BlockBefore

Merced County, California

203 topographic sheets cover 56 settlements here, and 15 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

15 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

California within the United States
Merced County within California

What the record shows

  • 961 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 15 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 15 buildings.
  • 3 of the 15 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 56 populated places in this county; 56 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

15

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Bank of Italy, Mercedbuilding200404001135
Bank of Los Banos Buildingbuilding197979000500
Bloss Mansionbuilding198181000162
Buhach Grammar Schoolbuilding198383001206
Church of St. Josephbuilding200404000330
Maj. George Beecher Cook Housebuilding198383001207
Kaehler-Rector Housebuilding198282002206
Leggett Housebuilding197979000501
Thomas H. Leggett Housebuilding198282002207
Merced County Courthousebuilding197575000441
Merced County High Schoolbuilding198484000909
Merced Theatrebuilding200909000248
Strand Theaterbuilding2021100007227
Tioga Hotelbuilding198080000821
U.S. Post Officebuilding198383001208

Photographs from libraries nationwide

1 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 1 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

Airport obstruction chart, OC 665, Merced Municipal-Macraedy Field, Merced, California, Boston Public Library - undated
Airport obstruction chart, OC 665, Merced Municipal-Macraedy Field, Merced, California. United States. National Ocean Service, Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

48 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 7,097 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 48 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1940-11-14, scale 1:34680
1940-11-14, scale 1:34680. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-09-10, scale 1:23600
1951-09-10, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-09-10, scale 1:23600
1951-09-10, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-09-10, scale 1:23600
1951-09-10, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-09-10, scale 1:23600
1951-09-10, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-06-06, scale 1:20000
1959-06-06, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-06-06, scale 1:20000
1959-06-06, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-06-06, scale 1:20000
1959-06-06, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-06-06, scale 1:20000
1959-06-06, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1940-12-11, scale 1:34680
1940-12-11, scale 1:34680. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1940-12-11, scale 1:34680
1940-12-11, scale 1:34680. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1940-12-11, scale 1:34680
1940-12-11, scale 1:34680. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1946-04-01, scale 1:20000
1946-04-01, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1946-04-01, scale 1:20000
1946-04-01, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1946-04-01, scale 1:20000
1946-04-01, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1946-04-01, scale 1:20000
1946-04-01, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-01, scale 1:23600
1953-04-01, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-01, scale 1:23600
1953-04-01, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-01, scale 1:23600
1953-04-01, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-01, scale 1:23600
1953-04-01, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-07-27, scale 1:63000
1954-07-27, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-07-27, scale 1:63000
1954-07-27, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-07-27, scale 1:63000
1954-07-27, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-07-27, scale 1:63000
1954-07-27, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-08-16, scale 1:63000
1955-08-16, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-08-16, scale 1:63000
1955-08-16, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-08-16, scale 1:63000
1955-08-16, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-08-16, scale 1:63000
1955-08-16, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-06-27, scale 1:34000
1956-06-27, scale 1:34000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-06-27, scale 1:34000
1956-06-27, scale 1:34000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-06-27, scale 1:34000
1956-06-27, scale 1:34000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-06-27, scale 1:34000
1956-06-27, scale 1:34000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-07-25, scale 1:30000
1958-07-25, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-07-25, scale 1:30000
1958-07-25, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-07-25, scale 1:30000
1958-07-25, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-07-25, scale 1:30000
1958-07-25, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-04-02, scale 1:61600
1960-04-02, scale 1:61600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-04-02, scale 1:61600
1960-04-02, scale 1:61600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-04-02, scale 1:61600
1960-04-02, scale 1:61600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-04-02, scale 1:61600
1960-04-02, scale 1:61600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-04-05, scale 1:21670
1966-04-05, scale 1:21670. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-04-05, scale 1:21670
1966-04-05, scale 1:21670. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-04-05, scale 1:21670
1966-04-05, scale 1:21670. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-04-05, scale 1:21670
1966-04-05, scale 1:21670. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-05-03, scale 1:24000
1967-05-03, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-05-03, scale 1:24000
1967-05-03, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-05-03, scale 1:24000
1967-05-03, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-05-03, scale 1:24000
1967-05-03, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

