City of Avenal

City of Avenal Municipal Water Report Info

History of Avenal
Elk roaming freely through the Kettleman Hills and herds of antelope wandering across the plains - this was historical Avenal, a true hunter's paradise. Spanish explorers named this region "Avenal," with "Avena" meaning oats in Spanish. Before settlement, the Kettleman Plains flourished with wild oats growing "stomach high" across the landscape.

Oil Discovery Transforms the Region
While early American pioneers arrived in the 1850s hoping to raise livestock and farm the land, it was oil that ultimately transformed the area. On March 27, 1927, Milham Exploration Company began work on Elliott No. 1. After 19 months of drilling beyond 7,000 feet, the well erupted on October 5, 1928, with a thunderous boom heard 30 miles away. The oil was so pure and light-colored that it could be used directly in automobiles without refining.

Birth of a Boomtown
Oil discovery quickly turned Avenal into a thriving boomtown. In 1929, Standard Oil surveyed the current site to establish a proper town. Temporary houses replaced tents, infrastructure developed rapidly with water and sewer systems, postal services expanded, and a fire department formed as the community grew. Standard Oil invested in numerous amenities, including a 600-seat air-conditioned theater and a new hospital. By 1940, Avenal had become Kings County's second-largest town with over 4,000 residents and was recognized for having exceptional services and schools.

Economic Decline
The prosperity ended when saltwater infiltrated the oil reservoir, leaving 65-70% of the Kettleman Hills North Dome untapped. In 1953, oil companies unified operations under Standard Oil. As oil revenue declined, Avenal's economy and population steadily diminished, with many buildings and homes vacated until the 1960s when an influx of agricultural workers revitalized the area. The Lemoore Naval Air Station provided some temporary growth to the region during this period as well.