2014 Annual Report - English - Spanish

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Gonzales, CA is surrounded by prime agricultural land in the heart of the 90-mile long Salinas Valley between the Sierra de Salinas and Gabilan Mountains.  The City is located 17 miles south of Salinas, 111 miles north of San Luis Obispo, and 35 miles southeast of the Monterey Peninsula.  The view traveling on Highway 101 is a patchwork quilt of farms ranging in size from 20 to several hundred acres.  The valley has some of the most fertile soils in California making agriculture the area’s strongest economic industry.

The climate in Gonzales is temperate with summer daytime highs from the 70s to mid 80s.  Nighttime coastal fog creeps down the valley from the Monterey Bay causing cooler evening temperatures in the mid 50s.  Indian summers begin in September and can last through early December offering a warm and pleasant fall season.  An average rainfall of 8 inches a year leaves plenty of days to enjoy the relaxing California sunshine. 

Travelers and visitors will experience the friendly hospitality and excellent service of our local businesses and restaurants.  Wine lovers can roam the nearby foothills enjoying world class wines from our local wineries and vineyards.  Gonzales’ small town charm an rural atmosphere make the City an ideal setting to raise a family, start a business, or spend a day enjoying the beautiful Salinas Valley.

City History

Gonzales has a rich history. The Southern Pacific Railroad laid tracks through the area in 1872, and later a depot was built to service freight and passenger trains.  In 1874, Mariano and Alfredo Gonzalez planned the original town, consisting of 50 blocks on land originally deeded to their father, Teodoro Gonzalez, in 1836. Twenty years later in 1894, the earliest recorded population was 500 residents.

Cattle and grain raising dominated the area until the 1890s when Swiss immigrants founded dairies. At the turn of the century, the Alpine Condensary was established to produce condensed milk, a process originated by a local resident. In the 1920s dairy farming gave way to vegetable crops in which thrived because of rich soils and advancements in irrigation, machinery, and transportation.

The first school house was built in 1874. The Gonzales Baptist Church was built in 1884 and still holds weekly worship services at the corner of Fourth and Day Streets. On January 10, 1947, Gonzales residents voted to incorporate the City. Today, historic buildings still stand on Fourth Street in downtown Gonzales and contribute to the City’s small town charm that is enjoyed by residents and visitors.

City Services

The City of Gonzales provides full services, including a proactive community policing program; fire protection and emergency response; planning and building services; economic development; public recreation; and general City administration and management.  The City operates modern sewer and water systems and maintains streets and storm drainage facilities.  The Gonzales Redevelopment Agency addresses economic revitalization and affordable housing.

 Recreational Activities

The City provides recreational opportunities throughout the year. Central Park offers picnic and barbecue areas, a children’s playground, basketball courts, and a sand volleyball pit and is the site of the many annual events including the annual Fourth of July Family Celebration. The Gonzales Community Pool is open during the summer months and offers recreational swim, adult and child swim lessons, dive-in movie nights, and facilities for private parties. Young residents can participate in local baseball, softball, football, soccer, and cheerleading leagues as well as 4-H, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. The Toots Vosti Memorial Recreation Center hosts community events, youth activities, and private functions.

Monterey County offers a wealth of recreational opportunities easily accessible to Gonzales residents and visitors. The nearby Pinnacles National Monument, the Arroyo Seco River, and San Lorenzo Park in King City offer hiking and camping facilities. Lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento are popular destinations for boating, hiking, and camping. Laguna Seca Recreation Area is the site of concerts, world class car and motorcycle racing. The San Antonio and Soledad Missions offer a glimpse back to the early days of California.

Education

The Gonzales Unified School District has three schools serving the City and surrounding rural areas. La Gloria Elementary School has students in kindergarten through fourth grade, Fairview Middle School has fifth through eighth graders, and Gonzales High School has students in grades nine through twelve.

Community Organizations

Several local organizations serve the Gonzales community. Rotary International, the American Legion and  Auxiliary, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and various neighborhood groups provide academic scholarships, sponsor community events, and contribute to local causes. There are four churches offering worship and outreach services in the City including;  the Gonzales Community Presbyterian Church, St. Theodore Catholic Church, Gonzales Apostolic Church, and Iglesia Episcopal Jesus Del Valle.

The Gonzales Chamber of Commerce is active in promoting local businesses and supporting community activities. The Chamber hosts social mixers each year for Gonzales business men and women.

Community Contacts

Gonzales Community Church

340 Day Street

(831) 675-3881

St. Theodore Catholic Church

116 South Belden Street

(831) 675-3648

Gonzales Apostolic Church

145 Eighth Street

(831) 675-0379

Iglesia Episcopal Jesus Del Valle

405 Seventh Street

(831) 675-0396

Gonzales Rotary International

(831) 675-3354

American Legion and Auxiliary

Post #81

P.O. Box 81

(831) 675-1120

Independent Order of Odd Fellows

(831) 675-3483

Gonzales Unified School District

600 Elko Street

(831) 675-0100

www.gonzales.k12.ca.us

Gonzales 4-H

 Monterey County Free Libraries - Gonzales

Local Wineries

Constellation Brands 

850 South Alta Street, Gonzales

(831) 753-4502

Pessagno Winery

1645 River Road, Gonzales

(831) 675-9463

Manzoni Estate Vineyard

30981 River Road, Gonzales

(831) 675-3398

San Saba Vineyard

35801 Foothill Road, Soledad

(831) 678-2992

Hahn Estates/Smith and Hook

37700 Foothill Rd, Soledad

(831) 678-4555

Marilyn Remark Wines

645 River Road, Salinas

(831) 455-9310

Chalone Vineyards Highway

146 East, Soledad

CITY MAP