Merced County, California

County in California, United States

County in California, United States

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

Seal

Interactive map of Merced County

Location in the state of California

Coordinates: 37°11′N 120°43′W﻿ / ﻿37.19°N 120.71°W﻿ / 37.19; -120.71
Country| United States
State| California
Region| San Joaquin Valley
Incorporated| April 19, 1855[1]
Named after| Merced River, originally El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Merced ("River of Our Lady of Mercy" in Spanish).
County seat| Merced
Largest city| Merced
Government

• Type| Council–CEO
• Body| Board of Supervisors
• Chair| Josh Pedrozo
• Vice Chair| Daron McDaniel
• Board of Supervisors[2]|

Supervisors

* Jim Pacheco
* Josh Pedrozo
* Daron McDaniel
* Lloyd Pareira, Jr
* Scott Silveira

• Chief executive officer| Raul Lomeli Mendez
Area

• Total

| 1,979 sq mi (5,130 km2)
• Land| 1,935 sq mi (5,010 km2)
• Water| 44 sq mi (110 km2)
Highest elevation

[3]

| 3,801 ft (1,159 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 281,202
• Density| 140/sq mi (55/km2)
GDP

[4]

• Total| $11.560 billion (2022)
Time zone| UTC−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 code| 209
FIPS code| 06-047
GNIS feature ID| 277288
Congressional district| 13th
Website| www.co.merced.ca.us

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.

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, California Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Modesto-Merced, California Combined Statistical Area. It is located north of Fresno County and Fresno, and southeast of Santa Clara County and San Jose.

## History

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Merced National Wildlife Refuge
* San Luis National Wildlife Refuge

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 1,141| | —
1870| 2,807| | 146.0%
1880| 5,656| | 101.5%
1890| 8,085| | 42.9%
1900| 9,215| | 14.0%
1910| 15,148| | 64.4%
1920| 24,579| | 62.3%
1930| 36,748| | 49.5%
1940| 46,988| | 27.9%
1950| 69,780| | 48.5%
1960| 90,446| | 29.6%
1970| 104,629| | 15.7%
1980| 134,560| | 28.6%
1990| 178,403| | 32.6%
2000| 210,554| | 18.0%
2010| 255,793| | 21.5%
2020| 281,202| | 9.9%
2024 (est.)| 296,774| [9]| 5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[15]

### 2020 census

[edit]

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 1980[16] | Pop 1990[17] | Pop 2000[18] | Pop 2010[14] | Pop 2020[15] | % 1980  | % 1990  | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 89,006  | 96,701  | 85,585  | 81,599  | 68,729  | 66.15%  | 54.20%  | 40.65%  | 31.90%  | 24.44%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 6,618  | 7,889  | 7,594  | 8,785  | 8,191  | 4.92%  | 4.42%  | 3.61%  | 3.43%  | 2.91%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 1,091  | 1,135  | 1,115  | 1,126  | 1,164  | 0.81%  | 0.64%  | 0.53%  | 0.44%  | 0.41%
Asian alone (NH)  | 2,891  | 14,109  | 14,041  | 18,183  | 19,824  | 2.15%  | 7.91%  | 6.67%  | 7.11%  | 7.05%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | x [19] | x [20] | 281  | 476  | 617  | 0.13%  | 0.19%  | 0.13%  | 0.19%  | 0.22%
Other race alone (NH)  | 900  | 462  | 410  | 439  | 1,242  | 2.68%  | 0.26%  | 0.19%  | 0.17%  | 0.44%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)  | x [21] | x [22] | 6,062  | 4,700  | 7,578  | x  | x  | 2.88%  | 1.84%  | 2.69%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 34,054  | 58,107  | 95,466  | 140,485  | 173,857  | 25.31%  | 32.57%  | 45.34%  | 54.92%  | 61.83%
Total | 134,560 | 178,403 | 210,554 | 255,793 | 281,202  | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

### 2011

[edit]

Population, race, and income

Total population[23] | 253,606
White[23] | 170,229  | 67.1%
Black or African American[23] | 9,837  | 3.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native[23] | 2,617  | 1.0%
Asian[23] | 18,904  | 7.5%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[23] | 517  | 0.2%
Some other race[23] | 43,893  | 17.3%
Two or more races[23] | 7,609  | 3.0%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[24] | 137,974  | 54.4%
Per capita income[25] | $18,304
Median household income[26] | $43,945
Median family income[27] | $48,429

#### Places by population, race, and income

[edit]

