I was originally planning to do a data science project to help estimate how the unincorporated areas voted in the presidential election, but studies, life, and other projects took precedence, so it will be a while before I can get the project done. When I do, though, I will fill in the blanks in these and the other diaries as best as I can. It has also been a while since I posted a diary in this series due to said projects, two months to be exact, so I figured I'd finish Monterey County and post the diary now, before the end of the year.
Northern Coastal Areas
Demographics (2010): 71.1% Non-Hispanic White, 13.7% Hispanic, 7.9% Asian, 2.8% Black
Population (2010): 27,810
President: 65.5% D/33.3% R (2004); 70.9% D/26.9% R (2008); 68.1% D/28.8% R (2012); 69.2% D/24.4% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $49,109
% Bachelor’s (2000): 46.2%
I will begin the city/town-level analysis with the city that bears the same name as the bay and the county. Even though the city of Monterey has made up no more than a fifth of the population of the county since at least 1870, and the current county seat and largest city in the county is Salinas, Monterey has had an outsized influence on the area and the state. Many firsts in California occurred in Monterey, which was the capital of the Spanish and later Mexican province of Alta California. The city was home to the state’s first public school, first public library, first theater, first newspaper, and the first constitutional convention in 1849. As Monterey was also at the time the only port of entry for taxable goods into California, the city is also home to the state’s oldest government building, the Custom House, where Commodore John Drake Sloat raised the American Flag in 1846.
Later in the 19th century, Monterey became a magnet for artists and authors including Robert Louis Stevenson, John Steinbeck, and Robert A. Heinlein. Hailing from nearby Salinas, Steinbeck left a remarkable legacy with most of his works featuring characters from Monterey and the Salinas Valley.
In addition to attracting artists and authors, Monterey has also historically been known for its fishing industry with its own Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row, named after Steinbeck’s 1945 novel of the same name. Cannery Row became empty after the local fishing industry collapsed in the 1950s due to overfishing, but was revitalized with the opening of the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium in 1984. Marine life continues to be of interest to tourists and researchers alike with the deepest underwater canyon off the North American west coast, Monterey Canyon, not too far offshore.
Demographics (2010): 90.0% Non-Hispanic White, 4.3% Hispanic, 3.0% Asian, 0.3% Black
Population (2010): 3,722
President: 59.7% D/39.2% R (2004); 65.8% D/32.9% R (2008); 60.7% D/37.1% R (2012); 63.9% D/30.6% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $58,163
% Bachelor’s (2000): 54.7%
Just south of Monterey is another city well known for artists, Carmel-by-the-Sea, often just called Carmel. Originally intended as a Catholic retreat with the Carmel Mission nearby, in the early 20th century many scientists moved to Carmel with the Carnegie Institution's Coastal Laboratory opening.
Carmel became an arts colony after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, when many artists from San Francisco settled in Carmel after being offered home lots for cheap. The local Arts and Crafts Club became nationally known for its Shakespearean plays and other plays, dances, and recitals. When the artists moved to Carmel, they didn't have street numbers. They named their houses. Today, because of the lack of house numeration, the Post Office does not deliver to each house; residents pick up their mail at the central Post Office.
To preserve the town's character and natural beauty, new buildings to be built are required to be built around trees and new trees be planted if there aren't enough in a particular area. Carmel also has only two significant roads, the famous scenic California Highway 1 and Ocean Avenue.
Carmel is also well-known for electing actor and director Clint Eastwood as mayor. Eastwood served one two-year term in the nonpartisan office and in that time supported small business interests as well as environmental protections. Eastwood also worked to overturn the “ice cream cone law” that banned the sale of fast food including ice cream.
Demographics (2010): 76.2% Non-Hispanic White, 10.4% Hispanic, 7.9% Asian, 1.0% Black
Population (2010):1,624
President: 62.6% D/35.7% R (2004); 68.6% D/29.0% R (2008); 65.6% D/30.8% R (2012); 64.6% D/28.1% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $59,423
% Bachelor’s (2000): 34.3%
Del Rey Oaks is new for the area’s standards, incorporating in 1953. It used to be called Del Rey Woods before incorporation. Today Del Rey Oaks is known for a wetland that attracts birders, Frog Pond Wetland Preserve.
