Atwater, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Atwater, California
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto = Community Pride, City Wide


image_

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imagesize = 245px
image_caption = Water tower located within the city

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in California


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Merced
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Joan Faul
leader_title1 = Senate
leader_name1 = Jeff Denham (D)
leader_title2 = Assembly
leader_name2 = Cathleen Galgiani (D)
leader_title3 = U. S. Congress
leader_name3 = Dennis A. Cardoza (D)
established_title = Founded
established_date = September 1, 1922
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 14.0
area_total_sq_mi = 5.4
area_land_km2 = 14.0
area_land_sq_mi = 5.4
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
area_water_percent = 0.18
area_urban_km2 =
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
population_as_of = 2006
population_note =
population_total = 27,972
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 1,652.6
population_density_sq_mi = 4,277.4
timezone = Pacific
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = Pacific
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 37 |latm = 21 |lats = 15 |latNS = N
longd = 120 |longm = 36 |longs = 11 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 46
elevation_ft = 151
website = [http://www.atwater.org/ www.atwater.org]
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 95301, 95342
area_code = 209
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-03162
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0277600
footnotes =

Atwater is a city in Merced County, California, United States. The population as of August 19, 2006 is 27,972 [http://www.greatschools.net/city/Atwater/CA] .

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14.0 km²). 5.4 square miles (14.0 km²) of it is land and 0.18% water.

The city includes Castle Air Museum and Bloss Hospital, but does not include Castle Air Force Base proper.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 23,113 people, 7,247 households, and 5,667 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,277.4 people per square mile (1,652.6/km²). There were 8,114 housing units at an average density of 1,501.6/sq mi (580.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.34% White, 4.99% Black or African American, 1.27% Native American, 5.43% Asian, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 24.48% from other races, and 6.14% from two or more races. 41.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,247 households out of which 45.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.8% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.15 and the average family size was 3.55.

In the city the population was spread out with 34.9% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in Atwater is $37,344, and the median income for a family was $39,789. Males had a median income of $32,983 versus $22,450 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,162. About 15.3% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In the state legislature Atwater is located in the 12th Senate District, represented by Republican Jeff Denham, and in the 17th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Cathleen Galgiani. Federally, Atwater is located in California's 18th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +3 [cite web | title = Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest? | publisher = Campaign Legal Center Blog | url=http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html | accessdate = 2007-10-20] and is represented by Democrat Dennis Cardoza.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Most of the city is zoned to the Atwater Elementary School District. Schools of AESD within Atwater and serving Atwater include: [http://www.aesd.edu/attendance_area.htm]
* K-8
** [http://www.aesd.edu/bell/ Bellevue School]
** [http://www.aesd.edu/ph/ Peggy Heller School]
* 7-8
** [http://www.aesd.edu/mse/ Mitchell Senior Elementary School]
* K-6
** [http://www.aesd.edu/ac/ Aileen Colburn Elementary School]
** [http://www.aesd.edu/sha/ Shaffer Elementary School]
** [http://www.aesd.edu/to/ Thomas Olaeta Elementary School]
** Elmer Wood Elementary School
* Other
** [http://www.aesd.edu/mse/St.Onge/ Atwater Community Day School]

A small section of eastern Atwater is located in the Merced City School District; that section is zoned to Rivera Middle School. [" [http://www.mcsd.k12.ca.us/files/tsaechao/Proposed%20Middle%20School%20Boundaries%202008-2009.pdf Proposed Middle School Boundaries 2008-2009] ." "Merced City School District".] Franklin Elementary School is the closest elementary school to the section of Atwater.

Merced Unified High School District operates Atwater High School and Buhach Colony High School, both of which serve and reside in Atwater.

Merced Scholars Charter School is a charter school in Merced.

Private schools

Newspapers

Atwater currently does not have a daily newspaper, although many of its residents use the daily paper, the "Merced Sun-Star", which is published in nearby Merced. Atwater has two weekly newspapers called "The Atwater Signal" and "The Atwater Times". "The Atwater Signal " was first published in 1911.

Notable residents

*Carrie Henn played Rebecca "Newt" Jorden in the 1986 film "Aliens"
*Bernard Berrian NFL receiver for the Minnesota Vikings
*Thomas W. Hayes former California State Treasurer
*Jamill Kelly 2004 Olympics silver medal in wrestling
*Dennis Cardoza Democrat Congressman

References

*Compass Maps: Merced, Atwater, Merced County
* [http://www.atwater.org/doc_files/Annexations%20(Approved%203-8-05).pdf City of Atwater -- Approved Annexations]

External links

* [http://www.atwater.org/ City website]