Merced County, California
Encyclopedia
Merced County is a county
located in the Central Valley
of the U.S. state
of California
, north of Fresno
and southeast of San Jose
. As of the 2010 census, the population was 255,793, up from 210,554 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Merced
. The county is named after the Merced River
.
, or El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (River of Our Lady of Mercy); named in 1806 by an expedition, headed by Gabriel Moraga
, which came upon it at the end of a hot dusty ride.
Between 1841 and 1844, during the era when California was a province of independent Mexico, four Mexican grants were made in what became Merced County: Orestimba
, Panoche de San Juan y Los Carrisalitos
, San Luis Gonzaga
and Sanjon de Santa Rita
Merced County was formed in 1855 from parts of Mariposa County
. Parts of its territory were given to Fresno County
in 1856.
, Gustine Airport
, and Los Banos Municipal Airport
.
, and 11,929 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 140,485 persons (54.9%).
of 2000, there were 210,554 people, 63,815 households, and 49,775 families residing in the county. The population density
was 109 people per square mile (42/km²). There were 68,373 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.21% White
, 3.83% Black
or African American
, 1.19% Native American
, 6.80% Asian
, 0.19% Pacific Islander
, 26.13% from other races
, and 5.65% from two or more races. 45.34% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 6.6% were of Portuguese
and 6.0% German ancestry according to Census 2000. 55.1% spoke English
, 35.3% Spanish
, 3.2% Hmong
, 2.9% Portuguese
and 1.0% Punjabi
as their first language.
There were 63,815 households out of which 45.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples
living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.25 and the average family size was 3.69.
In the county the population was spread out with 34.5% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,532, and the median income for a family was $38,009. Males had a median income of $31,721 versus $23,911 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $14,257. About 16.9% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2008, according to the Lao Family Community, a nonprofit organization, about 8,000 Hmong
lived in Merced County.
Merced is considered a bellwether
county. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Barack Obama
in 2008
and the last Republican was George W. Bush
in 2004
.
Merced is part of California's 18th congressional district
, which is held by Democrat Dennis Cardoza
. Merced was previously represented by Democratic representatives Gary Condit and Tony Coelho. In the state legislature
Merced is in the 17th Assembly district, which is held by Democrat Cathleen Galgiani
, and the 12th Senate district, which is held by Republican Anthony Cannella
.
According to the California Secretary of State, as of October 20, 2008, there are 97,179 registered voters in Merced County. Of those, 44,704 (46.0%) are registered Democratic, 35,955 (37.0%) are registered Republican, 3,090 (3.2%) are registered with other political parties, and 13,430 (13.8%) declined to state a political party. Atwater and the unincorporated areas of Merced County have Republican plurality registration advantages. All of the other cities and towns in the county have Democratic pluralities or majorities in voter registration.
and United States Penitentiary, Atwater
are located in an unincorporated area
near Atwater
.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in the Central Valley
California Central Valley
California's Central Valley is a large, flat valley that dominates the central portion of California. It is home to California's most productive agricultural efforts. The valley stretches approximately from northwest to southeast inland and parallel to the Pacific Ocean coast. Its northern half is...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, north of Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
and southeast of San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. As of the 2010 census, the population was 255,793, up from 210,554 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Merced
Merced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
. The county is named after the Merced River
Merced River
The Merced River , in the central part of the U.S. state of California, is a -long tributary of the San Joaquin River flowing from the Sierra Nevada into the Central Valley. It is most well known for its swift and steep course through the southern part of Yosemite National Park, and the...
.
History
The county derives its name from the Merced RiverMerced River
The Merced River , in the central part of the U.S. state of California, is a -long tributary of the San Joaquin River flowing from the Sierra Nevada into the Central Valley. It is most well known for its swift and steep course through the southern part of Yosemite National Park, and the...
