There were four railroads within the City Limits of Merced. The first was the Central Pacific, the railroad that established the Town of Merced. The Central Pacific and the Southern Pacific were basically the same company and shared many facilities within the town as well as the western United States. These railroads properties were between 15th and 16th (Front) Streets the full length of the town. That area was called the "Railroad Reservation" and the passenger depot was located near the tracks at Front and N (Courthouse) Streets.

The C.P.R.R. route out of Merced ran South to Fresno and North to Modesto. The S.P.R.R. ran North out of Merced to Stockton via Oakdale; it was referred to as the Oakdale line. This line paralleled the Yosemite Valley Railroad almost to Hopeton.

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway was another major railroad in Merced. It started out as the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad, which was purchased by the A.T.& S.F. Railway in the very late 1890s. It ran the full length of town down 24th street. Its depot and park were between J and K Streets on the 23rd street side of the tracks.

The Yosemite Valley Railroad main facilitates were located next to R Street between 17th (Main) and 21st Streets. The passenger and freight depot was between 17th and 18th Streets. The main line of the Y.V.R.R. ran from the depot along R Street until it crossed Bear Creek half way between 25th and 26th Streets. At the Bear Creek bridge the Y.V.R.R. could switch to a track paralleling the Santa Fe to K Street where the Y.V.R.R. rails ended. It was at that point that the Y.V.R.R. had its original depot, more of a construction shack, until 1907 when the new depot was built on R Street. This terminal point was across the tracks from the Fred Harvey Dining Room and diagonally across the tracks from the Santa Fe depot.

The Y.V.R.R. crossed the Santa Fe tracks at R and 24th Streets, at that location the Y.V.R.R. built an interlocking control tower, known as Merced Tower number 2, for protection of trains from both rail lines.

From the Y.V.R.R. depot to the L Street point the Y.V.R.R. ran on 16th Street. Off of this line the Y.V.R.R. could be switched to S.P.R.R. rails and on to the S.P./C.P. depot for passengers and freight. Also, off of this line the Y.V.R.R. crossed 16th Street to the Ice Plant at 17th and L Streets. There the produce cars were iced before heading to El Portal. At 17th Street the Y.V.R.R. has a large quadra-frame to protect cars from going on to the sidewalk.

Courthouse Park and Courthouse bounded by M, 20th, O, and 22nd Streets. The Courthouse faced West. The County jail was next to the rear of the Courthouse. The first High School was built between 21st and 22nd Streets facing M Street. Years later this high school became the County Library.

Photo: Merced County Historical Society, Courthouse Museum
A Sunday drive through the park.

The grammar school grounds was bounded by M, 22nd, L, and 23rd Streets. Later the school was named John C. Fremont and still later another school was located on the property facing 23rd Street named Joseph LeConte.

The business district was between the Railroad Reservation, 18th, J and P Streets. The Merced City Hall was located on the corner of M and 18th Streets on the Southwest side. The Masonic Lodge was also on the corner of M and 18th Streets, but on the Southeast side.

Next to the C.P./S.P. depot was a park and Laura Fountain, erected by Mr. Huffman for his wife. This large fountain was the reason the town of Merced was nicknamed the "Fountain City."