Merced County, California - info, facts, communities on Key to the City

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Information & Facts about Merced County, California

Attractions & other Information - Climate - Economy - Genealogy - Geography -
Government - History - Libraries - Location - Organizations & Groups -
Other Facts & Figures - Population - Schools

Government

Merced County
2222 M Street
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: 209-385-7434

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Population:

Persons:
2000 - 210,554
2005 - 241,706
2007 - 250,000 (approx)

Housing Units:
2000 - 68,373

Population Density:
2000 - 109 persons per square mile

Median age of resident:
2005 - 28 years

The county includes six incorporated cities (2007) Atwater, Livingston, Los Banos, Gustine and Dos Palos. Unincorporated areas include Snelling, Santa Nella, Winton, Delhi, LeGrand, Stevinson, Ingomar, Volta, El Nido, Plainsburg, Tuttle and Planada

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Location:

in the San Joaquin Valley reaching from the coastal ranges to the foothills of Yosemite National Park.
north of Fresno and southeast of San Jose

Neighboring counties:
North - Stanislaus County
East - Mariposa County
Southeast - Madera County
South - Fresno County
Southwest - San Benito County
West - Santa Clara County

Local area maps of Merced

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Climate:

Residents enjoy summer temperatures averaging 95 degrees F. and winters averaging 55 degrees F.

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Other Facts and Figures:

Median household Income:
2000 - $35,532
2005 - $40,281

Per Capita Income
2000 - $14,257

Median house value:
2005 - $305,300

Merced is pronounced Mer-SED

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History:

Merced County was formed in April 1855 from the southwest part of Mariposa County. There were only about 500 people here at the time. A portion of the new county was taken out in 1856 and given to Fresno County. Merced County was named for the Merced River. The Merced River was named in 1806 by a Spanish expedition. The actual name was El Rio de Nuestra Senora de la Merced (River of Our Lady of Mercy). The expedition felt a good deal of mercy when they came upon the river after a long, hot and dusty trail ride. The first county seat and county officers were elected in May, 1855. The courthouse was a small building on the Turner and Osborne Ranch on Mariposa Creek. Court was held outdoors on the banks of the creek. Later that year, the official seat was at the Snelling Ranch. There was still no real county seat as such. After a few years, when the population had increased, the need for a permanent county seat was present. Merced as well as Livingston desired to be that designated city. After much campaigning by both areas, an election was held in 1872 to decide the issue. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of Merced with Livingston and Snelling receiving less than half the vote. By 1874, the construction had begun on the courthouse in Merced. The dedication took place in May of 1875.

Here is a Merced History page. Also try this history page. The Merced County Chamber of Commerce has provided this history page.
This is an online history book for the county by John Outcalt.
Various history summaries for the County

California Historical Landmarks for the county

California Biography Project page for Merced County

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Geography:

Land area: 1,929 square miles
Water area: 43 square miles
Total area: 1,972 square miles

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Genealogy:

Merced County GenWeb Project page
Cemeteries of Merced County
Linkpendium Genealogy page for Merced County
Merced County Genealogy and History
Genealogy Trails page for Merced County
Kindred Trails page for Merced County

Marriage, Birth & Death Certificates for the county

Merced County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 3061
Merced, CA 95344

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Libraries:

Merced County Library System
Main Branch
2100 O Street
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: (209) 385-7643
Fax: (209) 726-7912

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Schools:

Merced County Office of Education
632 West 13th Street
Merced, CA 95341
Phone: 209-381-6600

UC Merced

P.O. Box 2039
Merced, Ca 95344
Phone: 209-228-4400

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Economy:

Merced County Economic Development Corporation

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Organizations & Groups

Merced County Association of Governments
369 West 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: 209-723-3153

Merced County Farm Bureau
646 South Highway 59
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: 209-723-3001
Mailing address: P.O. Box 1232
Merced, CA 95341

Merced County Arts Council

645 West Main Street
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: 209-388-1090

Merced County Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1112
860 West 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: 209-722-3864

Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce
690 West 16th Street
Merced, CA 95340
Telephone: (209) 384-7092
Fax: (209) 384-8472

Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
1640 N Street, Suite 220
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: 209-384-9537

Los Banos Chamber of Commerce
503 J Street
Los Banos, CA 93635
Telephone: (209) 826-2495
Fax: (209) 826-9689

Atwater Chamber of Commerce
1181 Third Street
Atwater, CA 95301
Phone: (209) 358-4251
Fax: (209) 358-0934

Gustine Historical Society
803 Laurel Avenue
Gustine, California 95322

Merced Conference and Visitors Bureau

710 West 16th Street
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: 209-384-2791
Toll-free: 800-446-5353

The Merced Symphony
P.O. Box 894
Merced, CA 95341

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Attractions & Other Information

Merced County Spring Fair

Merced Agricultural Museam
Visit and see many antique farming implements including tractors, engines and appliances.

Castle Air Museum
5050 Santa Fe Dr.
Atwater, CA
Phone: 209-723-2178

Castle Science and Technology Center
3460 Challenger Way
Atwater, CA
Phone: 209-726-0296

Applegate Park and Zoo
1045 W 25th Street
26th and R Streets
Merced, CA
Phone: 209-385-6840

Merced Courthouse Museum
21st & N Streets
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: (209) 723-2401
The courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by Albert A. Bennett in 1875. He is also the designer of the State Capital building.
Merced County Courthouse - an historic building

Merced County is known as the Gateway to Yosemite. The first route into Yosemite was through Merced River Canyon. See the park website

Central Valley Blues Festival
Held in October each year
P.O. Box 310
Merced, Ca. 95341
Phone: 209-383-4958

The Big Valley Arts and Culture Festival
held in the Merced Multicultural Arts Center
October each year
Phone: 209-388-1090

Gustine Museum
397 Fourth Street
Gustine, CA

Merced Municipal Airport
Macready Drive
Merced, CA
Phone: 209-385-6873
Other airports in the area include Castle Airport, Gustine Airport and Los Banos Municipal Airport

Central California Historical Museum at Eagle Field

The Merced Sun-Star
County Newspaper

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This page was created on 22 January 2008 and last updated on 19 April 2010 at 3:31 pm