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| 112nd | Top U.S. place names of Spanish origin |
| Merced County, California | |
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 Location in the state of California |
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 California's location in the U.S. |
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| Seat | Merced |
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| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,978 sq mi (5,123 km²) 1,935 sq mi (5,012 km²) 43 sq mi (111 km²), 2.19% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
210,554 109/sq mi (42/km²) |
| Founded | 1855 |
| Website | co.merced.ca.us |
Merced County (pronounced /mərˈsɛd/ mər-SED), is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of Fresno and southeast of San Jose. As of 2000 the population was 210,554. The county seat is Merced. The county is named after the Merced River.
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Merced County was formed in 1855 from parts of Mariposa County. Parts of its territory were given to Fresno County in 1856.
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.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,972 square miles (5,107 km2), of which, 1,929 square miles (4,995 km²) of it is land and 43 square miles (112 km²) of it (2.19%) is water.
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Stanislaus County | Tuolumne County | |
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| Santa Clara County |  |
Mariposa County | ||
 Merced County, California  |
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| San Benito County | Fresno County | Madera County |
Interstate 5
State Route 33
State Route 59
State Route 99
State Route 140
State Route 152
State Route 165Merced Municipal Airport, located just southwest of downtown Merced, has a few commercial passenger flights. General aviation airports in the county include Castle Airport, Gustine Airport, and Los Banos Municipal Airport [1].
As of the census[1] 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/km²). There were 68,373 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.21% White, 3.83% Black or African American, 1.19% Native American, 6.80% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 26.13% from other races, and 5.65% from two or more races. 45.34% 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.
| Year | GOP | DEM | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 44.8% 28,704 | 53.1% 34,031 | 2.1% 1,316 |
| 2004 | 56.5% 32,773 | 42.3% 24,491 | 1.2% 696 |
| 2000 | 51.8% 26,102 | 45.1% 22,726 | 3.1% 1,590' |
| 1996 | 44.4% 20,847 | 46.4% 21,786 | 9.2% 4,305 |
| 1992 | 36.5% 17,981 | 40.8% 20,133 | 22.7% 11,170 |
| 1988 | 51.2% 21,717 | 47.4% 20,105 | 1.4% 592 |
| 1984 | 58.8% 24,997 | 40.1% 17,012 | 1.1% 468 |
| 1980 | 48.8% 18,043 | 42.9% 15,886 | 8.3% 3,067 |
| 1976 | 46.1% 14,842 | 51.6% 16,637 | 2.3% 729 |
| 1972 | 54.3% 17,737 | 42.6% 13,914 | 3.1% 997 |
| 1968 | 40.9% 11,595 | 51.0% 14,453 | 8.1% 2,301 |
| 1964 | 31.2% 8,814 | 68.7% 19,431 | 0.1% 24 |
| 1960 | 43.4% 11,990 | 56.2% 15,545 | 0.4% 111 |
Merced is considered a bellwether county. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Barack Obama in 2008 and the last Republican was George W. Bush in 2004.
Merced is part of California's 18th congressional district, which is held by Democrat Dennis Cardoza. Merced was previously represented by Democratic representatives Gary Condit and Tony Coelho. In the state legislature Merced is in the 17th Assembly district, which is held by Democrat Cathleen Galgiani, and the 12th Senate district, which is held by Republican Jeff Denham.
According to the California Secretary of State, as of October 20, 2008, there are 97,179 registered voters in Merced County. 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 unincorporated areas of Merced County have Republican plurality registration advantages. All of the other cities and towns in the county have Democratic pluralities or majorities in voter registration.
Castle Air Force Base and United States Penitentiary, Atwater are located in an unincorporated area near Atwater.
