Sierra Forestry Consulting

About forestry service, 95301, Atwater, CA, US, California

Oakhurst (formerly Fresno Flats) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Madera County, California, United States. It lies in the Sierra Nevada foothills about 14 miles (23 km) south of the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park, at the junction of Highway 41 and Highway 49. Oakhurst is at the southern edge of California’s Gold Country and had a population of 5,945 at the 2020 United States census. Founded in 1858 as Fresno Flats, the community developed first as a cattle stop and later as a logging center before becoming a gateway for Yosemite-bound travel. The surrounding region had long been a gathering place for the Miwok, Yokuts, and Mono peoples and was the site of early conflicts after California statehood, including the opening battle of the Mariposa War. In the late 20th century, Oakhurst gained attention in the computer game industry as the headquarters of Sierra On-Line, publisher of influential graphic adventure titles and creator of one of the first online gaming networks. == Geography == Oakhurst lies along the Fresno River, 3 miles (5 km) south-southwest of Yosemite Forks, at an elevation of 2,274 feet (693 m). Set in the upper foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the community is bordered by the Fresno River to the west and north. Roads from Oakhurst extend south to the San Joaquin Valley, east to Yosemite National Park and the High Sierra, north along State Route 49 through California’s Gold Country, and west toward the valley floor. Historically, this crossroads location made Oakhurst a gathering point for Native American groups in the region.