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Merced County, California

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Merced County (/mərˈsɛd/ ⓘ mər-SED) is a county located in the northern San Joaquin Valley section of the Central Valley, in the U.S. state of California.

Merced County, California
County
County of Merced
Images, from top down, left to right: The historic Merced Theatre, San Luis Reservoir, UC Merced, The B-29A Super Fortress exhibit at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater
Official seal of Merced County, California
Seal
Map
Interactive map of Merced County
Location in the state of California
Location in the state of California
Coordinates: 37°11′N 120°43′W / 37.19°N 120.71°W / 37.19; -120.71
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionSan Joaquin Valley
IncorporatedApril 19, 1855[1]
Named forMerced River, originally El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Merced ("River of Our Lady of Mercy" in Spanish).
County seatMerced
Largest cityMerced
Government
 • TypeCouncil–CEO
 • BodyBoard of Supervisors
 • ChairLloyd Pareira, Jr
 • Vice ChairScott Silveira
 • Board of Supervisors[2]
Supervisors
  • Rodrigo Espinoza
  • Josh Pedrozo
  • Daron McDaniel
  • Lloyd Pareira, Jr
  • Scott Silveira
 • Chief executive officerRaul Lomeli Mendez
Area
 • Total
1,979 sq mi (5,130 km2)
 • Land1,935 sq mi (5,010 km2)
 • Water44 sq mi (110 km2)
Highest elevation
[3]
3,801 ft (1,159 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
281,202
 • Density140/sq mi (55/km2)
GDP
[4]
 • Total$11.560 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
ZIP code
93620, 93635, 93661, 93665, 95301, 95303, 95312, 95315, 95317, 95322, 95324, 95333, 95334, 95388, 95340, 95341, 95343, 95344, 95348, 95365, 95369, 95374[5]
Area code209
FIPS code06-047
GNIS feature ID277288
Congressional district13th
Websitewww.co.merced.ca.us

As of the 2020 census, the population was 281,202.[6] The county seat is Merced.[7] 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

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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

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,979 square miles (5,130 km2), of which 1,935 square miles (5,010 km2) is land and 44 square miles (110 km2) (2.2%) is water.[8]

National protected areas

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,141—
18702,807146.0%
18805,656101.5%
18908,08542.9%
19009,21514.0%
191015,14864.4%
192024,57962.3%
193036,74849.5%
194046,98827.9%
195069,78048.5%
196090,44629.6%
1970104,62915.7%
1980134,56028.6%
1990178,40332.6%
2000210,55418.0%
2010255,79321.5%
2020281,2029.9%
2023 (est.)291,920[9]3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[15]

2020 census

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Merced County, California – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[16] Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 85,585 81,599 68,729 40.65% 31.90% 24.44%
Black or African American alone (NH) 7,594 8,785 8,191 3.61% 3.43% 2.91%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,115 1,126 1,164 0.53% 0.44% 0.41%
Asian alone (NH) 14,041 18,183 19,824 6.67% 7.11% 7.05%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 281 476 617 0.13% 0.19% 0.22%
Other Race alone (NH) 410 439 1,242 0.19% 0.17% 0.44%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) 6,062 4,700 7,578 2.88% 1.84% 2.69%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 95,466 140,485 173,857 45.34% 54.92% 61.83%
Total 210,554 255,793 281,202 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2011

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Places by population, race, and income

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2010 census

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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%).[23]

2000

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As of the census[24] of 2000, there were 210,554 people, 63,815 households, and 49,775 families residing in the county. The population density was 109 people per square mile (42 people/km2). There were 68,373 housing units at an average density of 36 units per square mile (14 units/km2). 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.[25]

Government and policing

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County government

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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.[26]

Merced County Sheriff's Office

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The seal of the 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.[27]

Municipal police departments

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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

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In the United States House of Representatives, Merced County is in California's 13th congressional district, represented by Republican John Duarte.[28]

In the California State Legislature, Merced County is in the 27th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Esmeralda Soria, and the 14th Senate District, represented by Democrat Anna Caballero.[29]

Politics

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Voter registration statistics

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Cities by population and voter registration

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Overview

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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 when it voted for Adlai Stevenson II instead of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1968 when it voted for Hubert Humphrey instead of Richard Nixon, and 2016 when it voted for Hillary Clinton instead of Donald Trump. In 2024, Donald Trump won the county in a slim victory, continuing the county's bellwether county status.[31]

Trump's win in Merced county made it one of eight counties to flip from Biden to Trump, as well as making Merced one of five counties to vote for the Republican presidential candidate for the first time since George W. Bush in 2004. Democrat Barack Obama won a majority in the county in both 2008 and 2012. Before that, Republican George W. Bush won a majority in the county in both 2000 and 2004.

