Avenal is a small city in the Kings County, California, USA. It is a part of the Hanford- Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area. Incorporated in 1979, it is located 180 miles north of Los Angeles, 200 miles south of both San Francisco and Sacramento, and 58 miles south of Fresno. The City of Avenal was given its name by Spanish soldiers and explorers. "Avena" is a Spanish term, which means oats or oatfield. This area was earlier covered with wild oats.
It has a progressive and continuously growing community. Avenal, also referred to as the ‘Oasis in the Sun’, owes its origin to the discovery of oil in October, 1928. It was the site of a "tent city" as the oil boom started, but due to proper organization and orderly arrangement, by 1940, Avenal had become the second largest town in Kings County, with a population of 4,600. Today, it has a more diversified economy based on oil, agriculture, and the service industry.
It houses the California prison, known as the Avenal State Prison, which employs over 1,000 persons and has given stability to the local economy. The city was also a finalist in the 1992 All-American City Awards Program.
The beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains and the refreshing Pacific Ocean beaches in the city’s vicinity, and the parks, playgrounds, etc. make Avenal a perfect holiday destination. In a nutshell, it is an ideal location to spend ones California vacations. One can enjoy its peace and serenity, away from the busy life of big cities. The City also holds world-class sand drags in the spring and at the end of the year, that attract hundreds of cars and participants to this place. Best Western Big Country Inn, Best Western Inn, Coalinga Travelodge, etc. are some of the Avenal hotels catering to the requirements of travelers.