19 stations, 20 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

69 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 24-1Judicial Township 1: Judicial Township 1 - That part east of La Grange - Snelling Rd. and State Hwy. 123
  • 24-2Judicial Township 1 - That part west of La Grange - Snelling Rd. and State Hwy. 123
  • 24-3Judicial Township 2: Merced city: Merced city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; E. 21st; G
  • 24-4Merced city - That part Bounded by City limits; G; Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad; M
  • 24-5Merced city - That part Bounded by Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad; G; 21st; M
  • 24-6Merced city - That part Bounded by City limits; M; 20th; City limits
  • 24-7Merced city - That part Bounded by 20th; Q, 16th, R; Southern Pacific Railroad; City limits
  • 24-8Merced city - That part excluding Tioga Hotel Bounded by 20th; M; Southern Pacific Railroad; R, 16th, Q
  • 24-9Tioga Hotel (In Merced city)
  • 24-10Merced city - That part Bounded by 21st; J; Southern Pacific Railroad; M
  • 24-11Merced city - That part Bounded by 21st; G; Southern Pacific Railroad; J
  • 24-12Merced city - That part Bounded by E. 21st, City limits; City limits, Merced & Bennett Ranch Rd.; 16th (U.S. Hwy. 99); G
  • 24-13Merced city - That part Bounded by 16th (U.S. Hwy. 99), Merced & Bennett Ranch Rd.; City limits; City limits; G
  • 24-14Merced city - That part Bounded by Southern Pacific Railroad; G; 11th; J
  • 24-15Merced city - That part Bounded by Southern Pacific Railroad; J; 11th; M
  • 24-16Merced city - That part Bounded by Southern Pacific Railroad; M; 11th; R
  • 24-17Merced city - That part Bounded by Southern Pacific Railroad; R; 10th, U, 6th; City limits
  • 24-18Merced city - That part Bounded by City limits, 6th, U, 10th; R, City limits; City limits; City limits
  • 24-19Merced city - That part Bounded by 11th; M; City limits; R
  • 24-20Merced city - That part Bounded by 11th; G; City limits; M
  • 24-21Judicial Township 2 - That part Bounded by Judicial Township line; County line, Burns Creek; Bear Creek, Merced city limits, State Hwy. 123; State Hwy. 123
  • 24-22Judicial Township 2 - That part excluding Castle Air Force Base Bounded by Judicial Township line; State Hwy. 123, Merced city limits; State Hwy. 122; Judicial Township line
  • 24-23Castle Air Force Base (In Judicial Township 2)
  • 24-24Judicial Township 2 - That part Bounded by State Hwy. 122; Merced city limits, State Hwy. 123; County line; San Joaquin River
  • 24-25Judicial Township 2 - That part Bounded by Merced city limits; Merced city limits, U.S. Hwy. 99, Judicial Township line; County line; State Hwy. 123
  • 24-26Judicial Township 2 - That part Bounded by Merced city limits, State Hwy. 18; Judicial Township line; U.S. Hwy. 99; Merced city limits
  • 24-27Judicial Township 2 - That part Bounded by Bear Creek; Le Grand Canal; Judicial Township line, State Hwy. 18; Merced city limits
  • 24-28Judicial Township 2 - That part Bounded by Burns Creek; County line; Judicial Township line; Le Grand Canal, Bear Creek, Burns Creek
  • 24-29Judicial Township 3: Los Banos city: Los Banos city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; Southern Pacific Railroad; 7th extended, 7th
  • 24-30Los Banos city - That part Bounded by City limits; 7th, 7th extended; Southern Pacific Railroad; City limits
  • 24-31Los Banos city - That part Bounded by City limits, Southern Pacific Railroad; S. 6th extended, S. 6th, Washington Ave., Center Ave.; City limits; City limits
  • 24-32Los Banos city - That part excluding county area south of Pacheco and east of 7th Bounded by Southern Pacific Railroad; City limits; City limits; Center Ave., Washington Ave., S. 6th, S. 6th extended
  • 24-33Judicial Township 3 - That part north of State Hwy. 32 outside Los Banos city
  • 24-34Judicial Township 3 - That part south of State Hwy. 32, and west of Outside Canal
  • 24-35Judicial Township 3 - That part south of State Hwy. 32, and east of Outside Canal, outside Los Banos city, and including county area surrounded by Los Banos city south of Pacheco and east of 7th
  • 24-36Judicial Township 4: Le Grand, unincorporated (See boundaries shown on aerial photo ABF-7B-142)
  • 24-37Judicial Township 4 - That part east of Planada - Marguerite Rd., outside Le Grand, unincorporated (See aerial photo ABF-7B-142 for boundaries of Le Grand)
  • 24-38Judicial Township 4 - That part west of Planada - Marguerite Rd., and east of Planada - Labranza Rd., and U.S. Hwy. 99. outside of Le Grand, unincorporated (See aerial photo ABF-7B-142 for boundaries of Le Grand)
