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Atwater, California

Coordinates: 37°20′52″N 120°36′33″W / 37.34778°N 120.60917°W / 37.34778; -120.60917
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Atwater, California
City
Water tower in the city
Water tower in the city
Seal of the City of Atwater
Seal
Motto(s): 
Community Pride, City Wide
Location in Merced County, California
Location in Merced County, California
Atwater is located in California
Atwater
Atwater
Atwater is located in the United States
Atwater
Atwater
Coordinates: 37°20′52″N 120°36′33″W / 37.34778°N 120.60917°W / 37.34778; -120.60917
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyMerced
IncorporatedAugust 16, 1922[1]
Government
 • MayorPaul Creighton[2]
 • State SenatorShannon Grove (R)[3]
 • AssemblymemberDiane Papan (D)[3]
 • U. S. Rep.Sam Liccardo (D)[4]
Area
[5]
 • Total
6.57 sq mi (17.0 km2)
 • Land6.57 sq mi (17.0 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)  0.08%
Elevation
[6]
151 ft (46 m)
Population
 (2020)[7]
 • Total
31,970
 • Density4,868.28/sq mi (1,879.65/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific)
ZIP codes
95301, 95342
Area code209
FIPS code06-03162
GNIS feature ID277600
Websitewww.atwater.org

Atwater is a city on State Route 99 in Merced County, California, United States. Atwater is 8 miles (13 km) west-northwest of Merced,[8] at an elevation of 151 feet (46 m).[6] The population as of the 2020 census was 31,970,[7] up from 28,168 in 2010.

Geography

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Atwater is in northern Merced County, between Merced, the county seat, to the southeast and Livingston to the northwest. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17 km2). 99.92% of it is land and 0.08% is water.[5]

The city includes Castle Air Museum, but does not include the former Castle Air Force Base proper, now repurposed as Castle Airport.

History

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The railroad reached Atwater in the 1870s, and a town grew around it.[8] The first post office opened in 1880.[8] Atwater incorporated in 1922.[8] The name honors Marshall D. Atwater, a wheat farmer whose land was used by the railroad for its station.[8]

North of the town is the site of Castle Air Force Base, the former World War II Merced Army Airfield.[9] Castle was selected for closure under the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission and the base closed September 30, 1995. The site is now a public airport.

On May 15, 2020, Atwater declared itself a business "sanctuary city" during the coronavirus pandemic.[10]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1930917—
19401,23534.7%
19502,856131.3%
19607,318156.2%
197011,64059.1%
198017,53050.6%
199022,28227.1%
200023,1133.7%
201028,16821.9%
202031,97013.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

The 2020 United States census reported that Atwater had a population of 31,970. The population density was 4,868.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,879.7/km2). The racial makeup of Atwater was 40.6% White, 3.4% African American, 3.0% Native American, 5.6% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 27.9% from other races, and 19.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 59.6% of the population.

The census reported that 99.5% of the population lived in households, 0.2% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.3% were institutionalized.

There were 9,970 households, out of which 44.8% included children under the age of 18, 49.6% were married-couple households, 7.7% were cohabiting couple households, 27.7% had a female householder with no partner present, and 15.0% had a male householder with no partner present. 18.1% of households were one person, and 8.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.19. There were 7,676 families (77.0% of all households).

The age distribution was 29.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% aged 18 to 24, 26.7% aged 25 to 44, 21.6% aged 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males.

There were 10,296 housing units at an average density of 1,567.8 units per square mile (605.3 units/km2), of which 9,970 (96.8%) were occupied. Of these, 55.9% were owner-occupied, and 44.1% were occupied by renters.[12][13]

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 65.1% of the population were born in California, 11.7% were born in a different state, 1.0% were born in a US territory or abroad to an American parent, and 22.2% were born outside US jurisdiction. Of those aged 5 or older, 52.5% spoke only English at home, 41.3% spoke Spanish, 3.0% spoke other Indo-European languages, and 3.2% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 73.8% were high school graduates and 13.1% had a bachelor's degree.[14]

The median household income was $63,945, and the per capita income was $30,133. About 17.9% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line.[15]

Government

[edit]

In the California State Legislature, Atwater is in the 12th Senate District, represented by Republican Shannon Grove, and in the 21st Assembly District, represented by Democrat Diane Papan.[3]

In the United States House of Representatives, Atwater is in California's 13th congressional district, represented by Democrat Adam Gray.[4]

Education

[edit]

Primary and secondary schools

[edit]

Public schools

[edit]

Most of the city is zoned to the Atwater Elementary School District. Schools of AESD within Atwater and serving Atwater include:[16]

  • K-6
    • Aileen Colburn Elementary School
    • Shaffer Elementary School
    • Thomas Olaeta Elementary School
    • Elmer Wood Elementary School
    • Mitchell K-6 Elementary School
    • Peggy Heller Elementary School
    • Bellevue Elementary School
  • 7-8
    • Mitchell Senior Elementary School
    • Bellevue Senior Elementary School
    • Peggy Heller Junior High School
  • High School
    • Atwater High School
    • Buhach Colony High School
  • Other
    • Atwater Valley Community Day School
    • Atwater Senior Academy

A small section of eastern Atwater is located in the Merced City School District; that section is zoned to Rudolph Rivera Middle School.[17] Franklin Elementary School is the closest elementary school to the section of Atwater.

Merced Union High School District operates Atwater High School and Buhach Colony High School, both of which serve and reside in Atwater.

Private schools

[edit]
School Grades
Ariel Dear Academy 2-12
Fruitland Christian Preschool PK-K
Landmark Christian School PK-12
St. Anthony School PK-8

Newspapers

[edit]

Atwater currently does not have a daily newspaper, although many of its residents use the daily paper, the Merced Sun-Star, which is published in nearby Merced. Additionally Atwater residents rely on local Facebook pages such as "Merced County news". Atwater has two weekly newspapers called The Atwater Signal and The Atwater Times. The Atwater Signal was first published in 1911. The Atwater Times[18] is published by Mid Valley Publications, once a week.

Notable residents

[edit]
Bloss House Museum

Sports

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "City of Atwater". Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  4. ^ a b "California's 13th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  6. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Atwater, California
  7. ^ a b "P1. Race – Atwater city, California: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 741. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  9. ^ militarymuseum.org Merced Army Air Field, Castle Field
  10. ^ Lauten-Scrivner, Abbie (May 15, 2020). "Atwater is now a business 'sanctuary city' during coronavirus pandemic. What does it mean?". Merced Sun-Star. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  11. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ^ "Atwater city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  13. ^ "Atwater city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  14. ^ "Atwater city, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  15. ^ "Atwater city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  16. ^ "Attendance Area". Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
  17. ^ "Proposed Middle School Boundaries 2008-2009[permanent dead link‍]." Merced City School District.
  18. ^ "Newspaper Advertising - Nationwide Classified or Display Ads Cheap". www.usnewspapers.com. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  19. ^ "Bernard Berrian Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  20. ^ "Chuck Compton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  21. ^ "Jamill Kelly - Wrestling Coach". Stanford University Athletics. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  22. ^ "Actress, TV Host Sheryl Underwood Also Served in the Air Force". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  23. ^ "Willow Wisp on Apple Music". Apple Music Web Player. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  24. ^ "Atwater Aviators - Golden State Collegiate Baseball League". pointstreaksites.com. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  25. ^ "MascotDB.com - Atwater Angels". www.mascotdb.com. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
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