Mountain House, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mountain House, California
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Mountain House High School
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Joaquin |
| Established | May 14, 2001 |
| Incorporated (city) | July 1, 2024 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.192 sq mi (8.268 km2) |
| • Land | 3.192 sq mi (8.268 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 24,499 |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
95391
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| Area code | 209 |
| FIPS code | 06-49582 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1888888, 2628761 |
Mountain House is a city in San Joaquin County, California, United States. It's a special kind of community called a planned community, which means it was carefully designed before it was built.
The idea for Mountain House was approved in 1994, and construction began in 2001. In 2024, Mountain House officially became a city. According to the 2020 census, about 24,499 people lived there.
Contents
History of Mountain House
Early Days and the Original "Mountain House"
In 1849, during the California Gold Rush, a man named Thomas Goodall set up a simple tent. It was a rest stop for gold miners traveling from San Francisco to the Sierra Nevada mountains. Eventually, Goodall built a house from adobe bricks and called it "The Mountain House."
Later, Simon Zimmerman took over the stop, and it became known as Zimmerman's Mountain House. It was a famous place for travelers on their way to Stockton. The last buildings of this old settlement were taken down in 1940.
Planning and Building a New Community
In November 1994, officials in San Joaquin County approved the plan for a new community called Mountain House. The detailed plan for the town was approved in 1996. By August 2000, many important rules for how Mountain House would grow were put in place.
Mountain House was designed to be a complete city built over 30 years. It covers about 4,784 acres (1,936 hectares). The plan included 12 different neighborhoods. Each neighborhood was designed to have a park, a school for kids in kindergarten through 8th grade, and a small shopping area.
Construction started in 2001. However, building slowed down a lot around 2008 because of a tough economic time called the Great Recession. But by 2010 and 2011, building started picking up again and has continued to grow quickly.
Growing Villages and Becoming a City
By 2013, Mountain House had several established neighborhoods, or "villages," including Wicklund, Bethany, Altamont, Questa, Hansen, Cordes, and College Park. When Mountain House is fully finished, it's expected to have about 15,000 homes and 45,000 to 50,000 people.
To have more control over their local area, the people of Mountain House decided to become an official city in 2024. In a vote in March 2024, more than 90% of residents voted for Mountain House to become a city. It officially became a city on July 1, 2024, and celebrated on July 4.
Important Dates for Mountain House
- November 10, 1994 – The Mountain House project was approved.
- May 14, 2001 – Construction officially began.
- January 18, 2003 – The first home foundation was poured.
- August 24, 2004 – Wicklund Elementary School opened.
- November 6, 2007 – Residents voted to create their own local board for community services.
- August 17, 2009 – The San Joaquin Delta College campus opened in Mountain House.
- June 8, 2010 – Voters approved combining local school districts into one.
- July 2012 – Construction began on Mountain House High School.
- August 2014 – Mountain House High School opened.
- September 2018 – Construction began on the town hall complex.
- March 2020 – The Town Hall and Library opened.
- January 12, 2022 – A large new shopping center opened in Cordes Village.
- March 5, 2024 – Voters approved becoming the 8th city in San Joaquin County.
- July 1, 2024 – Mountain House officially became an incorporated city.
Economic Challenges and Recovery
In November 2008, a newspaper reported that Mountain House was one of the hardest-hit places by the economic downturn. Many homes were worth less than the money people owed on their mortgages. This meant that many local businesses struggled because people had less money to spend.
However, the community worked together to keep their neighborhoods looking good, even mowing lawns of empty homes. This strong community spirit helped convince a large investment group to keep their investments in Mountain House. They believed the housing market would get better.
By 2011 and 2012, the economy in Mountain House started to improve. More homes were being sold, and new building projects were starting. This showed that the community was recovering well.
Geography and Climate
Where is Mountain House Located?