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| Merced County, California view Community messages | |
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| Articles, images | Archeology • Farms • Landmarks • Migrations and settlements • Photo gallery • Prehistory • Timeline |
| People | Births • Deaths • Families • Marriages • Residents |
| Daily life | Before 1700 • 1700-1749 • 1750-1799 • 1800-1819 • 1820-1839 • 1840-1859 • 1860-1879 • 1880-1899 • 1900-1919 • 1920-1939 • 1940-1959 • 1960-1979 • 1980-1999 • 2000-present |
| Research, including queries |
Merced County, California links • Birth records • Businesses • Cemeteries • Census data • Church records • Court records • Death records • Directories • Landowner records • Marriage records • Maps • Military records • Obituaries • Probate records • Queries |
| Merced County, California | |
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| Map | |
| File:Map of California highlighting Merced County.png Location in the state of California |
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 California's location in the USA |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1855 |
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| Seat | Merced |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
sq mi ( km²) sq mi ( km²) sq mi ( km²), 2.19% |
| wikipedia:Population - (2000) - Density |
210554 |
| Website: www.co.merced.ca.us | |
Merced County (pronounced "Mer-SED"), is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of Fresno and southeast of San Jose. As of 2000 the population was 210,554. The county seat is Merced. The county is named after the Merced River.
Contents |
Merced County was formed in 1855 from parts of Mariposa County. Parts of its territory were given to Fresno County in 1856.
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.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,107 km² (1,972 sq mi). 4,995 km² (1,929 sq mi) of it is land and 112 km² (43 sq mi) of it (2.19%) is water.
Merced Municipal Airport, located just southwest of downtown Merced, has a few commercial passenger flights. General aviation airports in the county include Castle Airport, Gustine Airport, and Los Banos Municipal Airport.
As of the census² of 2000, there were 210,554 people, 63,815 households, and 49,775 families residing in the county. The population density was 42/km² (109/sq mi). There were 68,373 housing units at an average density of 14/km² (36/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 56.21% White, 3.83% Black or African American, 1.19% Native American, 6.80% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 26.13% from other races, and 5.65% from two or more races. 45.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 55.1% spoke English, 35.3% Spanish, 3.2% Hmong, 2.9% Portuguese and 1.0% Panjabi 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.
| Year | GOP | DEM | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 56.5% 32,773 | 42.3% 24,491 | 1.2% 696 |
| 2000 | 51.8% 26,102 | 45.1% 22,726 | 3.1% 1,590' |
| 1996 | 44.4% 20,847 | 46.4% 21,786 | 9.2% 4,305 |
| 1992 | 36.5% 17,981 | 40.8% 20,133 | 22.7% 11,170 |
| 1988 | 51.2% 21,717 | 47.4% 20,105 | 1.4% 592 |
| 1984 | 58.8% 24,997 | 40.1% 17,012 | 1.1% 468 |
| 1980 | 48.8% 18,043 | 42.9% 15,886 | 8.3% 3,067 |
| 1976 | 46.1% 14,842 | 51.6% 16,637 | 2.3% 729 |
| 1972 | 54.3% 17,737 | 42.6% 13,914 | 3.1% 997 |
| 1968 | 40.9% 11,595 | 51.0% 14,453 | 8.1% 2,301 |
| 1964 | 31.2% 8,814 | 68.7% 19,431 | 0.1% 24 |
| 1960 | 43.4% 11,990 | 56.2% 15,545 | 0.4% 111 |
Merced is a Republican-leaning county in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.
Merced is part of California's 18th congressional district, which is held by Democrat Dennis Cardoza. In the state legislature Merced is in the 17th Assembly district, which is held by Democrat Cathleen Galgiani, and the 12th Senate district, which is held by Republican Jeff Denham.
| Municipalities and communities of Merced County, California  , California |
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| County seat: Merced, California |
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| Cities |
Atwater | Dos Palos | Gustine | Livingston | Los Banos | Merced |
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| CDPs |
Delhi | Hilmar | Le Grand | Planada | South Dos Palos | Winton |
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| Unincorporated communities |
Ballico | Cressey | El Nido | Santa Nella | Snelling |
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| State of California Sacramento (capital) |
| Climate |
Culture | Districts | Economy | Elections | Geography | Government | Early History | Modern History | Politics | Californians |
| This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Merced County, California. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License. |
| County names | Merced County, California + |
| County of country | United States + |
| County of subdivision1 | California + |
| Short name | Merced County + |
  | Merced County Arts Council, Inc - Merced County Arts Council |
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