  • 24-39Judicial Township 4 - That part west of Planada - Labranza Rd. and U.S. Hwy. 99
  • 24-40Judicial Township 5: Livingston city: Livingston city - That part north of Southern Pacific Railroad
  • 24-41Livingston city - That part south of Southern Pacific Railroad
  • 24-42Judicial Township 5 - That part Bounded by County line; Judicial Township line; Merced River; U.S. Hwy. 99, High Line Canal, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad
  • 24-43Judicial Township 5 - That part Bounded by County line; Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad; High Line Canal; U.S. Hwy. 99
  • 24-44Judicial Township 5 - That part Bounded by County line; U.S. Hwy. 99; Hogin Rd.; Turlock - Hilmar Rd.
  • 24-45Judicial Township 5 - That part Bounded by Hogin Rd.; U.S. Hwy. 99; Merced River; Turlock - Stevinson Rd.
  • 24-46Judicial Township 5 - That part Bounded by County line; Turlock - Stevinson Rd.; Merced River; Tegner Rd.
  • 24-47Judicial Township 5 - That part Bounded by County line Tegner Rd. Merced River County line
  • 24-48Judicial Township 5 - That part Bounded by Merced River Turlock-Stevinson Rd. (via Hilmar) extended to Township line Judicial Township line County line
  • 24-49AJudicial Township 5 - That part Bounded by Merced River; U.S. Hwy. 99, Livingston city limits, Livingston Rd.; State Hwy. 122, Van Clief Rd., 1st Ave.; Turlock - Stevinson Rd.
  • 24-49BJudicial Township 5 - That part Bounded by 1st Ave., Van Clief Rd., State Hwy. 122; Judicial Township line; Judicial Township line; Judicial Township line, Turlock - Stevinson Rd. extended, Turlock - Stevinson Rd.
  • 24-50Judicial Township 5 - That part Bounded by Merced River; Judicial Township line; State Hwy. 122; Livingston Rd., Livingston city limits, U.S. Hwy. 99
  • 24-51Judicial Township 6: Gustine city: Gustine city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; City limits; Southern Pacific Railroad
  • 24-52Gustine city - That part Bounded by City limits; Southern Pacific Railroad; Fourth Ave., West Ave., South Ave.; City limits
  • 24-53Gustine city - That part Bounded by South Ave., West Ave., Fourth Ave.; Southern Pacific Railroad; City limits; City limits
  • 24-54Judicial Township 6 - That part east of State Hwy. 41 outside Gustine ity
  • 24-55Judicial Township 6 - That part west of State Hwy. 41 outside Gustine city
  • 24-56Judicial Township 7: Dos Palos city: Dos Palos city - That part north of Blossom and East Blossom
  • 24-57Dos Palos city - That part south of Blossom and East Blossom
  • 24-58AJudicial Township 7 - That part north of State Hwy. 32, and west of San Juan Rd., San Juan Rd. extended
  • 24-58BJudicial Township 7 - That part North of State Hwy. 32, and east of San Juan Rd., San Juan Rd. extended
  • 24-59AJudicial Township 7 - That part south of State Hwy. 32, west of State Hwy. 41 Bounded by State Hwy. 32; State Hwy. 41 (Hwy. 33); Unnamed road following south line Section 3, 1/2 Section 4, unnamed road following west line of 1/2 Section 4, unnamed road following south line of Sections 31, 32 and 1/2 Section 33, T. 10S, R. 12E; Unnamed road following west line of Sections 30 and 31, T. 10S R. 12E, Los Banos Hwy, Judicial Township line
  • 24-59BJudicial Township 7 - That part south of State Hwy. 32, West of State Hwy. 41 outside Dos Palos city Bounded by Los Banos Hwy., Unnamed road following West line of Sections 30 and 31, unnamed road following south line of Sections 31, 32 and 1/2 Section 33, unnamed road following West line of 1/2 Section 4, unnamed road following south line of 2 Section 4 and Section 3, T. 11S R. 12E. State Hwy. 41 (Hwy. 33), Dos Palos city limits; County line; Judicial Township line
  • 24-60Judicial Township 7 - That part south of State Hwy. 32, and east of State Hwy. 41, outside Dos Palos city
  • 24-61Judicial Township 8: Atwater city: Atwater city - That part Bounded by Southern Pacific Railroad, 3rd extended, 3rd, City limits; City limits; City limits; City limits
  • 24-62Atwater city - That part Bounded by City limits; 3rd, 3rd extended; Southern Pacific Railroad, City limits; City limits
  • 24-63Judicial Township 8 - That part north of Southern Pacific Railroad
  • 24-64Judicial Township 8 - That part south of Southern Pacific Railroad, and north of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad
  • 24-65Judicial Township 8 - That part south of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, and north of Southern Pacific Railroad, outside Atwater city
  • 24-66Judicial Township 8 - That part south of Southern Pacific Railroad, outside Atwater city

