Merced County, California Explained

Merced County, California
Official Name:County of Merced
Settlement Type:County
Image Map1:Map of California highlighting Merced County.svg
Mapsize1:200px
Map Caption1:Location in the state of California
Coordinates:37.19°N -120.71°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:California
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:San Joaquin Valley
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:April 19, 1855[1]
Named For:Merced River, originally El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Merced ("River of Our Lady of Mercy" in Spanish).
Seat Type:County seat
Seat:Merced
Seat1 Type:Largest city
Seat1:Merced
Unit Pref:US
Area Total Sq Mi:1979
Area Land Sq Mi:1935
Area Water Sq Mi:44
Government Type:Council–CEO
Governing Body:Board of Supervisors
Leader Title1:Chair
Leader Name1:Lloyd Pareira, Jr
Leader Title2:Vice Chair
Leader Name2:Scott Silveira
Leader Title3:Board of Supervisors[2]
Leader Title4:Chief executive officer
Leader Name4:Raul Lomeli Mendez
Elevation Max Footnotes:[3]
Population Total:281202
Population As Of:2020
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:93620, 93635, 93661, 93665, 95301, 95303, 95312, 95315, 95317, 95322, 95324, 95333, 95334, 95388, 95340, 95341, 95343, 95344, 95348, 95365, 95369, 95374[4]
Area Code:209
Area Code Type:Area code
Blank Name Sec1:FIPS code
Blank Info Sec1:06-047
Blank1 Name Sec1:GNIS feature ID
Blank2 Name Sec1:Congressional district
Blank2 Info Sec1:13th
Elevation Max Ft:3801
Timezone:Pacific Time Zone
Utc Offset:-8
Timezone Dst:Pacific Daylight Time
Utc Offset Dst:-7

Merced County is a county located in the northern San Joaquin Valley section of the Central Valley, in the U.S. state of California.

As of the 2020 census, the population was 281,202.[5] The county seat is Merced.[6] The county is named after the Merced River.

Merced County comprises the Merced, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Modesto-Merced, CA Combined Statistical Area. It is located north of Fresno County and Fresno, and southeast of Santa Clara County and San Jose.

History

The county derives its name from 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 on the El Camino Viejo across the San Joaquin Valley in Spanish colonial Las Californias Province.

Between 1841 and 1844, during the period when Alta California was a territory of independent Mexico, four Mexican land grants were made in what became Merced County: Rancho Orestimba y Las Garzas, Rancho Panoche de San Juan y Los Carrisolitos, Rancho San Luis Gonzaga, and Rancho 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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (2.2%) is water.[7]

National protected areas

Demographics

2020 census

Merced County, California - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)!Race / Ethnicity!Pop 2010[8] !Pop 2020[9] !% 2010!% 2020
White alone (NH)81,59968,72931.90%24.44%
Black or African American alone (NH)8,7858,1913.43%2.91%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1,1261,1640.44%0.41%
Asian alone (NH)18,18319,8247.11%7.05%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)4766170.19%0.22%
Some Other Race alone (NH)4391,2420.17%0.44%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)4,7007,5781.84%2.69%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)140,485173,85754.92%61.83%
Total255,793281,202100.00%100.00%
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2011

Places by population, race, and income

2010 census

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 races, and 11,929 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 140,485 persons (54.9%).

2000

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 210,554 people, 63,815 households, and 49,775 families residing in the county. The population density was 109/mi2. There were 68,373 housing units at an average density of 36/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 56.2% White, 3.8% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 6.8% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 26.1% from other races, and 5.7% from two or more races. 45.3% 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.[19]

Government and policing

County government

Merced County is a California Constitution defined general law county and is governed by an elected Board of Supervisors. The Board consists of five members, elected by districts, who serve four-year staggered terms.[20]

Merced County Sheriff's Office

The Merced County Sheriff's Office provides court protection, jail administration, and coroner service for the entire county. It provides patrol, detective, and other police services for the unincorporated parts of the county. The main sheriff station and offices are at Merced. There are two sheriff's substations. A Grand Jury report in 2010 stated that the Sheriff processed 12,746 average jail bookings per year with an average daily jail population of 1,123.[21]

Municipal police departments

Municipal police departments in the county are: Merced, population 83,000; Los Banos, population 38,000; Atwater, population 30,000; Livingston, population 13,000; Gustine, population 6,000; Dos Palos, population 5,500.

