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Atwater History
Atwater’s history is steeped in tradition. The local community dates back to the late 1800’s. The City was incorporated in 1922 and is continuously evolving.
Atwater has become a community influenced by the roots of local agriculture, Highway 99, and the former Castle Air Force Base. Each has influenced the community and remains important fixtures.
There are several good accounts of the stories making up Atwater's history. The Atwater Chamber of Commerce has a concise description posted on their web site.
For more detail the Atwater Historical Society is in the process of completing a book which will highlight by chronological order the events which shaped the community. Due for publication in April of 2004 “Images of America: Atwater, CA” is being written by the Historical Society. Copies of the publication will be available for sale through the Historical Society.
The Atwater Historical Society also holds guided tours filled with oral tradition and photos about the community at the Bloss Home located at 1020 Cedar Avenue. The Bloss Home is currently the only building recognized on the State Historical Preservation List. The grounds and Bloss Park are available for events through the Atwater Community Services Department.
Setting
The City of Atwater is located in Merced County in Central California. It is situated within the San Joaquin Valley, part of the Central Valley. The City is approximately six miles northwest of the City of Merced, the county seat, 105 miles south of Sacramento and 65 miles north of Fresno. Atwater is accessible by the Southern / Union Pacific Railroad and Burlington Santa Fe Railroad, and by State Highway 99 and 140. Interstate 5 is 40 miles west of Atwater.
Census—Demographics
The 2000 Census population of the City of Atwater was 23,113. The 2000 Census population of Merced County was 210,554. The State Department of Finance estimates Atwater’s Current population to be 26,000 and the County’s to be 218,900.
The 2000 Census shows a growth rate of 3.7% from the 1990 Census through the 2000 Census (22,282 to 23,113). This figure is misleading. Atwater lost approximately 2,400 residents between 1994 and 1996 due to the closure of Castle Air Force Base. Since then, there has been a tremendous rebound. Atwater’s growth rate for 2002 - 2003 as provided by the State Department of Finance was 7.9%. The 2000 Census demonstrates that over 41,000 people now live within a four-mile market radius of central Atwater. Adjusted for current growth yields closer to 48,000 residents in this area.
Income
In the year 2000, the median family income was $37,344 in the City of Atwater. This was a 40% increase in household income from 1990. Of the total households 34% had incomes of over $50,000 and 15.3% of households were below the poverty level.
Employment
Major employers include: J.R. Woods, Inc., Cingular Wireless, United States Bureau of Prisons, the Atwater Elementary School District, City of Atwater, NCI Building Systems, Anberry Hospital, West Mark, Joseph Gallo Farms, and University of California Merced.
Housing
According to the 2000 Census there are currently 8,376 residential dwelling units within the City of Atwater. The majority are single-family homes with an average price of $103,100. The City of Atwater occupies 5.41 square miles of land which means there are approximately 1,548 housing units per square mile of land.
Parks—Recreation
The Atwater Community Services Department manages the use of park and recreational facilities within the City of Atwater. The Parks Division of the Public Works Department provide maintenance and other support. There are 18 parks with the City of Atwater. There are 77.62 park acres, which is approximately 3.37 park acres per 1,000 population.
Housing
The housing market in Atwater is currently very strong, the median home price reported by the Merced Sun Star for March of 2005 was $309,000. Atwater has several new residential subdivisions under construction and many new neighborhoods being planned. New development provides opportunities for new home owners and move up owners. Growth in the community has also had a positive influence on the resale value of existing homes.
From time to time the City provides a Residential Subdivision Activity Summary as a courtesy. This information provides an overview of the size of the subdivision in terms of units, contact information for the developer (at the time of the subdivision application), and a status report of the project.
The City of Atwater is also directly involved in assisting our residents in purchasing a home or renovating existing homes. The City offers a first time home buyers assistance program and housing rehabilitation program to qualifying residents. For additional information on our housing assistance programs please contact the Community Development Department.
Learn more about this city
City of ATWATER, CA official site
City of ATWATER, CA chamber of commerce
City of ATWATER, CA general information
City of ATWATER, CA yellow pages
County of MERCED, CA official site
State of California official site