Soledad, California

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Soledad, California
Location in Monterey County and the state of California
Location in Monterey County and the state of California
Country United States
State California
Counties Monterey
Government
 - Mayor
 - Senate Jeff Denham (R)
 - Assembly Anna M. Caballero (D)
 - U. S. Congress Sam Farr (D)
Area
 - Total 4.2 sq mi (10.9 km²)
 - Land 4.2 sq mi (10.9 km²)
 - Water 0 sq mi (0 km²)
Population (2006)
 - Total 28,075
 - Density 2,681.7/sq mi (1,033.3/km²)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 - Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code 93960
Area code(s) 831

Soledad is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. The population was 28,075 at the 2006 census.

Soledad town sign
Soledad town sign

The town is located near the original Spanish mission, Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, founded October 9, 1791 by Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, the 13th of 21 missions in the California mission chain.

Soledad is located in one of the premiere wine grape growing regions of California with over twenty vineyards and wineries within a thirty mile radius, several of which have tasting rooms and offer a wide selection of wines for sale. Some of the Vineyards and Wineries located nearby are Chalone, Scheid, Paraiso Vineyards, Pisoni Vineyards, Hahn Estates Smith & Hook, San Saba, J.Lohr, Kendall-Jackson, Ventana, Hess Select, Estancia, The Michaud Vineyard, and Graff Family Vineyards.

Also located near Soledad is the Salinas Valley State Prison, a maximum security penal institution which includes a 64 bed inpatient psychiatric program primarily servicing high security inmates who have a major mental disorder that has diminished their ability to function within the prison environment. Adjacent to it is the medium security Correctional Training Facility.


Contents

[edit] History

The original community of Soledad was founded as a Spanish mission October 9, 1791 by Fermín Lasuén, and founded under the rule of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (Virreinato de Nueva España) 1535 to 1821.

The current community of Soledad began in 1874 as a few buildings and shops. The two main streets were named Front and Main. In 1886, land was subdivided into lots and sold by its owners, the Munras family. In the late 1880s the Southern Pacific Railroad laid rails and began serving the area.

In 1898 Fort Romie was founded a few miles north of the mission and west of the city. San Vicente School was built in 1913 forming the Soledad School District. The City, a general law city, incorporated in March 1921 with a City Council/City Manager form of government.

Soledad is used as a backdrop in John Steinbeck's novella Of Mice and Men 1937, an emotional short story about two close financially failing friends of opposite personalities who must farm others land to make what meager living they can, always dreaming for their own personal property. One of the most important themes of the novel is loneliness, which is likely one of the reason why Soledad was chosen as the setting, as Soledad is Spanish for solitude.

Soledad has been rocked by the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989

The Soledad Prison was three miles north of the city until annexed in 1992. It was built in 1946 and currently has an operating budget of $245 million.

In May 1996 the Salinas Valley State prison was opened at a cost of $236 million, with an annual operating budget of $60 million. Currently as of 2007 the annual operating budget has risen to $177 million yearly.

[edit] Geography

Soledad is located at 36°25′60″N, 121°19′47″W (36.433199, -121.329828)[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.9 km² (4.2 mi²), all land.

Soledad is about six miles southeast of Pinnacles National Monument, nestled among the nearby Gabilan Mountains.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2006, there were 28,075 people, 2,472 households, and 2,242 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,035.4/km² (2,680.0/mi²). There were 2,534 housing units at an average density of 232.9/km² (603.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 31.90% White, 1.15% African American, 1.73% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 58.56% from other races, and 4.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 86.82% of the population.

There were 2,472 households out of which 60.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.3% were non-families. 7.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.54 and the average family size was 4.58.

In the city the population was spread out with 36.7% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 13.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 108.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,602, and the median income for a family was $41,188. Males had a median income of $31,566 versus $23,964 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,442. About 16.3% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Economy

Although Soledad is known for its Agriculture it was once the home of timber production. Soledad was home to the Sequoia Forest Industries sawmill. It was closed in 1991 and approximately 91 jobs were lost due to the closure of the mill. The warehouse is still in the city as a reminder of past industrial opportunities the small town had to offer.

[edit] Agriculture

Organic Farmland
Organic Farmland

Land for agriculture is Soledad's most abundant natural resource. Soledad's farmland is considered "Prime Farmland", meaning the soils around and near the city have some of the best physical and chemical characteristics for farming. Due to this fact great efforts in conserving farmland is a very high priority for the city. Prime farmland is the backbone of the Soledad economy. Future planning will consider the effect of urban sprawl amongst the farmlands. Class I, II, and III soils are the most valuable to farming. The climate also allows for year round crops.

Although Soledad has great soil for salad green crops, it also has a large presence of vineyards and wineries in the valley and foothills. Some famous wineries include Chalone Vineyards, Paraiso Springs Vineyards, Hahn Estates, Richard Boyer Wines, Smith and Hook Winery, and Ventana Vineyards. It was once the home of the Paul Masson Winery which is now closed.

