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Gustine, California

Coordinates: 37°15′28″N 120°59′56″W / 37.25778°N 120.99889°W / 37.25778; -120.99889
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

City of Gustine
City
Welcome to Gustine sign
Welcome to Gustine sign
Location in Merced County, California
Location in Merced County, California
Gustine is located in California
Gustine
Gustine
Gustine is located in the United States
Gustine
Gustine
Coordinates: 37°15′28″N 120°59′56″W / 37.25778°N 120.99889°W / 37.25778; -120.99889
Country United States
State California
CountyMerced
IncorporatedNovember 11, 1915[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total
1.55 sq mi (4.0 km2)
 • Land1.55 sq mi (4.0 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.0 km2)  0%
Elevation
[3]
98 ft (30 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total
6,110
 • Density3,939.39/sq mi (1,521.01/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
95322
Area code209
FIPS code06-31568
GNIS feature ID1658690
Websitewww.cityofgustine.com

Gustine is a city in Merced County, California. Gustine is located 29 miles (47 km) west of Merced,[5] at an elevation of 98 feet (30 m).[3] At the 2020 census, the city population was 6,110,[4] up from 5,520 at the 2010 census.

Geography

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Gustine is located in the San Joaquin Valley at 37°15′28″N 120°59′56″W / 37.25778°N 120.99889°W / 37.25778; -120.99889[3] at an elevation of about 31 m (101 ft) above MSL.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2), all of it land.[2]

Climate

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This region experiences hot and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Gustine has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[6]

History

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Gustine was established in the early 1900s as a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad and named after Sara Miller, nicknamed "Gussie", the daughter of Henry Miller, the "Cattle King", an early California land baron and Agricultural pioneer.[5] Little Sara, always getting "gussied up" with fancy clothes, was killed when she was thrown from her horse when she was eight years old. The first post office opened in 1907.[5] The city was incorporated in 1915.[5]

Gustine was the site of the first 9-1-1 system in California, installed in March 1970.[7]

Gustine is home to the nation's largest festa which is steeped in Portuguese tradition.

Gustine High School is home to the longest running basketball tournament in the state of California, which is put on by the city's Rotary Club. The tournament has been put on by the Rotary Club and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2017.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1920716—
19301,01641.9%
19401,35533.4%
19501,98446.4%
19602,30015.9%
19702,79321.4%
19803,14212.5%
19903,93125.1%
20004,69819.5%
20105,52017.5%
20206,11010.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

2020

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The 2020 United States census reported that Gustine had a population of 6,110. The population density was 3,939.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,521.0/km2). The racial makeup of Gustine was 44.5% White, 0.6% African American, 1.8% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 35.8% from other races, and 15.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 62.4% of the population.[9]

The whole population lived in households. There were 2,035 households, out of which 41.1% included children under the age of 18, 51.1% were married-couple households, 6.5% were cohabiting couple households, 24.6% had a female householder with no partner present, and 17.8% had a male householder with no partner present. 20.3% of households were one person, and 11.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.0.[9] There were 1,505 families (74.0% of all households).[10]

The age distribution was 27.3% under the age of 18, 9.1% aged 18 to 24, 24.3% aged 25 to 44, 23.3% aged 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males.[9]

There were 2,146 housing units at an average density of 1,383.6 units per square mile (534.2 units/km2), of which 2,035 (94.8%) were occupied. Of these, 61.6% were owner-occupied, and 38.4% were occupied by renters.[9]

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 31.8% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 41.5% spoke only English at home, 54.5% spoke Spanish, 2.6% spoke other Indo-European languages, and 1.3% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 72.2% were high school graduates and 9.1% had a bachelor's degree.[11]

The median household income in 2023 was $58,321, and the per capita income was $25,725. About 2.2% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line.[12]

2010

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At the 2010 census Gustine had a population of 5,520. The population density was 3,559.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,374.2/km2). The racial makeup of Gustine was 3,875 (70.2%) White, 73 (1.3%) African American, 54 (1.0%) Native American, 95 (1.7%) Asian, 8 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 1,191 (21.6%) from other races, and 224 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,769 persons (50.2%).[13]

The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.