, or El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (River of Our Lady of Mercy); named in 1806 by an expedition, headed by Gabriel Moraga
Gabriel Moraga
Gabriel Moraga a Spanish army officer, son of José Joaquín Moraga a member of Juan Bautista de Anza's expeditions to California, was one of the first Europeans to explore California's Great Central Valley . He led expeditions of Spanish soldiers into the valley, becoming its first explorer...
, which came upon it at the end of a hot dusty ride.
Between 1841 and 1844, during the era when California was a province of independent Mexico, four Mexican grants were made in what became Merced County: Orestimba
Rancho Orestimba y Las Garzas
Rancho Orestimba y Las Garzas was a Mexican land grant in present day Stanislaus County and Merced County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Sebastián Nuñez. The grant was originally in a part of Tuolumne County that became part of Stanislaus County in 1854...
, Panoche de San Juan y Los Carrisalitos
Rancho Panoche de San Juan y Los Carrisolitos
Rancho Panoche de San Juan y Los Carrisalitos was a Mexican land grant in present day Merced County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Julian Ursua and Pedro Romo. The name means "raw sugar of San Juan and the little patches of reeds" in Spanish...
, San Luis Gonzaga
Rancho San Luis Gonzaga
Rancho San Luis Gonzaga was a Mexican land grant in the Diablo Range, in present day Santa Clara County and Merced County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Juan Perez Pacheco and José Maria Mejía...
and Sanjon de Santa Rita
Rancho Sanjon de Santa Rita
Rancho Sanjon de Santa Rita was a Mexican land grant mostly in present day Merced County, California and also a small part in Fresno County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Francisco Maria Soberanes. Sanjon is Spanish for ditch or deep slough...
Merced County was formed in 1855 from parts of Mariposa County
Mariposa County, California
Mariposa County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It lies north of Fresno, east of Merced, and southeast of Stockton. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,251 up from 17,130 at the 2000 census...
. Parts of its territory were given to Fresno County
Fresno County, California
Fresno County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Stockton and north of Bakersfield. As of the 2010 census, it is the tenth most populous county in California with a population of 930,450, and the sixth largest in size with an area of . The county...
in 1856.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1971.87 square miles (5,107.1 km²), of which 1928.69 square miles (4,995.3 km²) (or 97.81%) is land and 43.18 square miles (111.8 km²) (or 2.19%) is water.Cities over 10,000 population
- AtwaterAtwater, CaliforniaAtwater is a city on U.S. Route 99 in Merced County, California, United States. Atwater is west-northwest of Merced, at an elevation of 151 feet . The population as of the 2010 census was 28,168.-Geography:...
- LivingstonLivingston, CaliforniaLivingston is a city in Merced County, California. Livingston is located west-northwest of Atwater, at an elevation of 131 feet . According to the 2010 census, the city population was 13,058, up from 10,473 at the 2000 census. Livingston's total area is , including undeveloped farmland annexed in...
- Los BanosLos Banos, CaliforniaLos Banos is a city in Merced County, California, near the junction of State Route 152 and Interstate 5. Los Banos is located southwest of Merced, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 35,972 at the 2010 census, up from 25,869 at the 2000 census...
- MercedMerced, CaliforniaMerced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
Incorporated cities under 10,000 population
- Dos PalosDos Palos, CaliforniaDos Palos is a city in Merced County, California, United States. Dos Palos is located south-southwest of Merced, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 4,950 at the 2010 census, up from 4,581 at the 2000 census...
- GustineGustine, CaliforniaGustine is a city in Merced County, California, United States. Gustine is located west of Merced, at an elevation of 98 feet . As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,520, up from 4,698 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
Unincorporated communities
- BallicoBallico, CaliforniaBallico is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. It is located northwest of Atwater, at an elevation of 151 feet . The population was 406 at the 2010 census....
- CresseyCressey, CaliforniaCressey is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. It is located north-northwest of Atwater, at an elevation of 167 feet . The population was 394 at the 2010 census....
- DelhiDelhi, CaliforniaDelhi is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, USA. Delhi is located west-northwest of Merced, at an elevation of 118 feet...
