Snelling, California
Snelling, California | |
|---|---|
  Snelling  Snelling | |
| Coordinates: 37°31′09″N 120°26′15″W / 37.51917°N 120.43750°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Merced |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.545 sq mi (1.41 km2) |
| • Land | 0.540 sq mi (1.40 km2) |
| • Water | 0.005 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 256 ft (78 m) |
| Population (2020)[3] | |
• Total | 238 |
| • Density | 440.7/sq mi (170.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code | 95369 |
| Area code | 209 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 234756; 2583146 |
| U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Snelling, California; U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Snelling, California | |
Snelling (formerly Snelling's Ranch) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP)[4] in Merced County, California, United States.[2] It is located on the north bank of the Merced River 17 miles (27 km) north of Merced, at an elevation of 256 feet (78 m).[2] The population was 238 at the 2020 census.[3]
History
[edit]The "Snelling Ranch" post office opened in 1853, was closed for a time during 1861, and changed its name to "Snelling" in 1870.[5] The name is from the Snelling family that operated a way station at the place beginning in 1851.[5]
Snelling's zip code is 95369 and its area code is 209.
Snelling was the county seat of Merced County from 1857 to 1872. The courthouse constructed in 1857 continued to serve as a justice court until the 1990s. The two-story building remains standing today and is a rare surviving example of a simple early California courthouse.[6]
Geography
[edit]Snelling is in northeastern Merced County along the eastern edge of California's Central Valley, where the Merced River emerges from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It is at the north end of California State Route 59, which leads south to Merced, the county seat.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Snelling CDP covers an area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2), of which 0.005 square miles (0.013 km2), or 0.92%, are water.[1]
Demographics
[edit]The 2020 United States census reported that Snelling had a population of 238. The population density was 440.7 inhabitants per square mile (170.2/km2). The racial makeup of Snelling was 186 (78.2%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 3 (1.3%) Native American, 1 (0.4%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 19 (8.0%) from other races, and 29 (12.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38 persons (16.0%).[7]
The whole population lived in households. There were 96 households, out of which 27 (28.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 43 (44.8%) were married-couple households, 16 (16.7%) were cohabiting couple households, 15 (15.6%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 22 (22.9%) had a male householder with no partner present. 26 households (27.1%) were one person, and 17 (17.7%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48.[7] There were 59 families (61.5% of all households).[8]
The age distribution was 56 people (23.5%) under the age of 18, 14 people (5.9%) aged 18 to 24, 55 people (23.1%) aged 25 to 44, 63 people (26.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 50 people (21.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 118.3 males.[7]
There were 110 housing units at an average density of 203.7 units per square mile (78.6 units/km2), of which 96 (87.3%) were occupied. Of these, 40 (41.7%) were owner-occupied, and 56 (58.3%) were occupied by renters.[7]
Government
[edit]In the California State Legislature, Snelling is in the 12th senatorial district, represented by Republican Shannon Grove, and in the 21st Assembly district, represented by Democrat Diane Papan.[9]
In the United States House of Representatives, Snelling is in California's 13th congressional district, represented by Democrat Adam Gray as of January 2025.
California Historical Landmark
[edit]Snelling Courthouse is a California Historical Landmarks, number 409.
The California Historical Landmark reads:
- NO. 409 SNELLING COURTHOUSE - This, the first courthouse in Merced County, was erected in 1857. This monument commemorates the 75th anniversary of the organization of Merced County and is dedicated to the memory of our pioneers by Yosemite Parlor No. 24, N.S.G.W., Merced, May 20, 1930. [10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Snelling, California
- ^ a b "P1. Race – Snelling CDP, California: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Snelling, California
- ^ a b Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 829. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
- ^ McDevitt, Ray, Courthouses of California - An Illustrated History, pp. 17–18, 210, California Historical Society, San Francisco, CA, 2001.
- ^ a b c d "Snelling CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ "Snelling CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
- ^ californiahistoricallandmarks.com # 409
Municipalities and communities of Merced County, California, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||