There were 1,879 households, 757 (40.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,025 (54.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 227 (12.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 118 (6.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 98 (5.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 5 (0.3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 437 households (23.3%) were one person and 234 (12.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.94. There were 1,370 families (72.9% of households); the average family size was 3.50.

The age distribution was 1,577 people (28.6%) under the age of 18, 481 people (8.7%) aged 18 to 24, 1,352 people (24.5%) aged 25 to 44, 1,319 people (23.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 791 people (14.3%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 35.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

There were 2,087 housing units at an average density of 1,345.6 per square mile, of the occupied units 1,197 (63.7%) were owner-occupied and 682 (36.3%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 12.2%. 3,348 people (60.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,172 people (39.3%) lived in rental housing units.

Portuguese community

[edit]

Gustine is home to a relatively high concentration of ethnic Portuguese-Americans. Most can trace their ancestry back to the Azores, but the Portuguese-speaking community also welcomes many families from mainland Portugal and Brazil. This is shown by a large turnout in the yearly OLM (Our Lady of Miracles) Portuguese Festa when over 20,000 people from around Gustine and far away come to visit.

Economy

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Much of the town's income has traditionally come from dairy production and processing; Gustine is the home of a Golden Valley Cheese factory and formerly a Carnation processing plant. In addition, Morningstar Distributing, Hillview Packing, Pusateri Nut Company, and Ingomar Tomato Plant, and Wolfsens' Meat and Sausage are significant businesses in the area. As agricultural land becomes covered by housing developments, Gustine is becoming a bedroom community to the San Francisco Bay Area, a 1½ hour commute away.

Government

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In the California State Legislature, Gustine is in the 12th senatorial district, represented by Republican Shannon Grove, and in the 21st Assembly district, represented by Democrat Diane Papan.[14]

In the United States House of Representatives, Gustine is in California's 16th congressional district, represented by Democrat Sam Liccardo.[15]

Environmental issues

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The nearby San Luis National Wildlife Refuge (formerly Kesterson Wildlife Refuge), experienced an accumulation of selenium due to its location at the terminus of the incomplete San Luis Drain. Wildlife in this region developed a number of deformities,[16] drawing the attention of news media and leading to the closure of the refuge.[17]

Education

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Gustine is served by the Gustine Unified School District (GUSD) a unified TK–12 public school district,[18] and by the Our Lady of Miracles Catholic School (K-8). There are five schools in the GUSD: Gustine Elementary School (GES), Romero Elementary School (RES), Gustine Middle School (GMS), Gustine High School (GHS), and Pioneer High School (PHS), a continuation school.

Transportation

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Gustine is located at the intersection of State Route 33 and State Route 140, near the intersection of Interstate 5 and State Route 140.

Gustine is served by public Dial-A-Ride from Merced County's The Bus. The service connects Gustine with Los Banos and Dos Palos, and other communities on the west side of Merced County.[19]

The city is also served by Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority route 45W providing connections Monday through Saturday to Newman, Crows Landing, and Patterson.[20] This service to Gustine is proposed to be discontinued in early 2023[21]

References

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  1. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Gustine, California
  4. ^ a b "P1. Race – Gustine city, California: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 779. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  6. ^ "Gustine, California Köppen Climate Classification". Weatherbase.
  7. ^ "History of 911". 911dispatch.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d "Gustine city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  10. ^ "Gustine city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  11. ^ "Gustine city, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  12. ^ "Gustine city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  13. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Gustine city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  14. ^ "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  15. ^ "California's 16th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  16. ^ "IIIc. Public health and safety: Element maps of soils". October 29, 2004. Archived from the original on October 29, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  17. ^ "S-9". Archived from the original on March 11, 2007.
  18. ^ "Gustine USD". www.gustineusd.org.
  19. ^ "The Micro Bus | Merced Transit Authority, CA - Official Website".
  20. ^ "Route 45W - Gustine, Newman, Crows Landing, Patterson | StanRTA, CA". www.stanrta.org. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  21. ^ "Alternatives for Community Consideration". July 2022.
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