English at home. Among residents 25 and older, 91.3% had a high school diploma and 29.4% held a bachelor’s degree or higher. Computer ownership was reported in 92.4% of households, and 85.9% had broadband internet.

The median household income was $73,333, per capita income $44,763, and 16.2% of residents lived below the poverty line.[19]

Housing and short-term rentals

[edit]

Local reporting has noted that the growth of short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb has reduced the availability of long-term rentals, contributing to increased rents and housing competition.[24][25]

Government and politics

[edit]

In the California State Legislature, Oakhurst is in the 4th senatorial district, represented by Republican Marie Alvarado-Gil, and in the 8th Assembly district, represented by Republican David Tangipa.[26]

In the United States House of Representatives, Oakhurst is in California's 5th congressional district, represented by Republican Tom McClintock.[27]

On February 5, 2008 residents voted on Measure C, a proposal to incorporate Oakhurst as a city.[28] The measure failed with 56% voting against and 44% in favor.[29]

Honorary mayor

[edit]

Oakhurst, an unincorporated area, does not have an official mayor. Instead, an Honorary Mayor is selected annually through a fundraising competition where candidates generate funds for selected non-profits, with each dollar equating to one vote. The top fundraiser is named Honorary Mayor, a tradition that has supported local charities by raising significant amounts over the years.[30][31]

Education

[edit]

Oakhurst is home to Yosemite High School and the headquarters of the Yosemite Unified School District, which serves eastern Madera County.[32]

The Oakhurst Community College Center, part of the State Center Community College District, offers associate degrees and transfer programs. Established in the 1980s, the campus is located on Road 426 near the Madera County Library branch.[33][34] In October 2024, construction began on a new 30-acre campus along Highway 49.[35]

Attractions

[edit]

The Talking Bear

[edit]

The Talking Bear is a fiberglass grizzly bear statue installed in 1965 at the intersection of State Route 41 and Road 426. Visitors press a button to hear a recorded message about the California grizzly bear. Hugh Schollenbarger installed the bear, which was made by Alpine's Fiberglass Menagerie Co.[36][37]

Historic buildings

[edit]

The Little Church on the Hill was built in 1894 and moved from Chapel Hill to its current location in Oakhill Cemetery in 1957.[38] Built from sugar pine lumber from local mills, it was the first house of worship in Fresno Flats and served multiple denominations for more than 50 years.[39] The church and cemetery were designated a California Point of Historical Interest in 1994.

Many original pioneer structures are on display at the Fresno Flats Historical Village and Park, including the 1869 Taylor Log House (associated with early forest ranger “Boot” Taylor), the two-story Laramore–Layman House (1870s), the Raymond Jail (1890), and several one-room schoolhouses.[40]

  • The Little Church on the Hill at Oakhill Cemetery
    The Little Church on the Hill at Oakhill Cemetery
  • The 1890 pioneer jail at Fresno Flats Historical Village was relocated from nearby Raymond.
    The 1890 pioneer jail at Fresno Flats Historical Village was relocated from nearby Raymond.

Sierra Mountaineer Days

[edit]

Sierra Mountaineer Days, first held in 1964, grew into a multi-day festival that at its height attracted more than 10,000 visitors.[41] Events included a parade, rodeo, barbecue, and beauty pageant, with programming that emphasized 19th-century mining and logging.[42] In the late 1990s the event was revived as Mountain Heritage Day, now held at Fresno Flats Historic Village, with a parade and living-history activities.[43]

Infrastructure

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]

Highway 41 connects Oakhurst to Fresno and Yosemite. Highway 49 has its southern terminus at Highway 41 in Oakhurst and connects to Mariposa.

Oakhurst is served by the YARTS Highway 41 bus route between Fresno and Yosemite,[44] and by the Madera County Connection bus system, which travels to Madera and Bass Lake.[45]

Utilities

[edit]

Cable television services for the town of Oakhurst are contracted to Vyve Broadband .[46]

Sierra Telephone Company, which serves northern Madera County and much of adjoining Mariposa County, is based in Oakhurst.