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

9,681 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 9,681 of them, burning about 151,594 acres. 34 started naturally and 656 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined5433
Equipment and vehicle use2004
Debris and open burning879
Arson/incendiarism656
Smoking306
Misuse of fire by a minor204
Recreation and ceremony68
Power generation/transmission/distribution60
Natural34
Railroad operations and maintenance29
Other causes7
Fireworks1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
21 July 2006Equipment and vehicle use25,000 acresMerced-Mariposa UnitOLIVE
18 June 1996Equipment and vehicle use16,820 acresCentral California DistrictMERCY
1 June 1993Equipment and vehicle use5,500 acresMerced-Mariposa UnitPG&E #4
10 July 1998Equipment and vehicle use4,800 acresMerced-Mariposa UnitMERCY
7 August 1992Missing data/not specified/undetermined4,800 acresMerced-Mariposa UnitLA PALOMA
15 June 2018Equipment and vehicle use4,563 acresCalifornia Department of Forestry & Fire ProtectionPLANADA
18 October 1996Natural4,380 acresCentral California DistrictBANOS
28 June 2020Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,192 acresMerced-Mariposa UnitAUBURN CT LIVINGSTON_CIT

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1955 to 2025

60 of 249 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 249 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 8 injuries and about $34,490,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Flood127
Funnel Cloud32
Heavy Rain29
Tornado17
Hail11
Lightning9
Thunderstorm Wind8
Flash Flood6
Wildfire4
Debris Flow4
High Wind2

