Soledad, California

Soledad (Spanish for "Solitude") is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. It is in the Salinas Valley, southeast of Salinas, the county seat. Soledad's population was 24,925 at the 2020 census,

Soledad is used as a backdrop in John Steinbeck's 1937 novel Of Mice and Men, a novella about the friendship of two men who find work on a farm in the Salinas Valley.

Geography

thumb|left|[[Pinnacles National Park]]

Soledad is located in central Monterey County at .

Recreation

Pinnacles National Park
Arroyo Seco AVA

Demographics

2020 census

thumb|left|Interior of the Catholic church at [[Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.]]

As of the 2020 census, Soledad had a population of 24,925 and a population density of . The median age was 33.1 years. The age distribution was 24.5% under the age of 18, 10.1% aged 18 to 24, 37.4% aged 25 to 44, 22.2% aged 45 to 64, and 5.8% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 161.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 188.1 males.

The census reported that 76.1% of the population lived in households and 23.9% were institutionalized. There were 4,447 households, of which 61.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 57.9% were married-couple households, 8.2% were cohabiting couple households, 11.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 7.7% of households were made up of individuals, and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.27. There were 3,924 families (88.2% of all households).

There were 4,524 housing units, of which 4,447 (98.3%) were occupied. Of occupied units, 57.7% were owner-occupied and 42.3% were occupied by renters. Overall, 1.7% of housing units were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 1.3%.

2010 census

thumb|left|Soledad is known as the "Gateway to the Pinnacles" for its proximity to [[Pinnacles National Park.]]

The 2010 United States census reported that Soledad had a population of 25,738. The population density was . The racial makeup of Soledad was 12,625 (49.1%) White, 2,945 (11.4%) African American, 367 (1.4%) Native American, 757 (2.9%) Asian, 103 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 8,189 (31.8%) from other races, and 752 (2.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18,308 persons (71.1%).

The Census reported that 15,635 people (60.7% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 10,103 (39.3%) were institutionalized.

thumb|right|The historic Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is a [[California Historical Landmark.]]

There were 3,664 households, out of which 2,471 (67.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,387 (65.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 586 (16.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 291 (7.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 224 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 30 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 301 households (8.2%) were made up of individuals, and 123 (3.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.27. There were 3,264 families (89.1% of all households); the average family size was 4.41.

The population was spread out, with 5,674 people (22.0%) under the age of 18, 2,455 people (9.5%) aged 18 to 24, 10,126 people (39.3%) aged 25 to 44, 6,296 people (24.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,187 people (4.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 235.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 301.8 males.

There were 3,876 housing units at an average density of , of which 2,092 (57.1%) were owner-occupied, and 1,572 (42.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%. 8,642 people (33.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 6,993 people (27.2%) lived in rental housing units.

The mean household income within the Soledad city limits was $58,841, and the median household income was $44,343. Roughly 7.8% of households were below the poverty line.

Socioeconomically, 31.8% of Soledad's households were considered upper middle income to upper income while 45.8% were considered lower middle income to upper middle income. Roughly 22.4% of households were considered lower income.

Economy

Soledad is seated at the heart of one of the most economically productive and technologically advanced agricultural regions in the world; hence, the Salinas Valley name, "Salad Bowl of the World." Agricultural companies working out of this region include Dole Fresh Vegetables, Tanimura & Antle Fresh Foods, Taylor Farms, D'Arrigo Brothers Inc., Mann Packing Inc., Merrill Farms and Braga Farms.

Agriculture

thumb|Farms in Soledad

Soledad's farmland is considered "Prime Farmland", meaning that 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 are 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. The climate also allows for year-round crops.

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.

Wine

thumb|left|Soledad is a major wine producer, as part of the [[Monterey AVA|Monterey wine region.]]

Soledad is located in one of the primary 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 Estate, San Saba, J. Lohr, Kendall-Jackson, Ventana, Hess Select, Estancia, The Michaud Vineyard and Graff Family Vineyards.

Other notable wineries include Chalone Vineyard, Paraiso Springs Vineyards, Hahn Estate Winery, Zabala Vineyards, Richard Boyer Wines, and Ventana Vineyards. It was once the home of the Paul Masson Winery which is now closed.

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. 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.

Media

Television service for the community comes from the Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz designated market area (DMA). Radio stations Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz area of dominant influence (ADI) or continuous measurement market (CMM). Local newspapers include the Monterey County Herald, Salinas Californian and Soledad Bee.

In a 2013 Safe Cities report, Soledad was rated California's eleventh-safest city. Soledad was highly regarded for its sense of community and high amount of volunteerism. The 50 Safest Cities in California

Soledad was also rated the ninety-fourth-safest city out of one hundred cities nationwide in a 2014 Neighborhood Scout Report.

Education

thumb|right|[[Soledad High School.]]

Soledad Unified School District serves all of the Soledad city limits. A large portion of unincorporated Soledad is also served by Mission Union School District. Mission Union School District has a school with a Soledad address but outside of the city limits.

Soledad High School is the primary high school in the area, there is also a continuation school known as Pinnacles High School. Soledad Main Street Middle School is the only middle school in the city and there are five different elementary schools in the area: Rose Ferrero Elementary School, Jack Franscioni Elementary School, Gabilan Elementary School, Frank Ledesma Elementary School, San Vicente Elementary School.

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. It is the western terminus of California State Route 146, which connects the city to nearby Pinnacles National Park.

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.

In popular culture

Of Mice and Men by Nobel Prize-winning Californian author John Steinbeck, is set near Soledad.
In July 2015, Ghost Adventures filmed an episode for three days at the infamously haunted Los Coches adobe. The city is hoping it will create national attention and could be made into a tourist destination. The episode aired September 26, 2015.