- Hilmar-Irwin
- Le GrandLe Grand, CaliforniaLe Grand is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States. Le Grand is located east-southeast of Merced, at an elevation of 253 feet...
- PlanadaPlanada, CaliforniaPlanada is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States. Planada is located east of Merced, at an elevation of 226 feet...
- Santa NellaSanta Nella, CaliforniaSanta Nella is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, USA. It is located east-northeast of Pacheco Pass, at an elevation of 154 feet . At the 2010 census, Santa Nella had a population of 1,380 people and has one elementary school.The town is located by Interstate 5, at the...
- SnellingSnelling, CaliforniaSnelling is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. It is located on the north bank of the Merced River north of Merced, at an elevation of 256 feet . The population was 231 at the 2010 census....
- South Dos PalosSouth Dos Palos, CaliforniaSouth Dos Palos is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States. South Dos Palos is located southwest of Dos Palos, at an elevation of 118 feet...
- StevinsonStevinson, CaliforniaStevinson is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. It is located west of Merced, at an elevation of 85 feet . The population was 313 at the 2010 census.The Stevinson post office opened in 1907. The name honors James J...
- WintonWinton, CaliforniaWinton is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States. Winton is located north of Atwater, at an elevation of 177 feet...
Adjacent counties
- San Benito County, CaliforniaSan Benito County, CaliforniaSan Benito County is a county located in the Coast Range Mountains of the U.S. state of California, south of San Jose. As of 2010 the population was 55,269. The county seat is Hollister, which includes nearly two-thirds of the county's population. El Camino Real passes through the county and...
- southwest - Santa Clara County, CaliforniaSanta Clara County, CaliforniaSanta Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
- west - Stanislaus County, CaliforniaStanislaus County, CaliforniaStanislaus County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. As the price of housing has increased in the San Francisco Bay Area, many people who work in the southern reaches of the Bay Area have opted for the longer commute and moved to Stanislaus County for the...
- north - Mariposa County, CaliforniaMariposa County, CaliforniaMariposa County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It lies north of Fresno, east of Merced, and southeast of Stockton. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,251 up from 17,130 at the 2000 census...
- east - Madera County, CaliforniaMadera County, CaliforniaMadera County is a county of the U.S. state of California, located in the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada north of Fresno County. It comprises the Madera-Chowchilla, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census the population was 150,865...
- southeast - Fresno County, CaliforniaFresno County, CaliforniaFresno County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Stockton and north of Bakersfield. As of the 2010 census, it is the tenth most populous county in California with a population of 930,450, and the sixth largest in size with an area of . The county...
- south - Tuolumne County, CaliforniaTuolumne County, CaliforniaTuolumne County is a county in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. The northern half of Yosemite National Park is located in the eastern part of the county. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,365, up from 54,501 at the 2000 census...
- northeast by a corner
National protected areas
- Merced National Wildlife RefugeMerced National Wildlife RefugeThe Merced National Wildlife Refuge encompasses of wetlands, native grasslands, vernal pools, and riparian areas. It was established in 1951 under the Lea Act to attract wintering waterfowl from adjacent farmland where their foraging was causing crop damage...
- San Luis National Wildlife RefugeSan Luis National Wildlife RefugeThe San Luis National Wildlife Refuge in the San Joaquin Valley of central California is one of the great remnants of a historically bountiful wintering grounds for migratory waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway...
