Oakhurst originated in 1858 as Fresno Flats, evolving from a ranching community to a hub for the timber industry and later, tourism. The town was renamed Oakhurst in 1912 following a secret petition by a resident after a local stagecoach robbery. The area was historically a meeting ground for the Miwok, Yokut, and Mono tribes. However, the enactment of the Act for the Government and Protection of Indians in 1850 led to the displacement of many Native Americans, catalyzing the Mariposa War, the first battle of which was fought near present-day Oakhurst.
From 1981 to 1999, Oakhurst was home to Sierra On-Line, a pioneer in the computer game industry, known for creating the first 3D adventure game and one of the first online gaming networks.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 33.5 square miles (87 km2), of which 0.007 square miles (0.018 km2), or 0.02%, are water.[2]
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.[6][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
Oakhurst's existence began in 1858 as "Fresno Flats," named for the Spanish word for ash trees and flat, a colloquial term for a mountain meadow.
Fresno Flats founding was not precipitated by the discovery of precious metals, unlike most other nearby towns founded in the nineteenth century along what came to be known as the Golden Chain Highway.[8]
John Robert Nichols, a rancher, was likely the first Anglo settler in Fresno Flats in 1858.[9] Others joined him, raising livestock and planting orchards, establishing the area permanently. Post-gold rush, the first Chinese family settled by a creek flowing into the Fresno River. As more Chinese families used it, the creek was named China Creek, which remains its name.[10]
Fresno Flats opened its first post office in 1873.[4] The following year, the Madera Flume and Lumber Company started building a log flume by the Fresno River, sparking the local timber industry. By 1876, a wagon road from Madera to Yosemite was complete, shifting the area's main economic focus to tourism. Fresno Flats grew into a key station on this road to Wawona, boasting hotels, stores, a blacksmith, a skating rink, a dancehall, a schoolhouse, and saloons by 1884.[11] The first school, made of logs, was built in 1871, and by 1884, it had an average attendance of 26.9 students with one teacher.[12]
Name change
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.[13] The town was renamed Oakhurst by an Act of Congress that took most people in town by surprise.[14]
Highway Era
Oakhurst's decline started with the mining industry collapse, the end of stagecoach travel to Yosemite, and the 1931 closure of the Madera Sugar Pine Company. The All-Year Highway, opened in 1926, rerouted Yosemite bound auto traffic via California State Route 140 through Merced, further reducing visitor numbers and economic activity in Oakhurst. A new highway route to Yosemite came to fruition in the 1930s with the Fresno-Yosemite road, known today as California State Route 41.[15] This route shortened the trip from Fresno to Yosemite Valley by 35 miles.[16]
Over 1.2 million people annually enter Yosemite National Park through its south gate, predominantly passing through Oakhurst on Highway 41. Tourism significantly affects Oakhurst, especially during summer. This season sees the highest traffic on Highway 41, full hotel occupancy, and a peak in jobs serving visitors, including lodging, dining, retail, and transportation services. The total sales for accommodation and food services in 2017 were $36.5 million dollars.[17] In contrast, these activities and related employment decrease in winter due to reduced off-season activities in Yosemite and surrounding areas.[18]
Oakhurst, California, has experienced notable demographic and socio-economic transformations between the 2000 and 2020 census periods.[20][21] The population more than doubled from 2,868 to 5,945, with a significant increase in households and a shift towards a younger age demographic. While remaining predominantly White, the community saw fluctuations in its Hispanic or Latino population, rising from 9.94% in 2000 to 16.7% in 2010, and then slightly decreasing to 12.0% by 2020.
Socio-economic developments included a substantial rise in median household income from $27,679 to $73,333, alongside high rates of educational attainment and technological adoption. Despite these advancements, challenges persist in areas such as poverty and health insurance coverage, reflecting the evolving character of this dynamic community.
2020
As of the 2020 census, there were 5,945 people, and 2,180 households in the CDP.[17] The demographic profile of the area presents a diverse community with distinct age groups and gender distribution. Children under 5 years constitute 3.1% of the population, while those under 18 years make up 18.2%. A significant portion of the population, 25.6%, is aged 65 and over. Females represent a majority, accounting for 56.5% of the population.
In terms of racial and ethnic composition, the majority of the population is White, at 87.8%. The Black or African American community comprises a small fraction at 0.3%, similar to the American Indian and Alaska Native population at 0.2%. Asians represent 1.8% of the populace, and those identifying with two or more races make up 7.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.0% of the population, while 83.0% are White not of Hispanic or Latino origin.