United States presidential election results for Merced County, California[32]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 42,409 50.99% 38,587 46.39% 2,178 2.62%
2020 39,397 43.30% 48,991 53.84% 2,605 2.86%
2016 28,725 40.58% 37,317 52.72% 4,747 6.71%
2012 27,581 44.33% 33,005 53.04% 1,636 2.63%
2008 28,704 44.81% 34,031 53.13% 1,316 2.05%
2004 32,773 56.54% 24,491 42.26% 696 1.20%
2000 26,102 51.77% 22,726 45.08% 1,590 3.15%
1996 20,847 44.41% 21,786 46.41% 4,305 9.17%
1992 17,981 36.48% 20,133 40.85% 11,170 22.66%
1988 21,717 51.20% 20,105 47.40% 592 1.40%
1984 24,997 58.85% 17,012 40.05% 468 1.10%
1980 18,043 48.77% 15,886 42.94% 3,067 8.29%
1976 14,842 46.08% 16,637 51.65% 729 2.26%
1972 17,737 54.33% 13,914 42.62% 997 3.05%
1968 11,595 40.90% 14,453 50.98% 2,301 8.12%
1964 8,814 31.18% 19,431 68.74% 24 0.08%
1960 11,990 43.37% 15,545 56.23% 111 0.40%
1956 11,430 45.99% 13,366 53.78% 56 0.23%
1952 13,512 53.26% 11,639 45.88% 219 0.86%
1948 7,721 42.60% 9,959 54.95% 444 2.45%
1944 6,518 41.31% 9,192 58.25% 69 0.44%
1940 6,101 36.35% 10,501 62.57% 182 1.08%
1936 3,230 25.50% 9,208 72.69% 230 1.82%
1932 2,920 27.20% 7,202 67.10% 612 5.70%
1928 4,644 60.17% 2,970 38.48% 104 1.35%
1924 3,573 52.94% 710 10.52% 2,466 36.54%
1920 3,457 62.99% 1,537 28.01% 494 9.00%
1916 2,132 40.72% 2,637 50.36% 467 8.92%
1912 10 0.24% 1,978 46.78% 2,240 52.98%
1908 1,107 44.58% 1,100 44.30% 276 11.12%
1904 972 49.07% 863 43.56% 146 7.37%
1900 811 41.59% 1,081 55.44% 58 2.97%
1896 653 36.24% 1,117 61.99% 32 1.78%
1892 782 39.66% 995 50.46% 195 9.89%
1888 773 43.04% 972 54.12% 51 2.84%
1884 809 45.47% 953 53.57% 17 0.96%
1880 516 41.08% 736 58.60% 4 0.32%

According to the California Secretary of State, as of October 20, 2008, there were 97,179 registered voters in Merced County.[citation needed] 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 county's unincorporated areas 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 seen a rightward tilt in recent years, voting "Yes" in the 2021 gubernatorial recall election despite voting for Governor Gavin Newsom by a margin of 4% in 2018. The county then voted for Republican nominee Brian Dahle in 2022 over Newsom, as well as for all Republican nominees for statewide office.

Crime

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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

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Economy

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According to America's Labor Market Information System 2014 report,[36] the companies with the largest employment in Merced are, in alphabetical order:

Merced County grows 90% of California's sweet potato crop,[37] due in part to the efforts of John Buttencourt Avila, called "the father of the sweet potato industry".

Transportation

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Major highways

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Public transportation

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Airports

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Merced Regional Airport, located two miles (3.2 km) 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

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Cities

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Census-designated places

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Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Merced County.[38]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census) Population (2018 CA Department of Finance)
1 † Merced City 78,958 86,750
2 Los Banos City 35,972 40,986
3 Atwater City 28,168 31,235
4 Livingston City 13,058 14,328
5 Delhi CDP 10,755
6 Winton CDP 10,613
7 Franklin-Beachwood CDP 6,149
8 Gustine City 5,520 5,874
9 Hilmar-Irwin CDP 5,197
10 Dos Palos City 4,950 5,679
11 Planada CDP 4,584
12 McSwain CDP 4,171
13 Le Grand CDP 1,659
14 South Dos Palos CDP 1,620
15 Santa Nella CDP 1,380
16 Ballico CDP 406
17 Cressey CDP 394
18 El Nido CDP 330
19 Dos Palos Y CDP 323
20 Stevinson CDP 313
21 Bear Creek CDP 290
22 Volta CDP 246
23 Snelling CDP 231
24 Tuttle CDP 103

Education

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School districts include:[39]

K-12:

Secondary:

Elementary:

University of California Merced is in the county.

Places of interest

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

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Other = Some other race + Two or more races
  2. ^ Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native
  3. ^ a b Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.

References

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  1. ^ "Merced County". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  2. ^ "Board Members | Merced County, CA - Official Website".
  3. ^ "Laveaga Peak". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  4. ^ "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Merced County, CA". Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  5. ^ "Merced County, CA Zip Codes". Zip-Codes.com. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  6. ^ "Merced County, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  7. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  14. ^ a b "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.
  15. ^ a b "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.
  16. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Merced County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  18. ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  19. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  20. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  21. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  22. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  23. ^ "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  25. ^ Oppenheim, Jamie. "Hmong youth not preserving traditions, professor says Archived June 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Monday March 29, 2010. Retrieved on September 20, 2010.
  26. ^ "Board of Supervisors". Merced County, CA. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  27. ^ Grand Jury report 2010 website
  28. ^ "California's 13th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  29. ^ "Communities of Interest — County". California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  31. ^ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  32. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  34. ^ Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
  35. ^ a b c United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  36. ^ "Major Employers in California". www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  37. ^ "Farmers Markets: Stokes Purple is a sweet potato of mystery", Los Angeles Times, 2 November 2012
  38. ^ Promotions, Center for New Media and. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  39. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Merced County, CA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022. - text list

Further reading

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  • A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa, California. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1892.
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