Major highways
- Interstate 5
.svg.png)
Interstate 5 in CaliforniaInterstate 5 is a major north–south route of the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. state of California. It begins at the Mexico – United States border at the San Ysidro crossing, goes north across the length of California and crosses into Oregon south of the Medford-Ashland metropolitan... - State Route 33
California State Route 33State Route 33 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California. SR 33 replaced part of U.S. Route 399 in 1964 during the "great renumbering" of routes. In the unincorporated sections of Kern County it is known as the West Side Highway... - State Route 59
California State Route 59State Route 59 is a California state highway that connects State Route 152 to the city of Merced and beyond, ending abruptly at the intersection of County Routes J59 and J16 in Snelling.-Route description:... - State Route 99
California State Route 99California State Route 99 , commonly known as Highway 99 or, simply, as 99 , is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California, stretching almost the entire length of the Central Valley... - State Route 140
California State Route 140State Route 140 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California, 102 miles in length. It begins in the San Joaquin Valley at Interstate 5 near Gustine, and runs east into the Sierra Nevada, terminating in Yosemite National Park.... - State Route 152
California State Route 152State Route 152 is a state highway that runs near the latitudinal middle of the U.S. state of California from Watsonville to Route 99 southeast of Merced... - State Route 165
Public transportation
- Merced County TransitMerced County TransitMerced County Transit, also known as "The Bus", provides transit services throughout Merced County in the Central Valley area of California...
, or "The Bus" provides local service in Merced as well as connecting service between most cities in Merced County. - The University of California, MercedUniversity of California, MercedThe University of California, Merced, commonly referred to as UC Merced or UCM, is the tenth and newest of the University of California campuses. Located in the San Joaquin Valley in unincorporated Merced County, California, near Merced, UC Merced was the first American research university to...
operates its own transit system, Cat Tracks. This system connects with Merced County Transit. - Yosemite Area Regional Transportation SystemYosemite Area Regional Transportation SystemThe Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System, also known as YARTS, is a public transit bus line based in Merced, California. YARTS provides scheduled service into popular locations within Merced, Mariposa, and Mono counties, including Yosemite National Park.-History:First proposed in 1992,...
, or YARTS connects Merced with Yosemite National ParkYosemite National ParkYosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
. - GreyhoundGreyhound LinesGreyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
buses and AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
trains provide long distance intercity service.
Airports
Merced Regional Airport, located two miles (3km) southwest of downtown Merced, provides passenger air service. General aviation airports in the county include Castle AirportCastle Airport
Castle Airport is a public use airport located seven nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Merced, a city in Merced County, California, United States. It is operated by the Merced County Department of Commerce, Aviation, and Economic Development.The airport is located at...
, Gustine Airport
Gustine Airport
Gustine Airport is a public airport located two miles east of Gustine, serving Merced County, California, USA. The airport is mostly used for general aviation.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, and Los Banos Municipal Airport
Los Banos Municipal Airport
Los Banos Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located one mile west of the central business district of Los Banos, a city in Merced County, California, United States.- Facilities and aircraft :...
.
Demographics
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Merced County had a population of 255,793. The racial makeup of Merced County was 148,381 (58.0%) White, 9,926 (3.9%) African American, 3,473 (1.4%) Native American, 18,836 (7.4%) Asian, 583 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 62,665 (24.5%) from other racesRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 11,929 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 140,485 persons (54.9%).
| Population reported at 2010 United States Census | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Merced County, California Merced County , is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of Fresno and southeast of San Jose. As of the 2010 census, the population was 255,793, up from 210,554 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Merced... |
Population |
American |
American |
|
Islander |
races Race (United States Census) Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are... |
more races |
