El Nido is a small rural unincorporated town in Merced County, California, located 11 miles south of Merced, California on Highway 59.

El Nido was founded early in the 20th century when the development of irrigation enabled intensified farming of the area. El Nido is Spanish for "the nest" and the name is associated with the early Spanish land grant, Rancho Chowchilla. The El Nido School District was created in 1914 and a school building designed by William Bedesen was built in 1915. The El Nido Irrigation District was organized in 1928 and began supplying water for irrigation in 1932. Cotton was the principal crop in the area and a large gin was built there in 1937.

The town has a post office, a tavern, a general store, a volunteer fire department, and an elementary school. After grade 8, students from El Nido must attend high school in Merced, California.

The ZIP Code is 95317. The town is inside area code 209.

Politics

In the state legislature El Nido is located in the 12th Senate District, represented by Republican Jeff Denham, and in the 17th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Cathleen Galgiani. Federally, El Nido is located in California's 18th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +3 and is represented by Democrat Dennis Cardoza.

References

Lim, Sarah. "Museum Notes: History of Planada and El Nido." Merced Sun-Star. August 6, 2005.

External links