The area is home to 357 veterans as of the 2018-2022 period. Foreign-born individuals make up 5.7% of the population, indicating a degree of cultural diversity.
Housing in the region is predominantly owner-occupied, with a rate of 79.9%. The median value of these owner-occupied housing units is $369,900. Housing costs vary, with median monthly owner costs of $2,189 for those with a mortgage and $637 for those without. The median gross rent stands at $1,303.
Family and living arrangements show that there are 2,180 households, with an average size of 2.29 persons. A large majority, 87.2%, have been living in the same house for at least one year. A portion of the population, 10.5%, speaks a language other than English at home.
Technological adoption is high, with 92.4% of households having a computer and 85.9% with broadband Internet subscriptions. Educationally, the area is well-educated, with 91.3% of those aged 25 and over being high school graduates, and 29.4% holding a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthwise, 18.1% of the population under 65 years have a disability, and 8.3% of the same age group are without health insurance. In terms of economic participation, 57.9% of the population aged 16 and over are part of the civilian labor force, with equal participation among females.
In terms of income and poverty, the median household income is $73,333, and the per capita income is $44,763. The poverty rate stands at 16.2%.
On February 5, 2008 residents voted on Measure C, a proposal to incorporate Oakhurst as a city.[24] The measure failed with 56% voting against and 44% in favor.[25]
Honorary mayor
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 notably supported local charities by raising significant amounts over the years.[26][27]
Education
Oakhurst is home to Yosemite High School and the headquarters for the Yosemite Unified School District. Many primary schools across eastern Madera County feed into the high school.[28]
Oakhurst Community College Center is a two-year institution that offers programs in two-year degrees and general education for transfer.[29] Founded in the 1980s, it is located on Road 426 off Highway 41, near the local Madera County Library branch as of September 2020[update].[30] The State Center Community College DistrictBoard of Trustees approved plans to relocate the college to a new 30-acre site along Highway 49. Construction is estimated to cost $25 million and be completed by spring 2022.[31]
Attractions
The Talking Bear
Celebrated as both a local landmark and roadside attraction, the Talking Bear is a prominent fiberglass grizzly bear statue located at the intersection of Highway 41 and Road 426. Known for its distinctive design and cultural significance, the statue has become a notable feature in the area since it was installed in 1965.[32] 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.[33]
Historic Buildings
The Little Church on the Hill was built in 1894 and moved from Chapel Hill to its current location in Oakhill Cemetery in 1957.[34] Built from sugar pine lumber from the local mills, it was the first house of worship in Fresno Flats and met the needs of all denominations for over 50 years.[35] The church and cemetery were designated as 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, where Boot Taylor, one of the first Sierra National Forest rangers was raised, the two-story Laramore-Layman House, built in the 1870s, the Raymond Jail built in 1890, and several single-room schoolhouses.[36]
The Little Church on the Hill at Oakhill Cemetery in Oakhurst, California
The 1890 pioneer jail at Fresno Flats Historical Village was relocated from nearby Raymond.
Sierra Mountaineer Days
Sierra Mountaineer Days, an annual festival established in 1964, became a significant event, drawing over 10,000 visitors each year at its peak.[37] The three-day event featured a parade, barbecue, rodeo, and beauty pageant, celebrating the region's history. It focused on the 19th-century miners' lifestyle and the importance of the logging industry, highlighting the area's rich heritage.[38]
In the late 1990s, the festival experienced a revival and was renamed Mountain Heritage Day, now held at Fresno Flats Historic Village. This modern version of the event continues to honor the area's unique cultural and historical background.[39]
Infrastructure
Transportation
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,[40] and by the Madera County Connection bus system, which travels to Madera and Bass Lake.[41]
^ abcDurham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 810-811. ISBN1-884995-14-4.
^Fresno Flats Historical Village and Park (Display outside museum). Oakhurst, CA: Madera County Historical Society. 2022.
^Coate, William S. (1992). Pieces of the Past: Madera County Vignettes. Madera, California: The Classroom Chronicles Press. p. 137.
^Madera County Cemetery District (Grave marker plaque). Oakhill Cemetery, Oakhurst, California: Madera County Cemetery District and the Madera and Merced County Supervisors. 1970.
United States
California