Places by population and race

Place  | Type[28] | Population[23] | White[23] | Other[23]
[note 1] | Asian[23] | Black or African
American[23] | Native American[23]
[note 2] | Hispanic or Latino
(of any race)[24]
Atwater | City | 27,922 | 66.0% | 21.6% | 7.0% | 4.3% | 1.1% | 49.2%
Ballico | CDP | 384 | 72.1% | 24.7% | 1.6% | 0.0% | 1.6% | 49.2%
Bear Creek | CDP | 188 | 44.7% | 55.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 89.4%
Cressey | CDP | 614 | 57.0% | 42.3% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 63.7%
Delhi | CDP | 9,892 | 59.0% | 28.9% | 7.1% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 67.8%
Dos Palos | City | 4,940 | 79.6% | 18.1% | 0.0% | 2.0% | 0.3% | 66.5%
Dos Palos Y | CDP | 207 | 77.3% | 22.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 65.2%
El Nido | CDP | 297 | 44.1% | 55.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 72.4%
Franklin | CDP | 5,766 | 71.4% | 14.8% | 6.6% | 2.5% | 4.7% | 56.4%
Gustine | City | 5,484 | 85.8% | 13.2% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 56.1%
Hilmar-Irwin | CDP | 5,224 | 95.1% | 3.6% | 1.0% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 9.2%
Le Grand | CDP | 1,893 | 51.8% | 47.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 88.4%
Livingston | City | 12,899 | 48.0% | 32.8% | 17.5% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 71.5%
Los Banos | City | 35,252 | 81.0% | 11.3% | 3.3% | 3.9% | 0.5% | 67.4%
McSwain | CDP | 4,041 | 82.8% | 8.8% | 6.7% | 0.3% | 1.4% | 20.6%
Merced | City | 78,111 | 56.1% | 24.1% | 11.4% | 6.8% | 1.7% | 49.6%
Planada | CDP | 4,366 | 52.3% | 44.2% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 0.8% | 96.2%
Santa Nella | CDP | 1,292 | 84.1% | 12.0% | 0.0% | 3.9% | 0.0% | 70.4%
Snelling | CDP | 97 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.1%
South Dos Palos | CDP | 2,144 | 88.9% | 10.0% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 0.0% | 94.1%
Stevinson | CDP | 132 | 53.8% | 46.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 46.2%
Tuttle | CDP | 21 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0%
University of California, Merced | CDP | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0%
Volta | CDP | 126 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 55.6%
Winton | CDP | 11,742 | 61.2% | 28.4% | 8.2% | 1.6% | 0.7% | 74.5%

### 2010 census

[edit]

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%).[29]

Population reported at 2010 United States census

The County | Total
Population | White | African
American | Native
American | Asian | Pacific
Islander | other
races | two or
more races | Hispanic
or Latino
(of any race)
Merced County | 255,793 | 148,381 | 9,926 | 3,473 | 18,836 | 583 | 62,665 | 11,929 | 140,485
Incorporated
city | Total
Population | White | African
American | Native
American | Asian | Pacific
Islander | other
races | two or
more races | Hispanic
or Latino
(of any race)
Atwater | 28,168 | 18,410 | 1,225 | 364 | 1,416 | 76 | 5,300 | 1,377 | 14,808
Dos Palos | 4,950 | 3,377 | 167 | 62 | 37 | 4 | 1,075 | 228 | 3,075
Gustine | 5,520 | 3,875 | 73 | 54 | 95 | 8 | 1,191 | 224 | 2,769
Livingston | 13,058 | 5,263 | 106 | 348 | 2,223 | 18 | 4,547 | 553 | 9,547
Los Banos | 35,972 | 20,846 | 1,354 | 512 | 1,162 | 134 | 10,123 | 1,841 | 23,346
Merced | 78,958 | 41,177 | 4,958 | 1,153 | 9,342 | 174 | 17,804 | 4,350 | 39,140
Census-designated
place | Total
Population | White | African
American | Native
American | Asian | Pacific
Islander | other
races | two or
more races | Hispanic
or Latino
(of any race)
Ballico | 406 | 237 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 128 | 23 | 210
Bear Creek | 290 | 156 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 93 | 21 | 170
Cressey | 394 | 253 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 95 | 26 | 195
Delhi | 10,755 | 5,655 | 118 | 157 | 405 | 30 | 3,930 | 460 | 7,706
Dos Palos Y | 323 | 225 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 82 | 6 | 197
El Nido | 330 | 162 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 147 | 5 | 245
Franklin | 6,149 | 3,455 | 273 | 77 | 931 | 12 | 1,072 | 329 | 3,250
Hilmar-Irwin | 5,197 | 4,475 | 15 | 23 | 87 | 1 | 439 | 157 | 916
Le Grand | 1,659 | 869 | 19 | 35 | 17 | 1 | 659 | 59 | 1,357
McSwain | 4,171 | 3,196 | 56 | 34 | 282 | 9 | 422 | 172 | 1,081
Planada | 4,584 | 1,681 | 22 | 23 | 46 | 1 | 2,725 | 86 | 4,347
Santa Nella | 1,380 | 832 | 22 | 25 | 31 | 0 | 433 | 37 | 968
Snelling | 231 | 206 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 33
South Dos Palos | 1,620 | 809 | 135 | 21 | 36 | 10 | 552 | 57 | 1,262
Stevinson | 313 | 228 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 8 | 133
Tuttle | 103 | 77 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 31
University of California, Merced | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Volta | 246 | 201 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 4 | 132
Winton | 10,613 | 5,696 | 175 | 140 | 701 | 8 | 3,455 | 438 | 7,566
Other
unincorporated areas | Total
Population | White | African
American | Native
American | Asian | Pacific
Islander | other
races | two or
more races | Hispanic
or Latino
(of any race)
All others not CDPs (combined)  | 40,403 | 27,020 | 1,183 | 419 | 1,962 | 90 | 8,269 | 1,460 | 18,001

