The story of Merced began in the year 1806, when the Mexican government sent a company of soldiers from the presidio of San Francisco lead by Gabriel Moraga to either capture or disperse marauding Indian bands. Entering the San Joaquin Valley through what is now known as “Patterson Pass” from the Livermore Valley, the Mexican soldiers entered a dry, barren plain heavily populated with cattle, mustang horses antelope, elk and coyotes. In their long hot journey, water was the most precious thing they needed and when eventually they reached the bank of what is now called the Merced River, thanks to God, exclaimed, “El Rio de Los Mercedes” or “River of Mercy." There were 500 people residing the area. When in April 1855, the State Legislature formed Merced County out of the southwestern portion of Mariposa County. In May, the people elected their first county officers and selected their first county seat, which was on a ranch owned by Turner and Osborne on Mariposa Creek.

The first court house was a small building on the ranch. Court was held under the oak trees on the banks of the creek. The first county seat had no official location and the Government building was located on the Snelling Ranch in September of 1855.

The new and fast growing city of Merced campaigned for the relocating of the county seat to Merced. In 1872 a special election was scheduled to settle the issue. After a very active campaign, during which the town of Livingston was also considered, the people voted to move the county seat to Merced. The vote was Merced 566, Livingston 236 and Snelling 181. In 1874 construction of the country courthouse was begun. It was dedicated in May 1875.

In 1870, when the Central Pacific Railroad constructed its lines down the San Joaquin Valley, the town site was laid out and actual construction of the City began. In 1872, the County seat of Merced County was established as the present City of Merced, known the world over because of its being the “Gateway to Yosemite." Lots sold for very high prices for a new town in the plains. Lots 25 by 150 feet to 50 by 150 feet sold for prices ranging from $125.00 to $500.00 per lot.

This was the beginning. The decades that followed were a chronology of families and whole communities that migrated to the county to work the soil – the Portuguese, the Japanese, and the Swedes.

The Heritage of Merced County is not a history of great battles and gallant generals. It is a story of industrious pioneers who were seeking a good land to raise their families – and the land was good to them.