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
October 1998FloodHilmar6 hurt, $120,000The cool season's first significant rain pushed through Central California starting about 1100 PDT in Merced County and through Kern County by 2100 PDT. Merced received 0.75" of rain in embedded frontal thundershowers and locally heavy rain in about 2 hours beginning at 1115 PDT. Some local street flooding was reported just south of Hilmar and within Delhi. In Merced a tree was toppled by the storm. Several traffic accidents occurred on rain-slickened roads. Other rainfall amounts with the fast-moving front were 0.85" at Lemoore; only 0.16" at Fresno; and 0.21" at Bakersfield. While no warnings needed to have been formally issued, the storm's approach and timing were well advertised by NWS Special Weather Statements more than 18 hours in advance and Short Term Forecasts with the front's passage.
March 1978Tornado (F1)not stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
April 2000LightningSanta Nella1 hurtno account filed
January 2023FloodAtwater Muni Arpt$10,000,000The Merced County Emergency Manager reported that several mandatory evacuations took place in Merced County as a result of flooding, The impacted areas included Planada which was completely evacuated as well as portions of Merced. Rainfall amounts in the Merced area were between 2 and 3 inches between noon on January 9 and the early morning of January 10 resulting in several cars being stranded and abandoned in flood waters as SR 99 through Merced and 16th St. in Merced were inundated with flood waters. A Flood Warning was already in place for Bear Creek since January 8 and continued through January 11. Bear Creek overflowed and peaked at a new record crest of 26.2 feet during the morning of January 10. Due to the anticipated severity of this event, resources were deployed to the Merced County EOC during the event with frequent live briefings taking place. In addition the the evacuations the took place in and around Merced, Amtrak cancelled several trains and buses through and into Merced due to the train station being flooded.
April 2006FloodMerced Arpt$9,720,000no account filed
March 1998Flash FloodMerced$9,600,000Over 65 homes and 19 apartments were flooded in and around Merced City as the result of torrential/record-setting rainfall in the previous 18 hours.
February 1998Heavy RainMerced$2,000,000no account filed
May 2016LightningSanta Nella$1,000,000California Highway Patrol reported vehicle struck by lightning on SR 152 west of Los Banos at 1834 PST. Vehicle was disabled and no injuries were reported.
March 2011FloodGustine Arpt$500,000During the frequently stormy period that began on the 18th and ended on the 28th, as much as 7 inches of rain fell in the San Joaquin Valley and up to 10 inches of rain drenched the adjacent foothills while the higher elevations of the Sierra (above 7000 feet) received snow accumulations of up to 15 feet. Excessive runoff, combined with an increase in reservoir releases at the major dams caused higher than normal flows along rivers and streams through the end of the month. The Merced River at Stevinson peaked a half of a foot below flood stage at 4:30 pm on the 21st but otherwise remained well above monitor stage during the last two weeks of the month. Water levels along the San Joaquin River approached levels that had not been observed since January, 1997. At Newman, the river first rose above monitor stage on the morning of the 23rd and remained above monitor stage for the remainder of the month. Water flowed into the Fishermans Bend trailer park along the San Joaquin River near Newman by the 28th where voluntary evacuations were conducted. In Merced County, several water swollen creeks briefly flowed out of their banks on the morning of the 20th and caused minor flooding.
December 2002Tornado (F1)Merced Arpt$400,000no account filed
April 1996Thunderstorm WindGustine$230,000no account filed
November 2012FloodArena$120,000California highway patrol reported a multi-vehicle accident in heavy rain on highway 99 at west side boulevard. Involved 3 cars and a big rig. Number of injuries unknown at this time.
December 2010Flood(Mer)Castle Afb$100,000Heavy rain caused widespread urban and poor drainage flooding on the morning of the 29th across much of the San Joaquin Valley. Especially hard hit were the metro areas of Fresno, Visalia, and Bakersfield, and the adjacent foothills.
October 2007Thunderstorm WindCregan$60,000The local newspaper reported at least 8 downed trees, observed by Public Works Crews. Some powerlines were also downed.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindDos Palos Y$50,000Based on doppler Radar indications a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Dos Palos Y, 17 miles south-southwest of Merced. Subsequent reports of three-quarters hail along with wind damage to power lines and trees were received. Affected crops included 55 percent loss on 6,300 acres of cotton, with damage to cantaloupe, corn, barley, and tomatoes.
April 1996Thunderstorm WindLos Banos$50,000no account filed
November 1996Tornado (F1)Merced$45,000no account filed
April 2000HailSanta Nella$30,000no account filed
April 2005Tornado (F0)Ballico$25,000At Ballico, one larger funnel ran a course from northwest to southeast just west of the community of Ballico in Northern Merced County with a smaller funnel causing damage in a smaller path northeast of the main funnel in Ballico itself. The tornado was associated convection along pre- and post-trof wind shift line in the Central San Joaquin Valley during the early evening of the 8th.
February 1986Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
April 1975Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
April 1996Thunderstorm WindLos Banos$20,000no account filed