or Latino (of any race) |
|
| Merced County Merced County, California Merced County , is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of Fresno and southeast of San Jose. As of the 2010 census, the population was 255,793, up from 210,554 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Merced... |
255,793 | 148,381 | 9,926 | 3,473 | 18,836 | 583 | 62,665 | 11,929 | 140,485 |
city |
Population |
American |
American |
|
Islander |
races Race (United States Census) Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are... |
more races |
or Latino (of any race) |
|
| Atwater Atwater, California Atwater is a city on U.S. Route 99 in Merced County, California, United States. Atwater is west-northwest of Merced, at an elevation of 151 feet . The population as of the 2010 census was 28,168.-Geography:... |
28,168 | 18,410 | 1,225 | 364 | 1,416 | 76 | 5,300 | 1,377 | 14,808 |
| Dos Palos Dos Palos, California Dos Palos is a city in Merced County, California, United States. Dos Palos is located south-southwest of Merced, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 4,950 at the 2010 census, up from 4,581 at the 2000 census... |
4,950 | 3,377 | 167 | 62 | 37 | 4 | 1,075 | 228 | 3,075 |
| Gustine Gustine, California Gustine is a city in Merced County, California, United States. Gustine is located west of Merced, at an elevation of 98 feet . As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,520, up from 4,698 at the 2000 census.-Geography:... |
5,520 | 3,875 | 73 | 54 | 95 | 8 | 1,191 | 224 | 2,769 |
| Livingston Livingston, California Livingston is a city in Merced County, California. Livingston is located west-northwest of Atwater, at an elevation of 131 feet . According to the 2010 census, the city population was 13,058, up from 10,473 at the 2000 census. Livingston's total area is , including undeveloped farmland annexed in... |
13,058 | 5,263 | 106 | 348 | 2,223 | 18 | 4,547 | 553 | 9,547 |
| Los Banos Los Banos, California Los Banos is a city in Merced County, California, near the junction of State Route 152 and Interstate 5. Los Banos is located southwest of Merced, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 35,972 at the 2010 census, up from 25,869 at the 2000 census... |
35,972 | 20,846 | 1,354 | 512 | 1,162 | 134 | 10,123 | 1,841 | 23,346 |
| Merced Merced, California Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government... |
78,958 | 41,177 | 4,958 | 1,153 | 9,342 | 174 | 17,804 | 4,350 | 39,140 |
place Census-designated place A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages... |
Population |
American |
American |
|
Islander |
races Race (United States Census) Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are... |
more races |
or Latino (of any race) |
|
| Ballico Ballico, California Ballico is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. It is located northwest of Atwater, at an elevation of 151 feet . The population was 406 at the 2010 census.... |
406 | 237 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 128 | 23 | 210 |
| Bear Creek Bear Creek, Merced County, California Bear Creek is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. It is located east of Merced, at an elevation of 190 feet . The population was 290 at the 2010 census.-Geography:... |
290 | 156 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 93 | 21 | 170 |
| Cressey Cressey, California Cressey is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. It is located north-northwest of Atwater, at an elevation of 167 feet . The population was 394 at the 2010 census.... |
394 | 253 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 95 | 26 | 195 |
| Delhi Delhi, California Delhi is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, USA. Delhi is located west-northwest of Merced, at an elevation of 118 feet... |
10,755 | 5,655 | 118 | 157 | 405 | 30 | 3,930 | 460 | 7,706 |
| Dos Palos Y Dos Palos Y, California Dos Palos Y is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. It is located east of Dos Palos, at an elevation of 112 feet . The population was 323 at the 2010 census.-Geography:... |
323 | 225 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 82 | 6 | 197 |
| El Nido | 330 | 162 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 147 | 5 | 245 |
| Franklin Franklin, Merced County, California Franklin is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. Franklin sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Franklin's population was 6,149.-Geography:... |
6,149 | 3,455 | 273 | 77 | 931 | 12 | 1,072 | 329 | 3,250 |
| Hilmar-Irwin | 5,197 | 4,475 | 15 | 23 | 87 | 1 | 439 | 157 | 916 |
| Le Grand Le Grand, California Le Grand is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States. Le Grand is located east-southeast of Merced, at an elevation of 253 feet... |
1,659 | 869 | 19 | 35 | 17 | 1 | 659 | 59 | 1,357 |
| McSwain McSwain, California McSwain is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. McSwain sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported McSwain's population was 4,171.-Geography:... |
4,171 | 3,196 | 56 | 34 | 282 | 9 | 422 | 172 | 1,081 |
