Merced, California

City of Merced
Charter city and county seat

Downtown Merced

Flag
Seal

Location in the state of California
City of Merced

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 37°18′N 120°29′W / 37.300°N 120.483°W / 37.300; -120.483Coordinates: 37°18′N 120°29′W / 37.300°N 120.483°W / 37.300; -120.483
Country United States
State California
County Merced County
Incorporated April 1, 1889[1]
Government
 • Type Council–manager[2]
 • Mayor Mike Murphy (R)[3]
 • State senator Anthony Cannella (R)[4]
 • Assemblymember Adam Gray (D)[4]
 • U. S. rep. Jim Costa (D)[5]
Area[6]
 • Total 23.23 sq mi (60.16 km2)
 • Land 23.23 sq mi (60.16 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation[7] 171 ft (52 m)
Population (2010)[8]
 • Total 78,958
 • Estimate (2016)[9] 82,594
 • Density 3,556.10/sq mi (1,372.99/km2)
Time zone Pacific (UTC−8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC−7)
ZIP codes 95340–95344, 95348
Area code 209
FIPS code 06-46898
GNIS feature IDs 1659751, 2411080
Website www.cityofmerced.org

Merced /mərˈsɛd/ (Spanish for "Mercy") is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. As of 2014, the city had a population of 81,743.[8] Incorporated on April 1, 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government. It is named after the Merced River, which flows nearby.

Merced, known as the "Gateway to Yosemite", is less than two hours by automobile from Yosemite National Park to the east and Monterey Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and several beaches to the west. The community is served by the rail passenger service Amtrak, a major airline through Merced Regional Airport, and three bus lines. It is approximately 110 miles (180 km) from Sacramento, 130 miles (210 km) from San Francisco, 45 miles (72 km) from Fresno, and 270 miles (430 km) from Los Angeles.

In 2005, the city became home to the tenth University of California campus, University of California, Merced (UC Merced), the first research university built in the U.S. in the 21st century.[10]

Community

Merced is a home to University of California, Merced. Current recreational opportunities in the city include Applegate Park and zoo, Bear and Black Rascal Creeks and their bike trails, a skate park located in Applegate, a live stage theater downtown, two first run movie theaters, The Mainzer Theater which is known for its historic and architectural value, County Courthouse Museum circa 1889, the Merced Multicultural Arts Center and the County Library. Though still growing, Merced has several shopping areas including the Merced Mall, anchored by Target, Sears, JCPenney and Kohl's, a strip mall located on the city's northwest side which includes Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, and several restaurants. Merced's Main Street contains several restaurants, a movie theater, and other assorted shops.

Also within a short distance from the city limits are the Castle Air Museum, Lake Yosemite, and Merced Falls. Merced is also the headquarters of Malibu Boats, a manufacturer of inboard boats. The city of Merced along with its surrounding cities are serviced by the Merced Sun-Star and the Merced County Times. The Sun-Star daily newspaper has a circulation of over 20,000 in the Merced area and the Times weekly newspaper has a circulation of over 5,000.

Main Street in Merced California

Homes at the median level in Merced have lost 62% of their value from the second quarter of 2006, when they peaked at $336,743, the biggest drop anywhere in the country, according to data provided to Forbes by Local Market Monitor, a Cary, North-Carolina-based real-estate research firm. Earlier, home building and buying grew exponentially in Merced, but the metro still suffers from an elevated 14.2% unemployment rate (Dec 2013)[11] according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

During the Great Recession Merced suffered one of the greatest property price collapses in the country and house prices at the end of 2009 had returned to 1998 levels, according to Zillow, making housing affordable compared to many other California locations. Merced's population has grown faster than the state average since 1980. Over the past nine years, the annualized growth rate is about 3.4%. This rapid expansion of population has stimulated significant retail growth since 1992. Several major retail chain stores have entered Merced, adding over 750,000 square feet (70,000 m2) of new retail space in that time and increasing the City's sales tax receipts by over $500,000 annually.

The economy has traditionally relied upon agribusiness and upon the presence of Castle Air Force Base. Over the past twenty years, more diversified industry has entered the area, including printing, fiberglass boat building, warehousing and distribution, and packaging industries.

In September 1995, Castle Air Force Base closed after phasing down over the previous three years. This has affected residential real estate and some sectors of the retail and service economies, but overall retail has continued to increase. No significant increase in unemployment has been noted. Re-use of the former base is actively proceeding. Industrial development is increasing in the area.

Since 1992, more than 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2) of new industrial activity has started. In May 1995, Merced was selected as the home of the next University of California campus. UC Merced opened with its first 1,000 students in September 2005. Local planning is underway to accommodate campus development, which will eventually accommodate about 25,000 students.

