Demographic Information
      
Los Banos has a small town lifestyle with lots of amenities. Recreation, parks and community activities provide fun for all ages. Being the crossroads of California opens up many possibilities for growth and development for the town. But, Los Banos is also a cultural crossroads. In this small community Italians, French Basque, Hispanic, Asian and Portuguese to name a few have come together to form a rich history and an exciting future. Maintaining a fun family based community is the chief goal of Los Banos.

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Population Information 
The population figures shown below are derived from information presented by the State of California Department of Finance as of January 1st each year. These are estimates based on a number of factors made available to the Department. The Chamber of Commerce does not speculate on recent building activity or local estimates since these can vary too widely to be of value.
LOCATION:  
265 Miles North of Los Angeles 
120 Miles South of Sacramento 
120 Miles Southeast of San Francisco 
70 Miles North of Fresno 
76 Miles Southeast of San Jose 
85 Miles East of Monterey 
90 Miles West of Yosemite 		 POPULATION:  
1990 14,291 
1995 19,915  
1997 20,694-(1/01/97) 
1998 21,385-(1/01/98)
1999 22,205-(1/01/99)
2000 25,869-Census
2001 27,512-(1/01/01)
2002 28,150-(1/01/02)
2003 29,150-(1/01/03)
2004 30,650-(1/01/04)
2005 32,280-(1/01/05)
2006 34,223-(1/01/06)		 ETHNIC MAKEUP  
White - 39.8% 
Hispanic - 50.4% 
African American - 3.9% 
Asian - 2.1%
Pacific Islander - .3% 
Native American - .5%
2 or more races - 2.8%
Other - .3% 
ESTIMATED GROWTH 
YEAR
2006  
2010  
2015
2020
2025		 POPULATION ESTIMATE
34,223 
40,900
51,750 
65,418
82,700		 NOTES
Estimates are based on an average growth rate of 4.80%. 
Economics, politics and other forces may have an impact on these projections.
INDUSTRIAL SITES: 
There are 780 acres within the city limits zoned for light to heavy industry; over 50 percent is vacant and available in parcels ranging in size from 1 to 40 acres. Included in this acreage total is one industrial park. Another approximately 150 acres is undergoing an annexation process and will ultimately be zoned for Highway Commercial (HC) and light industrial uses. Typical sales prices range from $50,000 to $120,000 per acre. The terrain is flat. Drainage is good. Subsoil is clay loam, and piling is not required. Sizes of water mains range from 4 to 12 inches. Sizes of sewer lines range from 6 to 24 inches. 
 
 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND NATURAL RESOURCES  
The major agricultural commodities produced in the Los Banos area are milk products, tomatoes, dried fruit, nuts, cotton, melons and beef. Los Banos is also a major supplier of sand and gravel for industry. 
 
 
EMPLOYMENT:  
Local Wages: Civilian Labor Force 6,000 
Skilled $7.00 to $13.50/hr 
Semi-Skilled $7.00 to $12.00/hr 
Unskilled $6.75 to $10.90/hr 
Unemployment Rate 14% 

Employment services handled by the 
State Employment Development Office 
and Worknet of Merced County 

 INDUSTRIAL / MANUFACTURERS:  
California Dairies/Los Banos Foods 
Fisher Research Laboratory 
Ingomar Packing Company
Kagome Foods, Inc.  
Morning Star Packing Company
Parreira Almond Processing
Peluso Cheese 
   
    
HOUSING 
Rent: 1-2 bedroom apartments from $550 to $800 per month. 2-3 bedroom houses from $800 to $1450 per month. 
Sales prices of existing homes are from $190,000 to $500,000 with median sales prices of $260,000 to $425,000. 
Mobile Homes There are five mobile home parks in the Los Banos area. 
DWELLINGS 
Single family - detached  = 8946 
Single family - attached  = 263 
Multiple 2 to 4 units = 570 
Multiple 5 plus = 658 
Mobile homes = 277 

Total dwellings = 10,714 
Occupied = 10,276 
Vacancy percentage = 4.09% 
Persons per household = 3.313
MAJOR EMPLOYERS 
Memorial Hospital Los Banos 
City of Los Banos 
Wal*Mart 
Los Banos Motors 
Save Mart 		 Ranchwood Homes
Los Banos Unified School District 
Santos Ford-Lincoln Mercury 
JCPenney Company 
Harry Marx Cadillac - Pontiac - GMC
Foods 4 Less
BUSINESS LICENSE INFORMATION 
Business license can be acquired at the Los Banos City Hall, 520 J Street, Los Banos, CA 93635. The cost of a Business License is a flat fee of $60.00. In the case of a mobile or movable business, the cost would be $100.00. (Changes coming Soon)
GAS/ELECTRIC: 
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) provides all gas and electric service to Los Banos. For industrial rates, contact PG&E & E at 940 "I" Street, Los Banos, California 93635, (209) 827-7554 or 1-800-794-4743. 
TELEPHONE: 
For Pacific Bell telephone rates, call (209) 228-7500.
WATER/SEWER: 
Water is supplied by the City of Los Banos. The maximum pumping capacity is 10,500 gallons per minute (GPM), and the average consumption is 3,000 GPM. Water service is billed bimonthly: 
Prices for water connection range from $900 for a I" meter to $18,765.00 for a 4" meter. 

