Soledad, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Soledad is a town in Monterey County, California, United States. The population was 11,263 at the 2000 census.

The town is located near the original Spanish mission, Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, founded October 9, 1791 by Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, the 13th of 21 missions in the California mission chain.

Soledad is located in one of the premiere wine grape growing regions of California with over twenty vineyards and wineries within a thirty mile radius, several of which have tasting rooms and offer a wide selection of wines for sale. Some of the Vineyards and Wineries located nearby are Chalone, Scheid, Paraiso Vineyards, Hahn Estates Smith & Hook, San Saba, J.Lohr, Kendall-Jackson, Ventana, Hess Select, Estancia, The Michaud Vineyard, and Graff Family Vineyards.

Also Located near Soledad is the Salinas Valley State Prison, an intermediate care inpatient psychiatric program primarily servicing high security inmates who have a major mental disorder that has diminished their ability to function within the prison environment. Adjacent to it is the medium security Correctional Training Facility.

1 Historical Data
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Energy Production
5 Farming and Agriculture
6 Schools
7 Soledad in "Pop Culture"
8 The Prisons
9 Nearby Recreation
10 External links

[edit] Historical Data

Originally founded as a Spanish mission 9 October 1791 by Fermín Lasuén

Founded under the rule of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (Virreinato de Nueva España) 1535 to 1821.

The community of Soledad began in 1874 as a few buildings and shops. The two main streets were named Front and Main.

In 1886, land was subdivided into lots and sold by its owners, the Munras family.

In the late 1880s the Southern Pacific Railroad laid rails and began serving the area.

In 1898 Fort Romie was founded a few miles north of the mission and west of the city.

San Vicente School was built in 1913 forming the Soledad School District.

The City, a general law city, incorporated in March 1921 with a City Council/City Manager form of government.

Soledad is used as a backdrop in John Steinbecks novel Of Mice and Men p. 1937

Soledad has been rocked by the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989

The Soledad Prison was three miles north of the city until annexed in 1992

In May 1996 the Salinas Valley State prison was opened at a cost of $236 million, with an annual operating budget of $60 million.

[edit] Geography

Soledad is located at 36°25′60″N, 121°19′47″W (36.433199, -121.329828)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.9 km² (4.2 mi²), all land.

Soledad is is about six miles southeast of Pinnacles National Monument, nestled among the nearby Gabilan Mountains.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 11,263 people, 2,472 households, and 2,242 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,035.4/km² (2,680.0/mi²). There were 2,534 housing units at an average density of 232.9/km² (603.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 31.90% White, 1.15% African American, 1.73% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 58.56% from other races, and 4.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 86.82% of the population.

There were 2,472 households out of which 60.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.3% were non-families. 7.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.54 and the average family size was 4.58.

In the city the population was spread out with 36.7% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 13.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 108.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,602, and the median income for a family was $41,188. Males had a median income of $31,566 versus $23,964 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,442. About 16.3% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Energy Production

Soledad is home to the Soledad Energy Partnership, operators of a wood-waste burning electric power plant. This 13.5 mega-watt facility was restarted in July 2001 after a six year shut-down due to termination of a PG&E purchase agreement.

As of mid-2006, the plant was again closed.

[edit] Farming and Agriculture

Land for agriculture is Soledad's most abundant natural resource. Soledad's farmland has what is considered "Prime Farmland". The soils around and near the city have some of the best physical and chemical characteristics for farming. Due to this fact great efforts in conserving farmland is a very high priority for the city. Prime farmland is the backbone of the Soledad economy. Future planning will consider the effect of urban sprawl amongst the farmlands. Class I, II, and III soils are the most valuable to farming. The climate also allows for year round crops.

[edit] Schools

Soledad Unified School District

The district serves approximately 3,900 students in grades K-12. There are 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 comprehensive high school and 1 community education center which houses a variety of alternative programs. These programs include adult education, regional occupational program (ROP), independent study, and a continuation high school.

San Vicente Elementary

Frank Ledesma Elementary

Jack Franscioni Elementary

Gabilan Elementary Founded 1984

Rose Ferrero Elementary

Main St. Middle school, Home of the Trojans

Soledad High School, Home of the Aztecs Founded 1999

Chalone Alternative School

Pinnacles Continuation High School

Soledad Adult School

Mission Trails Regional Occupation Program

[edit] Soledad in "Pop Culture"

Soledad is located in the heart of the Salinas Valley also know as the "Worlds Salad Bowl".

The movie American Me references the Soledad prison.

Gangsta rappers Da Lynch Mob, on their album Gorillas in the Mist, makes reference to the Soledad Prison

Chicano gangs refer to Soledad as "Chole," The origins of which are linked to Soledad "Chole" Salas

Actor Rafael H. Robledo was raised in Soledad.

A La Brava: Prison and Beyond, is a documentary about two chicano prisoners serving their term in Soledad prison.

Hardcore gangster rapper X-Raided recorded a record while serving his 31 year prison term over the phone and through smuggled recordings from Soledad Prison

Ricardo Soto's film A la brava (With Courage) p.1974 describes the conditions of Chicano convicts at Soledad prison.

The book The Melancholy History of Soledad Prison p.1973 by MS Yee in which a Utopian scheme turns to bedlam is based on the Soledad prison

[edit] The Prisons

The city has three separate correctional facility in the northernmost part of the city. The first and oldest prison is Soledad CTF (Correctional Training Facility). The other two are, the Gabilan Fire camp, and the Salinas Valley State Correctional Facility which opened in 1996.