| Planada Planada, California Planada is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States. Planada is located east of Merced, at an elevation of 226 feet... |
4,584 | 1,681 | 22 | 23 | 46 | 1 | 2,725 | 86 | 4,347 |
| Santa Nella Santa Nella, California Santa Nella is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, USA. It is located east-northeast of Pacheco Pass, at an elevation of 154 feet . At the 2010 census, Santa Nella had a population of 1,380 people and has one elementary school.The town is located by Interstate 5, at the... |
1,380 | 832 | 22 | 25 | 31 | 0 | 433 | 37 | 968 |
| Snelling Snelling, California Snelling is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. It is located on the north bank of the Merced River north of Merced, at an elevation of 256 feet . The population was 231 at the 2010 census.... |
231 | 206 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 33 |
| South Dos Palos South Dos Palos, California South Dos Palos is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States. South Dos Palos is located southwest of Dos Palos, at an elevation of 118 feet... |
1,620 | 809 | 135 | 21 | 36 | 10 | 552 | 57 | 1,262 |
| Stevinson Stevinson, California Stevinson is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. It is located west of Merced, at an elevation of 85 feet . The population was 313 at the 2010 census.The Stevinson post office opened in 1907. The name honors James J... |
313 | 228 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 8 | 133 |
| Tuttle Tuttle, California Tuttle is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. It is located on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad east of Merced, at an elevation of 207 feet . The population was 103 at the 2010 census.... |
103 | 77 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 31 |
| University of California, Merced University of California, Merced The University of California, Merced, commonly referred to as UC Merced or UCM, is the tenth and newest of the University of California campuses. Located in the San Joaquin Valley in unincorporated Merced County, California, near Merced, UC Merced was the first American research university to... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Volta Volta, California Volta is a census-designated place in Merced County, California. It is located west-northwest of Los Banos, at an elevation of 105 feet . The population was 246 at the 2010 census.A post office operated at Volta from 1890 to 1972... |
246 | 201 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 4 | 132 |
| Winton Winton, California Winton is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States. Winton is located north of Atwater, at an elevation of 177 feet... |
10,613 | 5,696 | 175 | 140 | 701 | 8 | 3,455 | 438 | 7,566 |
communities Unincorporated area In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government... |
Population |
American |
American |
|
Islander |
races Race (United States Census) Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are... |
more races |
or Latino (of any race) |
|
| All others not CDPs (combined) | 40,403 | 27,020 | 1,183 | 419 | 1,962 | 90 | 8,269 | 1,460 | 18,001 |
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 210,554 people, 63,815 households, and 49,775 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 109 people per square mile (42/km²). There were 68,373 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.21% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.83% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.19% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 6.80% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.19% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 26.13% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 5.65% from two or more races. 45.34% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 6.6% were of Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
and 6.0% German ancestry according to Census 2000. 55.1% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, 35.3% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, 3.2% Hmong
Hmong language
Hmong or Mong is the common name for a dialect continuum of the West Hmongic branch of the Hmong–Mien/Miao–Yao language family spoken by the Hmong people of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, northern Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos...
, 2.9% Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
and 1.0% Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
as their first language.
There were 63,815 households out of which 45.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.25 and the average family size was 3.69.
In the county the population was spread out with 34.5% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,532, and the median income for a family was $38,009. Males had a median income of $31,721 versus $23,911 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $14,257. About 16.9% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2008, according to the Lao Family Community, a nonprofit organization, about 8,000 Hmong
Hmong people
The Hmong , are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity in southern China...
lived in Merced County.
