Soledad meaning solitude and lonely in Spanish is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. Soledad is located 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Salinas, at an elevation of 190 feet (58 m). The population was 28,075 at the 2006 census.
The town is located near the original Spanish mission, Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, founded October 9 , 1791 by Fermín Francisco de Lasuén, the 13th of 21 missions in the California mission chain.
Soledad is located in one of the premiere wine grape growing regions of California with over twenty vineyards and wineries within a thirty mile radius, several of which have tasting rooms and offer a wide selection of wines for sale. Some of the Vineyards and Wineries located nearby are Chalone, Scheid, Paraiso Vineyards, Pisoni Vineyards, Hahn Estates Smith & Hook, San Saba, J.Lohr, Kendall-Jackson, Ventana, Hess Select, Estancia, The Michaud Vineyard, and Graff Family Vineyards.
Also located near Soledad is the Salinas Valley State Prison, a maximum security penal institution which includes a 64 bed inpatient psychiatric program primarily servicing high security inmates who have a major mental disorder that has diminished their ability to function within the prison environment. Adjacent to it is the medium security Correctional Training Facility.
History
The original community of Soledad was founded as a Spanish mission October 9 , 1791 by Fermín Lasuén, and founded under the rule of the Viceroyalty of New Spain ( Virreinato de Nueva España ) 1535 to 1821.
The Soledad post office opened in 1869. The current community of Soledad in 1874 had a few buildings and shops. The two main streets were named Front and Main. In 1886, land was subdivided into lots and sold by its owners, the Munras family. In the late 1880s the Southern Pacific Railroad laid rails and began serving the area.
In 1898 Fort Romie was founded a few miles north of the mission and west of the city. San Vicente School was built in 1913 forming the Soledad School District. The City, a general law city, incorporated in March 1921 with a City Council/City Manager form of government. The city's name comes from the mission Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.
Soledad is used as a backdrop in John Steinbeck's novella Of Mice and Men 1937, an emotional novel about two close financially failing friends of opposite personalities who must farm others land to make what meager living they can, always dreaming for their own personal property. One of the most important themes of the novel is loneliness, which is likely one of the reason why Soledad was chosen as the setting, as Soledad is Spanish for solitude.
Soledad has been rocked by the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989.
The Soledad Prison was three miles north of the city until annexed in 1992. It was built in 1946 and currently has an operating budget of $245 million.
The infamous "Nortenos" gang was founded in 1968 along with Nuestra Familia crime syndicate in the Soledad Prison.
In May 1996 the Salinas Valley State prison was opened at a cost of $236 million, with an annual operating budget of $60 million. Currently as of 2007 the annual operating budget has risen to $177 million yearly.
On April 28, 2009, a tour bus transporting 34 French tourists flipped over at an overpass on Soledad's north entrance. At least five passengers were killed, one of which, fell over the bridge onto the railroad tracks beneath it.
Geography
Soledad is located at 36°25′29″N 121°19′35″W / 36.42472°N 121.32639°W / 36.42472; -121.32639 .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.9 km² (4.2 mi²), all land.
Soledad is about six miles southeast of Pinnacles National Monument, nestled among the nearby Gabilan Mountains.
Demographics
As of the census of 2006, there were 28,075 people, 2,472 households, and 2,242 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,035.4/km² (2,680.0/mi²). There were 2,534 housing units at an average density of 232.9/km² (603.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 31.90% White, 1.15% African American, 1.73% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 58.56% from other races, and 4.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 86.82% of the population.
There were 2,472 households out of which 60.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.3% were non-families. 7.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.54 and the average family size was 4.58.
In the city the population was spread out with 36.7% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 13.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 108.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,602, and the median income for a family was $41,188. Males had a median income of $31,566 versus $23,964 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,442. About 16.3% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Although Soledad is known for its Agriculture it was once the home of timber production. Soledad was home to the Sequoia Forest Industries sawmill. It was closed in 1991 and approximately 91 jobs were lost due to the closure of the mill. The warehouse is still in the city as a reminder of past industrial opportunities the small town had to offer.
Agriculture
Land for agriculture is Soledad's most abundant natural resource. Soledad's farmland is considered "Prime Farmland", meaning the soils around and near the city have some of the best physical and chemical characteristics for farming. Due to this fact great efforts in conserving farmland is a very high priority for the city. Prime farmland is the backbone of the Soledad economy. Future planning will consider the effect of urban sprawl amongst the farmlands. Class I, II, and III soils are the most valuable to farming. The climate also allows for year round crops.
Although Soledad has great soil for salad green crops, it also has a large presence of vineyards and wineries in the valley and foothills. Some famous wineries include Chalone Vineyards, Paraiso Springs Vineyards, Zabala Vineyards, Hahn Estates, Richard Boyer Wines, Smith and Hook Winery, and Ventana Vineyards. It was once the home of the Paul Masson Winery which is now closed.
Dole Food Company maintains a plant in Soledad. Opened in 1994, it is touted as being the "world's largest pre-cut salad plant."
As of 2007, Soledad features a weekly certified Farmers' Market on Soledad St.
Energy
Soledad is home to the Soledad Energy Partnership, operators of a wood-waste burning electric power plant. This 13.5 megawatt facility was restarted in July 2001 after a six year shut-down due to termination of a PG&E purchase agreement. The plant was recommissioned during the California electricity crisis.
As of mid-2006, the plant was again closed.
Controversy surrounding the plant. Several violations at the plant have been issued by the California Integrated Water Quality System Project. The plant was issued violations from 2002 to 2006 for various reporting and pollution allegations.
Transportation
Soledad is located on U.S. Route 101 and is accessible via northbound and southbound exit ramps on Front Street, at the north and south ends of town.
Soledad is serviced by the Monterey-Salinas Transit line 23 (Salinas - King City). As of September 5, 2009, the bus stops in Soledad are located at the correctional facility, Front & San Vicente and Monterey & East. http://www.mst.org/
Clubs, groups, and organizations
- Soledad Rotary Club
- Boy Scouts of America
- Future Farmers of America FFA
- Soledad Lions Club
- 4-H
- The Freemasons
- Girl Scouts of the USA
Education
Soledad Unified School District serves approximately 3,900 students in grades K-12. There are 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 comprehensive high school and 1 community education center which houses a variety of alternative programs. These programs include adult education, regional occupational program (ROP), independent study, and a continuation high school.
- San Vicente Elementary Founded 1913
- Frank Ledesma Elementary
- Jack Franscioni Elementary,
- Gabilan Elementary Founded 1980 <
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