Fair Oaks, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fair Oaks
Census designated place
Country	United States
State	California
County	Sacramento
Area
• Total	11.245 sq mi (29.12 km2)
• Land	10.793 sq mi (27.95 km2)
• Water	0.452 sq mi (1.17 km2)  4.02%
Elevation	174 ft (53 m)
Population  (April 1, 2020)
• Total	32,514
• Density	2,891.42/sq mi (1,116.38/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP code	95628
Area code	916, 279
FIPS code	06-23294
GNIS feature IDs	277510, 2408100

Fair Oaks is a special kind of community called a census-designated place (CDP). It is located in Sacramento County, California, in the United States. Fair Oaks is part of the larger Sacramento area.

In 2020, about 32,514 people lived here. This was more than the 30,912 people counted in 2010. Fair Oaks has its own ZIP code, 95628, and its phone area codes are 916 and 279. It is surrounded by other towns like Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Orangevale, and the American River.

Exploring Fair Oaks: Location and Weather

Where is Fair Oaks?

Fair Oaks is a beautiful town with lots of trees and rolling streets. It is located at 38°39′5″N 121°15′33″W / 38.65139°N 121.25917°W / 38.65139; -121.25917, which is between the cities of Sacramento and Folsom.

The American River forms the southern border of Fair Oaks. To the north, you'll find Citrus Heights. To the west is Carmichael, and to the east are Orangevale and Folsom. Fair Oaks has a mix of nice homes and a few apartments. It feels a bit like a countryside neighborhood but is still close to Highway 50.

The total area of Fair Oaks is about 11.2 square miles (29 km²). Most of this is land (10.8 square miles (28 km²)), and a small part is water (0.5 square miles (1.3 km²)).

What's the Weather Like?

Fair Oaks has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.

Temperatures in Fair Oaks

The average yearly temperature is about 61.0 °F (16.1 °C). In December, the average temperature is around 46.4 °F (8.0 °C), and in July, it's about 75.5 °F (24.2 °C). During summer, a cool breeze from the San Francisco Bay often helps to lower temperatures at night. This breeze is called the "delta breeze."

On average, there are about 73 days a year when the temperature goes above 90 °F (32 °C). About 14 of those days see temperatures over 100 °F (38 °C). On the other hand, there are about 15 days when the temperature stays below 50 °F (10 °C). It also freezes about 15 nights each year.

December and January are the foggiest months. Sometimes, a very thick fog called Tule fog can make it hard to see, making driving dangerous. When Tule fog is present, temperatures usually stay below 50 degrees.

Rainfall in Fair Oaks

Fair Oaks gets about 18.52 inches (470 mm) of rain each year. Most of the rain falls between October and April. It rarely rains in June or September. On average, it rains about 60 days a year, mostly in winter. January usually gets the most rain, about 3.67 in (93 mm).

Snow is very rare in Fair Oaks because it is only 174 ft (53 m) above sea level. Sometimes, during cold winter or spring storms, there can be a lot of hail, which can make roads slippery. If snow does fall, it usually melts quickly.

Old Fair Oaks Village: The Heart of Town

Chickens running free in Fair Oaks village.

The main part of Fair Oaks is called Old Fair Oaks Village. It's about half a mile from the American River Parkway. This village is home to the Veterans Memorial Amphitheatre. Many fun events happen here, like the Fair Oaks Theater Festival and the Fair Oaks Fiesta and Car Show.

One of the most unique things about the village is its population of about 200 free-roaming chickens! Every September, the town celebrates these birds with the annual Fair Oaks Chicken Festival.

The village also has the Fair Oaks History Center. Here, you can learn about how Fair Oaks was founded and grew. It has old pictures and items from the early 1900s, and even some artifacts from the early Maidu Indian people who lived here long ago.

The Fair Oaks Recreation & Parks District is working to improve the Community Club House, Theatre, and Village Park. This means some events might be on hold until the improvements are finished.

Fair Oaks Population

Fair Oaks has grown steadily over the years. In 2010, the population was 30,912 people. Most residents were White (85.7%), but there were also people of African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander backgrounds. About 9.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Most people in Fair Oaks live in family homes. In 2010, about 27% of households had children under 18. The average household had about 2.37 people. The median age of people in Fair Oaks was 45.8 years old.

A Look Back: The History of Fair Oaks

How Fair Oaks Began

Fair Oaks started as part of a large land grant called Rancho San Juan in 1844. In 1895, two men from Chicago, Charles Henry Howard and James W. Wilson, bought land in what would become Fair Oaks. At that time, it was mostly citrus farms.

