SALINAS VALLEY

The 'Salinas Valley' in the Central Coast region of California lies along the Salinas River between the Gabilan Range and the Santa Lucia Range. It encompasses parts of Monterey County. Cities and populated places in the Salinas Valley include Aromas, Bradley, Castroville, Chualar, Gonzales, Greenfield, Hollister, Jolon, King City, Lockwood, Paicines, Prunedale, Salinas, San Ardo, San Lucas, Soledad and Spreckels.
Agriculture dominates the economy of the valley. In particular, a large majority of the salad greens consumed in the U.S. are grown within this region.^[1] Strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes, and artichokes are the dominant crops in the valley. Other crops include broccoli, cauliflower, wine grapes, celery, and spinach. Due to the intensity of local agriculture the area has earned itself the nickname, "America's Salad Bowl."
The climate is precise to grow these crops, and Salinas Valley has an extended period of time in which crops can be grown compared to more northern regions where the winter causes quite an obstacle to farmers.

Contents

Description

Geography

Climate

Population

Housing

Tax Rates

Health Care

Transportation

Education

In the news

2007 United States Salmonella outbreak

References

Description

The Salinas Valley was the home of the Native American people today known as the Ohlone (Rumsen and Chalon), Salinan, and Esselen. The City of Salinas was founded after Mexico seceded from Spain in 1822 and began granting rancho lands. Named for a nearby salt marsh, Salinas became the seat of Monterey County in 1872 and incorporated in 1874. The Salinas Valley is the setting for several John Steinbeck stories, including ''East of Eden'', ''The Chrysanthemums'', and ''Of Mice and Men''.
Today the Salinas Valley is known as "The Salad Bowl of the World" for the production of lettuce, broccoli, mushrooms and strawberries, along with numerous other crops. The climate is also ideal for the floral industry and grape vineyards planted by world-famous vintners.
Although agriculture forms an economic base, more than 100 manufacturing firms call Salinas home. Some of the largest employers in the area include: Dole Fresh Vegetable, the County of Monterey, Household Credit Services and Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital.
The California Rodeo, California International Airshow, and the Steinbeck Festival are major attractions. Visitors can also explore the nearby Monterey Peninsula: the historic missions of San Jan Bautista, Soledad, Carmel and San Antonio de Padus, the world class wineries of South Monterey County and the beauty of nearby beaches and Pinnacles National Monument.

Geography

The Gabilan and Santa Lucia mountain ranges border the Salinas Valley to the east and west, respectively. Both mountain ranges and the Salinas Valley run approximately south-east from Salinas towards King City.

Climate

Salinas’ weather is influenced by near proximity to Monterey Bay. The morning fog is generally cleared by afternoon breezes. The average temperature is 68.2 degrees, with summer temperatures in the 70’s, dipping at night into the 50’s. Winter temperatures are generally in the low 60’s, dropping at night into the middle 30’s. Average rainfall is 14.4 inches, usually occurring in winter and early spring.

Population

'Salinas Valley Population'
Year	1990	2000
Salinas	108,777	143,920
County of Monterey	355,660	401,762

Housing

Salinas is a community of neighborhoods with a wide variety of housing options: Victorians and the historic Spanish influence, modest cottages and modern townhouses, and "rancheros" nestled in the oak-dotted countryside, or newer developments of tract homes and condominiums. Salinas offers approximately 39,175 housing units of which 20,881 are detached single family residences, 2,863 are attached single family residences, 3,341 two to four unit multifamily complexes, 10,833 apartment units and 1,257 mobile homes. The residential vacancy rate is approximately 3½% at any time during the year.

★ Rental – The median rent for two bedroom, one bath apartment was $756 per month as of July 2000.

★ Purchase – The median home price was $268,000 as of October 2000.

★ Percentage of home ownership – 43%

★ Median Income - $55,600 for a family of four^[2]

★ Families living below poverty level – 12.8%^[3]

★ Racial/Ethnic Population Breakdown and Population by Age:^[4]

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★ Ethnic Population - Any Race

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★ Hispanic 64.1%

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★ Non-Hispanic 35.9%

★ Racial Population^[3]

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★ White 45.2%

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★ Other 38.7%

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★ Multi-race 5.0%

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★ Asian 6.2%

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★ Black or African American 3.3%

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★ American Indian and Alaska Native 1.3%

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★ Pacific Islander 0.3%

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★ Two or more races 5.1%

★ Population by Age Group^[3]

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★ Below 15 years 27%

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★ 15-19 8%

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★ 20-44 42%

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★ 45-64 15%

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★ Over 65 7%

★ Work Force Distribution by Industry^[7]

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★ Manufacturing 9.5%

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★ Trade (retail and wholesale) 21.5%

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★ Agriculture 18.0%

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★ Service and Government 51.0%

Tax Rates

Sales Tax - The State of California retail sales tax levy in Monterey County is levied at the rate of 7.25% of which 1% is returned to the City of Salinas for general governmental purposes and ½% is returned to the County of Monterey for public safety activities.
Property Tax - The minimum property tax rate is one percent of assessed valuation. The bonded indebtedness of schools and other taxing agencies may be added to the base tax rate depending on the location of specific parcels of property.

Health Care

Salinas has extensive health and medical services with two of the County’s four hospitals located within the City – Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital and Natividad Medical Center; as well as nursing and convalescent homes and residential retirement facilities for seniors, and over two-hundred practicing physicians.

Transportation

Salinas is located fifteen miles inland from Monterey Bay, 325 miles north of Los Angeles and 106 miles south of San Francisco.
Highways – The major north-south freeway, US 101 bisects Salinas. State highways 68 and 183 connect with scenic Highway 1 accessing the Monterey Peninsula and surrounding cities.
Bus – Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) operates local bus service, Monterey-Salinas AirBus offers connections to San Jose and San Francisco airports and Greyhound offers service to all major cities.
Air – Salinas Municipal Airport has a lighted 6,000-foot runway. Commercial airlines serve nearby Monterey Peninsula Airport.
Rail – Southern Pacific’s main line with daily Amtrak service runs through Salinas with a stop at the new Intermodal Transportation Center.

Education

Salinas is served by three elementary school districts; a unified high school district and several private schools at both the primary and secondary level. Hartnell College, a State Community College, offers two-year degrees and occupational certificate programs. California State University at Monterey Bay is located less than 15 miles away on the former Ft. Ord. Graduate studies through Chapman College, Golden Gate University and the Monterey Institute of International Studies are available nearby. Also in the area are Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, Monterey College of Law and Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station.

In the news

2007 United States Salmonella outbreak

On August 30, 2007, 8,000 cartons of spinach (from Metz Fresh, a King City-based grower and shipper, Salinas Valley, California) were recalled after salmonella was discovered upon routine test. Consumer advocates and some lawmakers complained it exposed big gaps in food safety, even if 90% of suspect vegetable didn’t reach the shelves.^[8]

References

1. Salinas Chamber.com, The Salinas Partnership Los Angeles Times
2. US Dept of HUD 2003 statistics
3. US Census Bureau 2000 Statistics
4. :US Census Bureau 2000 Statistics
5. US Census Bureau 2000 Statistics
6. US Census Bureau 2000 Statistics
7. US Census Bureau 1997 Statistics
8. MSNBC, Spinach recall divides growers, lawmakers