### 2000

[edit]

As of the census[30] 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.[31]

## Government and policing

[edit]

### County government

[edit]

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.[32]

### Merced County Sheriff's Office

[edit]

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.[33]

### Municipal police departments

[edit]

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

[edit]

In the United States House of Representatives, Merced County is in California's 13th congressional district, represented by Democrat Adam Gray.[34]

In the California State Legislature, Merced County is in the 27th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Esmeralda Soria, and the 14th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Anna Caballero.[35]

## Politics

[edit]

### Voter registration statistics

[edit]

Population and registered voters

Total population[23] | 253,606
Registered voters[36][note 3] | 98,874  | 39.0%
Democratic[36] | 43,981  | 44.5%
Republican[36] | 32,767  | 33.1%
Democratic–Republican spread[36] | +11,214 | +11.4%
Independent[36] | 3,016  | 3.1%
Green[36] | 568  | 0.6%
Libertarian[36] | 483  | 0.5%
Peace and Freedom[36] | 318  | 0.3%
Americans Elect[36] | 2  | 0.0%
Other[36] | 180  | 0.2%
No party preference[36] | 17,559  | 17.8%

#### Cities by population and voter registration

[edit]

Cities by population and voter registration

City  | Population[23] | Registered voters[36]
[note 3] | Democratic[36] | Republican[36] | D–R spread[36] | Other[36] | No party preference[36]
Atwater | 27,922 | 41.0% | 39.4% | 37.4% | +2.0% | 8.2% | 18.3%
Dos Palos | 4,940 | 38.0% | 44.4% | 35.0% | +9.4% | 9.9% | 14.9%
Gustine | 5,484 | 38.3% | 48.2% | 30.3% | +17.9% | 7.7% | 17.0%
Livingston | 12,899 | 34.6% | 62.2% | 15.9% | +46.3% | 4.9% | 18.9%
Los Banos | 35,252 | 37.6% | 50.1% | 27.6% | +22.5% | 7.8% | 17.7%
Merced | 78,111 | 41.0% | 46.4% | 30.2% | +16.2% | 8.2% | 18.3%

### Overview

[edit]

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.[37]

Trump's win in Merced county made it one of ten counties to flip from Biden to Trump, as well as making Merced one of six counties to vote for the Republican presidential candidate for the first time in 20 years 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[38][note 4] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 43,955  | 50.70% | 40,190  | 46.35%  | 2,558  | 2.95%
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

[edit]

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Population and crime rates

Population[23] | 253,606
Violent crime[39] | 1,658 | 6.54
Homicide[39] | 26 | 0.10
Forcible rape[39] | 78 | 0.31
Robbery[39] | 276 | 1.09
Aggravated assault[39] | 1,278 | 5.04
Property crime[39] | 4,390 | 17.31
Burglary[39] | 2,318 | 9.14
Larceny-theft[39][40] | 5,089 | 20.07
Motor vehicle theft[39] | 903 | 3.56
Arson[39] | 90 | 0.35

### Cities by population and crime rates

[edit]

Cities by population and crime rates

City  | Population[41] | Violent crimes[41] | Violent crime rate
per 1,000 persons  | Property crimes[41] | Property crime rate
per 1,000 persons
Atwater | 28,891 | 180 | 6.23 | 1,400 | 48.46
Dos Palos | 5,079 | 59 | 11.62 | 162 | 31.90
Gustine | 5,663 | 24 | 4.24 | 120 | 21.19
Livingston | 13,394 | 74 | 5.52 | 306 | 22.85
Los Banos | 36,897 | 142 | 3.85 | 1,210 | 32.79
Merced | 80,976 | 810 | 10.00 | 4,111 | 50.77

