Waterford is the eighth largest city in Stanislaus County,

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

, United States. The population was 8,456 at the 2010 census, up from 6,924 as of the 2000 census. Waterford is part of the Modesto

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...

Geography

Waterford is located at (37.645132, -120.767609). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it (1.72%) is water. The city was founded around the

Tuolumne River The Tuolumne River (Yokutsan: ''Tawalimnu'') flows for through Central California, from the high Sierra Nevada to join the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley. Originating at over above sea level in Yosemite National Park, the Tuolumne ...

. City

population Population typically refers to the number of people in a single area, whether it be a city or town, region, country, continent, or the world. Governments typically quantify the size of the resident population within their jurisdiction using a ...

signs report Waterford's elevation is above sea level.

Demographics

2010

The

2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servi ...

reported that Waterford had a population of 32,146. The population density was . The racial makeup of Waterford was 10,003 (71.0%)

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, 10,023 (0.9%)

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 120 (1.3%) Native American, 1,222(1.5%) Asian, 221 (0.1%)

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 10,747 (20.6%) from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 386 (4.6%) from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

or Latino of any race were 3,579 persons (42.3%). The Census reported that 31,433 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 713 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized. There were 2,458 households, out of which 1,314 (53.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,499 (61.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 357 (14.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 191 (7.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 172 (7.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 15 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 305 households (12.4%) were made up of individuals, and 106 (4.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.43. There were 2,047

families Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Ideal ...

(83.3% of all households); the average family size was 3.71. The population was spread out, with 2,786 people (32.9%) under the age of 18, 902 people (10.7%) aged 18 to 24, 2,295 people (27.1%) aged 25 to 44, 1,860 people (22.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 613 people (7.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males. There were 2,665 housing units at an average density of , of which 1,627 (66.2%) were owner-occupied, and 831 (33.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%. 5,489 people (64.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,944 people (34.8%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2000, there were 6,923 people, 1,991 households, and 1,682 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,080 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 12.24%

, 0.48%

, 1.53% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.16%

, 19.99% from

, and 4.85% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 78.44% of the population. There were 1,990 households, out of which 52.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.5% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.47 and the average family size was 3.71. 36.4% of Waterford's inhabitants were under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males. The median

income Income is the consumption and saving opportunity gained by an entity within a specified timeframe, which is generally expressed in monetary terms. Income is difficult to define conceptually and the definition may be different across fields. Fo ...

for a household in the city was $39,286, and the median income for a family was $41,698. Males had a median income of $32,530 versus $25,341 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $13,933. About 11.2% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Waterford is located in , and in . In the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

, Waterford is in .

Education

Waterford Unified School District
is the sole school district. The Waterford Elementary School is named after the former school superintendent and former elementary school teacher, Richard Moon. The school mascot is the moon cub (a tiger cub) and serves grade K-3. Immediately next to Richard Moon Elementary is the Waterford

Head Start Program Head Start is a program of the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and families. The program's s ...

, which includes state preschool, full day Head Start, and half day Head Start. Lucille Whitehead Intermediate School shares a campus with Moon School and was first opened for the 2008–2009 school year. The school was dedicated in honor of Lucille Bishop Whitehead. The mascot is the Bobcat. Waterford Junior High serves grades 7–8. It is the oldest school in the Waterford School District. Their mascot is the

tiger The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus ''Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on ...

. Waterford High School was built in 2001. Around 3,231 students attend the High School. The WHS mascot is the Wildcat
WHS Website

History

The community which became Waterford began to form in the latter half of the 19th century, after surrounding regions became populated with 49ers. At this time the area was known as Bakersville, after one of the town's influential members. It soon became apparent that mail was being mistaken between Bakersville and Bakersfield, California, and the smaller of the two was forced to change its name. At that time, the

did not have a bridge, and instead was crossed by Roberts Ferry on the waterfront. Since the area was well known for this ford, the town adopted the name of Waterford. For several decades, a regular steam locomotive could traverse the Tuolumne in Waterford on a trestle bridge, which was demolished in the second half of the 20th century. There are now no longer railway lines running through or near Waterford, even though many maps will still show the tracks going through the post office building.

Transportation

The city is served by Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority bus service. Waterford has two main highways: CR J9, "F Street", and State Route 132, "Yosemite Blvd." Both intersect in Waterford. "F Street" goes to Oakdale to the north, and

Turlock Turlock is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. Its estimated 2019 population of 73,631 made it the second-largest city in Stanislaus County after Modesto. History Founded on December 22, 1871, by prominent grain farmer Jo ...

to the south. Yosemite goes to Modesto westbound, and to the

Gold Country The Gold Country (also known as Mother Lode Country) is a historic region in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California, that is primarily on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. It is famed for the mineral deposits and gold mines ...

eastbound. The Hickman-Waterford bridge is also located in Waterford. It is the only bridge for about both east and west to cross the

after Geer Road.

Notes

* Earth Metrics Incorporated, "Waterford Junior High School, California Environmental Quality Act, Environmental Assessment", Waterford Unified School District, prepared for the State of California Environmental Clearinghouse, Report No. 7895W1.001, February 2, 1990.

References

External links

* {{authority control 1969 establishments in California Populated places established in 1969 Cities in Stanislaus County, California Incorporated cities and towns in California