Cressey, California

Cressey
census-designated place
Cressey Location in California
Coordinates: 37°25′11″N 120°40′03″W / 37.41972°N 120.66750°W / 37.41972; -120.66750Coordinates: 37°25′11″N 120°40′03″W / 37.41972°N 120.66750°W / 37.41972; -120.66750
Country	United States
State	California
County	Merced
Area[1]
• Total	1.758 sq mi (4.554 km2)
• Land	1.758 sq mi (4.554 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation[2]	167 ft (51 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	394
• Density	220/sq mi (87/km2)
Time zone	Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP Code	95312
Area code(s)	209
GNIS feature IDs	221824; 2582986
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cressey, California; U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cressey, California

Cressey (formerly, Cressy) is a census-designated place^[3] in Merced County, California.^[2] It is located 6 miles (9.7 km) north-northwest of Atwater,^[4] at an elevation of 167 feet (51 m).^[2] The population was 394 at the 2010 census.

Cressey is located in the northern part of Merced County. It is just east of where the Santa Fe railroad crosses the Merced River. Ballico is across the river to the northwest. Livingston is to the southwest, and Winton is southeast of Cressey. The ZIP Code is 95312. The area is inside area code 209.

History

The Cressy post office opened in 1882, closed in 1883, re-opened in 1909, and changed its name to Cressey in 1912.^[4] The town was named by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway for Calvin J. Cressey, local landowner.^[4] Cressey has one Postal Office, located on Cressey Way. The Old Post Office was located behind the Cressey General Store, on Third St. Cressey has one active General Store, located on the corner of Santa Fe Dr. and Third St. In the past, the Cressey Store had two Gasoline Pumps; then was reduced to one. Then after, all were taken out of service and removed. Cressey has one County-Owned Park located on Cressey Way, just West of the Ward Canal, but it's said to be maintained by a few citizens and the Cal-Fire Firefighter Volunteers. Cressey was also said to have one church (but later turned into a private home) on the corner of Crocker Ave and Third St. It was also said that Cressey had a Hotel near the RailRoad (Santa Fe) but has not been confirmed. Cressey had an Old "one-lane" iron suspension bridge (similar to the Historic Shaffer Bridge), that was off of Meadow Dr, that went over the Merced River. That bridge was a "cut-off" or an alternate way to Ballico, CA; that went onto Alves Rd. The bridge was later demolished for an unspecific reason. Cressey is Patrolled by the Merced County Sheriffs Office. Cressey has one Elementary School (Ballico-Cressey School District, K-3), and has had many changes to its playground structures (some to had been eliminated because of safety precautions) and has had a few buildings since its existence. At the school Baseball field (with four fully operating "stadium-like" lights) that the school grounds had, but were later taken out for an unknown reason. Cressey locals are very familiar with the term "River Rats". Although, the name has no real identity, nor one can say where the origin really came from, "REAL", "TRUE", Cressey citizens have embraced it and can state that Cressey has been known as that, the towns' "mascot" in the past (possibly still now) for that reason.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²), all of it land. To the North of Cressey, beyond the Merced River, it's considered Ballico, Ca. To the South of Cressey, Palm Ave and Beyond, it's considered Winton, Ca. To the West of Cressey, over the Santa Fe Rail Road and beyond, it's considered Livingston, Ca. To the East of Cressey, off of Cressey Way onto Meadow Dr and beyond, it's considered Winton, Ca as well.

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census^[5] reported that Cressey had a population of 394. The population density was 224.1 people per square mile (86.5/km²). The racial makeup of Cressey was 253 (64.2%) White, 1 (0.3%) African American, 3 (0.8%) Native American, 15 (3.8%) Asian, 1 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 95 (24.1%) from other races, and 26 (6.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 195 persons (49.5%).

The Census reported that 394 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 114 households, out of which 50 (43.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 72 (63.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 11 (9.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 7 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 4 (3.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 4 (3.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 18 households (15.8%) were made up of individuals and 9 (7.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.46. There were 90 families (78.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.90.

The population was spread out with 109 people (27.7%) under the age of 18, 44 people (11.2%) aged 18 to 24, 90 people (22.8%) aged 25 to 44, 95 people (24.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 56 people (14.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.8 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

There were 123 housing units at an average density of 69.9 per square mile (27.0/km²), of which 88 (77.2%) were owner-occupied, and 26 (22.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.3%. 303 people (76.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 91 people (23.1%) lived in rental housing units.

Government

Local

The Merced Irrigation District provides irrigation water. Ballico and Cressey share an elementary school district. Most Cressey students continue on to Livingston High School in the Merced Union High School District. Fire protection is provided by Cal Fire under contract to Merced County Fire Department. Station 64 is staffed with one career fire officer each shift, and local volunteers. Merced County Sheriffs Department is the Patrol for this unincorporated area.

State and federal

In the state legislature Cressey is located in the 12th Senate District, represented by Republican Anthony Cannella, and in the 21st Assembly District, represented by Democrat Adam Gray. Federally, Cressey is located in California's 18th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +3^[6] and is represented by Democrat Dennis Cardoza.

References

v t e Municipalities and communities of Merced County, California, United States County seat: Merced Cities Atwater Dos Palos Gustine Livingston Los Banos Merced CDPs Ballico Bear Creek Cressey Delhi Dos Palos Y El Nido Franklin Hilmar-Irwin Le Grand McSwain Planada Santa Nella Snelling South Dos Palos Stevinson Tuttle University of California Merced Volta Winton Unincorporated communities Amsterdam Arena Athlone Brito Buhach Calpack Castle Gardens Cortez Fergus Fluhr Hamburg Farms Hilmar Hopeton Ingomar Irwin Kadota Lingard Merced Falls Plainsburg Santa Rita Park The Grove Trent Ghost towns Abbato Agatha Aladdin Alcant Alexandria Arundel Bellevue Brickville Burchell Central Point Charleston Chester Colony Center Cuba Dickenson Edendale Elgin Ferrin Gadwall Gracey Gwin Hoff La Branza Linora Lone Willow Station Marguerite Nairn Newton's Crossing Ortigalito Plainsburg St. Louis Ranch Sturgeon Tenger Union Yam