April 1996Thunderstorm WindLos Banos$20,000no account filed
June 2003WildfireMerced$15,000The McNamera Fire was of unknown origin and burned about 650 acres before containment. One primary structure was lost but no injuries or fatalities were reported.
February 2019FloodEl Nido$10,000Due to heavy rainfall in the area, the Mariposa Creek Reservoir released 1000 CFS which caused State Route 59 to close between Sandy Mush Road and Mission Ave. as runoff came close to covering the road. This prompted the issuance of an Aerial Flood Advisory for the aforementioned area. The road was opened during the morning of February 14 after levee repairs were made.
March 2006Tornado (F0)Merced$10,000A trained spotter noted a funnel cloud approaching the city of Merced and tracked the northward movement of that funnel. At 1448 PST the funnel removed half of the corrugated roof of a farm maintenance shop and lifted it up and over adjacent power lines to the north. Eyewitness accounts indicated rotation and movement of the lowest level clouds toward the NE approximately 0.19 miles. Other than two ground contact points, beginning and end of the damage track, there was no evidence of any other ground contact from the funnel. Analysis by a local structural engineer aided in the assignment of the F0 rating.
March 2006Tornado (F0)Atwater$10,000no account filed
April 1996Tornado (F0)Merced$10,000no account filed
April 2003Heavy RainMerced$7,500no account filed
February 2017FloodLe Grand$5,000California Highway Patrol reported a vehicle stuck in large amount of water and mud on Cunningham Road near Santa Fe Avenue in LeGrand.
November 2013Flood(Mer)Castle Afb$5,000NWS Meteorologist reported flooded streets around Castle airbase.
March 2011Flash Flood(Mer)Castle Afb$5,000The CHP reported flash flooding at Highway 59 just north of the Trout Farm. One foot of water was flowing across the roadway.
November 1997Tornado (F0)Los Banos$5,000An F0 tornado developed as a severe thunderstorm was dissipating in rural, west Merced County just south of Los Banos. Damage was essentially limited to stored grain/fodder for cattle and some fences. Tornado was reported by several witnesses with its last point 3 miles farther south than its initial touchdown point. The path was from the NNW to SSE.
March 2006Tornado (F0)Merced Arpt$5,000no account filed
March 2011FloodCregan$2,000The CHP reported flooding on East Childs Avenue.
March 2011FloodCregan$2,000Off duty meteorologist reported flooding near the University of California - Merced Campus.
March 2011FloodCregan$2,000The CHP reported flooding on Route 59 just south of Mission Ave.
March 2011FloodAtwater Muni Arpt$2,000The CHP reported flooding on State Route 140 just east of North Applegate Road.
March 2011Flood(Mer)Castle Afb$2,000The CHP reported flooding on Highway 59 just south of Oakdale Road.
January 2023FloodAtwater Muni Arpt$1,000California Highway Patrol reported a traffic collision near the intersection of Libson Rd. and S. Bert Crane Rd. in Merced County. The response found the roadway to be completely flooded.
March 2023Flood(Mer)Castle Afb$1,000California Highway Patrol reported high voltage power lines down on Snelling Rd. between Paloma Rd. and Robinson Ave.
March 2011FloodCregan$1,000The CHP reported flooding at 99 and R Street.
March 2025FloodSnelling-California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding along SR 59 northeast of Snelling.
March 2025Funnel CloudWinton-Public post on Facebook with a video on a funnel cloud north of Atwater.
March 2025Funnel Cloud(Mer)Castle Afb-Public reports of a funnel cloud posted on Facebook near the intersection of SR 59 and Oakdale Rd.
February 2025Flash FloodMerced Falls-California Highway Patrol reported a bridge over the Merced River at Merced Falls was washed over.
January 2024FloodLos Banos Muni Arpt-California Highway Patrol reported flooding in northbound Interstate 5 on the right hand side near the Volta Rd. underpass.
January 2024FloodSnelling-California Highway Patrol reported flooding on SR 59 with two vehicles spun out near Fields Rd.
February 2024FloodWinton-California Highway Patrol reported that a member of the public was unable to access his vehicle due to roadway flooding in Winton.
February 2024FloodSnelling-California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding near the intersection of Fields Rd. and La Grange Rd.
February 2024FloodFergus-California Highway Patrol reported that a Toyota Corolla was stuck in flood water on SR 99 between Merced and Atwater.
February 2024FloodSnelling-California Highway Patrol reported two vehicles were stuck in flood water near the intersection of Merced Falls Rd. and La Grange Rd.
February 2024Debris FlowAgatha-California Highway Patrol reported a landslide on the southbound I-5 offramp onto SR 165.
February 2024FloodAtwater Muni Arpt-California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding on Plymouth Ave. near the intersection of Yorkshire Dr.
February 2024FloodHopeton-California Highway Patrol reported flooding created impassible conditions for small vehicles near the intersection of Oakdale Rd. and SR 59.
February 2024FloodIngomar-California Highway Patrol reported the roadway completely flooded at the intersection of SR 33 and Marshall Rd.
February 2024FloodHopeton-California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at the intersection of E. Keyes Rd. and Olsen Rd.
May 2024FloodCregan-Public report of roadway flooding on Canal St. in Merced. Images were posted on Twitter.
January 2023Flood(Mer)Castle Afb-California Highway Patrol reported water two feet into the roadway in the northbound lane on G St. near Snelling Rd.
January 2023FloodGustine-California Highway Patrol reported flooding on SR 33 just north of Sullivan Rd. in Gustine.

