Soledad, California
Soledad is a city of 26,365 people in Monterey County, California, founded in March 9, 1921.
Why visit Soledad
Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 15 parks and trails, 29 places to eat and 2 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, Bill Ramos Park and Little League Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 96°F; December lows average 33°F.
Weather in Soledad
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Soledad
Soledad (Spanish for "Solitude") is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. It is in the Salinas Valley, 21 miles (34 km) southeast of Salinas, the county seat. Soledad's population was 24,925 at the 2020 census, down from 25,738 in 2010. Soledad's origins started with Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, founded by the Spanish in 1791, under the leadership of Fermín de Lasuén.
From the Wikipedia article Soledad, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks1
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
Museum · 3.0 mi
18th century Spanish mission in Soledad, California
Parks, trails and playgrounds15
3 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes29
Gabilan Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.6 mi
383 Gabilan Drive, Soledad
Mo-Su 10:00-22:00
Las Michoacanas
Ice cream · 0.6 mi
387 Gabilan Drive, Soledad
Mo-Su 10:00-19:30
17 more on the map.
Where to stay2
History
The Chalon tribe of the Ohlone nation of indigenous Californians have inhabited the area around Soledad for thousands of years. The Paraíso Hot Springs, west of Soledad, had long been used by the Chalon.
Soledad's history as a settlement began in 1791, when the Spanish founded Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, under the leadership of Padre Fermín de Lasuén. Alongside the Spanish and the Chalon, the Esselen and Yokuts people eventually came to reside in Soledad as well. However, unlike many other missions in California, Soledad did not initially develop into a town outside of the mission.
Noted artist Esteban Munrás came to the area in the 1820s, along with his wife Catalina Munrás. He was granted Rancho San Vicente in 1835 by Governor José Castro, although he and his family resided in Monterey until his death in 1850. On his deathbed, Munrás told his dying wishes to his wife Catalina: that she should not sell Rancho San Vicente, but instead hold on to it and develop a town there when the right time came.
Catalina Munrás began to subdivide the rancho and develop a town in the 1860s, and donated land for the construction of a school, a church, and a cemetery. She later granted the right-of-way to the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1872, which established a station in Soledad, allowing the town to emerge as an agricultural center.
From the History section of Soledad, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship6
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging9
Schools, colleges and libraries20
Healthcare1
Map of Soledad
87 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 34°F | 3.5 in | 0.1 in |
| Feb | 64°F | 36°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 68°F | 38°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 39°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 80°F | 43°F | 0.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 89°F | 47°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 96°F | 50°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 96°F | 50°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 92°F | 48°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 82°F | 43°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 70°F | 37°F | 1.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 62°F | 33°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Pinnacles Nm (8 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
Monterey County has had 19 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2024-04-13: Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 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)
- 2020-08-22: Wildfires (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Mesa Del Rey Airport (KIC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 18 miles away.
- Greenfield 9 mi southeast, about 14 min by car
- King City 18 mi southeast, about 29 min by car
- Salinas 25 mi northwest, about 40 min by car
- Hollister 29 mi north, about 47 min by car
- Seaside 31 mi northwest, about 49 min by car
- Marina 31 mi northwest, about 50 min by car
- Prunedale 32 mi northwest, about 52 min by car
- Monterey 33 mi west, about 54 min by car
- Pacific Grove 36 mi west, about 58 min by car
- Gilroy 42 mi north, about 1 h 15 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
- Soledad citylimits, Tolerancezero at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Nuestra Senora del la Soledad chapel, The original uploader was Lordkinbote at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 2.0
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