"Gateway
to Yosemite"
Merced
County is located in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California, north
of Fresno and southeast of San Jose. The county is named after the Merced
River that flows nearby and the county seat is Merced known as the "Gateway
to Yosemite". It is less than two hours by car from Yosemite National
Park, Monterey Bay, the Pacific Ocean and miles of beaches.
Merced
Merced can be described as a "sleepy town" It is the county
seat of Merced County and was incorporated in 1889. The community is served
by Merced Municipal Airport and is home to the tenth University of California
campus, the University of California at Merced. Merced Municipal Airport
is southwest of downtown Merced.
Los Banos
Many people who work in the San Jose/Silicon Valley area come to Los Banos
for more affordable housing and safer neighborhoods. It is about a 2 hours
from San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento. The name los banos was named
after the nearby creek and spring baths, meaning "the baths".
Famous for its melons, almonds, walnuts, apricots, cotton, tomatoes and
dairy products, Los Banos still maintains the small town charm and a comfortable,
less expensive way of life.
Gustine
Gustine is becoming a bedroom community to the San Francisco bay area
and 2hour commute away. Gustine was established in the early 1900s as
a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad and named after Augustine Miller
"Gussie", the daughter of Henry Miller, the "Cattle King",
an early California land baron and Agricultural pioneer. The city was
incorporated in 1915.
Livingston
Livingston lies slightly uphill from where the Southern Pacific Railroad
crosses the Merced River. Livingston is unusual in that the Merced River
has deposited large amounts of sand. The sand is presumably the ground-up
remnants of Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Valley.
Merced County History
Merced County was formed in 1855 from parts of Mariposa County. 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. In 1870, when the Central Pacific Railroad constructed its lines
down the San Joaquin Valley, the town site was laid out and actual construction
began and many buildings of the era have been preserved.
Historic sites include:
Laura's Fountain: This fountain facing M Street was originally
erected in 1888 in front of the Southern Pacific Depot and was moved to
Applegate Park in 1935.
Main Street Theater: Built in 1931 in a Spanish Colonial Revival
Style, it was one of the first to be connected with the "Golden State
Theater Circuit."
Old County Library: Built in 1897 as the first public high school,
it was originally a red brick building of the Richardson Romanesque style.
Transpo Center: Known as the Southern Pacific Company Passenger
Station was built in 1926. Many visitors stayed here on their way to Yosemite.
Hotel
Tioga: This building was constructed in 1928 the Spanish Renaissance
style. It provided accommodations for tourists traveling to Yosemite
Merced County Parks and Recreation
Merced County parks and recreation include
Applegate park and zoo, Bear and Black Rascal Creeks and their bike trails,
The Mainzer Theater which is known for its historic and architectural
value, County Courthouse Museum circa 1889, and the County Library. Also
within a short distance from the city limits are the Castle Air Museum,
Lake Yosemite, and Merced Falls. Yosemite National Park is a national
park located in California and covers an area of 761,266 acres and reaches
across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain. Over 3.5
million people visit yosemite each year, with most visitors only seeing
the seven square miles of Yosemite Valley. Designated a World Heritage
Site, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite
cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, Giant Sequoia groves, and biological
diversity. The Merced River headwaters are in the southern half of Yosemite
National Park. The river flows into the Yosemite Valley. Much of the water
is stored behind the dam in Lake McClure and the remainder of the water
flows through foothills, and across the San Joaquin Valley to join the
San Joaquin River. The Merced River is protected under the National Wild
and Scenic Act. Numerous recreational opportunities are available along
the Merced River including fishing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, camping,
hiking, swimming, and picnic areas.
