City
Merced
Merced is a city record. City or town offices may handle local rules inside their limits, while county offices still handle records, taxes, courts, and many services.
Starting point
Confirm the address is inside local limits first.
If the address is inside Merced, city or town offices may handle local permits, code, and services. If it is outside limits, county routing may be the better first stop.
A mailing city is not always the same as city government jurisdiction.
2025 population
99,724
Land area
26.046 sq mi
Water area
0.014 sq mi
Directory notes
Local layers to keep on the same page.
Confirm city or town limits.
A mailing address can use a nearby place name. If the address is outside limits, county offices may handle permits, code, and land-use routes.
County still matters.
Merced County can still matter for assessor, tax collector, recorder, court, public health, social service, and election records.
Some layers are separate.
Water, sewer, fire, school, utilities, coast, earthquake maps, wildfire zones, parks, and trails may point outside city hall.
County layer
County shown for Merced
Practical notes
Office, map, permit, and paperwork notes for Merced
Place note · Cars and driving · Reviewed July 6, 2026
Merced riders should know The Bus route map
The Bus gives Merced County a fixed-route and paratransit system, with Merced, Atwater, Los Banos, and intercity route groups listed together.
Place note · Home and property · Reviewed July 4, 2026
Merced refuse questions start with city limits
Merced Refuse handles solid waste collection inside city limits, including residential and commercial service, street sweeping, leaf collection, alley cleanup, tire amnesty, and bulky drop-off.
Place note · Home and property · Reviewed July 4, 2026
Merced utility and street questions still use phone lanes
Merced's important-number page separates billing, water, sewer, storm drains, street maintenance, refuse, trees, signals, and other Public Works questions by phone line.
Place note · Rules and licenses · Reviewed July 3, 2026
Merced Civic Access handles permits and licenses
Merced Civic Access handles permit, planning, and business license applications, with tools for fees, contractors, permits, inspections, and project status.
Place note · History and culture · Reviewed July 2, 2026
Merced's old courthouse is now a county memory keeper
The Merced County Courthouse Museum sits in an 1875 courthouse that served the county for a century before becoming one of Merced's key history stops.
County layer · Home and property · Reviewed July 4, 2026
Los Banos street reports ask for the nearest cross street
Los Banos has a street issue form for problems like illegal dumping, potholes, and streetlights, and the form works best with a cross street or pole detail.
Almanac notes
Stories and local context near Merced
Place note · Outdoors
Applegate Park Zoo gives Merced a small rescue-animal stop
Merced Applegate Zoo sits inside Applegate Community Park and focuses on animals that need care, including California native species from wildlife rescue situations.
Place note · Outdoors
Merced National Wildlife Refuge makes wetlands easy to see by car
Merced National Wildlife Refuge has wetlands, grasslands, vernal pools, riparian areas, a five-mile auto tour route, nature trails, cranes, and geese on the Pacific Flyway.
County layer · History and culture
Dos Palos has a name story locals still care about
Dos Palos traces its name to two trees, then to a farm colony, a nearby Colony Center, and a local pronunciation that lasted for generations.
County layer · History and culture
Livingston turns sweet potato harvest into a family weekend
Livingston's Sweet Potato Festival gives the Merced County farm town a harvest-centered tradition with food, family events, and local pride.
County layer · History and culture
Castle Air Museum keeps Atwater's air-base story visible
Castle Air Museum gives Atwater a big aviation-history stop, with historic aircraft on original Castle Air Force Base ground.
County layer · Outdoors
San Luis Reservoir is both a park day and a water-project clue
Near Los Banos, San Luis Reservoir is a state recreation area and a major offstream reservoir tied to California's water system.
County layer · Outdoors
San Luis Refuge lets Merced County slow down for wildlife
San Luis National Wildlife Refuge has auto tour routes for wetland views, winter birds, tule elk, and quiet wildlife watching.