Merced, California
About Merced
Merced, CA is a thriving city located in central California counting 96,073 people who proudly call it home. It stands among the 500 most populous places in the United States (#358 nationwide).
Officially, Merced is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 23.25 square miles, giving it a compact, walkable footprint at roughly 4,132 residents per square mile.
📰 Merced News Today
- Supporters rally for justice for California dog amid animal cruelty investigation - ABC News ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos · Aug 18
- ‘Sweetie’ the husky rescued from alleged abuse after being dragged behind bike by homeless man New York Post · Aug 15
- Pedestrian hit and killed by train in Merced, authorities say ABC30 Fresno · Aug 12
- Delhi woman killed, Turlock man arrested after head-on crash, Merced CHP says - Merced Sun-Star Merced Sun-Star · Aug 13
- Man arrested after fatal head-on hit-and-run crash in Merced County kmph.com · Aug 14
Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.
What Makes Merced Unique
- The only place in America named Merced — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
- Part of the fabric of California — one of 1,618 recognized communities statewide.
Why People Love It Here
- The sweet spot: real amenities without big-city congestion.
- Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 96,073.
- Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 6 miles.
🍽️ Where to Eat in Merced
- Applebee's — american
- Black Bear Diner — american
- Dutch Bros. Coffee — coffee shop (café)
- Hanger BBQ — barbecue (café)
- Lovers Deli — sandwich
- Mountain Mike's — pizza
- Quickly — bubble tea (café)
- Sizzler — steak house
- Starbucks — coffee shop (café)
- Strings Italian Cafe — italian
Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🎡 Fun Things to Do
- Merced County Courthouse Museum · Museum
- Applegate Zoo · Zoo
- Kiwanis Kiddieland · Theme park
- Yosemite Wildlife Museum · Museum
Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Merced
- Benjamin Banneker Memorial Park reviews ★
- Burbank Park reviews ★
- Carol Gabriault Park reviews ★
- Charles Richard Drew Park reviews ★
- Davenport Park reviews ★
- Dennis Chavez Park reviews ★
- Fahrens Park reviews ★
- Flanagan Park reviews ★
- Frank Gasper Park reviews ★
- Gilbert Macias Park reviews ★
- Hansen Park reviews ★
- Macready Park reviews ★
Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.
🏫 Schools in Merced
- Ada Givens Elementary
- Charles Wright Elementary
- Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary
- Franklin Elementary
- Herbert H. Cruickshank Middle
- Herbert Hoover Middle
- John C. Fremont Elementary
- John Muir Elementary
- Luther Burbank Elementary
- Margaret Sheehy Elementary
- McSwain Elementary
- Merced County ROP
- Rudolph Rivera Middle
- Tenaya Middle
Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.
🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare
- Mercy Medical Center ★★★ (3/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER
Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.