"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

Child Safety Seat Program (209) 381-1136

Sheriff (209) 385-7444

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.

Fresno Movers