Merced, California

Merced is a city in Northern California and is the county seat of the Merced County. The city was incorporated in 1889 and is named after the river Merced. The city is a popular stop en route to Yosemite National Park. The area of the city is around 23 square miles and is a very picturesque city which includes bike trails and skate parks that are built in different parts of the city. The city has a rich cultural lineage as many museums and theaters frequently feed the population with a healthy dose of the arts. The city has also seen some rapid development in recent years and many new businesses have opened.

The climate of the city is tropical in nature with wet and cold winters and hot dry summers. The economy of the city is based mostly on healthcare and education. The city has many different institutes of higher learning within its area and also has a heavy research facility of the University of California which is among the first university campuses that was built in the 21st century. The city is operated by a council manager system of government.

Merced has a lot to offer those who enjoy city life as well as the outdoors. There are intriquing options in entertainment, education, affordable living and many other benefits the city offers its residents. Many businesses in the city also thrive.

Merced History

The city of Merced was established in 1872, about 17 years after the formation of the county of Merced. The valley saw significant changes after the arrival of the Central Pacific Railroad and the city was given more impetus too. The first courthouse was built in the city in 1875 and was one of the first major administrative buildings in the city. Now the courthouse stands as a museum. The location of the city in the valley has also helped its growth as most of the agricultural produce of the region also passes through here. The ideal location of the city for transportation by rail and road has always been a big asset towards its establishment and growth.

The region has seen significant developments with the three major highways which criss-cross the city of Merced. The city has become a popular stop over for visitors going to Yosemite National Park. The highways pass through the city at many points and this has also helped the city in some aspects. The rise of tourism is a new development to a primarily agrarian economy of the city.

The city of Merced has grown from a small town to a sprawling city today. In the 20th century the population of the city often fluctuated. The Second World War saw the city live in fear of Japanese planes as the county fairgrounds was made a temporary civilian assembly center. After the Second World War the city has had a steady phase of development. The most significant event for the city since then has been the drastic fall of real estate values in the city. The city of Merced had one of the worst falls in the property rates in all of the nation. The period from 1998 to 2009 saw some major fluctuations in the prices of real estate as property prices fell to more than half their original value. 

After 1992 the city had a lot of development on the industrial front. Large parts of the city are dedicated to the University of California as it has one of its campuses in the city. The intake for the university campus in Merced was at around 1000 students and today there are close to 20,000 students going to the university. 

About Merced, California

The city of Merced is popularly known as the Gateway to Yosemite National Park. It is an important stopover city not just for visitors going to the national park but also to most towns and cities in the region. It is a growing city that has a lot of industrial development underway. It falls in Merced County which is in the San Joquain Valley in the northern part of California. The city is also close to the beaches of Monteray Bay and also draws a fair number of visitors from there.

The city is home to a lot of cultural and recreational opportunities. The Applegate Park is a well-known recreational area that includes a skate park, theaters and other architecturally enriched buildings from the past. The city of Merced also has its earliest courthouse which is now a museum. It was built in 1875 and still stands and gets a fair number of visitors each year. The Castle Air Museum is also located at close proximity to the city and is an important place to visit. Many shopping areas have also come up in the city and areas close to it. The rise of Merced's main street as one of the centers of social activity in the city is also promising. Many restaurants have opened in the area and the area has an active nightlife..

A high speed railway system is being built in the state and it will connect Merced to most major cities in the state. The new high speed rail system, which is to be completed by 2015, will greatly reduce distances between the city and other Californian cities. The city has many industrial projects that are currently underway. The University of California is a large employer in the city, which is increasing its intake of students. A research facility has been set up to conduct agro-based research. Agriculture is still an important activity in the surrounding areas of the city. The city has access to many institutes of learning. The school system is also well developed and delivers quality education. A number of private schools have helped raise the level of education. The city has two sister cities, Albury in Australia and Somoto in Nicaragua. Both these cities are chosen by the Sister Cities International. The city is served by an airport and a reliable rail system that is also in the process of expanding and increasing the level of its services.

About Merced County, California

The county of Merced is located in the area known as Central Valley in the state of California. The county was incorporated to the state in 1855 and is not one of the original counties of the state of California. The county seat of the Merced County is the city of Merced and both of them are named after the Merced River. The county was formed from parts of the county of Mariposa and after its formation some of its areas were also ceded to the county of Fresno. The county has an area of 1972 square miles and more than 97% of it is land. The county has four cities over the population of 10,000 and it also has two unincorporated cities which have a population of less than 10,000.

The county is made up of a large number of unincorporated counties which have their own forms of government but are centrally under the county. The county also has some national protected areas which are wildlife refuges for animals. The county is also close to the Yosemite National Park which is a major tourist destination. Parts of the city of Merced are also close to the Monterey Bay which is also a popular spot for tourists. The county is well connected to most major cities in the region through state highways and Interstate 5. Real estate was also good business in the county but the crashes of 2009 have caused a scare even though the restoration process has already begun in the city.

The economy of the region has always been predominantly agrarian. The agricultural produce is easily transported through the rail system which has been a significant factor in the development of the county of Merced. The county and the state have faced a number of challenges in connecting the region to the rest of the state but the process has taken place well. The city of Merced is an important city in the county as well as for surrounding counties of San Jose and Fresno.