Ceres, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Ceres, California | |||
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| Motto: Together We Achieve | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | California | ||
| County | Stanislaus | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Anthony Cannella | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 6.9 sq mi (18.0 km²) | ||
| - Land | 6.9 sq mi (18.0 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 92 ft (28 m) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Total | 42,245 | ||
| - Density | 4,988.6/sq mi (1,926.1/km²) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP code | 95307 | ||
| Area code(s) | 209 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-12524 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1655882 | ||
| Website: http://www.ci.ceres.ca.us/ | |||
Ceres is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. The population was 34,609 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] General
The city is located in the San Joaquin Valley along State Route 99, south of Modesto and north of Turlock in Stanislaus County. Ceres is named after the Roman goddess of Agriculture.
The newspaper in Ceres is called The Ceres Courier[1]. It has been in publication since 1910. Jeff Benziger was appointed Editor in 1987.
Ceres hosts annual events at different times of the year. Spring brings the Ceres Street Faire on the first weekend in May. Concert in the Park is a regular summer event. Halloween Fun Festival marks the Fall followed by the colourful, and much-attended, Christmas Tree Lane opening ceremony.
[edit] History
The first families that inhabited Ceres were those of John Service, Cassius Warner, and Daniel Whitmore in the year 1867. Daniel C. Whitmore is considered the first family and founder of Ceres and built his home in 1870, now known as The Whitmore Mansion at 2928 5th Street. That home still stands, fully restored by the City and the Ceres Historical Society, at 2928 Fifth Street. (Ceres, 2004)
In the late 1930s a labor camp was developed within the city of Ceres.(USDA, 1937)
[edit] Geography
Ceres is located at (37.601328, -120.957166)[1]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.9 sq mi(18.0 km²), all land. The formation of alluvial fans in the San Joaquin Valley has led to a rather flat regional geography. There are no known active earthquake fault traces in the project vicinity. (Earth Metrics, 1989) Hydrological feature mapping of the Ceres area has been conducted by the U. S. Geological Survey. (USGS, 2003)
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 34,609 people, 10,435 households, and 8,535 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,988.6 people per square mile (1,925.4/km²). There were 10,773 housing units at an average density of 1,552.8/sq mi (599.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.50% White, 2.75% African American, 1.40% Native American, 5.04% Asian, 0.38% Pacific Islander, 20.40% from other races, and 5.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.89% of the population.
There were 10,435 households out of which 48.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 14.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.31 and the average family size was 3.62.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.4% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,736, and the median income for a family was $43,587. Males had a median income of $35,109 versus $24,317 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,420. About 10.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Politics
In the state legislature Ceres is located in the 14th Senate District, represented by Republican Dave Cogdill, and in the 25th Assembly District, represented by Republican Tom Berryhill. Federally, Ceres is located in California's 18th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +3[3] and is represented by Democrat Dennis Cardoza.
[edit] Noted People From Ceres
- Gary Condit - former Democratic U.S. Congressman from 1989 to 2002;
- Cliff Barrows - the ministry partner and announcer at the Billy Graham evangelistic crusades. Mr. Barrows grew up in the First Baptist Church in Ceres. Barrows and Graham came together in 1945 when Graham needed a song leader to replace an ill song leader for an evening meeting of Youth for Christ in Asheville, N.C., and Barrows was available. Barrows was on his honeymoon at the time.
[edit] Controversial Police Shooting
Ceres lost its first police officer while on duty when Sgt. Howard Stevenson was killed Jan. 9, 2005 in an act of premeditated murder by an AWOL Marine. Officer Sam Ryno was first to respond to a call of a man with a gun in front of George's Liquors. AWOL Marine Andres Raya, armed with a modified SKS assault rifle, opened fire on officers, hitting Sam Ryno and killing Sgt. Stevenson.
Portrayed by local media as a calculated attack on law enforcement, the Stevenson slaying sparked attention from the national media which suggested that Raya snapped due to his experience in the Iraq War. Sources close to Raya spoke of violent nightmares and distress which led to heavy drinking and drug use while on leave. However, local law enforcement officials said Raya had been involved in gangs for years prior to him signing up for military service.
Ceres Police officers began cracking down on gang associates of Raya. Along with known gang members, police were said to be targeting young Latino males wearing the color red, a color claimed by the Norteños streetgang of Northern California. That caused criticism from mostly Hispanic members of the community who claimed police were being racist.[citation needed]
[edit] External links
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?. Campaign Legal Center Blog. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
- Ceres, California is at coordinates Coordinates:
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