Oakhurst, California
Oakhurst | |
|---|---|
Oakhurst seen from the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway Oakhill Cemetery State Route 41 Welcome Sign | |
Location in Madera County and the state of California | |
| Coordinates: 37°19′41″N 119°38′58″W / 37.32806°N 119.64944°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Madera |
| Area | |
• Total | 33.46 sq mi (86.7 km2) |
| • Land | 33.45 sq mi (86.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) 0.02% |
| Elevation | 2,274 ft (693 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,945 |
| • Density | 177.7/sq mi (68.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 93644 |
| Area code | 559 |
| FIPS code | 06-52764 |
| GNIS feature ID | 277565 |
Oakhurst (formerly Fresno Flats) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Madera County, California, located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada approximately 14 miles (23 km) south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park. Positioned at the junction of Highway 41 and Highway 49, Oakhurst sits at the southern edge of California’s Gold Country and had a population of 5,945 as of the 2020 United States census.
Founded in 1858 as Fresno Flats, the town developed as a cattle stop and later a logging hub, eventually becoming a gateway to Yosemite. The surrounding area was historically a gathering place for the Miwok, Yokuts, and Mono peoples and was the site of early conflicts following California statehood, including the opening battle of the Mariposa War. In the late 20th century, Oakhurst became an unlikely center of innovation in the emerging computer game industry as the headquarters of Sierra On-Line, known for pioneering graphic adventure games and the first dedicated online gaming network.
Today, Oakhurst remains both a residential and tourist hub, shaped by its geography, its role in Yosemite-bound travel, and its layered history as a crossroads between frontier industries—timber, tourism, and technology.