Snelling, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Snelling, California
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 Snelling, California
Location in California
Snelling, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Merced |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.545 sq mi (1.41 km2) |
| • Land | 0.540 sq mi (1.40 km2) |
| • Water | 0.005 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 256 ft (78 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 238 |
| • Density | 440.7/sq mi (170.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code |
95369
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| Area code(s) | 209 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 234756; 2583146 |
Snelling is a small community in Merced County, California, United States. It's known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a special area defined by the government for counting people. Snelling is located on the north side of the Merced River, about 17 miles north of the city of Merced. It sits at an elevation of 256 feet above sea level. In 2020, about 238 people lived there. It used to be called Snelling's Ranch.
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History of Snelling
Snelling has a long history! The first post office, called "Snelling Ranch," opened way back in 1853. A post office is where people send and receive mail. It closed for a short time in 1861 but reopened. In 1870, its name was officially changed to "Snelling." The community got its name from the Snelling family. They started a "way station" here in 1851. A way station was a place where travelers could stop, rest, and get supplies during their journeys.
Snelling was once a very important place for Merced County. From 1857 to 1872, it was the county seat. This means it was the main town where the county government was located. The courthouse, which is a building where legal cases are heard, was built in 1857. This old building was used as a justice court until the 1990s. It's still standing today and is a rare example of an early California courthouse.
Where is Snelling?
Snelling is located in the northeastern part of Merced County. It's on the eastern edge of California's large Central Valley. This is where the Merced River flows out of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Snelling is also at the northern end of California State Route 59, a road that goes south to Merced, the main city of the county.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Snelling area covers about 0.5 square miles. A very small part of this area, about 0.005 square miles, is water.
People in Snelling
In 2010, the population of Snelling was 231 people. This means there were about 427 people living in every square mile.
The people living in Snelling are of different ages. About 26% of the population was under 18 years old. Around 30% were between 45 and 64 years old, and about 15% were 65 years or older. The average age in Snelling was about 40 years old.
Snelling Courthouse: A Historical Landmark
The Snelling Courthouse is a very special building. It is recognized as a California Historical Landmarks, number 409. This means it's an important place that tells a story about California's past.
A special plaque at the site says: NO. 409 SNELLING COURTHOUSE - This, the first courthouse in Merced County, was built in 1857. This marker celebrates the 75th birthday of Merced County and honors the memory of our pioneers. It was placed by Yosemite Parlor No. 24, N.S.G.W., Merced, on May 20, 1930.
