LOS BANOS, CALIFORNIA

'Los Banos' is a city in Merced County, California, near the junction of California State Route 152 and Interstate 5. The population was 25,869 at the 2000 census. As of 2006 the World Gazetteer calculates the population as 35,054. The name ''los banos'' has its origins with Spanish and was named after the nearby creek and the seasonal spring baths that feed natural wetlands in the western San Joaquín Valley. The original Spanish spelling was 'Los Baños', meaning "the baths". Its official spelling is without the eñe. However most official signs even on the Interstate 5 do insert the tilde above the n. It can be pronounced as if the eñe were present as in "los banyos" or as it is spelled, as an anglicized "loss bannis". The city is served by Los Banos Municipal Airport for air transport access.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

History and Culture

External links

Geography

Los Banos is located at (37.062356, -120.844174).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.1 km² (8.2 mi²). 20.8 km² (8.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.47%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,869 people, 7,721 households, and 6,223 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,242.3/km² (3,218.7/mi²). There were 8,049 housing units at an average density of 386.5/km² (1,001.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.61% White, 4.25% African American, 1.35% Native American, 2.34% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 26.90% from other races, and 6.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 50.44% of the population.
There were 7,721 households out of which 48.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.33 and the average family size was 3.69.
In the city the population was spread out with 35.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,690, and the median income for a family was $45,304. Males had a median income of $38,294 versus $27,994 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,582. About 9.8% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
Since the 1980s, the city's population has changed with a continuing influx of people who work in the San Jose/Silicon Valley area but seek more affordable housing and safer neighborhoods, a pattern seen in many other small towns within commuting distance of Silicon Valley.

History and Culture

The centerpiece of downtown Los Banos is the newly created Miller Plaza which honors early California rancher Henry Miller. The 10-acre half-oval public plaza features a monumental scale bronze arrangement of Miller with cattle. At one time in the late nineteenth century, Miller was the largest land owner in the United States. His company, the Miller-Lux Corporation, was headquartered in Los Banos on a site currently housing the Mexican restaurant España's and the Canal Farm Inn.
Los Banos has a long history of Portuguese and Basque immigrants, as do many of the nearby towns on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. This is reflected both in local restaurants and in several festivals and parades that take place during the year. Los Banos is locally known for its annual May Day Fair during the first week of May.

External links

★ Official 'City of Los Banos' Web Site

★ 'Local Online Newspaper'

★ 'Local Forum And Los Banos Information Site' - OurLosBanos.com