Half of Yosemite Lakes’ homes were built after 1991
More historic than 5% of U.S. towns · #768 of 847 in California. What drives it
Most of Yosemite Lakes was built recently: 0.0% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1991. Below: maps from 1942 on and the census since 1990.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Yosemite Lakes is more historic than 5% of U.S. towns, #768 of 847 in California. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
D−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Yosemite Lakes’ overall grade.
Few California towns list much on the Register (a typical California town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Yosemite Lakes’ 0.0 sits below most of its state (31% of California towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on two of the three inputs, so a change in either one moves the letter more than it would with three. The pre-1940 share (±1.0 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: our sources. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Yosemite Lakes’ past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Yosemite Lakes yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Yosemite Lakes Park is an unincorporated community in Madera County, California. It lies at an elevation of 1,230 feet (370 m). As a census-designated place (CDP) it is known as Yosemite Lakes. It is part of the Madera Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,022 at the 2020 census. The area was developed by Titan Group in the 1970s, and includes an equestrian center, clubhouse, and three man-made lakes. Additionally the community has a homeowners association which operates the Blue Heron restaurant and the Fairway Cafe which is situated next to the golf course. The community also supports a local grocery store and other small shops.
Its population held steady between the last two censuses: 4,952 in 2010, 5,022 in 2020.
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Yosemite Lakes. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1942Raymond sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Yosemite Lakes.
People over time
Yosemite Lakes, census by census
Grew from 2,367 people in 1990 to 5,022 in 2020.
4 censuses, 1990–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Yosemite Lakes’ Wikipedia page.
Famous people
Famous people close to Yosemite Lakes
Nobody well known was born in Yosemite Lakes itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
Yosemite Lakes is more historic than 5% of U.S. towns, #768 of 847 in California. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Yosemite Lakes?
0.0% of Yosemite Lakes’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.0 points), against a typical 3.4% for a California town; the median home was built in 1991.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (1), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
2020
