8549 Hilton Way
Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Source, Wikipedia.

Fair Oaks is 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. Fair Oaks's zip code is 95628 and its area code is 916. Fair Oaks is bounded on the south side by the American River, and Rancho Cordova, on the north side by the city of Citrus Heights, on the west side by Carmichael, and the east side by Orangevale. Fair Oaks is known for its mix of suburban and semi-rural neighborhoods.

Geography

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

The chickens running free in Fair Oaks village

Fair Oaks's town center is known as Old Fair Oaks Village. The Plaza Park Amphitheater is located in this part of town. The Fair Oaks Theater Festival takes place here. The village area is also home to Spring Fest (formerly the Fair Oaks Fiesta) which is a celebration of the residents of the community of Fair Oaks. It is interesting to note that this area is known for its chickens. They run wild all over the village. They inhabit the two small parks in the old town area, and can often be seen fighting, begging for scraps, or roosting on the playground equipment.

The annual Fair Oaks Spring Fest takes place on the first Saturday and Sunday on May in Old Fair Oaks Village, Plaza Park and Village Park. There is a Parade on Saturday morning, followed by games for the children, craft and food booths, and a frog jumping contest. The annual Sun Run takes place on Sunday morning. For more information on this family-oriented two-day event, visit the Fair Oaks Chamber website.

Fair Oaks also has an Annual Fair Oaks Chicken Festival taking place on the third Saturday in September in Old Fair Oaks Village. Learn more about it at the Fair Oaks Chicken Festival website.

Fair Oaks has an annual Dog Walk event on the 1st Saturday in October.

There is a Fair Oaks History Center 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. Joe Dobrowolski President of the Fair Oaks Historical Society

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.

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 1964. 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.

Government

Democrat Ami Bera, represents most Fair Oaks residents in the US House of Representatives. Republican Ted Gaines represents the community in the State Senate, while Republican Beth Gaines, represents the community in the State Assembly.

Fair Oaks is an unincorporated community represented by Susan Peters on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. A Local Planning Council, made up of 7 community members, is appointed by the Board of Supervisors to recommend land-use decisions for Fair Oaks. These recommendations are then sent to the Planning Commission of Sacramento County. The Sacramento County Sheriff provides law enforcement for Fair Oaks.

Education

Public schools in Fair Oaks are part of the San Juan Unified School District and include Earl LeGette Elementary School, Northridge Elementary School, Orangevale Open K-8 School, Will Rogers Middle School, Del Campo High School, and Bella Vista High School, MODOC Railroad Academy http://www.modocrailroadacademy.com. Private schools in Fair Oaks are Summit Christian School and Sacramento Waldorf School http://www.sacwaldorf.org

Transportation

Fair Oaks Blvd as it passes though Fair Oaks Village

The main highway used to access Fair Oaks is Highway 50. The main boulevards are Madison Avenue (east–west), Sunrise Boulevard (County Highway E2) (north–south), Hazel Avenue (County Highway E3) (north–south), Sunset Avenue (east–west), and Fair Oaks Boulevard (east–west).

Public library

Fair Oaks' public library, which is part of the Sacramento County library system, is located at 11604 Fair Oaks Boulevard, near the corner of Madison Avenue, and adjacent to Fair Oaks Park. Fair Oaks Library has somewhat irregular hours: Mondays and Wednesdays (12 noon to 8 p.m.); Tuesdays and Thursdays (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Fridays (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). It is closed on Sundays.

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
• Delvin Countess, professional soccer player
• Dave Cox, California state senator, 1st district
• Steve Cronin, professional soccer player
• 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 perograms Politically Incorrect and Emeril Green with chef Emeril Lagasse; host of Truth Fairy TV.
• 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