Ockenden, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ockenden
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 Ockenden
Location in California
Ockenden
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Fresno County |
| Elevation | 5,568 ft (1,697 m) |
Ockenden is a small, quiet place in Fresno County, California. It's known as an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. This community is located about 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) south of Shaver Lake Heights. Ockenden sits high up, at an elevation of 5,568 feet (1,697 meters) above sea level.
Discovering Ockenden's Past
Ockenden has an interesting history, even though it's a small place today. Long ago, it was a busy spot with its own services.
Early Days and the Post Office
A post office was open in Ockenden for many years, from 1893 to 1918. This was a very important service back then, helping people send and receive letters and packages. The community was named after Thomas J. Ockenden, who was the very first postmaster there. A postmaster is the person in charge of a post office.
The Bretz Mill Story
Just one mile (about 1.6 kilometers) east of Ockenden, on a place called Pine Ridge, there was a big lumber mill known as Bretz Mill. Joseph Bretz, who came from Iowa, started this mill in the 1880s. It was a very productive mill, making millions of "board feet" of lumber. A board foot is a way to measure wood. The mill also produced other wood products like posts, shakes (which are like roof shingles), and shingles. This mill played a big part in the local economy during its time.
