Oildale, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oildale, California
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Location in Kern County and the state of California
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 Oildale, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Kern |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.533 sq mi (16.920 km2) |
| • Land | 6.533 sq mi (16.920 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 469 ft (143 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 36,135 |
| • Density | 5,531.1/sq mi (2,135.64/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
93308
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| Area code(s) | 661 |
| FIPS code | 06-53448 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1652762 |
Oildale is a community in Kern County, California, United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area defined by the government for collecting population information, but it doesn't have its own city government.
Oildale is located about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north-northwest of downtown Bakersfield. It sits at an elevation of about 469 feet (143 meters) above sea level. In 2020, Oildale had a population of 35,520 people. It is a suburban town just north of Bakersfield, across the Kern River. It is also west of the Kern River Oil Field and east of Highway 99.
Contents
History of Oildale
Oildale was founded in 1909. Before it was called Oildale, it had other names like Waits and North Side. Samuel Dickinson was the person who divided his land to create the community.
The first post office in Oildale opened in 1916. An interesting fact from history is that many of the original U-2 spy planes were built in Oildale. These planes were flown out of a secret base called Groom Lake. The factory where they were built was disguised as a tire factory. It was located west of Meadows Field Airport on Norris Road.
Geography and Oil Fields
Oildale covers a total area of about 6.533 square miles (16.920 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.
The community is located next to three large oil fields. Two of these are among the biggest in California. The huge Kern River Oil Field is to the east and northeast of Oildale. In 2006, this field had over 9,000 active oil wells. This makes it one of the largest oil fields in California.
Another large oil field nearby is the Kern Front Oil Field, which is north of Oildale. To the southwest, you can find the smaller Fruitvale Oil Field. These oil fields have played a big part in the history and economy of the area.
Population and People
Oildale's Population in 2010
In 2010, Oildale had a population of 32,684 people. The population density was about 5,003 people per square mile (1,932 per square kilometer).
Most of the people in Oildale were White, making up about 84% of the population. Other groups included African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 19.3% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The census showed that almost everyone lived in homes, with only a very small number in group living situations. The average household had about 2.71 people.
Oildale's Population in 2000
In the year 2000, Oildale had a population of 27,885 people. The population density was about 4,332 people per square mile (1,673 per square kilometer).
The racial makeup was similar to 2010, with a majority of White residents. About 10.14% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average household size was 2.53 people. The average family size was 3.11 people. The median age in Oildale was 33 years old. This means half the population was younger than 33, and half was older.
Famous People from Oildale
Many well-known people have connections to Oildale. Here are a few:
- Vern Burke – A professional football player.
- Merle Haggard – A famous country music artist.
- Kevin Harvick – A well-known NASCAR driver.
- Gerald Haslam – An author.
- Amber Hollibaugh – A writer, filmmaker, activist, and organizer.
- Buck Owens – Another famous country music artist.
- Jonathan Davis – The lead singer of the band Korn.
See also
In Spanish: Oildale para niños
