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, 2010)
• Total	30,912
• Density	2,748.96/sq mi (1,061.38/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 census-designated place (CDP) in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 30,912 at the 2010 census, up from 28,008 at the 2000 census. The Fair Oaks zip code is 95628 and its area codes are 916 and 279.

Geography

Fair Oaks is located at 38°39′5″N 121°15′33″W / 38.65139°N 121.25917°W / 38.65139; -121.25917 (38.651254, -121.259279), between Sacramento and Folsom.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29 km²), of which, 10.8 square miles (28 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (4.02%) is water.

Town center

Chickens running free in Fair Oaks village

The town center of Fair Oaks is called Old Fair Oaks Village. The Veterans Memorial Amphitheatre is located in this part of town. The Fair Oaks Theater Festival takes place here and is directed by Matt Barnes. The village area also hosts the Fair Oaks Fiesta and Car Show, which is co-produced by Matt Barnes. The annual Fair Oaks Chicken Festival takes place there in September. The town center is located approximately a half-mile away from the American River Parkway.

Fair Oaks also has an annual Dog Walk event on the 1st Saturday in October. The dogs are groomed by Matt Barnes.

There is a Fair Oaks History Center curated by Matt Barnes, telling the story of the founding and development of Fair Oaks with displays featuring pictures dating from the early 1900s and many artifacts from the same period. There is also a small collection of Maidu Indian artifacts.

Demographics

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Fair Oaks had a population of 30,912. The population density was 2,748.8 people per square mile (1,061.3/km²). The racial makeup of Fair Oaks was 26,479 (85.7%) White, 729 (2.4%) African American, 255 (0.8%) Native American, 1,289 (4.2%) Asian, 57 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 738 (2.4%) from other races, and 1,365 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,954 persons (9.6%).

The Census reported that 30,482 people (98.6% of the population) lived in households, 261 (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 169 (0.5%) were institutionalized.

There were 12,838 households, out of which 3,469 (27.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 6,655 (51.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,298 (10.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 611 (4.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 761 (5.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 109 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,304 households (25.7%) were made up of individuals, and 1,304 (10.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37. There were 8,564 families (66.7% of all households); the average family size was 2.84.

The population was spread out, with 6,050 people (19.6%) under the age of 18, 2,380 people (7.7%) aged 18 to 24, 6,677 people (21.6%) aged 25 to 44, 10,078 people (32.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 5,727 people (18.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

There were 13,558 housing units at an average density of 1,205.6 per square mile (465.5/km²), of which 8,605 (67.0%) were owner-occupied, and 4,233 (33.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%. 21,038 people (68.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 9,444 people (30.6%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 28,008 people, 11,203 households, and 7,842 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,832.7 people per square mile (1,093.4/km²). There were 11,461 housing units at an average density of 1,159.2 per square mile (447.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.04% White, 1.84% African American, 0.59% Native American, 4.22% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.78% from other races, and 3.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.31% of the population.

There were 11,203 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $63,252, and the median income for a family was $74,864, these figures had risen to $72,636 and $88,630 respectively as of a 2007 estimate. Males had a median income of $52,365 versus $39,138 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $31,874. About 4.6% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

History

19th century

The community began as part of the 1844 Rancho San Juan Mexican land grant. In 1895, Brevet Brigadier General Charles Henry Howard and James W. Wilson of the Howard-Wilson Publishing Company of Chicago acquired rights to present Fair Oaks community, then primarily covered by citrus farms, from California Senator Frederick K. Cox and businessman Crawford W. Clarke. The Howard-Wilson company surveyed and mapped the land and began to promote Fair Oaks as one of their “Sunset Colonies.” The Howard-Wilson company advertised Fair Oaks as an innovative and growing citrus colony after destructive freezes in Southern California and Florida and a national depression hitting in 1893. Many of the purchasers were professionals and other friends of the investors and the Fair Oaks community was initially composed primarily of businessmen and other professionals, including bankers and engineers.

A club of businessmen in Chicago and Sacramento who had an investment (land or fruit) in the newborn colony and Orangevale formed the Chicago-Fair Oaks Club in 1899. Then a group of local businessmen, including Valentine S. McClatchy (the co-owner of the Sacramento Bee), incorporated the Fair Oaks Development Company in 1900. The boosters proclaimed Fair Oaks to be the “crown of the [Sacramento] valley,” in the “heart of California.”

Together these groups were able to succeed in constructing an efficient water supply. They convinced the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, which McClatchy’s business partners from Orangevale created and chaired, to build a bridge across the American River at Fair Oaks in 1901. At the same time, the community leaders were also able to persuade the Southern Pacific Rail Road Company to build a railroad line to the bridge.

