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Avenal, CA

Frequently asked questions

Avenal, CA

Avenal is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Avenal is located 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 807 ft (246 m). It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA Code 25260), which encompasses all of Kings County. In area, it is the fourth-largest city in Kings County. The ZIP Code for this community is 93204, and telephone numbers use the sequence (559) 386-XXXX. The population was 15,505 in the 2010 census, which includes inmates at the Avenal State Prison, the first prison actively solicited by a community in the state of California. Many of the remaining residents largely either work at the prison or in the agriculture industry. The prison provides approximately 1,000 jobs to residents. The California Department of Finance estimated that Avenal's population was 13,496 on July 1, 2019. As of that date, Avenal State Prison held 4,165 inmates, which was about 32% of the total population of Avenal. Inmates are counted as city residents by both the United States census and the California Department of Finance.

The City of Avenal was named after Spanish soldiers and explorers. In Spanish, "avena" means oats, and "avenal" means oatfield. This area was covered with wild oats, "waist high," that looked like golden silk and covered the Kettleman Plains.

Early American settlers arrived in the Kettleman Hills during the 1850s with dreams of raising cattle and farming. Oil, however, would bring fame, fortune, and people to the area. Native Americans had always known oil was in the hills, with natural seepage around Coalinga and Tar Canyon. The first Kettleman Hills well was drilled in 1900, followed by countless unproductive efforts.

Avenal is located at 36°00′15″N 120°07′14″W, 180 miles (290 km) north of Los Angeles and 200 miles (320 km) south of both San Francisco and Sacramento. The city boasts of being located, "Half the way from the Bay to L.A." According to the United States Census Bureau, Avenal has a total area of 19.4 square miles (50 km2), all of it land. Most of the population resides in the southwestern portion of the city. The northeastern areas, separated by hills, and where Interstate 5 passes through, remain mostly rural.

Avenal focuses on health and wellness. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs offered by the Avenal Recreation and Community Services Department. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. A popular option includes Health & Fitness. 345 Fit is a state-of-the-art facility furnished with a full range of exercise equipment to improve your cardiovascular and muscular fitness. Massage Therapy Center facilitates deep, long-lasting results in a wide range of modalities, peeling away layers of stress, restoring mobility to injured muscle tissue, and easing stiffened joints and hot spots of pain. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Avenal, such as the Avenal Neighborhood Park and the Floyd Rice Park. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in Avenal, CA are Tachi Palace, China Alley, Tulare Lake, and Carnegie Museum of Kings County.

Population: 14,108 (2024). ZIP code: 93204. Area code: 559. Elevation: 807 ft (246 m). Area: 19.4 square miles (50 km2).

FAQs

What is Avenal, CA is known for?

Part of the Avenal's proud agricultural heritage comes from the bountiful pistachio crop that grows in and around Avenal. The largest pistachio grower and processor, Wonderful Pistachios, employs a majority of Avenal's agricultural labor force (both seasonally and full-time). Given how much of Wonderful's labor force comes from Avenal, the company has invested millions of philanthropic dollars over the years in the community, including the construction of Wonderful Preschool.

Is Avenal, CA safe?

Avenal has an overall crime rate of 10 per 1,000 residents, making the crime rate here near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in America. According to our analysis of FBI crime data, your chance of becoming a victim of crime in Avenal is 1 in 102. Avenal's crime rate is lower than approximately 78% of California communities.

Is Avenal, CA a nice place to live?

Avenal is in Kings County. Living in Avenal offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents rent their homes. Many families live in Avenal and residents tend to lean liberal.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Avenal

Avenal Recreation and Community Services Department

Health & Fitness

345 Fit 

Massage Therapy Center 

Avenal Neighborhood Park 

Floyd Rice Park

Tachi Palace

China Alley

Tulare Lake

Carnegie Museum of Kings County

History of Avenal

Neighborhoodscout

Niche

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