Gonzales, California
Encyclopedia
Gonzales is a city in Monterey County
, California
, United States
. Gonzales is located 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Salinas
, at an elevation of 135 feet (41 m). The population was 8,187 at the 2010 census, up from 7,525 at the 2000 census. Gonzales is a member of the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), of which, 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.93%) is water.
The community was planned by Mariano and Alfredo Gonzales. The first Gonzales post office opened in 1873. The name honors the Gonzales family, owners of Rancho Rincon de la Puente del Monte
, on which Gonzales was built. At that time, Gonzales was a cattle ranching and grain growers community.
Gonzales soon turned into a predominantly Swiss dairy community when John B. Meyenberg brought his original milk processing procedures to the United States. His company the Alpine Milk Company, later known as the Meyenberg Milk Company opened its first plant in Gonzales in 1906. Improvements to agriculture technology and the rich soil soon grew the Salinas Valley into the nation's premier agricultural center and all but one dairy farm disappeared.
Prior to being nicknamed the "Wine Capital of Monterey County," Gonzales was known as "The Heart of the Salad Bowl" (due to its central location in the agricultural valley). Before that it was nicknamed "Little Switzerland" (due to the similarities of the valley landscape to Switzerland as well as the predominantly Swiss community at the time).
Dairy farming gave way to vegetable raising in the 1920s and prospered due to the rich soil and advancements in irrigation, machinery and transportation facilities.
The first school house was built in 1874. The first church was the Gonzales Baptist Church, which was built in 1884 and still holds weekly worship services today.
The town was officially incorporated January 10, 1947.
was 4,178.5 people per square mile (1,613.3/km²). The racial makeup of Gonzales was 3,464 (42.3%) White, 81 (1.0%) African American, 124 (1.5%) Native American, 190 (2.3%) Asian, 14 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 3,958 (48.3%) from other races
, and 356 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7,276 persons (88.9%).
The Census reported that 8,181 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 6 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 1,906 households, out of which 1,252 (65.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,256 (65.9%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 309 (16.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 139 (7.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 120 (6.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 11 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 155 households (8.1%) were made up of individuals and 66 (3.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.29. There were 1,704 families
(89.4% of all households); the average family size was 4.45.
The population was spread out with 2,856 people (34.9%) under the age of 18, 957 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 2,355 people (28.8%) aged 25 to 44, 1,529 people (18.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 490 people (6.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.0 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.
There were 1,989 housing units at an average density of 1,015.2 per square mile (392.0/km²), of which 1,019 (53.5%) were owner-occupied, and 887 (46.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.1%. 4,186 people (51.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,995 people (48.8%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 7,525 people, 1,695 households, and 1,501 families residing in the city. The population density
was 5,429.4 people per square mile (2,090.2/km²). There were 1,724 housing units at an average density of 1,243.9 per square mile (478.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 34.78% White
, 0.80% Black
or African American
, 1.41% Native American
, 2.05% Asian
, 0.17% Pacific Islander
, 55.99% from other races
, and 4.81% from two or more races. 86.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,695 households out of which 61.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.4% were non-families. 9.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.42 and the average family size was 4.61.
In the city the population was spread out with 37.8% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 12.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 108.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,582, and the median income for a family was $41,773. Males had a median income of $31,743 versus $27,115 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,438. About 15.0% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
Local radio stations include KHIP-FM - 104.3
and KKMC-AM - 880. Television service for the community comes from the Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz designated market area (DMA). Local newspapers include the Gonzales Tribune, the Salinas Californian and the Monterey County Herald.
, Honored at U.C. Davis with the Tavernetti Bell that is rung on football game days.
Gonzales is also birthplace to John Blume
, the “Father of Earthquake Engineering.”
Gonzales became home to John B. Meyenberg and the Western State's first condensary. Meyenberg was the first person to perfect a successful process for the concentration of milk without the addition of sugar. His patent for Evaporated Milk was secured a few years before his arrival to Gonzales in 1904.
www.gonzales.k12.ca.us
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Gonzales is located 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Salinas
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
, at an elevation of 135 feet (41 m). The population was 8,187 at the 2010 census, up from 7,525 at the 2000 census. Gonzales is a member of the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, or AMBAG, is a regional governmental organization which consists of representation of a large number of public agencies within Monterey County, Santa Cruz County and San Benito County, California...
.
Wine-growing area
Gonzales is an important wine cultivation area. Wineries located in Gonzales include Blackstone, Robert Talbott Vineyards, Paul Masson Vineyards, Pisoni Vineyards, Constellation Wines, Boekenoogen Winery, and Salinas Valley Vineyards, . The Rex Goliath wine company is also based in Gonzales.Geography
Gonzales is located at 36°30′24"N 121°26′40"W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), of which, 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.93%) is water.
History
Gonzales was originally a depot for freight trains once the Southern Pacific Railroad laid tracks through the valley in 1872.The community was planned by Mariano and Alfredo Gonzales. The first Gonzales post office opened in 1873. The name honors the Gonzales family, owners of Rancho Rincon de la Puente del Monte
Rancho Rincon de la Puente del Monte
Rancho Rincon de la Puente del Monte was a Mexican land grant in the Salinas Valley, in present day Monterey County, California given in 1836 by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez to Teodoro Gonzalez...
