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===Rail===
===Rail===

[[File:Bullet train.jpg|thumb|280px|The bullet train]]


[[Image:California-Highway-140-map.png|thumb|right|200px|Major highways near Merced]]
[[Image:California-Highway-140-map.png|thumb|right|200px|Major highways near Merced]]

Revision as of 00:28, 4 January 2010

Merced, California
City
Official seal of Merced, California
Seal
Location in the state of California
Location in the state of California
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyMerced
Incorporated1889
Government
 • MayorBill Spriggs
 • SenateJeff Denham (R)
 • AssemblyCathleen Galgiani (D)
 • U. S. CongressDennis A. Cardoza (D)
Area
 • Total19.9 sq mi (51.4 km2)
 • Land19.9 sq mi (51.4 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation
[1]
171 ft (52 m)
Population
 (2007)
 • Total80,608
 • Density3,216.7/sq mi (1,242.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific (PDT))
ZIP code
95340-95344, 95348
Area code209
FIPS code06-46898
GNIS feature ID1659751
Websitehttp://www.cityofmerced.org/

Merced /mɚˈsɛd/ is the county seat of Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. As of 2007, the city had a total population of 80,608.[2] Incorporated in 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 car from Yosemite National Park to the east and to the west is Monterey Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and miles of beaches. The community is served by the rail passenger service Amtrak, a major airline through Merced Municipal Airport, and three bus lines. It is approximately 110 miles from Sacramento, 130 miles from San Francisco, and 270 miles from Los Angeles.

In 2005, the city became home to the tenth University of California campus, University of California, Merced (UCM), the first research university built in the U.S. in the 21st century.[3]

Community

Merced’s Valley location southeast of San Francisco provides easy access to the central California coast, Sierra Nevada mountains and national parks, and major cities. Merced has historically been the “Gateway to Yosemite”, and residents also enjoy short drives to skiing, beaches, fishing, and other outdoor attractions.

Merced home to University of California Merced and soon to be home to a full independent Medical School and a station for the High Speed Rail. Merced is a dynamic community of about 80,542 people today, with friendly small town living in a mid-size city. The University of California Merced campus, opened in 2005, provides new educational and economic opportunity, adding to the already-established growth of the region. Merced’s population is youthful and diverse.

Located in the heart of California’s agricultural Central Valley, Merced is the region’s hub for education, culture, and business. The community offers abundant shopping, pleasant neighborhoods and tree-lined streets. Bicycle paths along creeks link major City parks. Even with recent increases in prices, Merced’s housing remains affordable compared to many other California locations. Merced’s revitalized downtown is emerging as the entertainment center of the area. Annual events and festivals bring regional and even national recognition.

File:County bank.jpg
The former county bank in downtown Merced

Current recreation in the town 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 bars.

Also within a short distance from the city limits are the Castle Air Museum, Challenger Learning Center, Castle Science and Technology 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.

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 now suffers from a whopping 16.4% unemployment rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, reflecting a drop-off in building industry jobs and a grim housing market.

Transportation

Air

File:Merced1Castle.jpg
Castle Airport

Bus

  • Greyhound serves Merced.
  • YARTS provides scheduled service into Yosemite National Park.
  • Merced County Transit, "The Bus", operates both regularly scheduled fixed route bus service and Dial-A-Ride (demand response) transportation services throughout Merced County.
  • Cattracks is UCM's bus service, which connects students, staff and faculty at the university to off-campus apartments, the off-campus Castle facilities, local amenities, the Amtrak station, and the downtown area.

Rail

Major highways near Merced

High speed rail to Merced

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 March 2 that the 800-mile 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: Merced to Sacramento 43 mins Merced to San Jose 45 mins Merced to San Francisco 1 hour and 15 mins Merced to Los Angeles 1 hour and 40 mins

Major highways

Geography and geology

Merced is located at 37°18′08″N 120°28′59″W / 37.30222°N 120.48306°W / 37.30222; -120.48306.[1] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.9 square miles (51.4 km²).

A major groundwater plume containing the contaminant PCE was discovered in Merced in the year 1987.[5] Subsequently drilling of new water wells was severely restricted.[6]

Climate

Merced has wet, cool winters and hot, dry summers. 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 annually. There are an average of 48 days annually with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1998 with 21.66 inches and the driest year was 1947 with 5.50 inches. The most rainfall in one month was 8.00 inches in January 1909. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 2.20 inches, which occurred on January 30, 1911, and March 9, 1911. Although snow is relatively rare in Merced, averaging only 0.6 inch 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 on February 16, 1946. The most snowfall in one month was 39.0 inches in December 1906.[7]

History

File:MercedHospital.jpg
The newly built hospital

Merced was incorporated in 1889 and operates under the Council-Manager form of government. 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 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 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, will eventually accommodate about 25,000 students.