Dole Food Company maintains a plant in Soledad. Opened in 1994, it is touted as being the "world's largest pre-cut salad plant." [3]

As of 2007, Soledad features a weekly certified Farmers' Market on Soledad St.[4]

[edit] Energy

Soledad is home to the Soledad Energy Partnership, operators of a wood-waste burning electric power plant. This 13.5 megawatt facility was restarted in July 2001 after a six year shut-down due to termination of a PG&E purchase agreement. The plant was recommissioned during the California electricity crisis.

As of mid-2006, the plant was again closed.

Controversy surrounding the plant. Several violations at the plant have been issued by the California Integrated Water Quality System Project. The plant was issued violations from 2002 to 2006 for various reporting and pollution allegations.

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[edit] Transportation

Soledad is located on U.S. Route 101 and is accessible via northbound and southbound exit ramps on Front Street, at the north and south ends of town.

Soledad is serviced by the Monterey-Salinas Transit lines 23 (Salinas - King City) and 53 (South County Express). As of 01 September 2007, bus stops in Soledad are located at the correctional facility, Front & San Vicente and Monterey & East [5].

[edit] Clubs, groups, and organizations

[edit] Education

Soledad Unified School District serves approximately 3,900 students in grades K-12. There are 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 comprehensive high school and 1 community education center which houses a variety of alternative programs. These programs include adult education, regional occupational program (ROP), independent study, and a continuation high school.

  • San Vicente Elementary Founded 1913
  • Frank Ledesma Elementary
  • Jack Franscioni Elementary
  • Gabilan Elementary Founded 1980
  • Rose Ferrero Elementary
  • Main St. Middle school, Home of the Trojans Founded 1980
  • Soledad High School, Home of the Aztecs Founded 1999
  • Chalone Alternative School
  • Pinnacles Continuation High School
  • Soledad Adult School
  • Mission Trails Regional Occupation Program

San Vicente School

Gabilan School

Soledad High School

[edit] Media

See also: Media in Monterey County

Television service for the community comes from the Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz designated market area (DMA). Radio stations Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz area of dominant influence (ADI) or continuous measurement market (CMM). Locale newspapers include the Monterey County Herald.

[edit] Soledad in "pop culture"

It's Happening In Soledad.
It's Happening In Soledad.

Soledad is located in the heart of the Salinas Valley also known as the "World's Salad Bowl".

  • The movie American Me references the Soledad prison.
  • Gangsta rappers Da Lench Mob, on their album Guerillas in the Mist, make reference to the Soledad Prison
  • Chicano gangs refer to Soledad as "Chole," The origins of which are linked to Soledad "Chole" Salas
  • Actor Rafael H. Robledo was raised in Soledad.
  • Olympic Weight Lifter Mario Martinez (Silver Medal Heavyweight Class, 1984 Los Angeles Olympics) was raised in the Metz area near Soledad & attended Main Street School.
  • A La Brava: Prison and Beyond, is a documentary about two chicano prisoners serving their term in Soledad prison.
  • Hardcore gangster rapper X-Raided recorded a record while serving his 31 year prison term over the phone and through smuggled recordings from the Sacramento County Jail and Mule Creek State Prison in Ione. He has since been relocated to Soledad Prison.
  • Ricardo Soto's film A la brava (With Courage) p.1974 describes the conditions of Chicano convicts at Soledad prison.
  • The book The Melancholy History of Soledad Prison p.1973 by MS Yee in which a Utopian scheme turns to bedlam is based on the Soledad prison
  • The book Of Mice and Men takes place in the Salinas Valley with Soledad as the backdrop.
  • Rapper from Long Beach Tray Deee was also held in the Salinas Valley State Prison which is in Soledad.
  • Travelers passing through Soledad on Highway 101 drive past a large, well-known, and ultimately somewhat ambiguous promotional billboard that reads, "It's Happening in Soledad." The sign references the Soledad Mission and the Pinnacles National Monument.
  • Minnie, the title character in Giacomo Puccini's opera La Fanciulla del West (The Girl of the Golden West), sings an aria about her younger years living in Soledad.
  • National Georgaphic aired an episode of it's series Lockdown (TV series) titled "Gang War" at the Salinas Valley State Prison.

[edit] Prisons

The city has three separate correctional facilities in the northernmost part of the city. The first and oldest prison is Soledad CTF (Correctional Training Facility) built in 1946. It was also one of the first 12 prisons of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The other two are, the Gabilan Fire camp, and the Salinas Valley State Correctional Facility which opened in 1996.

[edit] Recreation

Soledad Mission

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ Dole Company History.
  4. ^ CDFA Certified Farmers' Markets.
  5. ^ Monterey-Salinas Transit Route Map.
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