Salinas, California
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Salinas is the county seat and largest municipality of Monterey County, California, and it is also known as the "Salad Bowl" of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 151,060. The city's development in the 19th century may have been a WASP response to the predominantly Italian fishing community of Monterey.
Salinas' economy is largely based upon agriculture. Located in one of California's richest farming regions, the area produces a variety of fruits and vegetables, including lettuce, strawberry, watermelons, broccoli, carrots, cabbages, and spinach.
Salinas was also the birthplace of writer John Steinbeck. The recently revitalized historic downtown is home to the National Steinbeck Center.
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Geography
Image:CAMap-doton-Salinas.pngSalinas is located at 36°41'2" North, 121°38'35" West (36.683859, -121.643128)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.2 km² (19.0 mi²). 49.2 km² (19.0 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
The city lies approximately 18 meters (59 feet) above sea level and is located roughly eight miles from the pacific ocean shoreline. Being located near the ocean shore at the mouth of the Salinas Valley, the city is bordered by the Gabilan mountains to the east and Santa Lucia mountains towards the south. The city also marks the entrance ot the Salinas Valley which runs approximately 90 miles south-east bound from Salinas to King City.
Conveyor Belt Weather
Image:Las Palmas Snow.jpg Salinas enjoys cool and moderate temperatures due to the "natural air conditioner" that conveys ocean air and fog in from the Monterey Bay to Salinas while towns to the north and south of Salinas experience hotter summers as mountains block the ocean air. Thus Salinas weather is closer to that of the California central coast rather than that of inland valleys and thus enjoys a mild Mediterreanean climate with typical daily highs ranging from the low 50F's in the winter to the low 70'sF in the summer. The difference between ocean and air temperature also tends to create heavy morning fog during the summer months (known as the marine layer) driven by an onshore wind created by the local high pressure sunny portions of the Salinas Valley which extend north and south from Salinas and the Bay.
The average annual rainfall for the city is approximately 242.3 mm (9.5 in). On rare occasions there is snowfall on the peaks Gabilan and Santa Lucia mountain ranges which border east and west sides, respectively, of the Salinas Valley.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 151,060 people, 38,298 households, and 30,025 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,068.1/km² (7,948.4/mi²). There were 39,659 housing units at an average density of 805.5/km² (2,086.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.10% Hispanic, 45.16% White, 5.90% Asian American, 3.27% African American, 1.26% Native American out of which 49.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.66 and the average family size was 4.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 32.0% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 113.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,720, and the median income for a family was $44,667. Males had a median income of $35,641 versus $27,013 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,495. 16.7% of the population and 12.8% of families were below the poverty line. 20.1% of those under the age of 18 and 9.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Economy
Salinas is known as the "Salad Bowl of the World," and for good reason. Over 80% of the lettuce grown in the United States is grown in the Salinas Valley. According to the 2000 US Census, 24% of the population worked in sales and office occupations, 21.4% worked in management, professional, and related occupations, 16.2% worked in service occupations, 14.9% worked in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations, 14.4% worked in production, transportation, and material moving occupations, and 9.1% worked in construction, extraction, and maintenance occupations.
Housing Prices
Image:$700,000 Home.jpg While the median household income in Salinas remains at $44,667, the median home price now lies in excess of $630,000 according to the Monterey County Realtors Association. This means that when financed through a regular 30 year loan at 5.7% interest with a $100,000 downpayment, the mortage payment on an average 1300+ sq ft home would be in excess of $3,000 a month. Assuming a houshold spends 50% of all net income on housing an annual gross income of $95,932 would be required. If the household only spends 30% of all net income on mortgage payments an annual gross income of $143,899 would be required. Only 8.54% of households in Salinas have six-figure incomes, excluding many from a housing market in which fixer-uppers start in the 500,000's.
Monterey County Realtors Association
City Funding Shortage
Image:Northridge Mall.jpg During the first half of this decade, the Salinas city government struggled to deal with funding shortages. A downturn in the state economy, combined with an unusually low per-capita tax base, forced the city to curtail certain services. During the crisis, Salinas almost became the first city in the United States to close its libraries. However, an ourpouring of private donations provided an ample stop-gap measure, keeping the libraries open with reduced hours. Donations were raised through Rally Salinas!, a grassroots fundraising organization launched by the city's mayor, to keep the libraries open through 2005.
In November 2005, voters approved a tax measure to fund several vital services in the city, including libraries, by a 61 percent vote. The measure, known locally as Measure V, will provide some $11 million in funding to take affect in the 2007 fiscal year. The measure will allow the city to start restoring more than $15 million in service cuts including the closure of three recreation centers and the elimination of graffiti abatement and crossing guard money for schools. An independent oversight committee was appointed by the City Council to oversee the money raised by the tax increase, which will be in place for the next 10 years. In April 2006, the committee recommended dedicating 70% of revenues to restoring library and police services.
In 2006, the city's financial situation was considerably improved, as Salinas officials announced a budget surplus.
Gang Activity and Violence
One of the city's most serious problems is violent crime. The problem has become a large priority for the Salinas police. Salinas' violent crime rate is relatively high. In 2004, there were 11.4 murders per 100,000 residents, more than twice the national average of 5.5. However, historic trends suggest improvement. The number of aggravated assaults fell from 844 in 1993 to 661 in 1998.
Gang activity is responsible for a substantial portion of violent crime in Salinas. In 1998, local police estimated that 17% of all violent crimes -- and 71% of the city's homicides -- were gang related. Partners for Peace, a local gang prevention and youth welfare group, cites the city's low literacy rate and high population density due to lack of affordable housing as aggravating factors.
Notable Residents
Labor leader Cesar Chavez was once a "temporary resident" as he was jailed in the Monterey County Jail for his labor-related protesting.
Vanessa Anne Hudgens From the Disney Channel Movie High School Musical
Joseph Robert Kapp, an American football quarterback, Minn. Vikings standout, labled "Toughest Chicano" in the NFL by Sports Illustrated.
Giovanni "Van" Partible, creator of cartoon character Johnny Bravo
John Steinbeck, born and raised in Salinas
Media
The Monterey/Salinas metro area is served by a limited variety of local television stations, and is the 125th largest designated market area (DMA) in the U.S. with 218,080 homes (0.198% of the U.S.). Those stations are:
Channel 8: KSBW - (NBC) - Salinas
Channel 15/22: K15CU/KMUV - (Telemundo) - Monterey/Salinas/Santa Cruz (Simulcast of KSTS 48).
Channel 25: KCAH - (PBS) - Watsonville (Simulcast of San Jose's KTEH)
Channel 33: KDJT - (Telefutura) - Monterey
Channel 35: KCBA - (Fox) - Salinas
Channel 43: KMCE - (Azteca America) - Monterey/Salinas
Channel 46: KION - (CBS) - Monterey
Channel 67: KSMS - (Univision) - Monterey
The Monterey/Salinas area lacks an ABC (American Broadcasting Company) affiliate since 2000, when KNTV was purchased, and subsequently became the NBC station for the San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose metropolitan area. KNTV, now known as NBC11, later moved its transmission tower from Loma Prieta Peak (located between San Jose and Santa Cruz) to San Bruno Mountain, north of San Francisco International Airport, therefore ceasing its signal coverage in Monterey and Salinas. A microwave relay feed of KGO-7, the ABC affiliate out of San Francisco, is available through the local cable provider (Comcast).
External links
Template:Cities of Monterey County, California
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