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.  |
