Oakdale, California
Encyclopedia
Stanislaus County, California
Stanislaus County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. As the price of housing has increased in the San Francisco Bay Area, many people who work in the southern reaches of the Bay Area have opted for the longer commute and moved to Stanislaus County for the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the Modesto
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city was founded in 1871 when the Stockton & Visalia Railroad met the Copperopolis Railroad. Oakdale goes by the slogan "Cowboy Capital of the World." The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census, up from 15,503 at the 2000 census.
Geography and climate
The city is located in the east-central portion of the Central Valley, adjacent to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. California State Routes 108California State Route 108
State Route 108, also known as Highway 108, is a numbered state highway in California. SR 108 runs generally northeast across central California from downtown Modesto near the SR 99/SR 132 interchange, crossing the Sierra Nevada at Sonora Pass, to U.S. Route 395 near the Nevada state line...
and 120
California State Route 120
State Route 120 , in northern California, runs between the Central Valley near Manteca, through Yosemite National Park, and ends at U.S. Route 6 in Mono County.-Route description:...
(Tioga Pass Road) intersect in the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²), of which 6 square miles (15.5 km²) is land and 0.05 square mile (0.1294994055 km²) (0.81%) is water.
The National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
has maintained a cooperative weather station at Woodward Dam for many years. In January, average temperatures are a maximum of 52.4°F (11.33°C) and a minimum of 35.1°F (1.72°C). In July, average temperatures are a maximum of 102.8°F (39.33°C) and a minimum of 58.4°F (14.67°C). The record high temperature was 114°F (45.56°C) on July 18, 1925. The record low temperature was 12°F (-11.11°C) on December 11, 1932. Annually, there are an average of 84.6 days with highs of 90°F (32°C) or higher and an average of 30.8 days with lows of 32°F (0°C) or lower.
Average annual rainfall is 13.33 inches. There are an average of 44 days annually with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1958 with 22.15 inches and the dryest year was 1947 with 7.99 inches. The most rainfall in one month was 8.63 inches in January 1911. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 5.72 inches on April 3, 1958. The record snowfall was 1.5 inches in January 1930.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Oakdale had a population of 20,675. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,392.6 people per square mile (1,309.9/km²). The racial makeup of Oakdale was 16,558 (80.1%) White, 163 (0.8%) African American, 210 (1.0%) Native American, 463 (2.2%) Asian, 37 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 2,386 (11.5%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 858 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5,398 persons (26.1%).
The Census reported that 20,488 people (99.1% of the population) lived in households, 75 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 112 (0.5%) were institutionalized.
There were 7,288 households, out of which 3,016 (41.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,853 (52.9%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 1,009 (13.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 436 (6.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 517 (7.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 36 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,573 households (21.6%) were made up of individuals and 694 (9.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81. There were 5,298 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(72.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.28.
The population was spread out with 5,766 people (27.9%) under the age of 18, 1,837 people (8.9%) aged 18 to 24, 5,436 people (26.3%) aged 25 to 44, 5,083 people (24.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,553 people (12.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.9 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
There were 7,822 housing units at an average density of 1,283.5 per square mile (495.6/km²), of which 4,454 (61.1%) were owner-occupied, and 2,834 (38.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%. 12,342 people (59.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 8,146 people (39.4%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 15,503 people, 5,610 households, and 4,050 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,084.6 people per square mile (1,190.0/km²). There were 5,805 housing units at an average density of 1,155.0 per square mile (445.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.82% White, 5.48% African American, 1.09% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 9.27% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.04% from two or more races.
There were 5,610 households out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,338, and the median income for a family was $44,024. Males had a median income of $40,494 versus $24,747 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,019. About 8.6% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
Soil characteristics
Historically the area has been used for orchardOrchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s and other agricultural uses. Some of the common soil types found in Oakdale are Delhi sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
, Oakdale sandy loam
Loam
Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
, Hanford sandy loam, and Tujunga loamy sand. Oakdale is generally on level ground at an elevation of approximately 190 feet (57.9 m) above mean sea level. Drainage is generally to the northwest towards the Stanislaus River
Stanislaus River
The Stanislaus River in California is one of the largest tributaries of the San Joaquin River. The river is long and has north, middle and south forks...
.
