Oakdale, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
City of Oakdale
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South Sierra Avenue
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| Motto(s):
Cowboy Capital of the World; Home of the Mustangs
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Location in Stanislaus County and the state of California
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 Oakdale, California
Location in California
Oakdale, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  California |
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| County | Stanislaus | |
| Incorporated | November 24, 1906 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 6.26 sq mi (16.22 km2) | |
| • Land | 6.22 sq mi (16.12 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) 0.81% | |
| Elevation | 157 ft (48 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 23,181 | |
| • Density | 3,703.0/sq mi (1,429.2/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) | |
| ZIP code |
95361
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| Area code | 209 | |
| FIPS code | 06-52694 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0277564 | |
Oakdale is a city in Stanislaus County, California. It is located in the San Joaquin Valley. The city is part of the Modesto area.
Oakdale is known as the "Cowboy Capital of the World." In 2020, about 23,181 people lived there. This number has grown from 20,675 in 2010 and 15,503 in 2000.
Contents
History of Oakdale
The city of Oakdale started in 1871. This happened when two railroads, the Stockton and Visalia Railroad and the Copperopolis Railroad, met there. Oakdale was also home to Taylor's Ferry Crossing. This was a place to cross the Stanislaus River on an old road in the 1800s.
Oakdale was used as a filming spot for the movie Bound For Glory. The city looked like a dusty Texas town for the movie's railroad scenes. Oakdale was also recognized for having many almond trees.
Geography and Climate
Oakdale is located near the Stanislaus River. It is in the eastern part of the San Joaquin Valley. The city is also close to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Two main roads, California State Routes 108 and 120, meet in Oakdale.
The city covers about 6.1 square miles (16.2 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Oakdale Weather
The weather in Oakdale is measured at Woodward Dam. In January, the average high temperature is about 52.4°F (11.3°C). The average low is about 35.1°F (1.7°C). In July, it gets much hotter. The average high is about 102.8°F (39.3°C). The average low is about 58.4°F (14.7°C).
The hottest temperature ever recorded was 114°F (45.6°C) in July 1925. The coldest was 12°F (-11.1°C) in December 1932. Each year, Oakdale has about 84 days where the temperature reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher. There are also about 30 days where the temperature drops to 32°F (0°C) or lower.
Oakdale gets about 13.33 inches (339 mm) of rain each year. It rains on about 44 days a year. The most rain in one year was 22.15 inches (563 mm) in 1958. The least was 7.99 inches (203 mm) in 1947. The most rain in one day was 5.7 inches (140 mm) in April 1958. It even snowed 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in January 1930.
| Climate data for Oakdale, California (Woodward Dam, 1906-1967) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) |
83 (28) |
83 (28) |
96 (36) |
103 (39) |
112 (44) |
114 (46) |
110 (43) |
110 (43) |
99 (37) |
88 (31) |
77 (25) |
114 (46) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 52.4 (11.3) |
59.0 (15.0) |
63.8 (17.7) |
70.7 (21.5) |
80.5 (26.9) |
89.1 (31.7) |
95.8 (35.4) |
93.9 (34.4) |
88.0 (31.1) |
78.6 (25.9) |
65.7 (18.7) |
54.2 (12.3) |
74.3 (23.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 35.1 (1.7) |
38.4 (3.6) |
40.8 (4.9) |
43.5 (6.4) |
48.2 (9.0) |
54.4 (12.4) |
58.4 (14.7) |
57.1 (13.9) |
54.1 (12.3) |
48.0 (8.9) |
40.2 (4.6) |
36.3 (2.4) |
46.2 (7.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 14 (−10) |
20 (−7) |
24 (−4) |
27 (−3) |
34 (1) |
37 (3) |
46 (8) |
46 (8) |
37 (3) |
30 (−1) |
20 (−7) |
12 (−11) |
12 (−11) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.81 (71) |
2.42 (61) |
2.33 (59) |
1.24 (31) |
.58 (15) |
.12 (3.0) |
0 (0) |
.02 (0.51) |
.18 (4.6) |
.65 (17) |
1.30 (33) |
2.77 (70) |
14.42 (365.11) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ .01 in) | 8 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 44 |
People in Oakdale (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 376 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,012 | 169.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,035 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,745 | 68.6% | |
| 1930 | 2,112 | 21.0% | |
| 1940 | 2,592 | 22.7% | |
| 1950 | 4,064 | 56.8% | |
| 1960 | 4,980 | 22.5% | |
| 1970 | 6,594 | 32.4% | |
| 1980 | 8,474 | 28.5% | |
| 1990 | 11,961 | 41.1% | |
| 2000 | 15,503 | 29.6% | |
| 2010 | 20,675 | 33.4% | |
| 2020 | 23,181 | 12.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Information
In 2020, Oakdale had a population of 23,181 people. The city had about 3,724 people per square mile. Most residents, about 74.5%, were White. About 31.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
There were 8,167 households, with an average of 2.79 people living in each. About 27.9% of the population was under 18 years old. About 12.8% of people were 65 or older. The average household income was $72,479.