Merced County Public School Districts:
Atwater Elementary School District
Ballico-Cressey Elementary School District
Delhi Unified School District
Dos Palos Oro Loma Joint Unified School District
El Nido Elementary School District
Gustine Unified School District
Hilmar
Unified School District
Le Grand Union Elementary School District
Le Grand Union High School District
Livingston Union School District
Los Banos Unified School District
Mcswain Union Elementary School District
Merced City Elementary School District
Merced River Union Elementary School District
Merced Union High School District
Plainsburg Union Elementary School District
Planada Elementary School District
Snelling-Merced Falls Union Elementary School District
Weaver Union Elementary School District
Winton Elementary School District
Merced County Important Phone Numbers: 24-Hour
Emergency Services (888) 334-0163
Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity (209) 385-7688
Agricultural Commissioner (209) 385-7431
Animal Control and Shelter (209) 385-7436
Area Agency on Aging (209) 385-7550
Auditor-Controller (209) 385-7511
Board of Supervisors (209) 385-7366
Building Permits (209) 385-7477
Building Services and Maintenance (209) 385-7545
Business-Economic Opportunities (209) 385-7686
Castle Airport, Atwater (209) 384-7325
Child Health and Disability Prevention (209) 381-1102
Child
Safety Seat Program (209) 381-1136
Child Support Services (209) 381-1300
Civil Limited/Small Claims (209) 725-4110
Collection Request (209) 723-8568
County Clerk (209) 385-7501
County Counsel (209) 385-7564
County Executive Office (209) 385-7637
Deaf Communication (209) 722-8971
District Attorney (209) 385-7473
Economic Development (209) 385-7686
Elections-Voter Registration (209) 385-7541
Emergency Medical Services (209) 381-1259
Environmental Health (800) 734-7391
Fire Department Information (209) 385-7344
Groundwater and Soil Clean-Up (209) 381-1100
Health Department Administration (209) 381-1215
Library Atwater Branch (209) 358-6651
Library Dos Palos Branch (209) 392-2155
Library Gustine Branch (209) 854-3013
Library Livingston Branch (209) 394-7330
Library Los Banos Branch (209) 826-5254
Library South Merced George Branch (209) 725-3909
Mailroom Information Center (209) 725-3970
Medical Assistance Program (209) 381-1273
Merced Conference and Visitors Bureau (800) 446-5353
Parks
and Recreation Division (209) 385-7426
Public Defender (209) 725-8873
Public Health Services (209) 381-1173
Sheriff
(209) 385-7444
Small Business Development Center (209) 385-4959
Treasury (209) 385-7307
Veterans Service (209) 725-3848
Water Quality (209) 381-1100
Young Parents Program (209) 381-1173
Merced
County Business Directory:
CellularONE
3250 G St.
Merced, CA 95340
209-723-3100
209-723-3135
Full service Internet Access Provider.
Central Valley Propane
25 W. Dickenson Ferry Rd.
Merced, CA 95344
209-723-0300
1-800-765-2732
Propane sales and service for residential and commercial customers.
Creative Plumbing
1388 Dickenson Ferry Rd.
Merced, CA 95340
209-384-2501
209-384-2581
Full Service Residential & Commercial Plumbing!
Dupertuis Scott Architects
838 West 19th St.
Merced,
CA 95340
209-722-3346
209-722-3348
Architectural designers for greater Merced County
Gonella Realty
2750 N G St.
Merced, CA 95340
209-383-2171
Dealing in commercial and residential real estate for Merced County.
Ingram's
Business Practices
Merced, CA 95340
1-888-909-2962
We will customize, upgrade, or design an innovative computer system for
you.
Jones Plumbing Heating &
Air
P.O. Box 3311
Merced, CA 95344
209-383-3830
209-725-9202
24hr Service and Repair Specialists!
Kaljian
Real Estate
645 Pacheco Blvd.
Los Banos, CA 93635
209-826-8864
Specializing in Los Banos farm land, acreage, commercial, investment property,
and developmental land.
Kevtronix Solutions
P.O. BOX 2701
Merced, CA 95340
209-722-0736
Computer Sales and Service. On Site service is available.
La Salle & Associates
2804 Story Ave.
Merced, CA 95340
209-383-3003
209-384-0822
We offer a full range of architectural services. More Than 25 Years Experience!
N&S Tractor Co. Towing
600 South HWY 59
Merced, CA 95340
209-383-5888
209-722-2411
New and used farm equipment sales. Specializing in Tractors-new &
used, parts, and misc. farm equipment.
Pony
Espresso Coffee Co.
308 Merced Mall
Merced, CA 95348
(209) 384-PONY
Espresso Drinks, Gourmet Coffees, Beans, and Gifts. We cater weddings
and parties.
R.T.S. Towing
2001 Yosemite Prkwy
Merced, CA 95340
209-723-7793
209-723-6043
Automobile emergency Roadside assistance 24 hours a day! We offer services
for towing, lockouts; tire changes, dead batteries, and no gas.
Sierra Beverage Company
2651 Cooper Ave.
Merced, CA 95348
800-400-8058
209-723-4584
Proud Distributors of the World's Greatest Beer...from Anheuser-Busch,
Inc.
Tinetti Realty Group
2926 G St.
Merced, CA 95340
209-384-3890
Full
service brokerage and property management. "Specialized service by
specialized agents!"
Tom's Mobile Repair
PO Box 3281
Merced, CA 95344
209-384-3444
209-358-9178
ROAD SERVICE Call anytime for sandblasting, diesel and gas, tire service,
welding, or mechanics.
Transcounty
Title Co.
635 West 19th St.
Merced, CA 95340
209-383-4660 or 209-383-0912
Atwater 358-8254
Park Avenue, Merced 383-0992
Los Banos 826-0804
We are a Title and Escrow Company. We have four offices locally. |