Demographics (2010): 36.1% Non-Hispanic White, 27.2% Hispanic, 25.7% Asian, 10.5% Black
Population (2010): 19,718
President: 60.7% D/38.1% R (2004); 68.6% D/29.6% R (2008); 69.3% D/28.0% R (2012); 67.1% D/25.9% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $43,000
% Bachelor’s (2000): 14.3%
The newest city in Monterey County, having incorporated in 1975, Marina was the site of Fort Ord. The area that would become Fort Ord was set aside in 1917 to serve as an artillery training camp during World War One. The field was named Camp Ord in the 1920s, after Union Army Major General Edward Ord. Camp Ord became Fort Ord in 1941, shortly before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Later in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, Fort Ord would be the site where troops would leave for Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Near the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s, Fort Ord was considered for closure because of leaking petroleum and other sites that were seen as explosion hazards. Ford Ord was closed in 1994, the largest base closure at the time.
Now to the actual city of Marina, which has so far been a city for less time than Fort Ord was in operation. Marina is home to part of the California State University, Monterey Bay campus, which opened shortly after Fort Ord closed. The fort’s old barracks were converted into dorms. The Bureau of Land Management oversees the wildlands that used to be part of Fort Ord.
Demographics (2010): 78.2% Non-Hispanic White, 10.7% Hispanic, 4.5% Asian, 1.1% Black
Population (2010): 15,041
President: 69.0% D/29.8% R (2004); 74.6% D/23.5% R (2008); 70.1% D/26.8% R (2012); 71.7% D/22.3% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $50,254
% Bachelor’s (2000): 44.1%
Here is another city that attracted artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, like Monterey and Carmel. John Steinbeck also lived in a cottage here which was owned by his father Ernest, who was also county treasurer.
Pacific Grove was also California’s last dry town, repealing its alcohol ban in 1969.
Located between better known Monterey and Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove is considerably quieter than its neighbors. Development along the waterfront is prohibited so the beaches and scenic views are unobstructed.
Demographics (2010): 43.4% Hispanic, 32.5% Non-Hispanic White, 9.7% Asian, 8.4% Black
Population (2010): 33,025
President: 68.1% D/30.6% R (2004); 75.4% D/22.6% R (2008); 75.5% D/22.1% R R (2012); 72.0% D/21.4% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $41,393
% Bachelor’s (2000): 17.5%
Formerly known as East Monterey, Seaside is home to California State University, Monterey Bay and is also close to Fort Ord. The golf courses that were once part of the fort are now used for professional golfing tournaments.
A notable sand dune in the area is Scribble Hill (aka “Message Mountain”). While it is in Sand City, Sea City is right next to it and many residents write messages on the dune.
Demographics (2010): 59.1% Non-Hispanic White, 34.9% Hispanic, 3.4% Asian, 1.6% Black
Population (2010): 2,650
President: .% D/.% R (2004); .% D/.% R (2008); .% D/.% R (2012); .% D/.% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $69,145
% Bachelor’s (2000): 29.0%
Also partly in neighboring San Benito County, Aromas was originally known as Sand Cut, named after a Southern Pacific Railroad tunnel in the area. It was renamed after a local rancho. They also have a quarry that supplies granity to the Graniterock corporation based not too far away in Watsonville.
Demographics (2010): 87.6% Non-Hispanic White, 7.4% Hispanic, 1.6% Asian, 0.4% Black
Population (2010): 4,407
President: .% D/.% R (2004); .% D/.% R (2008); .% D/.% R (2012); .% D/.% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $85,191
% Bachelor’s (2000): 47.0%
During World War 2, the area was an alternative landing area for military planes from nearby Watsonville and King City. After the war, brothers Byington and Tirey Ford developed the area as an airway market. They built the Carmel Valley Airport for pilot-owners who wanted to rest for a bit. Tirey developed a hangar house where pilots could park their planes and walk right to their front doors. Only two such houses were ever built though. Later, the Board of Supervisors planned to shut down the airport, but local pilots petitioned to preserve it using of all ideas environmental protection. They didn't succeed, though, as the Carmel Valley Airport was shut down in 2000.
Demographics (2010): 84.3% Non-Hispanic White, 8.6% Asian, 3.7% Hispanic, 0.9% Black
Population (2010): 4,514
President: .% D/.% R (2004); .% D/.% R (2008); .% D/.% R (2012); .% D/.% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $99,788
% Bachelor’s (2000): 61.1%
In 1880, railroad baron Charles Crocker built the Hotel del Monte resort in Monterey, which included Del Monte Forest and the separate, well-known area of Pebble Beach. Later Samuel Morse acquired this area. The United States Navy acquired the Hotel itself after World War II to convert it into the Naval Postgraduate School.
