Merced (California)
| Merced | |
|---|---|
 Merced city center with theater |
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| Location in California | |
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| Basic data | |
| Foundation : | 1889 |
| State : | United States |
| State : | California |
| County : | Merced County |
| Coordinates : | 37 ° 18 ′ N , 120 ° 29 ′ W |
| Time zone : | Pacific ( UTC − 8 / −7 ) |
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Inhabitants : - Metropolitan Area : |
83,316 (as of 2018) 268,672 (as of 2016) |
| Population density : | 1,620.9 inhabitants per km 2 |
| Area : | 51.4 km 2 (approx. 20 mi 2 ) |
| Height : | 52 m |
| Postcodes : | 95340-95349 |
| Area code : | +1 209 |
| FIPS : | 06-46898 |
| GNIS ID : | 1659751 |
| Website : | www.cityofmerced.org |
| Mayor : | Ellie Wooten |
Merced ( Spanish for grace ) is a city in Merced County in the US state of California with 83,316 inhabitants (as of 2018). The urban area has a size of 51.4 km².
The first post office opened in 1870. The city, founded in 1889, has grown rapidly in the 21st century, as high land prices in the coastal regions have made living in the interior of the country more attractive. The city has good transport links: it is less than two hours' drive to both Yosemite National Park in the east and the Pacific near Monterey in the west. There is a rail link for Amtrak trains and an airfield, Merced Municipal Airport.
In September 2005, the University of California, Merced began teaching. The city has recreational facilities such as Applegate Park and Zoo, Bear and Black Rascal Creeks and their bike trails, an ice skating park in Applegate, two cinemas, the historic The Mainz Theater and the Merced Theater , built in 1931, as well as the County Courthouse Museum and the Merced Multicultural Arts Center. Merced has several shopping areas such as the Merced Mall and a shopping mile in the northwest part of the city. The Castle Air Museum, Lake Yosemite and Merced Falls are also within walking distance of downtown.
The Merced Sun-Star is a newspaper published in Merced.
sons and daughters of the town
- Janet Leigh (1927-2004), actress
- Jackie Kong (* 1954), screenwriter, film producer and film director
- Dennis Cardoza (* 1959), politician
- Cary Stayner (born 1961), serial killer
- Tom Cable (born 1964), American football player and coach
- Steven Stayner (1965–1989), victim of child abduction
- Bruce Bowen (born 1971), basketball player
- Ray Allen (born 1975), basketball player
- Margaret Dingeldein (* 1980), water polo player
- Avery Bradley (born 1990), basketball player