Politics
| Year | GOP Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
DEM Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 United States presidential election, 2008 The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365... |
53.3% 34,031 | 1.7% 1,073 | |
| 2004 United States presidential election, 2004 The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator... |
42.3% 24,491 | 1.2% 696 | |
| 2000 United States presidential election, 2000 The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President.... |
45.1% 22,726 | 3.2% 1,590 | |
| 1996 United States presidential election, 1996 The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack... |
46.4% 21,786 | 9.2% 4,305 | |
| 1992 United States presidential election, 1992 The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot.... |
40.9% 20,133 | 22.7% 11,170 | |
| 1988 United States presidential election, 1988 The United States presidential election of 1988 featured no incumbent president, as President Ronald Reagan was unable to seek re-election after serving the maximum two terms allowed by the Twenty-second Amendment. Reagan's Vice President, George H. W. Bush, won the Republican nomination, while the... |
47.4% 20,105 | 1.4% 592 | |
| 1984 United States presidential election, 1984 The United States presidential election of 1984 was a contest between the incumbent President Ronald Reagan, the Republican candidate, and former Vice President Walter Mondale, the Democratic candidate. Reagan was helped by a strong economic recovery from the deep recession of 1981–1982... |
40.1% 17,012 | 1.1% 468 | |
| 1980 United States presidential election, 1980 The United States presidential election of 1980 featured a contest between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and his Republican opponent, Ronald Reagan, as well as Republican Congressman John B. Anderson, who ran as an independent... |
42.9% 15,886 | 8.3% 3,067 | |
| 1976 United States presidential election, 1976 The United States presidential election of 1976 followed the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal. It pitted incumbent President Gerald Ford, the Republican candidate, against the relatively unknown former governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter, the Democratic... |
51.7% 16,637 | 2.3% 729 | |
| 1972 United States presidential election, 1972 The United States presidential election of 1972 was the 47th quadrennial United States presidential election. It was held on November 7, 1972. The Democratic Party's nomination was eventually won by Senator George McGovern, who ran an anti-war campaign against incumbent Republican President Richard... |
42.6% 13,914 | 3.5% 997 | |
| 1968 United States presidential election, 1968 The United States presidential election of 1968 was the 46th quadrennial United States presidential election. Coming four years after Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson won in a historic landslide, it saw Johnson forced out of the race and Republican Richard Nixon elected... |
51.0% 14,453 | 8.1% 2,301 | |
| 1964 United States presidential election, 1964 The United States presidential election of 1964 was held on November 3, 1964. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson had come to office less than a year earlier following the assassination of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy. Johnson, who had successfully associated himself with Kennedy's... |
68.7% 19,431 | 0.1% 24 | |
| 1960 United States presidential election, 1960 The United States presidential election of 1960 was the 44th American presidential election, held on November 8, 1960, for the term beginning January 20, 1961, and ending January 20, 1965. The incumbent president, Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower, was not eligible to run again. The Republican Party... |
56.2% 15,545 | 0.4% 111 | |
| 1956 United States presidential election, 1956 The United States presidential election of 1956 saw a popular Dwight D. Eisenhower successfully run for re-election. The 1956 election was a rematch of 1952, as Eisenhower's opponent in 1956 was Democrat Adlai Stevenson, whom Eisenhower had defeated four years earlier.Incumbent President Eisenhower... |
53.8% 13,366 | 0.2% 56 | |
| 1952 United States presidential election, 1952 The United States presidential election of 1952 took place in an era when Cold War tension between the United States and the Soviet Union was escalating rapidly. In the United States Senate, Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin had become a national figure after chairing congressional... |
45.9% 11,639 | 0.9% 219 | |
| 1948 United States presidential election, 1948 The United States presidential election of 1948 is considered by most historians as the greatest election upset in American history. Virtually every prediction indicated that incumbent President Harry S. Truman would be defeated by Republican Thomas E. Dewey. Truman won, overcoming a three-way... |
55.0% 9,959 | 2.5% 444 | |
| 1944 United States presidential election, 1944 The United States presidential election of 1944 took place while the United States was preoccupied with fighting World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had been in office longer than any other president, but remained popular. Unlike 1940, there was little doubt that Roosevelt would run for... |
58.3% 9,192 | 0.4% 69 | |
| 1940 United States presidential election, 1940 The United States presidential election of 1940 was fought in the shadow of World War II as the United States was emerging from the Great Depression. Incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt , a Democrat, broke with tradition and ran for a third term, which became a major issue... |
