Prunedale, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Prunedale, California | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Monterey |
| Government | |
| - N/A | |
| - Senate | Abel Maldonado (R) |
| - Assembly | John Laird (D) |
| - U. S. Congress | Sam Farr (D) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 46.1 sq mi (119.5 km²) |
| - Land | 46.1 sq mi (119.4 km²) |
| - Water | 0 sq mi (0.1 km²) |
| Elevation | 92 ft (28 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 16,432 |
| - Density | 356.4/sq mi (137.5/km²) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 93907 |
| Area code(s) | 831 |
| FIPS code | 06-58870 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0277580 |
Prunedale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Monterey County, California, United States. The population was 16,432 at the 2000 census. Plum trees were grown in Prunedale in the early days of its founding but the trees died soon after due to poor irrigation and fertilizer.[1][2] Some locals on occasion call the area "Prunetucky."[citation needed]
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[edit] History
One of the area's earliest settlers was Charles Langley, a Watsonville Banker, who also operated the Prunedale Post Office.[3] He helped establish the Watsonville post office mail service in Prunedale.[3] Langley Road in Prunedale is named after the Langley family. It was around the time of Prunedale's founding that the plum orchard failed due to a lack of irrigation and fertilizer, yet the name Prunedale was retained. The unincorporated area maintains a rural feel in most areas.[3]
A major development in the area's history occurred when Highway 101 was rerouted through Prunedale between 1931 and 1932.[3] Highway 101 had previously routed directly from Salinas to San Juan Bautista.[3] That old route is now known as San Juan Grade Road. In 1946, Highway 101 was widened to 4 lanes.[3] Highway 101 through Prunedale remains one of the few areas on the 101 highway outside of San Francisco where there is cross traffic on the highway. As Prunedale has grown, increased traffic congestion made Route 101 through Prunedale a Traffic Safety Corridor and a double traffic fine zone in the late 1990's and early 00's, with reduced speed limits to 55. Detailed plans to build a 101 bypass of Prunedale did not develop. After Caltrans purchased the land for the bypass, it was resolved to improve the highway through Prunedale by adding a San Miguel Canyon overpass, improving the Highway 101 and Highway 156 interchange, making more turn and merge lanes, and making several other improvements on the roadway.[4] These improvements were completed in the early 2000's. In the last few years, with a decline in traffic fatalities, the speed limit was increased to 60 miles per hour via state traffic formulas.
One of the original businesses to inhabit Prunedale was Glenn's. In the 1980's, the Prunedale Shopping Center was built and in the 1990's, the Prunetree Shopping Center opened for business.
[edit] Geography
Prunedale is located at (36.799915, -121.667238)[5].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 46.2 square miles (119.6 km²), of which, 46.1 square miles (119.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.11%) is water. Langley Creek flows by highway 101 through Prunedale.[3]
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 16,432 people, 5,440 households, and 4,292 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 356.3 people per square mile (137.6/km²). There were 5,591 housing units at an average density of 121.2/sq mi (46.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 76.97% White, 1.27% African American, 1.03% Native American, 3.60% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 11.65% from other races, and 5.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.01% of the population.
There were 5,440 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.1% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $62,963, and the median income for a family was $69,341. Males had a median income of $48,863 versus $34,542 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,318. About 6.0% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over. Most of Prunedale's residence live in single family detached homes with individual or shared wells and leach fields.
[edit] Environmental
In the hills above Prunedale is one of the few known colonies of Yadon's piperia, an endangered species of wild orchid. Royal Oaks Park and Manzanita Park offer nearby recreation.
[edit] Gallery
 Highway 101 through Prunedale heading north. |
 San Miguel Canyon Prunedale North intersection in Prunedale. |
 San Miguel Canyon Road from the 101 overpass in Prunedale. |
 View of 101 heading north from San Miguel Canyon Road overpass in Prunedale. |
[edit] External links
- ^ Prunedale Community Profile by aPODUNK. Retrieved on 13 February 2008.
- ^ Prunedale by MTY County.com. Retrieved on 13 February 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g History of Prunedale Monterey County Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
- ^ Prunedale Improvement Project Caltrans. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- Prunedale, California is at coordinates Coordinates:
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