Mines and quarries

86 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 86 workings inside this county. 24 still produce and 62 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction38
Gold16
Mercury11
Copper8
Platinum, Silver5
Antimony4
Stone3
Manganese3
Gypsum-Anhydrite2
Diatomite2
Silver2
Platinum1
Palladium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Osmium, Iridium1
Asbestos1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Glacier Rock ProductsSand and Gravel, Construction, Gold, SilverPast Producer
SnellingGold, Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Osmium, IridiumProducer1848, 1952
Snelling DistrictGold, Silver, PlatinumPast Producer1850
Unnamed Asbestos OccurrencesAsbestosOccurrence
Unnamed Barite OccurrenceBarium-BariteUnknown
Unnamed ProspectMagnesiteProspect
Agricultural Minerals & FertilizerGypsum-Anhydrite, DiatomitePast Producer1946
Erreca SiteGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
Ranch HillGold, SilverPast Producer
Unnamed Diatomite DepositsDiatomiteOccurrence
Unnamed ProspectSilverProspect
Borrow PitStonePast Producer
Briggs MineManganeseOccurrence
Cressey Pit and MillStoneProducer
Mrs Briggs MineManganeseProspect1942
Salisberry ClaimManganeseOccurrence
Unnamed QuarryStonePast Producer
Antimony Peak ProspectsAntimonyProspect
GypsyMercury, AntimonyPast Producer1875
ShriverAntimony, MercuryPast Producer1885
StaytonMercury, AntimonyProducer1870, 1876
Merced Dredging Co.Gold, Platinum, SilverPast Producer1934
San Joaquin Mining Co.Gold, Platinum, SilverPast Producer
Snelling Gold Dredging Co.Gold, Platinum, SilverPast Producer1932
Yosemite Mining and Dredging Co.Gold, Platinum, SilverPast Producer
Yuba Consolidated GoldfieldsGold, Platinum, SilverPast Producer1930
BergCopperUnknown
Johnny GreenCopperUnknown
JoseCopper, GoldPast ProducerChalcopyrite
JoseCopperProspect
KrohCopperUnknown
Lone Tree MineCopperProspect
Victor Bananza GroupCopperPast ProducerChalcopyrite
Victor BonanzaCopperUnknown
Gypsy MineMercuryPast Producer
Mercy MineMercuryPast Producer
Red Metal MineMercuryPast Producer
Reported LocationMercuryUnknown
Stayton MineMercuryPast Producer
Unnamed ProspectMercuryProspect
Yellow Jacket MineMercuryPast Producer
YellowjacketMercuryPast ProducerCinnabar
B and W Mining Co.GoldPast Producer
Dredge TailingsGoldPast Producer
Dredge TailingsGoldPast Producer
Dry Creek Placer TailingsGoldPast Producer
Mid State Equipment & Dredging Co.GoldPast Producer
R.H. BottomsGoldPast Producer
Unnamed ShaftGoldProspect
Bear Creek PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Bliss RanchSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Borrow PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Carson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Clark PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Claude C. Wood PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Cressey Sand & GravelSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Flintkote PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Flintkote River Rock Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
George PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
I5 PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Los Banos Creek PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Los Banos Creek PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Los Banos Creek PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Los Banos Creek Pit No. 1Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Los Banos Gravel Co. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
M-K, Hassler Construction Co.Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Merced AggregatesSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Merced River PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Merced River PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Richardson Sand and Gravel No. 1Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Richardson Sand and Gravel No. 2Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
River Rock, Inc., No. 1Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
River Rock, Inc., No. 2.Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Robinson North PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Robinson South PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
SilvaSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Silva PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Skov and WychophenSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Standard MaterialsSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sunset PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Triple C PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Turlock Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Turlock Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Turlock Rock Co.Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Victor PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

56

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Merced County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.