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Monterey

ABOUT THE CITY

Monterey County — California’s greatest meeting of land and sea. From the dramatic Big Sur coastline to romantic Carmel by the Sea and Pebble Beach to historic Monterey and its diverse peninsula communities to the fertile Salinas Valley.  Monterey County offers a rich and complete variety of destinations for its residents.

The gentle climate allows outdoor activities, cultural events and festivals, and farmer’s markets year round. You will also enjoy its contrasts, a dramatic coastline to its fertile farmland, stunning beaches to its green valleys, from its Victorian houses to its vibrant wharf, Monterey offers residents a wealth of experiences.

Ready to work out in a most beautiful setting?  Walk, jog or bike along part of the 29 mile-long Monterey Bay Coastal Trail.  What a wonderful location to call home.

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Overview

Monterey County is located approximately 125 miles south of San Francisco and 345 miles north of Los Angeles. The county is a study in contrasts, “one of the most beautiful meetings of land and sea in the world.”

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History

Native Americans lived here for millennia from 500 BC to 500 AD, before others from different parts of the world landed on Monterey’s shores. Little is know about the First People who settled in the vicinity of what is now Monterey, but what drew them here: an abundance of fish and wildlife and other natural resources.

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Major Area Cities

Salinas

Salinas is the county seat and largest municipality of Monterey County.  When you envision Salinas, think green. Salinas’ economy is largely based upon agriculture. Salinas is known as the “Salad Bowl of the World,” and for good reason. Over 80% of the lettuce grown in the United States is grown in the Salinas Valley.

The National Steinbeck Center, located in Old Town Salinas, is one of Monterey County’s newest major attractions. The 37,000 square-foot museum is dedicated to the works of native son John Steinbeck.

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Fast Facts

Population (2007): 407,637

Density: 122/sq mi

Median Household Income (2007): $56,668

Unemployment Rate (2007): 7.2

Founded: 1850

County seat: Salinas

By Car

Salinas and Monterey are located on the Pacific Coast just about in the middle of California.  Highway 1 (the Pacific Coast Highway) and Interstate 101 (the 101) are the main freeways in and out of the area. San Jose and the Silicon Valley is about and hour north, San Francisco about an hour and 45 minutes.

Alvarado Street is the main road in downtown Monterey, where all the shopping and dining is.  It can get trafficky, especially on the weekends

License & Registration Information

Public Transportation

Monterey-Salinas Transit

One Ryan Ranch Road

Monterey, CA  93940

(888) 678-2871

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Air Transportation

Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY)

200 Fred Kane Drive #200

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 648-7000

www.montereyairport.com

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Voter Registration

Monterey County Elections

831-796-1499

www.MontereyCountyElections.us

1370 S Main Street # B (in the Nob Hill Center, Stephanie Drive entrance)

Salinas, CA 93901

Mail:

PO Box 4400

Salinas, CA 93912

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Local Phone Numbers

Area code 831
 
Emergency 911
 
Hospitals
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (831) 624-5311
23625 Holman Highway
Monterey, CA 93940
 
Monterey County Community Health Division (831) 899-8109
1292 Olympia Avenue
Seaside, CA 93955
 
Doctors on Duty-Medical Clinic (831) 372-6700
Monterey Bay Urgent Care (831) 372-CARE (2273)
Natividad Medical Center (831) 755-4111
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital (831) 757-4333
 
Organizations
AAA (831) 373-3021
www.aaa.com
Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau (888) 221-1010
www.mccvb.org
P.O. Box 1770 Monterey
CA 93942
Monterey Visitors Center (831) 649-1770
Lake El Estero at Franklin & Camino El Estero
Monterey
Marina Chamber of Commerce (831) 384-9155
PO Box 425 Marina
CA 93933
 
Utilities
 
Gas and Electric
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (800) 743-5000
2311 Garden Road
Monterey, CA 93940-5325
 
Water
Alco Water Service (831) 424-0441
California Water Service (831) 757-3644
CAL/AM (831) 373-3051
Seaside Water (831) 899-6717
Seaside Highlands (831) 384-6131
 
