Planada, California

About Planada

Set in the central part of California, Planada is a small unincorporated community.

Planada holds the status of a census-designated place — a real, named community that residents call home, governed at the county level. The community covers 1.74 square miles.

📰 Planada News Today

• 2 alleged gang-members arrested for drive-by shooting in Planada, deputies say yourcentralvalley.com · Jun 5
• California families say dairy fumes ruined their summers, and one 8,000-cow farm still wants to grow The Cool Down · Jul 13
• West Nile Virus Detected in Merced County for First Time in 2026 Los Banos Enterprise · Jul 6
• Maria Calvillo Obituary - Merced, CA Dignity Memorial · Jun 9
• Teen arrested after gunshots heard in Planada, deputies say yourcentralvalley.com · Mar 30

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Planada Unique

• The only place in America named Planada — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
• An unincorporated community — no city hall of its own, which often means lower local taxes and county-managed services.
• Part of the fabric of California — one of 1,618 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• A tight community feel that bigger cities can't replicate.
• Cost of living typically runs below the big-metro average.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 6 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Planada

• Mels Old West (café)

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏫 Schools in Planada

• Cesar E. Chavez Middle
• Planada Elementary

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Planada

🏘️ Nearby Communities