The capacity of the Los Banos sewer plant is 3.5 Million Gallons per day (NIG/D). The August (peak) flow is 1.9 MG/D. Sewer rates are based on the volume of bod, suspended solids and flow. The treatment plant is primary and secondary, and there are facilities for non-recoverable industrial waste water. Industrial sewer connection charges are based on calculated flow. The residential sewer connection charge is $2000.00 
Taxes  
Sales Tax rate is 7.75 percent. Property tax rate is 1% based on 100 percent fair market value.
 
 
TRANSPORTATION:  
Rail:  Northern California Railroad has direct freight service. 
Truck: Eight carriers provide interstate service and overnight delivery to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento. 
Air: Los Banos Airport offers passenger service for non-scheduled flights, charter passenger and freight service. 
Bus: Greyhound Lines offers passenger and freight service and the Merced Transit Service provides passenger service throughout the county. 
Water: The port of Stockton is located 76 miles North of Los Banos. 
Highway: State Highways 152, 165 and 33 pass through Los Banos. Interstate 5 is located six miles to the West. 
 
 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
Los Banos, incorporated on May 8, 1907, operates with a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month in City Hall at 520 J Street. 

Police: The City of Los Banos maintains a law enforcement department including 27 sworn officers. The Merced County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol both operate sub-stations in Los Banos, 

Fire: Los Banos City Fire Department operates two fire stations, has 35 volunteer firefighters, modern fire fighting equipment, a paid staff of 14, including a chief, assistant chief, 11 firefighters and an office administrator. Merced County also has a fire station in Los Banos and can assist with fire alarms within the city. Los Banos' Fire Insurance Classification is 3. 
 
 
EDUCATION: 
Los Banos has 6 elementary schools, 1 Intermediate school (6th grade), 1 junior high school, 1 senior high school, 1 continuation high school, 2 parochial schools and Merced College has a campus in Los Banos. California State University Stanislaus (Turlock) and California State University Fresno, are within commuting distance. UC Merced is scheduled to become the 10th University of California campus in 2005. 
 
 
HEALTH CARE 
Hospitals: One (1) general hospital, 48 bed capacity. 
Physicians: Sixteen (16) 
Family Health Clinic: Two (2) 
Chiropractors: Five (5) 
Physical Therapist Two: (2)		 Two (2) convalescent hospitals.   
Dentists: Nine (9) 
Optometrists: Three (3) 
Orthodontists: Two (2) 
Podiatrists: Two (2)
 
 
MEDIA 
Two local papers, The Los Banos Enterprise is published twice each week and The Paper, is published every other week. Home delivery is available for the Modesto Bee, Fresno Bee and San Francisco Chronicle. 
Los Banos receives five broadcast TV channels and Comcast offers full cable TV service. 
Los Banos has three radio stations KLBS-AM, KQLB-FM and HOT 105-FM.
 
 
SHOPPING AND BANKING FACILITIES 
Los Banos has four major neighborhood shopping centers. There is also a vibrant, historic downtown shopping district. There are six banks in Los Banos. 
HOTELS, MOTELS AND MEETING FACILITIES 
Nine (9) motels within the Los Banos City Limits. 
MERCED COUNTY SPRING FAIRGROUNDS
One (1) auditorium that seats 1,085 
Three (3) exhibit halls that have a capacity of 2,000. 
Three arenas that can seat over 4,000.
 
 
COMMUNITY AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS 
There are 26 churches in Los Banos and 81 community clubs and organizations. 
CULTURE AND RECREATION: 
Los Banos has a Branch library, 18 parks, 10 playgrounds, and a movie theater. Outdoor recreational facilities abound at nearby San Luis Reservoir and numerous state and county parks and State and federal wildlife preserves. Los Banos Parks and Recreation offers a full recreational service for groups of all ages. 
The City also has an active Arts Council who own the Arts Center at K and 5th Streets and offer a variety of concerts, plays and other special entertainment.
 
Should you require any detailed information on any specific area, please call or write us and we will be more than happy to accommodate you.

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