Their company, Howard-Wilson Publishing, advertised Fair Oaks as a great place to grow citrus fruits. Many of the first people who bought land here were not farmers, but professionals like bankers and engineers.

By 1897, about 300 people lived in Fair Oaks. However, not enough farmers moved there, so the Howard-Wilson Company left the area. Then, a group of business people from Chicago and Sacramento formed the Chicago-Fair Oaks Club in 1899. They worked to get a bridge built in Fair Oaks in 1901. Another group, the Fair Oaks Development Company, also helped. They called Fair Oaks the "crown of the valley."

These groups successfully built a good water supply. They also convinced the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce to build a bridge across the American River in Fair Oaks in 1901. At the same time, the Southern Pacific Rail Road Company built a train line to the bridge. Today, locals call this bridge "The Red Bridge." There's a trail nearby where people can sit on cliffs and watch the sunset over the river.

Growth and Changes in the 20th Century

Fair Oaks grew quickly after the Fair Oaks Bridge and the railroad line were completed. In 1902, the Fair Oaks Fruit Company started. They built a warehouse to ship citrus fruits, almonds, and olives. More services came to town, and by 1906, Fair Oaks had a post office, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, and several stores on Main Street.

Two churches and two schools were built by 1910. The Fair Oaks Library Association built a permanent library in 1912. The Fair Oaks Civic Club bought and developed the Plaza in 1918, which is still used today for fun activities.

Losing the Citrus Farms

In 1932, during the Great Depression, a big freeze destroyed many citrus groves. Another freeze in 1934 meant Fair Oaks was no longer a major citrus producer. For many years after, the town's economy struggled.

In 1955, a company called Aerojet, which made rocket engines, opened a facility nearby. This helped the Fair Oaks economy recover. Even when Aerojet's employment dropped later, Fair Oaks continued to grow. This was because Highway 50 made it easier to get to Sacramento, and the Sunrise Boulevard Bridge was built in 1954. This allowed people in Fair Oaks to find jobs in nearby areas and made it easier for people from Sacramento to move to Fair Oaks. The town changed from a farming community to a place where many people lived and worked in the larger Sacramento area.

Getting Around Fair Oaks

Public Transportation

Fair Oaks has public transportation provided by the Sacramento Regional Transit District. There is one light rail stop at Hazel Avenue.

There are also many bike trails in the area. The biggest one is the American River Parkway Bike Trail, which is great for cycling.

Fair Oaks Blvd as it passes through Fair Oaks Village

Main Roads and Highways

The main highways that help you get to Fair Oaks are:

• Interstate 80: This highway goes west to San Francisco and east to Reno. You can get to Fair Oaks from the Auburn Blvd and Madison Ave exits.
• Interstate 80 Business: This road splits off I-80 and goes west to Sacramento.
• Highway 50: This highway goes west to Sacramento and east to South Lake Tahoe. You can access Fair Oaks from the Sunrise and Hazel Ave exits.
• State Route 244: This road is not marked but connects Auburn Blvd (Winding Way from Fair Oaks) to I-80 and I-80 Business.

Major Local Roads

The main streets in Fair Oaks include:

• Madison Avenue (runs east-west)
• Sunrise Boulevard (runs north-south)
• Hazel Avenue (runs north-south)
• Sunset Avenue (runs east-west)
• Fair Oaks Boulevard (runs east-west)

Other important roads are Sunset Avenue and Winding Way.

Traffic Notes

The Sunrise Avenue Bridge can get very busy. It's often crowded in the morning when people are driving south, and in the afternoon when they are driving north from Highway 50.

Fair Oaks Public Library

Fair Oaks has a public library that is part of the Sacramento Public Library system. It is located at 11601 Fair Oaks Boulevard, near Madison Avenue and Fair Oaks Park. The library is open most days of the week:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 10 AM - 7 PM
• Friday and Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Sunday: 12 PM - 5 PM

Famous People From Fair Oaks

Many notable people have lived in or are from Fair Oaks, including:

• Lynn Anderson: A famous singer, known for her song "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden".
• Matt Barnes: A professional basketball player.
• Joe Carnahan: A director who made the movie Smokin' Aces.
• Dave Cox: A former California state senator.
• Carl Cranke: A professional motorcycle racer.
• Andy Fox: A former professional baseball player and coach.
• Beth Gaines: A former California State Assemblywoman.
• Sam Long: A baseball player for the San Francisco Giants.
• Joan Lunden: A former host of Good Morning America.
• Roger Niello: A California State Assemblyman.
• Nicholas Sparks: A well-known author who wrote books like The Notebook and A Walk to Remember.
• Gavin Newsom: The current governor of California, who has a home in Fair Oaks.

See also

In Spanish: Fair Oaks (California) para niños