Cable
Comcast2455 Henderson WayMonterey, 93940 (800) 945-2288
 
Refuse service
Waste Management (831) 384-5000
 
Telephone
SBC (800) 310-2355

Television

2 NBC
6 CBS
10 ABC
17 PBS
23 FOX
45 WB
51 UPN

Radio

AM
540 KRXA talk progressive
630 KIDD standards
880 KKMC religious
980 KCTY regional Mexican
1080 KSCO news/talk
1200 KYAA Indian (Hindu)
1240 KNRY news/talk
1340 KOMY talk (progressive)
1410 KRML jazz/blues
1460 KABL standards
FM
88.1 KASC college (Uv. Santa Cruz)
88.9 KUSP public
89.7 KLVM contemporary Christian
90.3 KAZU public
90.7 KHRI Christian rock
90.9 KSRI Christian rock
91.9 KHDC public- español
92.7 KSPM student (Robert Louis Stevenson Sch.)
96.9 KTOM country
97.9 KWAV ac
100.7 KYZZ CHR-pop
101.1 KPRC oldies-español
102.5 KCDU CHR-rhythmic
103.9 KDOM modern rock
104.3 KMBY classic rock
104.7 KHIP ethnic
105.1 KAPU-LP urban ac
107.1 KSES CHR- español
107.5 KPIG adult alt./Americana

Newspapers

The Monterey County Herald

8 Upper Ragsdale

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 372-3311

www.montereyherald.com

The Salinas Californian

123 West Alisal Street

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 424-2221

www.californianonline.com

Monterey County Weekly

668 Williams Avenue

Seaside, CA 93955

831-394-5656

www.montereycountyweekly.com

Golf

Now known as the Golf Capital of the World, Monterey hosts some of the biggest names and events in golfing: the Pro-Am, US Open, Callaway Golf Invitational and many others each year. Recent updates to many of the historic courses have made them faster and better than ever. Keep in mind that many of the courses have long waiting lists and high green fees that might keep you waiting if you don’t plan ahead.  Here are some of the best courses in the Monterey Peninsula:

Bayonet and Black Horse

1 McClure Way

Seaside

(831) 899-7271

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Beaches

Monterey County has 99 miles of spectacular coastline, but relatively few of those miles translate into sandy beaches suitable for swimming or paddling. Beaches generally do not have lifeguards, and at even the most protected, bathers and waders should remain aware of our cold water and unpredictable surf.  However there are many sandy strands perfect for walking along, tide-pooling beside, or surfing towards.

Big Sur

Although Big Sur has no specific boundaries, most definitions of the area include the 90 miles of coastline between…

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Wineries

Experience the remarkable wines and breathtaking vineyards of Monterey Wine Country. This world-renowned growing region is comprised of a collection of seven unique appellations that create superior wines. Monterey County’s coastal valleys and beach lands are naturally blessed with cooling fogs and fresh breezes emanating from the Monterey Bay. The resulting long, gentle ripening season leads to an intense variety flavors and a diversity of wines found in few regions of California.

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Museums

Monterey Bay Aquarium

886 Cannery Row

Monterey, CA. 93940

(831) 648-4888

www.mbayaq.org

The Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California offers visitors nearly 200 award-winning galleries and exhibits.

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Theater

Ariel Theatrical

The Wilson Children’s Theatre

320 Main Street

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 775-0976

www.arieltheatrical.org

Ariel Theatrical is a nonprofit theatre arts program for children throughout Monterey County.

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Nightlife

If you’re looking for something to do with your nights while staying on the peninsula, there are a number of options available to you. Monterey has night clubs downtown and on Cannery Row offering live music, comedy and dancing.

Cannery Row

400 Cannery Row

Monterey, CA 93940

www.canneryrow.com

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Public Schools

Monterey County Office of Education

901 Blanco Circle

P.O. Box 80851

Salinas, CA 93912-0851

831-755-0379

www.monterey.k12.ca.us

Established more than 150 years ago by California’s Constitution, MCOE provides vital resources to support the county’s 24 school districts, two community colleges, and state university.