History

The first Merced post office opened in 1870.[12] Merced incorporated in 1889[12] and now operates under the Council-Manager form of government.

A plaque marking the site of the Merced Assembly Center.

During World War II, the Merced County fairgrounds was the site of a temporary "assembly center" where Japanese Americans were detained after being removed from their West Coast homes under Executive Order 9066. 4,669 men, women and children from central California (with most coming from Merced County) were confined in the Merced Assembly Center from May 6 to September 15, 1942, when they were transferred to the more permanent Granada internment camp in Colorado.[13]

Transportation

Major highways near Merced

Major highways

Air

Bus

Rail

Map of proposed route, also including the proposed Desert Xpress to Las Vegas

California High-Speed Rail

Officials of the California High-Speed Rail Authority say a flat, straight stretch through the San Joaquin Valley connecting Merced and Bakersfield will likely be the first completed. Regional Manager Thomas Tracy told the Visalia City Council that the 800-mile (1,300 km) project will be built in eight phases. The first segment, due by 2015, would stretch from Bakersfield to Merced on an initial run from San Diego to Sacramento. At its full 220 mph speed, the normally three-hour car trip from Merced to Bakersfield would take 45 minutes.

Sample trips in the California High Speed rail would include:

Geography and geology

Merced county countryside

Merced is located at 37°18′N 120°29′W / 37.300°N 120.483°W / 37.300; -120.483.[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.3 square miles (60 km2).

Merced is approximately 110 miles (180 km) southeast of San Francisco and 310 miles (500 km) northwest of Los Angeles.[15]

A major groundwater plume containing the contaminant PCE was discovered in Merced in 1987.[16] Subsequently, drilling of new water wells was severely restricted.[17]

Climate

Merced has a semi-arid climate.[18] Average January temperatures are a maximum of 55.0 °F and a minimum of 36.0 °F. Average July temperatures are a maximum of 97.1 °F and a minimum of 60.9 °F. There are an average of 98.7 days with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and an average of 33.6 days with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower. The record highest temperature of 114 °F was recorded on July 24, 1902, and August 8, 1905. The record lowest temperature of 13 °F was recorded on January 13, 2007.

Most of the rainfall occurs during the winter and averages 12.21 inches (310 mm) annually. There are an average of 48 days annually with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1998 with 21.66 inches (550 mm) and the driest year was 1947 with 5.50 inches (140 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 8.00 inches (203 mm) in January 1909. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 2.20 inches (56 mm), which occurred on January 30, 1911, and March 9, 1911. Although snow is relatively rare in Merced, averaging only 0.6-inch (15 mm) annually, the city's proximity to the Sierra Nevada has resulted in some instances of remarkably heavy snowfall. The record 24-hour snowfall was 13.9 inches (35 cm) on February 16, 1946. The most snowfall in one month was 39.0 inches (99 cm) in December 1906.[19]

Climate data for Merced Regional Airport
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 77
(25)		 84
(29)		 88
(31)		 98
(37)		 109
(43)		 111
(44)		 114
(46)		 114
(46)		 110
(43)		 102
(39)		 91
(33)		 76
(24)		 114
(46)
Average high °F (°C) 55.0
(12.8)		 61.6
(16.4)		 67.2
(19.6)		 74.3
(23.5)		 82.6
(28.1)		 90.8
(32.7)		 97.1
(36.2)		 95.3
(35.2)		 90.0
(32.2)		 79.8
(26.6)		 66.2
(19)		 55.6
(13.1)		 76.3
(24.6)
Average low °F (°C) 36.0
(2.2)		 38.7
(3.7)		 41.2
(5.1)		 44.8
(7.1)		 50.6
(10.3)		 56.4
(13.6)		 60.9
(16.1)		 58.9
(14.9)		 54.8
(12.7)		 47.2
(8.4)		 39.6
(4.2)		 35.7
(2.1)		 47.1
(8.4)
Record low °F (°C) 13
(−11)		 20
(−7)		 20
(−7)		 22
(−6)		 30
(−1)		 37
(3)		 39
(4)		 35
(2)		 32
(0)		 28
(−2)		 21
(−6)		 15
(−9)		 13
(−11)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.47
(62.7)		 2.17
(55.1)		 1.94
(49.3)		 1.10
(27.9)		 0.44
(11.2)		 0.09
(2.3)		 0.01
(0.3)		 0.02
(0.5)		 0.15
(3.8)		 0.60
(15.2)		 1.37
(34.8)		 1.90
(48.3)		 12.27
(311.7)
Source: [19]

