Atwater, California
Atwater is a city of 32,162 people in Merced County, California, founded in August 16, 1922.
Why visit Atwater
Townapedia lists 78 museums and landmarks, 16 parks and trails, 47 places to eat and 3 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Bloss Mansion, Buhach Grammar School and Heller Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 95°F; December lows average 36°F.
Weather in Atwater
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Atwater
Atwater, officially the City of Atwater, is a city on State Route 99 in Merced County, California, United States. Atwater is 8 miles (13 km) west-northwest of Merced, at an elevation of 151 feet (46 m). The population as of the 2020 census was 31,970, up from 28,168 in 2010.
From the Wikipedia article Atwater, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks78
Bloss Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic house in California, United States
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Buhach Grammar School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
School building in Merced, United States of America
66 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds16
4 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes47
Sourdough & Co.
Restaurant · Sandwich, Soup, Salad · 1.3 mi
1809 Bellevue Road, Atwater
Mo-Th 10:00-19:00; Fr 10:00-20:00; Sa 11:00-19:00
Pizza Factory
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.2 mi
1300 Commerce Avenue, Atwater
Tony Boscolos Pizzeria
Restaurant · Italian · 0.6 mi
Restaurant
351 Atwater Boulevard, Atwater
35 more on the map.
Where to stay3
History
The railroad reached Atwater in the 1870s, and a town grew around it. The first post office opened in 1880. Atwater incorporated in 1922. The name honors Marshall D. Atwater, a wheat farmer whose land was used by the railroad for its station.
North of the town is the site of Castle Air Force Base, the former World War II Merced Army Airfield. Castle was selected for closure under the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission and the base closed September 30, 1995. The site is now a public airport.
On May 15, 2020, Atwater declared itself a business "sanctuary city" during the coronavirus pandemic.
From the History section of Atwater, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship29
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran · 1.0 mi
1495 Underwood Avenue, Atwater
Atwater United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 0.8 mi
1090 West Bellevue Road, Atwater
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 1.6 mi
5554 North Winton Way, Winton
Shopping24
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries39
Healthcare5
Map of Atwater
248 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°F | 37°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 61°F | 39°F | 2.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 66°F | 42°F | 1.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 73°F | 46°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 82°F | 52°F | 0.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 89°F | 57°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 95°F | 62°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 94°F | 60°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 89°F | 56°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 79°F | 49°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 64°F | 41°F | 1.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 55°F | 36°F | 2.0 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Merced Hcn (6 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Merced County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Castle Airport (MER) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Winton 3 mi northwest, about 4 min by car
- Merced 7 mi east, about 12 min by car
- Livingston 8 mi west, about 12 min by car
- Delhi 11 mi northwest, about 18 min by car
- Turlock 18 mi northwest, about 29 min by car
- Los Banos 24 mi southwest, about 39 min by car
- Newman 24 mi west, about 38 min by car
- Chowchilla 25 mi southeast, about 41 min by car
- Ceres 27 mi northwest, about 43 min by car
- Modesto 30 mi northwest, about 48 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Atwater tower, Father of Nehrams2020, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Liberty or Death Mural Atwater California, Unknown author, CC0
- Atwater signal-Merced Daily Sun Star, Atwater, California, John Margolies, Public domain
- Atwater, CA 95301, USA - panoramio (8), Eric Friedebach, CC BY 3.0
- Atwater, CA 95301, USA - panoramio (9), Eric Friedebach, CC BY 3.0
- Atwater, CA 95301, USA - panoramio (5), Eric Friedebach, CC BY 3.0
- Atwater, CA 95301, USA - panoramio (18), Eric Friedebach, CC BY 3.0
- Atwater, CA 95301, USA - panoramio (6), Eric Friedebach, CC BY 3.0
- Atwater, CA 95301, USA - panoramio (19), Eric Friedebach, CC BY 3.0
- BlossHouseAtwaterCAJan08, Nehrams2020, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Buhach Grammar School, Saeidb, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Curtiss-Wright 19R (4815329925), Bill Larkins, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 1996 Buick Regal Custom in Light Driftwood Metallic, front left, 08-07-2022, Cutlass, CC0
- 1996 Buick Regal Custom in Light Driftwood Metallic, rear left, 08-07-2022, Cutlass, CC0
- 67-21413 Cessna O-2 Super Skymaster Castle Air Museum 050323, kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0
- Avro Vulcan B.2 ‘XM605’ (29235765244), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Douglas B-23 Dragon ‘112-MD’ (39-047) (N880L) (29749210182), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Douglas B-23 Dragon ‘112-MD’ (39-047) (N880L) (29749196072), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Vulcan 98-17-7- (5043925978), Bill Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 51-11897 Beech C45G Expediter Castle Air Museum 050323, kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0
- 61-0664 Rockwell CT-39A Sabreliner Castle Air Museum 050323, kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0
- Vulcan 98-17-4- (5043300905), Bill Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Vulcan rudder, fin and tail cone. (5043925628), Bill Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0
- XM605 Avro Vulcan B2 Castle Air Museum 050323, kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0
- Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird (61-7960) (29490502771), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 89-00153 Boeing Vertol CH47D Chinook Castle Air Museum 050323, kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0
- VT-27 Bell AH-1W Cobra Castle Air Museum 050323, kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0
- Vulcan Engine Exhausts (5043925076), Bill Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Vulcan Two-engine engine bay... (5043299573), Bill Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Consolidated B-24M Liberator ‘441916 - RE-H - B’ (29780276211), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Boeing KC-97L Stratofreighter ‘0-30354’ (29881730235), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Douglas VC-9C ‘31681’ (29498055451), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird (61-7960) (29280961400), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Kaman HH-43B Huskie ‘24513’ (29297979710), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Curtiss C-46D Commando (44-77575) “Honey Gal” (29589103455), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Kaman HH-43B Huskie ‘24513’ (29507751851), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Beech YT-34 Mentor ‘0735’ (N2073A) (29478309192), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Cessna U-3A Blue Canoe ‘75849’ (29548229366), Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- KC-97 lower door. (4415614860), Bill Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0
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