There have been several local releases of toxic chemicals that have resulted in soil contamination
Soil contamination
Soil contamination or soil pollution is caused by the presence of xenobiotic chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment....
and aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
contamination. Examples of these releases are:
- Beacon Service Station, 1590 East F Street, Oakdale. This release was a fuel leak caused by an underground tank failure in 1985. Approximately 2,000 gallons of product was released into the environment. The groundwater has been contaminated with reported benzeneBenzeneBenzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
concentrations as high as 1790 parts per billion. Soil remediation began as early as 1989.
- Chevron Service Station, 346 East F Street, Oakdale. An unknown quantity of gasoline was released. The release was discovered on May 25, 1987 through a site inspection. Groundwater is contaminated and cleanup work ensued.
- Cruse Brothers, 663 South Yosemite Avenue, Oakdale. Diesel fuel contamination was discovered on November 11, 1988 during the removal of a 30-year old steel 500-gallon tank. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board sent an Enforcement Action Letter on January 23, 1989.
Economy
The Oakdale economy centers on agriculture, food manufacturing, and tourism. Due to its location at the eastern edge of the California's Central Valley the city is known as "The Gateway to Yosemite", a reference to nearby Yosemite National ParkYosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
and the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Oakdale was the home to a satellite plant of Hershey Chocolate, but the plant closed in January 2008. It opened on May 22, 1965 and employed about 575 locals. The plant was purchased by Sconza Candy Company, which began production in October 2008. Many other large food manufacturing operations are nearby including a ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods, Inc. is an American packaged foods company. ConAgra's products are available in supermarkets, as well as restaurants and food service establishments. Its headquarters are located in Omaha, Nebraska...
Hunt's
Hunt's
Hunt's is the name of a brand of preserved tomato products owned by ConAgra Foods, Inc. The company was founded in 1888, in Sebastopol, California, as the Hunt Bros. Fruit Packing Co. by Joseph and William Hunt. The brothers relocated to nearby Santa Rosa in 1890, and then to Hayward in 1895...
plant which is one of the largest tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
processing plants in the world. Cattle ranching is common in the surrounding areas, adding to the diversity and character of the local economy.
Education
Oakdale has a high school, a junior high school and four elementary schools. Together they comprise the Oakdale Joint Unified School DistrictOakdale Joint Unified School District
The Oakdale Joint Unified School District serves approximately 5,200 students in Oakdale, California, USA. The Oakdale Union Elementary School District and the Oakdale Joint Union High School District were merged, to create the Oakdale Joint Unified School District, on 1 July 1998...
.
- Oakdale High School; mascot is the mustangMustang (horse)A Mustang is a free-roaming horse of the North American west that first descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but there is intense debate over terminology...
. - Oakdale Junior High School; mascot is the ramDomestic sheepSheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...
. - Cloverland Elementary School; mascot is the cougar.
- Fair Oaks Elementary School: mascot is the falcon.
- Magnolia Elementary School: mascot is the bear.
- Sierra View Elementary School; mascot is the coyote.
Notable natives
- College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
member Eddie LeBaron attended Oakdale High School. - Professional football player and coach Bruce CosletBruce CosletBruce Coslet is a former American college and professional football player and professional football coach. A tight end, he played for the University of the Pacific and in 1969 debuted with the American Football League's Cincinnati Bengals...
was born in Oakdale. He attended Oakdale High School, winning 16 varsity letters before graduating and playing at University of the Pacific. - Oakdale is the birthplace of singer/songwriters Brett DennenBrett DennenBrett Dennen is a folk/pop singer and songwriter from Northern California.-Biography:Brett Dennen attended UC Santa Cruz from 2000–2004, where he was a student at Kresge College....
and William Duke. - Drag racer Eric MedlenEric MedlenEric Medlen , son of John and Mary Medlen and brother of Eryn Medlen, was an NHRA Fuel Funny Car driver...
attended Oakdale High School and also was raised in Oakdale.
- Michael AllsupMichael AllsupMichael Allsup is an American guitarist, best known for his contribution as a member of the rock and roll group, Three Dog Night....
, guitarist for the band Three Dog NightThree Dog NightThree Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
was born in Oakdale - Miguel Olivo, Catcher Seattle Mariners resides in Oakdale.
Attractions
The Oakdale Cowboy Museum focuses on area ranchers, rodeoRodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
cowboys and cowgirls. Exhibits include historic photographs, saddles, rodeo artifacts and cowboy gear.