Mountain House is located near the Diablo Range hills and close to the Altamont Pass, which is over 1,000 feet (300 meters) high. It is on the border of Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
The community covers about 3.2 square miles (8.3 square kilometers) of land. Mountain House Creek flows through the community. This creek starts south of the Altamont Pass and flows northeast, eventually emptying into the Old River, which is part of the San Joaquin River.
What is the Weather Like?
| Climate data for Tracy Pumping Plant (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1955–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 74 (23) |
77 (25) |
88 (31) |
97 (36) |
107 (42) |
112 (44) |
112 (44) |
111 (44) |
112 (44) |
102 (39) |
85 (29) |
74 (23) |
112 (44) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 56.3 (13.5) |
61.9 (16.6) |
67.4 (19.7) |
73.2 (22.9) |
80.2 (26.8) |
88.1 (31.2) |
93.3 (34.1) |
92.5 (33.6) |
88.8 (31.6) |
79.1 (26.2) |
65.6 (18.7) |
56.6 (13.7) |
75.2 (24.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 48.4 (9.1) |
52.8 (11.6) |
57.2 (14.0) |
61.7 (16.5) |
67.7 (19.8) |
73.7 (23.2) |
77.6 (25.3) |
77.2 (25.1) |
74.5 (23.6) |
66.8 (19.3) |
55.9 (13.3) |
48.5 (9.2) |
63.5 (17.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 40.5 (4.7) |
43.7 (6.5) |
47.0 (8.3) |
50.2 (10.1) |
55.2 (12.9) |
59.4 (15.2) |
61.9 (16.6) |
61.9 (16.6) |
60.2 (15.7) |
54.5 (12.5) |
46.1 (7.8) |
40.3 (4.6) |
51.7 (10.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
23 (−5) |
25 (−4) |
29 (−2) |
34 (1) |
37 (3) |
44 (7) |
42 (6) |
40 (4) |
30 (−1) |
24 (−4) |
17 (−8) |
17 (−8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.51 (64) |
2.32 (59) |
1.60 (41) |
0.84 (21) |
0.52 (13) |
0.13 (3.3) |
0.00 (0.00) |
0.01 (0.25) |
0.08 (2.0) |
0.67 (17) |
1.32 (34) |
2.37 (60) |
12.37 (314) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 12.9 | 9.6 | 8.4 | 4.8 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 6.7 | 11.8 | 61.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Population and People
How Many People Live in Mountain House?
In 2010, the population of Mountain House was 9,675 people. By 2020, the population had grown a lot, reaching 24,499 people! This was a huge increase of 153% in just ten years.
Who Lives in Mountain House?
In 2020, about 42% of the people living in Mountain House were 18 years old or younger. About 6% were over 65 years old.
Mountain House is a very diverse community. In 2020, the population was made up of:
- 54.6% Asian
- 18.7% Non-Hispanic White
- 13% Hispanic
- 7.3% Black
- 9.5% people of two or more races
Many adults in Mountain House are highly educated, with 45% having a bachelor's degree or higher. In 2020, there were 5,948 households, and the average household income was $154,347.
Education in Mountain House
Students in Mountain House attend schools in the Lammersville Joint Unified School District.
- Mountain House Elementary School is a school for students from kindergarten to 8th grade.
- Mountain House High School opened its doors in 2014 for older students.
- The south campus of San Joaquin Delta College opened in 2020. This college campus is located in the College Park Village area of Mountain House.
Local News and Media
- Mountain House Matters is a monthly publication that shares news and activities about Mountain House and its residents.
- The Tracy Press is a weekly newspaper that covers news for both Tracy and Mountain House.
Getting Around Mountain House
Public Transportation Options
The closest train station is in Tracy, which is served by the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) train. You can also find bus services that connect Mountain House to places like the Hacienda Business Park and the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. There is also a van service that goes to the Tracy Transit Center.
Major Roads and Highways
The main highway closest to Mountain House is Interstate 205. This highway runs just south of the community and can be reached using the Mountain House Parkway exit (exit 2).
See also
In Spanish: Mountain House para niños