20th century and growth

Fair Oaks grew rapidly with the completion of the Fair Oaks Bridge and the railroad line. The Fair Oaks Fruit Company incorporated in 1902 and built a warehouse in Fair Oaks to export not only citrus, but also almonds and olives. Also, in 1902, Dr. R. N. Bramhall became the first medical doctor to reside and set up office in Fair Oaks. The agricultural productivity attracted the development of other community services. Fair Oaks had become a typical small town by 1906 with a post office, hotel, blacksmith shop, lumber yard, pharmacy, bank, cemetery, newspaper, and a number of small dry-goods and grocery stores located along Main Street.

Two churches (Methodist and Presbyterian) were built and two schools (The Four Gables School and the Fair Oaks School—the current Community Clubhouse) appeared by 1910. The Fair Oaks Library Association formed in 1908 and constructed a permanent building in 1912. The Fair Oaks Civic Club purchased and developed the Plaza in 1918 for recreational and leisure activities. This plaza is still in use today.

No longer citrus

A big freeze hit in 1932 at the height of the Great Depression and many or most citrus groves were lost. After this and a similar freeze in 1934, Fair Oaks was no longer a major producer of citrus fruit in California. Fortunately, growth of the defense firm Aerojet helped the Fair Oaks economy offset the demise of its primary industry. Some temporary dislocations occurred when employment at Aerojet dropped over 90% in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The growth rate still continued, however, because of the increased access to Sacramento by Highway 50 and the construction of the Sunrise Boulevard Bridge in 1954. This allowed for both residents of Fair Oaks to find greater employment in the connecting area and for Sacramentans to relocate to Fair Oaks more easily. The former citrus colony transformed into a bedroom community of greater Sacramento.

Transportation

Public Transportation

Fair Oaks is served by the Sacramento Regional Transit District, but has no light rail service in the area as of now.

Many bike trails are in the area, the largest of which is the American River Parkway Bike Trail.

Fair Oaks Blvd as it passes through Fair Oaks Village

Highways

The main freeways used to access Fair Oaks are:

Interstate 80 (West-San Francisco, East-Reno)- Fair Oaks can be accessed through the Auburn Blvd and Madison Ave Exit traveling through Carmichael.

Interstate 80 Business (West-Sacramento) - Splits off of I-80 and be accessed by Auburn Blvd through SR-244.

Highway 50 (West-Sacramento, East-South Lake Tahoe) - Fair Oaks can be accessed through exits of Sunrise and Hazel Ave, passing through the community of Gold River and passing the Sunrise Ave and Hazel Ave Bridges.

State Route 244 - Unmarked portion of Highway accessible from Auburn Blvd (Winding Way from Fair Oaks) which provides access to I-80 and I-80 Business.

Major Roads

The main boulevards and other major roads are:

- Madison Avenue (east–west)

- Sunrise Boulevard (County Highway E2) (north–south)

- Hazel Avenue (County Highway E3) (north–south)

- Sunset Avenue (east–west)

- Fair Oaks Boulevard (east–west)

Other significant roads:

- Sunset Avenue (east-west)

- Winding Way (east-west)

Traffic

The Sunrise Ave Bridge is heavily congested in the morning southbound, and in the afternoon northbound to Highway 50.

Notable natives and residents

• Lynn Anderson, singer, best known for "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden"
• Barbara Alby, former California State Assemblywoman, 5th district
• Matt Barnes, professional basketball player
• Joe Carnahan, Smokin' Aces director and worked briefly on Mission: Impossible III before quitting the project
• Geoffrey Carter, Australian-American composer, musician, producer, physicist, and engineer
• Delvin Countess, professional soccer player
• Dave Cox, California state senator, 1st district
• Carl Cranke, professional motorcycle enduro racer and member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
• Steve Cronin, professional soccer player
• Matt Walbeck, former catcher for Chicago Cubs, former coach for Texas Rangers; lives in Fair Oaks
• Andy Fox, former shortstop for Arizona Diamondbacks, coach for Florida Marlins; lives in Fair Oaks
• Beth Gaines, California State Assemblywoman from Roseville; grew up in Fair Oaks, attended the former La Sierra High School
• Taylor Graham, professional soccer player
• Christianne Klein, actor and TV personality, former ABC News correspondent and entrepreneur; appeared as Linda Garvey in film American Dreamz, and as herself on TV programs Politically Incorrect and Emeril Green with chef Emeril Lagasse; host of Truth Fairy TV.
• Sam Long (born 1995), San Francisco Giants baseball player
• Joan Lunden, former host of Good Morning America
• Roger Niello, California State Assemblyman, 5th district; Niello Motors
• Tyler Robertson, professional baseball player
• Rick Schu, former professional baseball player
• Nicholas Sparks, author of The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, and Dear John, others
• Gavin Newsom, governor of California (maintains his private residency in the town)

See also

In Spanish: Fair Oaks (California) para niños