62.6% 10,501 | 1.1% 182 | |
| 1936 United States presidential election, 1936 The United States presidential election of 1936 was the most lopsided presidential election in the history of the United States in terms of electoral votes. In terms of the popular vote, it was the third biggest victory since the election of 1820, which was not seriously contested.The election took... |
72.7% 9,208 | 1.8% 230 | |
| 1932 United States presidential election, 1932 The United States presidential election of 1932 took place as the effects of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, the Revenue Act of 1932, and the Great Depression were being felt intensely across the country. President Herbert Hoover's popularity was falling as... |
67.1% 7,202 | 5.7% 612 | |
| 1928 United States presidential election, 1928 The United States presidential election of 1928 pitted Republican Herbert Hoover against Democrat Al Smith. The Republicans were identified with the booming economy of the 1920s, whereas Smith, a Roman Catholic, suffered politically from Anti-Catholic prejudice, his anti-prohibitionist stance, and... |
38.5% 2,970 | 1.4% 104 | |
| 1924 United States presidential election, 1924 The United States presidential election of 1924 was won by incumbent President Calvin Coolidge, the Republican candidate.Coolidge was vice-president under Warren G. Harding and became president in 1923 when Harding died in office. Coolidge was given credit for a booming economy at home and no... |
10.5% 710 | 36.5% 2,466 | |
| 1920 United States presidential election, 1920 The United States presidential election of 1920 was dominated by the aftermath of World War I and a hostile response to certain policies of Woodrow Wilson, the Democratic president. The wartime economic boom had collapsed. Politicians were arguing over peace treaties and the question of America's... |
28.0% 1,537 | 9.0% 494 |
Merced is considered a bellwether
Bellwether
A bellwether is any entity in a given arena that serves to create or influence trends or to presage future happenings.The term is derived from the Middle English bellewether and refers to the practice of placing a bell around the neck of a castrated ram leading his flock of sheep.The movements of...
county. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in 2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
and the last Republican was George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in 2004
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
.
Merced is part of California's 18th congressional district
California's 18th congressional district
California's 18th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. The district is located in the northern San Joaquin Valley and includes the cities of Modesto, Stockton, Ceres, Atwater, Merced and Los Banos...
, which is held by Democrat Dennis Cardoza
Dennis Cardoza
Dennis A. Cardoza is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. The district takes in a large swath of the Central Valley, from Stockton to Fresno. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
. Merced was previously represented by Democratic representatives Gary Condit and Tony Coelho. In the state legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Merced is in the 17th Assembly district, which is held by Democrat Cathleen Galgiani
Cathleen Galgiani
Cathleen Galgiani is an American politician who currently serves in the California State Assembly, where she has represented the 17th district since December 2006...
, and the 12th Senate district, which is held by Republican Anthony Cannella
Anthony Cannella
Anthony Cannella is an American politician currently serving in the California State Senate. He is a Republican representing the 12th district, encompassing Merced and San Benito counties, as well as parts of Madera, Monterey, and Stanislaus counties...
.
According to the California Secretary of State, as of October 20, 2008, there are 97,179 registered voters in Merced County. Of those, 44,704 (46.0%) are registered Democratic, 35,955 (37.0%) are registered Republican, 3,090 (3.2%) are registered with other political parties, and 13,430 (13.8%) declined to state a political party. Atwater and the unincorporated areas of Merced County have Republican plurality registration advantages. All of the other cities and towns in the county have Democratic pluralities or majorities in voter registration.
Places of interest
Castle Air Force BaseCastle Air Force Base
Castle Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base located northeast of Atwater, northwest of Merced and about east southeast of San Francisco, California....
and United States Penitentiary, Atwater
United States Penitentiary, Atwater
United States Penitentiary, Atwater is a federal prison in the United States. Located in a former portion of Castle Air Force Base near the city of Atwater in unincorporated Merced County, California, it is from San Francisco....
are located in an unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
near Atwater
Atwater, California
Atwater is a city on U.S. Route 99 in Merced County, California, United States. Atwater is west-northwest of Merced, at an elevation of 151 feet . The population as of the 2010 census was 28,168.-Geography:...
.
See also
- List of California Historical Landmarks
- List of California public officials charged with crimes, Merced County
- List of school districts in Merced County, California
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Merced County, California