Facts About the City

1. The City of Soledad is located in southern Monterey County.
2. The City is approximately 130 miles south of San Francisco, 40 miles southeast of the Monterey Peninsula, 25 miles south of Salinas and 25 miles north of King City.
3. The City is one of the fastest growing communities in Monterey County and in California, increasing by approximately 8.0% in the last ten years. The population per household in the City of Soledad has been relatively stable. In 1990, the population per household was reported at 4.5 and in 1998 it was reported at 4.8.
4. The City is a general law city incorporated in March 1921 with a City Council/City Manager form of government. Regular meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6.30 p.m.
5. The City provides full services, including water, wastewater, public works, police, volunteer fire, planning & building, finance and administrative functions. The City contracts for city engineering and city attorney services. The City also has a Redevelopment Agency, Public Financing Agency and Housing Authority.
6. The City is highly flexible, user friendly and will work closely and expeditiously with developers through each phase of the development process including partnering in any annexation process.
7. The City's development fees and charges are low compared to other cities in the County and State.
8. The Redevelopment Agency is also very active and has various programs available for the development and improvement of both businesses and residential housing within the Redevelopment area of the City.
9. There are a number of financial incentives available to developers and residents in Soledad including the Business Revolving Loan Fund, First Time Homebuyer Program, Housing Rehabilitation Program, Downtown Facade Program and Housing Density Bonuses
10. The City is considered to be one of the safest cities in the County.
11. The City of Soledad is located within the heart of Monterey County's wine country. Because of the ideal climate and soil conditions, the wine industry is expected to continue to flourish.
12. Attracting new business to the area and working closely with developers to build new and affordable housing, are ongoing goals of the City.
13. New developments in both industrial/commercial and residential sectors continue to move forward, including the Los Coches Industrial Park, the Soledad Mission Shopping Center, the Downtown Revitalization Project and additional residential housing such as Miravale II which will involve the construction of over 1000 residential units.
14. The community spirit and family atmosphere are added pluses that make the City of Soledad even more unique and attractive. Numerous events are held throughout the year and many recreational activities are available to both visitors and residents.
15. The climate in the City of Soledad is relatively mild with annual average temperatures ranging from a high of 67 degrees and a low of 47 degrees. Precipitation levels generally reach, on average, about 12 inches annually with most of the rainy season occurring from the month of November through the month of March.
16. Retail sales have continued to grow in Soledad reaching $19.2 million in 1997. However, there is still significant opportunity for new retail. With the development of the Soledad Mission Shopping Center and the Gabilan Retail Center, the City will potentially capture an additional $20,000,000 million in annual retail sales.
17. The City enjoys a very stable, higher than average income employment base with a very small susceptibility for layoffs, mainly due to the correctional facilities located just to the north of the City. This stable employment base solidifies the City's local economy.
18. The Soledad Unified School District is located in the City and is committed to providing the best education possible for the youth residing in the City of Soledad. The District provides educational services from kindergarten through the 12th grade and has been in operation since 1913. It has one high school, a middle school and three elementary schools. The District is currently constructing an additional elementary school and has plans for another middle school in near future. The mission of the District is to deliver high-quality academic and social learning in order for all students to become productive citizens. These educational services are provided in a safe and orderly environment through the team effort of a highly professional and caring staff.