Salinas Valley
Population (2010): 150,441
President: 61.2% D/37.7% R (2004); 71.4% D/26.9% R (2008); 73.2% D/24.8% R (2012); 72.4% D/21.9% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $43,720
% Bachelor’s (2000): 12.3%
Named after a ranch with the same name and indirectly named after the salt marshes in the area, Salinas is the largest city in Monterey County as well as the county seat. It is famous for being the hometown of author John Steinbeck.
Salinas is also widely known as the “Salad Bowl of the World” because the mild, ocean-influenced climate is ideal for agriculture and viticulture. In the late 19th century dry farming of grains and potatoes was common. The swamplands literally were drained, to convert the land to farms. Before the immigrants from Mexico and Central America, Chinese immigrants did most of the farm work. Around this time Salinas had a Chinatown second only to San Francisco’s in size. Thanks to the very productive agricultural areas, in 1924 Salinas had the highest per capita income of any city in the United States.
In World War 2 the rodeo grounds were used as a temporary internment camp for Japanese Americans before they were moved to permanent camps. Then after the war, like in many places in California, rapid growth resulted in croplands being replaced by cities. Another growth spurt happened here around the turn of the millennium.
Demographics (2010): 88.9% Hispanic, 7.9% Non-Hispanic White, 3.7% Asian, 1.3% Black
Population (2010): 8,187
President: 69.2% D/30.1% R (2004); 78.1% D/20.1% R (2008); 81.0% D/17.4% R (2012); 79.5% D/16.1% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $41,582
% Bachelor’s (2000): 7.2%
Gonzales was founded by Mariano and Alfredo Gonzales as a grain and ranching area, and later the brothers built one of the first irrigation systems in the Salinas Valley here. In the early 20th century Gonzales became a Swiss dairy community when John P. Meyenberg set up shop with his milk processing plant and many Swiss settled in the area, nicknamed “Little Switzerland”.
In the 1920s the economy shifted from dairy farming to orchards and vegetables, making the area a major agricultural area in the country and shifting Gonzales’ nickname to “Heart of the Salad Bowl”. Wine production also grew, and later Gonzales was nicknamed the “Wine Capital of Monterey County”.
Demographics (2010): 91.3% Hispanic, 5.9% Non-Hispanic White, 5.4% Black, 1.1% Asian
Population (2010): 16,330
President: 72.5% D/27.0% R (2004); 80.8% D/17.8% R (2008); 82.8% D/15.4% R (2012); 80.5% D/14.4% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $37,602
% Bachelor’s (2000): 3.7%
Like Gonzales, Greenfield was home to Swiss immigrants as well as Danish and some others. Originally the city was going to be named Clark City after John S. Clark, who purchased land that would eventually become the city, but the United States Postal Service refused to go along as there were many other Clark Cities. Instead they went with naming the town after a founder, Edward S. Greenfield.
This area also has the mild climate and rich soil ideal for wineries and agriculture. Greenfield hosts a Harvest Festival every October.
Demographics (2010): 87.5% Hispanic, 9.7% Non-Hispanic White, 1.3% Asian, 1.2% Black
Population (2010): 12,874
President: 56.6% D/42.4% R (2004); 67.5% D/31.2% R (2008); 69.6% D/28.8% R (2012); 69.6% D/24.8% R (2016)
MHI (2000):$34,398
% Bachelor’s (2000): 8.0%
Originally called “Hog Town” because of the population of feral hogs, the city was renamed City of King after Charles King, who purchased the land that would become King City, even though King wanted to name the city Vanderhurst, after local merchant William Vanderhurst, but was outvoted. Later the name was simplified to “King City”.
J. Ernst Steinbeck, John’s father, was an early settler and claimed to be the first permanent resident of King City.
Like most places in the Salinas Valley, King City is well-known for its agriculture, in this case pink beans especially in the early 20th century. King City Pinks were in greater demand during World War I.