2010 Census Information
In 2010, Oakdale's population was 20,675. The population density was about 3,393 people per square mile. About 80.1% of the people were White. About 26.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Most people (99.1%) lived in homes. There were 7,288 households in total. About 41.4% of these households had children under 18. The average household size was 2.81 people.
About 27.9% of the people were under 18. About 12.3% were 65 or older. The average age in Oakdale was 34.9 years.
2000 Census Information
In 2000, Oakdale had 15,503 people living in 5,610 households. The population density was about 3,085 people per square mile. About 83.82% of the people were White.
About 37.9% of households had children under 18. The average household size was 2.73 people. The average family size was 3.20 people.
About 28.9% of the population was under 18. About 12.8% were 65 or older. The average age was 34 years. The average household income was $39,338. About 11.3% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Environment and Land
Soil and Ground
Historically, the land around Oakdale has been used for farms and orchards. Common soil types include Delhi sand and Oakdale sandy loam. The city is mostly flat, about 190 feet (58 meters) above sea level. Water generally flows northwest towards the Stanislaus River.
Environmental Cleanups
In the past, there were some issues where certain substances got into the ground and water. These issues were caused by things like underground tank failures. When these problems were found, cleanup work began to make sure the environment was safe. For example, at a service station on East F Street, a fuel leak was found in 1985. Cleanup efforts started in 1989 to fix the problem. Another service station and a business also had similar issues that required cleanup.
Economy of Oakdale
Oakdale's economy mainly focuses on farming, making food products, and tourism.
The city used to have a Hershey Chocolate plant. It opened in 1965 and employed about 575 people. This plant closed in 2008. Later, Sconza Chocolates bought the plant and started making chocolates there in October 2008.
Other large food companies are also nearby. For example, a ConAgra Foods Hunt's plant is one of the biggest tomato processing factories in the world. Raising cattle is also common in the areas around Oakdale. This adds to the different types of businesses in the city.
Education in Oakdale
Oakdale has a school district called the Oakdale Joint Unified School District. It includes a high school, a junior high school, and four elementary schools.
- Oakdale High School; its mascot is the mustang.
- Oakdale Junior High School; its mascot is the ram.
- Cloverland Elementary School; its mascot is the cougar.
- Fair Oaks Elementary School: its mascot is the falcon.
- Magnolia Elementary School: its mascot is the bear.
- Sierra View Elementary School; its mascot is the coyote.
Notable People from Oakdale
- Bruce Coslet - a professional football player and coach. He was born in Oakdale and went to Oakdale High School.
- Eddie LeBaron - a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He also went to Oakdale High School.
- Eric Medlen - an NHRA Fuel Funny Car driver. He attended Oakdale High School and grew up in Oakdale.
- Brett Dennen - a musician.
- Matt Vandagriff - a professional wrestler.
Fun Things to Do (Attractions)
The Oakdale Cowboy Museum teaches visitors about the area's ranchers and rodeo cowboys and cowgirls. You can see old photos, saddles, and rodeo items. The museum is in the old Southern Pacific Railroad station.
The Oakdale Museum is in the oldest house in Oakdale. It shows what life was like for families and businesses in the past. You can see old furniture, clothes, and yearbooks. It's also a place to research family history.
Oakdale Cheese & Specialties is a cheese shop run by Walter and Lenneke Bulk, who are from the Netherlands. Their family has been making cheese for four generations. They are known for their Gouda cheese.
The Stanislaus River is a great place for outdoor activities. You can go rafting, kayaking, swimming, fishing, camping, and hiking there.
The Sierra DinnerTrain is located near the main intersection in Oakdale. This train runs on one of the oldest rail lines in North America, the Sierra Railroad. The train has been in many movies. It travels through the countryside and offers a unique way to enjoy a meal or a family trip all year round.
Images for kids
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Victorian era First National Bank of Oakdale building in downtown Oakdale.
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Looking north down Yosemite Avenue toward downtown Oakdale.
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The Oakdale Cowboy Museum.
See also
In Spanish: Oakdale (California) para niños