## Economy

[edit]

According to America's Labor Market Information System 2014 report,[42] the companies with the largest employment in Merced are, in alphabetical order:

* Anberry Rehabilitation Hospital
* Atwater Elementary Teachers
* Bianchi & Sons Packing Co (produce)
* E & J Gallo Winery
* Foster Farms
* Golden Valley Health Center
* Hilmar Cheese Company
* J. Marchini & Son (farming)
* Liberty Packing Co
* Live Oak Farms (produce)
* Livingston District Office (education)
* Malibu Boats West Inc
* McLane Pacific (wholesale food services)
* Merced County Human Services
* Mercy Medical Center Merced
* Pacific Gas and Electric Company
* Quad/Graphics (printing)
* Sensient Dehydrated Flavors
* University of California, Merced
* Walmart
* Werner Co (ladders)
* Western Marketing & Sales (farming)
* Yosemite Wholesale Warehouse

Merced County grows 90% of California's sweet potato crop,[43] due in part to the efforts of John Buttencourt Avila, called "the father of the sweet potato industry".

## Transportation

[edit]

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 5
* State Route 33
* State Route 59
* State Route 99
* State Route 140
* State Route 152
* State Route 165

### Public transportation

[edit]

* Merced County Transit, or "The Bus", provides local service in Merced as well as connecting service between most cities in Merced County.
* The University of California, Merced, operates its own transit system, Cat Tracks. This system connects with Merced County Transit.
* Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System, or YARTS, connects Merced with Yosemite National Park.
* Greyhound buses and Amtrak trains provide long-distance intercity service.

### Airports

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Atwater
* Dos Palos
* Gustine
* Livingston
* Los Banos
* Merced (county seat)

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* 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

### Population ranking

[edit]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Merced County.[44]

† 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

[edit]

School districts include:[45]

K-12:

* Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District
* Delhi Unified School District
* Gustine Unified School District
* Hilmar Unified School District
* Los Banos Unified School District
* Turlock Unified School District

Secondary:

* Le Grand Union High School District
* Merced Union High School District

Elementary:

* Atwater Elementary School District
* Ballico-Cressey Elementary School District
* El Nido Elementary School District
* Le Grand Union Elementary School District
* Livingston Union School District
* McSwain Union Elementary School District
* Merced City Elementary School District
* Merced River Union Elementary School District
* Plainsburg Union Elementary School District
* Planada Elementary School District
* Snelling-Merced Falls Union Elementary School District
* Weaver Union Elementary School District
* Winton School District

University of California Merced is in the county.

## Places of interest

[edit]

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

## See also

[edit]

* California portal

* List of California Historical Landmarks
* List of museums in the San Joaquin Valley
* List of school districts in Merced County, California
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Merced County, California

## Notes

[edit]

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.
4. ^ This total comprised 1,571 votes for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt (who was official Republican nominee in California), 441 votes for Socialist Eugene V. Debs and 228 votes for Prohibition Party nominee Eugene W. Chafin.

## References

[edit]

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, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
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. ^ "California: 1980, General Social and Economic Characteristics, Part 1 - Table 59: Persons by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Sex" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
17. ^ "California: 1990, Part 1 - Table 5: Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
18. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Merced County, California". United States Census Bureau.
19. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
20. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
21. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
22. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
23. ^ 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.
24. ^ 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.
25. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
26. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
27. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
28. ^ U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
29. ^ "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
30. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
31. ^ 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.
32. ^ "Board of Supervisors". Merced County, CA. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
33. ^ Grand Jury report 2010 website[full citation needed]
34. ^ "California's 13th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
35. ^ "Communities of Interest — County". California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
36. ^ 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.
37. ^ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
38. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
39. ^ 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.
40. ^ Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
41. ^ 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.
42. ^ "Major Employers in California". www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
43. ^ "Farmers Markets: Stokes Purple is a sweet potato of mystery", Los Angeles Times, 2 November 2012
44. ^ Promotions, Center for New Media and. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
45. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Merced County, CA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022. \- text list

## Further reading

[edit]

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

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merced County, California.

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Merced County, California

|  | Stanislaus County | Tuolumne County

|
|

|  |
Santa Clara County |

Merced County, California

| Mariposa County
|  |
San Benito County | Fresno County | Madera County

* v
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Municipalities and communities of Merced County, California, United States

County seat: Merced

Cities|

* Atwater
* Dos Palos
* Gustine
* Livingston
* Los Banos
* Merced

Merced County map

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
* Athlone
* Buhach
* Cortez
* Hilmar
* Hopeton
* Ingomar
* Irwin
* Lingard
* Merced Falls
* Plainsburg
* Santa Rita Park

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* Lone Willow Station
* St. Louis Ranch
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