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[20] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 County of Merced 2,028
2 University of California, Merced 1,602
3 Mercy Medical Center Merced 1,200
4 Merced City School District 1,141
5 Merced Union High School District 949
6 Merced College 900
7 City of Merced 584
8 Quad/Graphics 564
9 AT&T Mobility 500
10 Wal-Mart 311

In the summer of 2014, the Castle Commerce Center's call center closed, subtracting 400 jobs from AT&T's share of employment[21][22]

Education

The Science and Engineering Building at University of California, Merced

The Merced area has access to several institutions of higher learning. Within a one-hour radius, close to 100,000 students attend colleges and universities, including: University of California, Merced, California State University, Stanislaus, California State University, Fresno and the University of the Pacific. Schools of Engineering and Business are readily at hand. The University of California, Merced campus opened in late 2005 northeast of the city limits. UC Merced for the 2012 academic year has an enrollment of about 5,760 students. Merced is served by the Merced Union High School District and three major public high school campuses, Merced High School, Golden Valley High School, and El Capitan High School as well as a few smaller campuses offering alternative education. Merced has one community college, Merced College, which has an enrollment of more than 10,000 full-time equivalent students (FTES).

In May 2008, the UC Board of Regents endorsed continued planning for a UC Merced School of Medicine.

Health

Mercy Medical Center, Merced California

Mercy Medical Center Merced is located in Merced.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18801,446—
18902,00938.9%
19001,969−2.0%
19103,10257.5%
19203,97428.1%
19307,06677.8%
194010,13543.4%
195015,27850.7%
196020,06831.4%
197022,67013.0%
198036,42360.7%
199056,21654.3%
200063,89313.7%
201078,95823.6%
Est. 201682,594[9]4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[23]
Historic County Courthouse, now serving as a museum.

2010

The 2010 United States Census[24] reported that Merced had a population of 78,959 . The population density was 3,386.4 people per square mile (1,307.5/km²). The racial makeup of Merced was 41,177 (52.1%) White, 4,958 (6.3%) African American, 1,153 (1.5%) Native American, 9,342 (11.8%) Asian, 174 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 17,804 (22.5%) from other races, and 4,350 (5.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39,140 persons (49.6%).

The Census reported that 77,878 people (98.6% of the population) lived in households, 492 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 588 (0.7%) were institutionalized.

There were 24,899 households, out of which 11,484 (46.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 10,958 (44.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 4,921 (19.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,941 (7.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2,156 (8.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 167 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 5,356 households (21.5%) were made up of individuals and 1,823 (7.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13. There were 17,820 families (71.6% of all households); the average family size was 3.65.

The population was spread out with 25,091 people (31.8%) under the age of 18, 10,475 people (13.3%) aged 18 to 24, 20,986 people (26.6%) aged 25 to 44, 15,484 people (19.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 6,922 people (8.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.1 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

There were 27,446 housing units at an average density of 1,177.1 per square mile (454.5/km²), of which 10,637 (42.7%) were owner-occupied, and 14,262 (57.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%. 31,690 people (40.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 46,188 people (58.5%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census[25] of 2000,[26] there were 63,893 people, 20,435 households, and 14,631 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,216.7 people per square mile (1,242.2/km²). There were 21,532 housing units at an average density of 1,084.0 per square mile (418.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.4% White, 6.3% African American, 1.3% Native American, 12.4% Asian (mostly Hmong), 0.2% Pacific Islander, 23.2% from other races, and 5.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.4% of the population.

There were 20,435 households, out of which 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% contained married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were "nonfamilies." 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.62.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.7% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,429, and the median income for a family was $32,470. Males had a median income of $31,725 versus $24,492 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,115. About 22.4% of families and 27.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Hmong community

Escaping post-war persecution from Communist forces, Hmong refugees from Laos moved to the United States in the 1970s and 80s, first settling in Merced and other areas in the Central Valley of California.[27][28] The Hmong could not initially take part in farming like they had expected, as the land was owned by other people.[28] They could not get high end agricultural jobs because they did not speak sufficient English and Mexican migrants already held low end agricultural jobs. As such, a great portion of Merced’s Hmong collected social services and Hmong gangs arose, prompting other residents to perceive them as being the cause of economic troubles.[29] As the Hmong settlement matured and the Hmong children gained English language skills, the town's overall attitude began to be more accepting of the Hmong community.[28]

This acceptance is reflected in various services provided to the Hmong community. This includes the Merced Lao Family Community Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides social services to Hmong people,[30] the Merced Department of Public Health’s MATCH (Multidisciplinary Approach to Cross-Cultural Health) program, intending to draw Hmong patients into the health care system,[27][31] a body of Hmong-speaking faculty and paraprofessionals (including college classes on Hmong culture and language),[30][32] and media outlets for the Hmong community—cable television channel Channel 11 broadcasts programming to the Hmong community twice per week and radio station KBIF 900 AM airs programming oriented towards Hmong people.[30]

