Living in Merced County

Image of orchard rows with pink flowering trees

Merced County is county located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley (also known as the Central Valley) of California. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 267,390, up from 255,793  at the 2010 census and the total area of the county is approximated 1,980 square miles.

Take a Video Tour of Merced County!

County Makeup

The City of Merced is the County seat and is the largest of six incorporated cities, which include Atwater, Livingston, Los Banos, Gustine, and Dos Palos. There are eleven urban communities including, Castle, Delhi, Franklin/Beachwood, Fox Hills, Hilmar, Le Grand, Planada, Santa Nella, University Community, Villages of Laguna San Luis and Winton.

University of California Merced image of whit tree flowering branch

Employment & Schools

County and City municipalities are a major source of employment along with agricultural related industries, retailing, manufacturing, food processing and tourism. Merced County has an excellent school system including a modern community college, Merced College and the University of California’s tenth campus, University of California, Merced, which is the first research university built in the U.S. in the 21st century.

UC Merced has created a strong, collaborative educational network that draws upon the vitality and rich history of Merced County, and fulfills the University's historic commitment to excellence in teaching, research and public service.

Residents of Merced County enjoy warm summer temperatures highs in the 90s degrees F. and winter highs averaging in the 50s degrees F. With an exceptional central location in the state, coupled with train, bus, and air services, county residents are only two hours from San Francisco, Monterey, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park.

Image of fighter jet in park

Recreational Activities

Residents and visitors to Merced County enjoy a variety of recreational activities including the historic Castle Air Museum as well as lakes, reservoirs and wildlife wetlands to enjoy. And for the adventurous, Yosemite National Park is only a couple of hours away.

History

The county derives its name from the Merced River, or El Río de Nuestra Señora de la Mercedes (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. Merced County was formed in 1855 from parts of Mariposa County.

Merced the Bus at stop

Transportation

The community is served by the rail passenger service Amtrak; by four airports (Merced Regional Airport, Castle Airport, Gustine Airport and Los Banos Municipal Airport); by "The Bus" which provides local service in Merced as well as connecting service between most cities in Merced County; "CatTracks" which is operated by the University of California, Merced; "YARTS" which is the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System connecting Merced with Yosemite National Park; and Greyhound buses.

Wildlife Refuges