# Salida, California

Salida (Spanish for "Exit") is a census-designated place (CDP) in Stanislaus County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 13,722. It is part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area. Cultivation of almonds has historically been a significant activity in the vicinity, including a major Blue Diamond processing facility nearby. The plant is involved exclusively in processing whole brown almond kernels with a "dry" process involving no water, heat or chemicals. Salida is within the East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District which comprises 984 square miles (2,550 km$^2$) of land area and attends to a variety of environmental conservation and best management agricultural practices.

## Etymology

Salida was given the Spanish name for “departure” by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1870.

## History

In 1870, the Central Pacific Railroad extended its track construction to Stanislaus County's northern exit. There they established a railroad station with the Spanish name of salida, which in English means exit. This name favorably matched with modesto because both towns have Spanish meanings. They also laid the town out in the shape of a triangle. In 2012 and 2013, initial attempts to annex Salida to Modesto were studied, but were met with protests from local residents.

## Downtown

The Downtown of Salida is situated in the original town layout. Many government and commercial buildings line the sides of Broadway. In the center of Broadway there are oak trees and a walking trail.

## Geography

Salida is located at 37°42′36″N 121°5′21″W﻿ / ﻿37.71000°N 121.08917°W﻿ / 37.71000; -121.08917 (37.709877, -121.089286).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.6 square miles (15 km$^2$) of which 5.3 square miles (14 km$^2$) is land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km$^2$) of it (4.50%) is water.

## Demographics
### 2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Salida had a population of 13,722. The population density was 2,462.9 inhabitants per square mile (950.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of Salida was 8,479 (61.8%) White, 435 (3.2%) African American, 111 (0.8%) Native American, 669 (4.9%) Asian, 83 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 3,134 (22.8%) from other races, and 811 (5.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6,426 persons (46.8%).
The Census reported that 13,649 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 73 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 3,933 households, out of which 2,134 (54.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,570 (65.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 494 (12.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 289 (7.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 243 (6.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 14 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 427 households (10.9%) were made up of individuals, and 103 (2.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.47. There were 3,353 families (85.3% of all households); the average family size was 3.72.
The population was spread out, with 4,396 people (32.0%) under the age of 18, 1,349 people (9.8%) aged 18 to 24, 4,003 people (29.2%) aged 25 to 44, 3,113 people (22.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 861 people (6.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.
There were 4,204 housing units at an average density of 754.6 units per square mile (291.4 units/km$^2$), of which 3,076 (78.2%) were owner-occupied, and 857 (21.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%. 10,395 people (75.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,254 people (23.7%) lived in rental housing units.

### 2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 18,070 people, 3,617 households, and 3,157 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,502.0 inhabitants per square mile (966.0/km$^2$). There were 3,740 housing units at an average density of 745.0 units per square mile (287.6 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 68.69% White, 3.38% African American, 1.28% Native American, 4.74% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 15.64% from other races and 6.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.07% of the population.
There were 3,617 households, out of which 55.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 12.7% were non-families. 8.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.44 and the average family size was 3.63.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 36.0% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 36.4% from 25 to 44, 15.3% from 45 to 64, and 5.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $57,874 and the median income for a family was $60,114. Males had a median income of $42,188 versus $30,521 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,173. About 6.3% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

## Schools

Salida Union Elementary School District serves the Salida area, operating four TK-6 elementary schools and one middle school (grades 6-8). The school district also authorizes Great Valley Academy - Salida, a public charter school. Including the charter school, district enrollment was 2,990 students as of 2024.
High school students are served by the Modesto City Schools district, which includes Joseph Gregori High School adjacent to Salida.

### Elementary schools

* Dena Boer Elementary
* Mildred Perkins Elementary
* Salida Elementary
* Sisk Elementary

### Middle school

* Salida Middle School

## Government

In the California State Legislature, Salida is in the 4th Senate District, represented by Republican Marie Alvarado-Gil, and in the 9th Assembly District, represented by Republican Heath Flora.
In the United States House of Representatives, Salida is in California's 5th congressional district, represented by Republican Tom McClintock.
Salida is governed by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors in District 3.

## Politics

According to Salida resident, Lee Sell, there was a movement to incorporate Salida as a city during the 1950s but it failed due to lack of tax base. Incorporation discussion surfaced again in 2007.
In 1996, the City of Modesto sought to annex Salida and Wood Colony's "Beckwith Triangle" which was voted down by LAFCO. At an August 2013 Modesto Planning Commission workshop, Modesto city planners unveiled a new general plan update to annex Salida and doubled the size of land they wanted to annex in and around the Beckwith Triangle.
Terry Withrow, Stanislaus County Supervisor whose district covers Salida, authored an opinion piece which appeared in the Modesto Bee on August 20, 2011, in favor of annexing Salida to the City of Modesto. After being elected in a run-off, Modesto Mayor Garrad Marsh expressed his support of annexing Salida in his "State of the City" speech in March 2012. Both politicians met with a contentious crowd of over 200 residents who filled the Salida Municipal Advisory Council meeting room on January 29, 2013. The majority of residents spoke against annexation.
With the election of the new Modesto Mayor, Ted Brandvold, along with several new city council members, 2016 saw a "reset" to Modesto's 1995 General Plan boundaries. The 1995 General Plan includes Salida and the Beckwith Triangle area of Wood Colony, leaving the two unincorporated communities still susceptible to annexation by the City of Modesto.

## Notable residents

* Eddy Berumen, soccer player
* Frank Chance, member of Baseball Hall of Fame, was born in Salida
* Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo, radio broadcaster
* Gregory Rayl, NASCAR driver and crew chief
* Spice 1, rapper
* Claude Terry, professional basketball player