Centennial Cities-

Atwater and Livingston each mark their 100th anniversary

Big balloons are used to mark the special occasion of the City of Livingston’s 100th anniversary. Photo: Steve Newvine

It’s remarkable when a city can celebrate a special milestone such as a one-hundredth anniversary.

But when two cities less than ten miles apart can mark a centennial, it is nothing short of spectacular.

That’s the case in the Merced County cities of Livingston and Atwater. Both were incorporated in 1922.

Both have celebrated this special milestone in a big way.

Big balloons are used to mark the special occasion of the City of Livingston’s 100th anniversary. Photo: Steve Newvine

Atwater marked the passing of this special time in the City’s history with a special timepiece.

A large clock and tower was finished earlier in the year and dedicated over the summer.

The clock was envisioned as a central point of focus for the City. In the months leading up to the dedication, the local government’s City Hall was relocated to a refurbished space right across the street from the clock tower at 1150 5th Street.

The City has a special section on its webpage that includes a historical milestone listing and some black and white photos from several decades ago.

In 2022, the City of Atwater moved City Hall from its location on Bellevue Road to this former commercial business building on Fifth Street. Photo: Steve Newvine

The City says the move to the new space permitted more space for staff and the many services now offered to residents as well as local businesses.

The Executive to the City Manager Janell Martin says, “The City Council, City Manager, City Attorney, Human Resources, and City Clerk are located at 1160 Fifth Street.” There is another building that will house other City operations according to Janell. “1350 Broadway Avenue will house the Finance and Community Development departments.”

Those offices will be moving in the coming weeks. Space in the Bellevue Road location has been repurposed for use by the City’s Police Department.

This mural was painted at the Livingston Historical Museum in recognition of the City of Livingston’s one-hundredth anniversary. Photo: Steve Newvine

Just a few miles north of Atwater, the City of Livingston is Merced County’s other Centennial City in 2022.

The City formally celebrated the milestone on September 11th; combining the one-hundredth anniversary celebration with a 9-11 invocation and moment of silence in honor of the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

A special plaque marking the centennial of the City of Livingston has been mounted near the front door of the Livingston Historical Museum. Photo: Steve Newvine

Livingston’s history includes having its own telephone company, a large concentration of Japanese immigrant families who were taken to internment camps during World War II, and a long-standing agricultural connection with sweet potatoes and grapes.

The Livingston Historical Museum was profiled in this space a few years ago. The interment story is well documented within the walls of the Museum.

The cities of Atwater and Livingston are closely linked not only by the relatively short distance between the two but also by the agricultural heritage it shares.

Based on the special sections about this milestone on their websites, both cities are proud of their one-hundredth anniversaries.

Both are staying focused on the future as they continue to grow and contribute to the quality of life in Merced County.

They are Merced County’s 2022 Centennial Cities.

Steve Newvine lives in Merced.

Two of his books: Can Do Californians and California Back Roads are now available for purchase at the Merced Courthouse Museum Gift Shop as well as online at Lulu.com, Barnes & Noble .com, and Amazon.