List of school districts in Monterey County, California:

  • Alisal Union Elementary School District
  • Bradley Union Elementary School District
  • Carmel Unified School District
  • Chualar Union Elementary School District
  • Gonzales Union Elementary School District
  • Gonzales Union High School District
  • Graves Elementary School District
  • Greenfield Union Elementary School District
  • King City Joint Union High School District
  • King City Union Elementary School District
  • Lagunita Elementary School District
  • Mission Union Elementary School District
  • Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
  • North Monterey County Unified School District
  • Pacific Grove Unified School District
  • Pacific Unified School District
  • Salinas City Elementary School District
  • Salinas Union High School District
  • San Antonio Union Elementary School District
  • San Ardo Union Elementary School District
  • San Lucas Union Elementary School District
  • Santa Rita Union Elementary School District
  • Soledad Unified School District
  • Spreckels Union Elementary School District
  • Washington Union Elementary School District

Higher Education

Community Colleges

Community colleges exist for two major purposes. The first is to serve as a bridge from high school to college by providing courses for transfer toward a bachelor’s degree. Four out of 10 collegebound high-school graduates start their college education this way.

The second function of community colleges is to prepare students for the job market by offering entry-level career training as well as courses for adult students who want to upgrade their skills for the workplace. They often offer programs that are not available at four-year schools, like fashion design.

Liberal Arts Colleges

Liberal arts colleges offer a broad base of courses in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Most are private and focus mainly on undergraduate students. Classes tend to be small and personal attention is available.

Online Learning

Recent years have witnessed the rise of online degree programs, to allow the busy professional a chance to work at their own pace from the comfort of their home on the path to getting a degree. The costs to students are typically the same as for traditional classes— and financial aid is equally available—while the cost to the institution can be much less.

There are online universities ranging from legitimate distance learning systems to fly-by-night degree-mills. It’s important to research a particular institution before deciding to enroll in their system. Generally, brick-and-mortar schools that also offer online classes are the safest, though there are plenty of fully accredited online universities out there.

Nearly 3 million students are believed to be taking online classes at institutions of higher education in the United States this year. That number has been growing about 25% a year recently. Now, virtually all public higher education institutions, as well as a vast majority of private, for-profit institutions, now offer online classes. By contrast, only about half of private, nonprofit schools offer them. Online schools offer everything from Associate’s degrees to Doctoral programs with available emphases in everything from Business Administration to Criminal Justice to Nursing. Some programs require students to attend some campus classes or orientations, but many are delivered completely online. Online courses generally require a computer with a broadband connection, but are now a serious option for the busy professional.

Public vs. Private

Public colleges are usually less expensive, particularly for in-state residents. They get most of their money from the state or local government. Private colleges rely on tuition, fees, endowments, and other private sources. Private colleges are usually smaller and can offer more personalized attention and often more prestige.

 Universities

Generally, a university is bigger than a college and offers more majors and research facilities. Class size often reflects institutional size and some classes may taught by graduate students.

Upper Division

Upper-division schools offer the last two years of undergraduate study, usually in specialized programs leading to a bachelor’s degree. Students then generally transfer to an upper-division college after completing an associate degree or after finishing a second year of study at a four-year college.

Higher Education

California State University at Monterey Bay

100 Campus Center

Seaside, CA 93955-8001

(831) 582-3000

www.csumb.edu

Ideally situated between the Salinas Valley and Monterey Bay, CSUMB’s 1,387-acre campus brings together promising students and accomplished faculty in the heart of a premiere California location.

Monterey College of Law

100 Col. Durham Street

Seaside, CA 93955

(831)582-4000

www.montereylaw.edu

Founded in 1972 by prominent Monterey-area lawyers and judges, the College of Law is committed to providing a high quality, affordable, and challenging legal education.  Monterey College of Law is a community law school that provides the opportunity to live and work in the California central coast region while attending an evening law school program.

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