Demographics (2010): 71.1% Hispanic, 13.3% Non-Hispanic White, 11.4% Black, 2.9% Asian
Population (2010): 25,738
President: 68.8% D/30.4% R (2004); 79.3% D/19.3% R (2008); 81.9% D/16.2% R (2012); 80.1% D/14.3% R (2016)
MHI (2000):$42,602
% Bachelor’s (2000): 4.1%
Soledad was named after the Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (Our Lady of Solitude) and is located in the heart of the Salinas Valley, with an economy heavily based on agriculture and winery. Historically, though, timber played a big role in the local economy and Soledad was home to a sawmill that closed in 1991.
Near the mission, Fort Romie was found to help connect poor city families to nature.
Also near the city, the Paraiso Hot Springs were in the turn of the 20th century a popular resort for travelers from San Francisco.
Demographics (2010): 85.2% Hispanic, 6.4% Non-Hispanic White, 8.9% Asian, 1.5% Black
Population (2010): 1,710
President: .% D/.% R (2004); .% D/.% R (2008); .% D/.% R (2012); .% D/.% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $46,797
% Bachelor’s (2000): 2.9%
Boronda is right next to Salinas and was named after an adobe built by José Eusebio Boronda in the 1840s, before Salinas was founded. The Borondas were highly respected in the Californio community.
Demographics (2010): 90.1% Hispanic, 5.8% Non-Hispanic White, 2.1% Asian, 0.7% Black
Population (2010): 6,481
President: .% D/.% R (2004); .% D/.% R (2008); .% D/.% R (2012); .% D/.% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $38,594
% Bachelor’s (2000): 3.0%
Castroville was founded in 1863 by Juan Bautista Castro. Even with Salinas nearby, Castroville was important for travelers from Monterey and Soledad en route to San Francisco. Castroville is also the site of the first roundhouse.
In the 1860s Chinese laborers cleared the wetlands to make the land arable. Later, with sugar beet farms, a "Sugar Beet Rush", led to the growth of Chinese companies in the area. Castroville's Chinatown also received business owners from Salinas and Watsonville after their Chinatowns burned down. In the early 20th century, many of them moved to San Francisco.
Castroville is known as the “Artichoke Capital of the World” with its annual Artichoke Festival. Spanish settlers brought the plant here, and later in the 1920s the "California Artichoke and Vegetable Growers Corporation was formed. Now this corporation is known as Ocean Mist Farms. Actress Marilyn Monroe was named Honorary Artichoke Queen when she visited in 1947.
Demographics (2010): 96.7% Hispanic, 1.8% Non-Hispanic White, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Black
Population (2010): 1,190
President: .% D/.% R (2004); .% D/.% R (2008); .% D/.% R (2012); .% D/.% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $43,125
% Bachelor’s (2000): 4.9%
Chualar is Spanish for where the chual (pigweed or goosefoot) in Spanish. In 1963 a collision of a train with a bus carrying Mexican migrant workers occurred nearby . This was the most serious road accident in U.S. history, and led to the abolition of the bracero guest worker program. The bracero program came from the Mexican Farm Labor Agreement that the United States signed with Mexico in 1942 that would guarantee decent wages and conditions for the laborer, as well as protection from being drafted into the military.
The part of U.S. Route 101 where the accident happened was renamed "Bracero Memorial Highway" in 2013.
Demographics (2010): 63.8% Non-Hispanic White, 27.9% Hispanic, 5.4% Asian, 1.5% Black
Population (2010): 1,591
President: .% D/.% R (2004); .% D/.% R (2008); .% D/.% R (2012); .% D/.% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $70,370
% Bachelor’s (2000): 20.2%
Elkhorn has a small economy dominated by agriculture, especially artichokes and strawberries, though most residents work in neighboring cities. Elkhorn has few businesses and most residents also patronize businesses elsewhere.
Demographics (2010): 94.1% Hispanic, 3.4% Non-Hispanic White, 1.3% Asian, 0.2% Black
Population (2010): 3,070
President: .% D/.% R (2004); .% D/.% R (2008); .% D/.% R (2012); .% D/.% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $38,315
% Bachelor’s (2000): 1.5%
Demographics (2010): 50.1% Hispanic, 41.7% Non-Hispanic White, 6.1% Asian, 1.6% Black
Population (2010): 17,560
President: .% D/.% R (2004); .% D/.% R (2008); .% D/.% R (2012); .% D/.% R (2016)
MHI (2000): $62,963
% Bachelor’s (2000): 22.3%
Prunedale was named after the plum trees planted here, but poor irrigation and fertilizer resulted in many of these trees dying. In the early 1930s the rerouting of U.S. Highway 101 resulted in major development of Prunedale.