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Oakhurst". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau". Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 810-811. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  5. ^ Shapiro, Eben (June 18, 1991). "Now, an All-Video Game Network". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "The History Of The Towns And Cities". Madera Tribune. Vol. 77. May 21, 1968.
  7. ^ a b Madera County Cemetery District (Grave marker plaque). Oakhill Cemetery, Oakhurst, California: Madera County Cemetery District and the Madera and Merced County Supervisors. 1970.
  8. ^ Fresno Flats Historical Village and Park (Display outside museum). Oakhurst, CA: Madera County Historical Society. 2022.
  9. ^ Coate, William S. (1992). Pieces of the Past: Madera County Vignettes. Madera, California: The Classroom Chronicles Press. p. 137.
  10. ^ "Highway '49 Most Scenic In State". Madera Tribune. Vol. 77, no. 51. July 24, 1968. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  11. ^ "JAMES NICHOLS PASSED AWAY Cattle Rancher of Fresno Flats Dies". Madera Tribune. Vol. LI, no. 16. March 18, 1943. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  12. ^ "Oakhurst Was 'Fresno Flats'". Madera Tribune. Vol. 71, no. 94. September 25, 1962. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  13. ^ Coate, William S. (1992). Pieces of the Past: Madera County Vignettes. Madera, California: The Classroom Chronicles Press. p. 155.
  14. ^ "Oakhurst: From Cattle Stop To Modern Day City". Madera Tribune. Vol. 73, no. 97. September 29, 1964. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  15. ^ "FRESNO FLATS WILL BE CHANGED TO OAKHURST New Postmaster Appointed; Town Will Be Dry After April 1". Fresno Evening Herald. Vol. XLVI, no. 59. March 8, 1912. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  16. ^ "Oakhurst Faltered, Refused To Die". Madera Tribune. Vol. 66, no. 112. September 24, 1957. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  17. ^ "Route 41 (Fresno-Yosemite Road) - Coarsegold, CA". Living New Deal. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  18. ^ "Tunnel Road is Now Open". Madera Tribune. Vol. LXI, no. 139. April 17, 1933. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "Oakhurst CDP, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  20. ^ "Oakhurst Area Plan". Madera County Board of Supervisors. September 13, 2005. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  21. ^ Nax, Sanford (September 27, 1999). "Company Stays in Game. Oakhurst Software Company Workers and the County Team Up to Save Jobs". Fresno Bee.
  22. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  23. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Oakhurst CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  24. ^ Romero, Ezra David (September 5, 2017). "Near Yosemite "It's Neighbor Warring Against Neighbor" Over Short-Term Rentals". KVPR. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  25. ^ Lurie, George (May 6, 2019). "Rental Market Being Squeezed By Home-Sharing Apps Like Airbnb". Sierra News Online. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  26. ^ "Final Maps | California Citizens Redistricting Commission". Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  27. ^ "California has new congressional districts. Find yours here". Los Angeles Times. December 21, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  28. ^ "Local Revenue Measures February 2008" (PDF). californiacityfinance.com. February 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 20, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  29. ^ "Official Election Summary" (PDF). votemadera.com. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  30. ^ Clugston, Gina (July 11, 2014). "Oakhurst Has A New Honorary Mayor". Sierra News Online. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  31. ^ Flanagan, Kellie (July 10, 2013). "And The New Honorary Mayor Is…". Sierra News Online. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  32. ^ "Yosemite Unified School District". yosemiteusd.com. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  33. ^ "About SCCCD". scccd.edu. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  34. ^ "About Oakhurst Community College Center". Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  35. ^ "Madera Community College Oakhurst Groundbreaking Ceremony". Sierra News Online. October 4, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  36. ^ "Curious Looks Given Talking Bear". Madera Tribune. Vol. 73, no. 197. February 18, 1965. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  37. ^ "Talking Bear Oakhurst". Southern Yosemite Visitors Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  38. ^ "Old Oakhurst Church Dedication On Sunday." Madera Tribune, vol. 66, no. 47, 9 July 1957. Retrieved from [1]
  39. ^ "The Historic Little Church on the Hill in the heart of Oakhurst, California is turning 120 on June 20, 2014". PRWeb. May 13, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  40. ^ "Lingering on your way to Yosemite". Sunset (Vol. 187, Issue 3). September 1991.
  41. ^ "Mountain Area Plans Big Annual 3-Day Celebration". Madera Tribune. Vol. 74, no. 8. May 25, 1965. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  42. ^ "Sierra Mountaineer Days Slated For Oct. 21-22". Madera Tribune. Vol. 75, no. 114. March 2, 1967. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  43. ^ Flanagan, Kellie (September 9, 2018). "22nd Annual Mountain Heritage Day and Parade". Sierra News Online. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  44. ^ YARTS Highway 41 Bus Schedule
  45. ^ "Madera County Connection Schedule Effective April 2, 2014". County of Madera. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  46. ^ Broadb, Vyve (March 10, 2020). "Eagle Broadband and Northland Communications to Rebrand Under Vyve Broadband". Vyve Broadband. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oakhurst, California.
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