While Merced has historically had a proportionally large portion of Hmong (in 1997, 12,000 of Merced’s 61,000 residents were Hmong[29]), demographic shifts have reduced this. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 prompted a move of some Hmong to Minnesota, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. More recently, many Hmong have gone to Alaska to work in crabbing and fishing industries that require little proficiency in English.[28]

Racial demographics

In 2010, Latinos became a majority population in Merced and Merced County as the agricultural industry brought in migrant farm laborers. The area's affordable housing prices attracted both Latino and Asian immigrants. Merced has large Asian-American (e.g. Hmong, followed by Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian, Filipino, Thai, Korean[33] and Asian Indian) populations relative to the city and county's population size.[26]

Government

In the California State Legislature, Merced is in the 12th Senate District, represented by Republican Anthony Cannella, and in the 21st Assembly District, represented by Democrat Adam Gray.[4]

In the United States House of Representatives, Merced is in California's 16th congressional district, represented by Democrat Jim Costa.[34]

Sister cities

Merced has two sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

Notable people

Sports

Merced has a history of minor league baseball including the California League Merced Bears (1940s) [40] and Atwater Angels (1970s) in nearby Atwater, California. There were the defunct Merced Black Bears of the Horizon Air Summer Series and the current Atwater Aviators of the Golden State Collegiate Baseball League.[41]

References and notes

  1. ↑ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Merced, CA Code of Ordinances [codes] - Sec. 300. - Form of government". Municode. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Merced City Council". City of Merced, CA. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
  4. 1 2 3 "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  5. ↑ "California's 16th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  6. ↑ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jun 28, 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Merced". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "American FactFinder - Results". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  10. ↑ UC Merced – Mission Statement Archived May 23, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ "Merced, CA Economy at a Glance". Bureau of Labor Statistics. Feb 20, 2014. Retrieved Feb 25, 2014.
  12. 1 2 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 801. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  13. ↑ Iwata, Adrienne. "Merced (detention facility)" Densho Encyclopedia (accessed 17 Jun 2014).
  14. ↑ Merced's Amtrak station
  15. ↑ "History of Merced." City of Merced. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
  16. ↑ Paul M. Santi1, John E. McCray2 and Jamie L. Martens, Hydrogeology Journal, Issue Volume 14, Numbers 1–2, January, 2006, Springer Berlin /Heidelberg
  17. ↑ Environmental Site Assessment for proposed development, Merced, California, Earth Metrics Inc, October 17, 1989
  18. ↑ http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=18427&cityname=Merced%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units=
  19. 1 2 "Merced Regional Airport - Period of Record General Climate Summary". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  20. ↑ City of Merced, California Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, for the Year ended June 30, 2010 Retrieved 2010-09-24
  21. ↑ .
  22. ↑
  23. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  24. ↑ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Merced city". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  25. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  26. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  27. 1 2 Warner, Miriam E; Mochel, Marilyn (1998), "The Hmong and Health Care in Merced, California" (PDF), Hmong Studies Journal, 2 (2): 30, retrieved November 28, 2010
  28. 1 2 3 4 Reiter, Carol. "Hmong seeking life in Merced, Ca." Merced Sun-Star at Suab Hmong Radio. January 29, 2008. Retrieved on September 20, 2010.
  29. 1 2 Fadiman, Anne (1997), The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  30. 1 2 3 Withers, Andrea C. (2004), "Hmong Language and Cultural Maintenance in Merced, California", Bilingual Research Journal, 28 (3): 299–318
  31. ↑ Anderson, Barbara. "Merced's Mercy Medical opens its door to Hmong shamans." The Modesto Bee. Monday October 19, 2009. Retrieved on November 29, 2010.
  32. ↑ "MERCED COLLEGE OFFERING HMONG LANGUAGE COURSE." Fresno Bee. December 10, 1987. Retrieved on November 29, 2010.
  33. ↑ "Korean Presbyterian church in Merced".
  34. ↑ "California's 16th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  35. ↑ Novelist takes on Vatican secrecy with new spy thriller Archived February 17, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  36. ↑ Peterson, David (March 21, 1980). "Kidnap victim reunites with 'mystery woman'". St. Petersburg Times. United Press International. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  37. ↑ http://houston.astros.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=124334#gameType='R'&sectionType=career&statType=2&season=2014&level='ALL'
  38. ↑ http://www.ucmercedbobcats.com/
  39. ↑ http://www.muhsd.k12.ca.us/Domain/48/
  40. ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=1bbbe312
  41. ↑ http://pointstreaksites.com/view/goldenstatecollegiatebaseballleague/teams-397/atwater-aviators
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