The first post office opened in 1870.[8] Merced incorporated in 1889.[8] During World War Two, the Merced County fairgrounds was the site of a temporary civilian assembly center for Japanese internment.

Demographics

Population in July 2008: 77,160. Population change since 2000: +20.8% Males: 37,709 (48.9%) Females: 39,451 (51.1%) Median resident age: 27.8 years California median age: 33.3 years

Races in Merced: 

   * White Non-Hispanic (47.4%)
   * Hispanic (31.8%)
   * Other race (23.2%)
   * Other Asian (9.6%)
   * Black (6.3%)
   * Two or more races (5.2%)
   * American Indian (2.5%)
   * Filipino (0.6%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Historic County Courthouse, now serving as a museum.

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, 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/sq mi (418.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.40% White, 6.33% African American, 1.28% Native American, 12.37% Asian (mostly Hmong), 0.21% Pacific Islander, 23.18% from other races, and 5.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.36% 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% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 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.

Merced is home to one of the largest concentrations of Laotian Hmong immigrants in the United States, which likely make up the "Asian" and "Other" categories in the 2000 census listed above. It has been reported that by the mid-nineties, one in five residents of Merced was Hmong. Despite many struggles with integration and some local xenophobia, because of the exceptionally high concentration, the Hmong community in Merced has managed to retain a great deal of their traditional culture.[9]

In the 2007 version of the book "Cities Ranked & Rated" by authors Bert Sperling and Peter Sander, Merced has been ranked 370th of 373 cities nationwide. The factors that determined the ranking of the cities within the book include the quality of life, cost of living in the area, availability and type of jobs, education, health care, climate, crime, commute times, and leisure activities.[10] However, the entry in the book also states that the town may not stay in this place for long, since the authors stated that "Merced is definitely on an upward path and offers potential not found in other Valley towns. This potential is clearly not shown in today's numbers."[11]

Politics

In the state legislature Merced is located in the 12th Senate District, represented by Republican Jeff Denham, and in the 17th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Cathleen Galgiani. Federally, Merced is located in California's 18th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +4[12] and is represented by Democrat Dennis Cardoza.

Education

File:12Uc merced.jpg
University of California Merced

The Merced area has easy access to many fine 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, Business, and Computer Science are readily at hand. The University of California, Merced campus opened in late 2005 northeast of the city limits. UC Merced for the 2009 academic year has an enrollment of about 3,400 students. Merced is served by two major public high school campuses, Merced High School and Golden Valley 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. Establish a fully‐independent UC Merced medical school after having functioned as a successful branch campus after a period of time and seek Regental approval when the economy is more favorable, ideally no later than 2020. The Washington Advisory Group has completed a consulting engagement to review strategic issues related to planning for a new medical school at the University of California, Merced, with the presentation of its findings and recommendations in a report, Planning for a 21st Century Medical School at UC Merced. In authorizing planning for the medical school to move forward, UC President Mark Yudof voiced his agreement with suggestions in the WAG report. He directed staff to begin implementation and planning for the first two steps in the recommended phased approach designed to start admitting students into an undergraduate program in biomedical education by 2010, have UC Merced functioning as a branch medical school campus as early as 2012, and culminate in the establishment of a fully independent UC Merced medical school no later than 2020.

Notable past and present residents

References and notes

  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Merced, California
  2. ^ About Merced City of Merced website
  3. ^ UC Merced - Mission Statement
  4. ^ Merced's Amtrak station
  5. ^ Paul M. Santi1, John E. McCray2 and Jamie L. Martens, Hydrogeology Journal, Issue Volume 14, Numbers 1-2, January, 2006, Springer Berlin /Heidelberg
  6. ^ Environmental Site Assessment for proposed development, Merced, California, Earth Metrics Inc, October 17, 1989
  7. ^ Monthly Climate Summary
  8. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ Fadiman, Anne. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1997.
  10. ^ "Merced Sun Star". New book ranks Merced fourth worst place to live in U.S. Retrieved May 14, 2007.
  11. ^ ibid
  12. ^ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  13. ^ Novelist takes on Vatican secrecy with new spy thriller
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