, on which Gonzales was built. At that time, Gonzales was a cattle ranching and grain growers community.
Gonzales soon turned into a predominantly Swiss dairy community when John B. Meyenberg brought his original milk processing procedures to the United States. His company the Alpine Milk Company, later known as the Meyenberg Milk Company opened its first plant in Gonzales in 1906. Improvements to agriculture technology and the rich soil soon grew the Salinas Valley into the nation's premier agricultural center and all but one dairy farm disappeared.
Prior to being nicknamed the "Wine Capital of Monterey County," Gonzales was known as "The Heart of the Salad Bowl" (due to its central location in the agricultural valley). Before that it was nicknamed "Little Switzerland" (due to the similarities of the valley landscape to Switzerland as well as the predominantly Swiss community at the time).
Dairy farming gave way to vegetable raising in the 1920s and prospered due to the rich soil and advancements in irrigation, machinery and transportation facilities.
The first school house was built in 1874. The first church was the Gonzales Baptist Church, which was built in 1884 and still holds weekly worship services today.
The town was officially incorporated January 10, 1947.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Gonzales had a population of 8,187. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,178.5 people per square mile (1,613.3/km²). The racial makeup of Gonzales was 3,464 (42.3%) White, 81 (1.0%) African American, 124 (1.5%) Native American, 190 (2.3%) Asian, 14 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 3,958 (48.3%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 356 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7,276 persons (88.9%).
The Census reported that 8,181 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 6 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 1,906 households, out of which 1,252 (65.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,256 (65.9%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 309 (16.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 139 (7.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 120 (6.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 11 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 155 households (8.1%) were made up of individuals and 66 (3.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.29. There were 1,704 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(89.4% of all households); the average family size was 4.45.
The population was spread out with 2,856 people (34.9%) under the age of 18, 957 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 2,355 people (28.8%) aged 25 to 44, 1,529 people (18.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 490 people (6.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.0 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.
There were 1,989 housing units at an average density of 1,015.2 per square mile (392.0/km²), of which 1,019 (53.5%) were owner-occupied, and 887 (46.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.1%. 4,186 people (51.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,995 people (48.8%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,525 people, 1,695 households, and 1,501 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 5,429.4 people per square mile (2,090.2/km²). There were 1,724 housing units at an average density of 1,243.9 per square mile (478.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 34.78% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.80% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.41% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.05% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.17% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 55.99% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.81% from two or more races. 86.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 1,695 households out of which 61.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.4% were non-families. 9.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.42 and the average family size was 4.61.
In the city the population was spread out with 37.8% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 12.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 108.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,582, and the median income for a family was $41,773. Males had a median income of $31,743 versus $27,115 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $12,438. About 15.0% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
Media
- See also: Media in Monterey CountyMedia in Monterey CountyMedia in Monterey County is a designated market area or media market that includes print media and broadcast media in Monterey County, California....
Local radio stations include KHIP-FM - 104.3
KHIP
KHIP is a commercial radio station in Gonzales, California, broadcasting to the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Salinas, California area on 104.3 FM.104.3 was home of alternative rock KMBY which moved to 103.9 in a major switch in 2002....
and KKMC-AM - 880. Television service for the community comes from the Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz designated market area (DMA). Local newspapers include the Gonzales Tribune, the Salinas Californian and the Monterey County Herald.
People from Gonzales
Gonzales is birthplace to Thomas TavernettiThomas Tavernetti
Thomas Tavernetti was the son of Swiss immigrants who co-founded the University of California at Davis.- Early Life and Family History:...
, Honored at U.C. Davis with the Tavernetti Bell that is rung on football game days.
Gonzales is also birthplace to John Blume
John Blume
John Augustus Blume was an American structural engineer born on April 8th, 1909 in Gonzales, California. He first decided he wanted to study Earthquake Engineering when he witnessed the Santa Barbara earthquake of 1925...
, the “Father of Earthquake Engineering.”
Gonzales became home to John B. Meyenberg and the Western State's first condensary. Meyenberg was the first person to perfect a successful process for the concentration of milk without the addition of sugar. His patent for Evaporated Milk was secured a few years before his arrival to Gonzales in 1904.
Schools
- La Gloria Elementary (k-4)
- Fairview Middle School (5-8)
- Gonzales High School(9-12)
- Somavia Continuation School
www.gonzales.k12.ca.us
See also
- Coastal CaliforniaCoastal CaliforniaCoastal California refers to the coastal regions of the US state of California. The term is not primarily geographical as it also describes an area distinguished by sociological, economical and political attributes...
- List of school districts in Monterey County, California
- Monterey county attractionsMonterey county attractionsMonterey County is a county on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. As of 2000, the population was 401,762. The coastline includes Big Sur, State Route 1, and the 17 Mile Drive on the Monterey Peninsula. The city of...