State and federal representation

In the United States House of Representatives, Merced County is in .[22]

In the California State Legislature, Merced County is in, and .[23]

Politics

Voter registration statistics

Cities by population and voter registration

Overview

Merced County voted for the winning candidate for president in every election from 1972 to 2012, before voting for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Democrat Barack Obama won a majority in the county in both 2008 and 2012. Republican George W. Bush won a majority in the county in both 2000 and 2004.

According to the California Secretary of State, as of October 20, 2008, there were 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.

Merced County has been somewhat of a bellwether county for presidential elections. Since 1916, it has voted for the winner in each election except in 1956, 1968, and 2016. Despite a leftward shift in recent years, Merced County voted "Yes" in the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election despite the fact that it had voted for Newsom by a margin of 4% in the 2018 California gubernatorial election. The county also voted for Republican nominee Brian Dahle in the 2022 gubernatorial election over Democratic winner Newsom, as well as for all Republican nominees for statewide office.

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Cities by population and crime rates

Economy

According to America's Labor Market Information System 2014 report,[29] the companies with the largest employment in Merced are, in alphabetical order:

Merced County grows 90% of California's sweet potato crop,[30] due in part to the efforts of John Buttencourt Avila, called "the father of the sweet potato industry".

Transportation

Major highways

Public transportation

Airports

Merced Regional Airport, located 2miles southwest of downtown Merced, provides passenger air service. General aviation airports in the county include Castle Airport, Gustine Airport, and Los Banos Municipal Airport.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Merced County.[31]

county seat

RankCity/Town/etc.Municipal typePopulation (2010 Census)Population (2018 CA Department of Finance)
1 Merced City78,95886,750
2Los Banos City35,97240,986
3Atwater City28,16831,235
4Livingston City13,05814,328
5Delhi CDP10,755
6Winton CDP10,613
7Franklin-Beachwood CDP6,149
8Gustine City5,5205,874
9Hilmar-Irwin CDP5,197
10Dos Palos City4,9505,679
11Planada CDP4,584
12McSwain CDP4,171
13Le Grand CDP1,659
14South Dos Palos CDP1,620
15Santa Nella CDP1,380
16Ballico CDP406
17Cressey CDP394
18El Nido CDP330
19Dos Palos Y CDP323
20Stevinson CDP313
21Bear Creek CDP290
22Volta CDP246
23Snelling CDP231
24Tuttle CDP103

Education

School districts include:[32]

K-12:

Secondary:

Elementary:

University of California Merced is in the county.

Places of interest

The former Castle Air Force Base and the United States Penitentiary, Atwater are located in an unincorporated area near Atwater.

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. January 31, 2015.
  2. Web site: Board Members | Merced County, CA - Official Website .
  3. Web site: Laveaga Peak. Peakbagger.com. January 31, 2015.
  4. Web site: Merced County, CA Zip Codes. Zip-Codes.com. May 29, 2016.
  5. Web site: Merced County, California. United States Census Bureau. January 30, 2022.
  6. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties.
  7. Web site: 2010 Census Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. September 28, 2015. August 22, 2012.
  8. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Merced County, California. United States Census Bureau.
  9. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Merced County, California. United States Census Bureau.
  10. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  11. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  12. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  13. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  14. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  15. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  16. Other = Some other race + Two or more races
  17. Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native
  18. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. May 14, 2011.
  19. Oppenheim, Jamie. "Hmong youth not preserving traditions, professor says ." Monday March 29, 2010. Retrieved on September 20, 2010.
  20. Web site: Board of Supervisors . Merced County, CA . January 5, 2015.
  21. Grand Jury report 2010 website
  22. April 18, 2023.
  23. Web site: Communities of Interest — County . California Citizens Redistricting Commission . September 28, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20151023054153/http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meeting_handouts_072011/handouts_20110729_q2_sd_finaldraft_splits.zip . October 23, 2015. dead .
  24. California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration . Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  25. Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.
  26. Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes  - 2009 . Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  27. Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
  28. United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  29. Web site: Major Employers in California. www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov. March 16, 2018.
  30. https://www.latimes.com/food/la-fo-marketnews-online-20121102-story.html "Farmers Markets: Stokes Purple is a sweet potato of mystery", Los Angeles Times, 2 November 2012
  31. Web site: US Census Bureau 2010 Census. Center for New Media and. Promotions. www.census.gov. March 16, 2018.
  32. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Merced County, CA. U.S. Census Bureau. July 24, 2022. - text list