Gonzales owes its name to the two brothers who founded the city—Dr. Mariano Gonzalez and Alfredo Gonzales—on land given to their father, Teodoro Gonzalez, in 1836. According to Wikipedia, the two brothers are credited with constructing one of the first irrigation systems in the Salinas Valley. Irrigation led to ranching, dairy farms and agricultural fields; even today, the largest employers are food producers. Another thriving industry is wine production—some 46 vineyard properties are in the area, with 5,900 acres in production. According to U.S. census date, he city’s estimated 8,300 residents are overwhelmingly Latino (88.9 percent), and most live in family groups (89.4 percent).

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City Council

The Gonzales City Council is composed of five members who are elected at large. The mayor is elected every two years, and councilmembers serve staggered four-year terms.

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Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

11/19/2023
Image for display with article titled Gonzales Youth Council Shows the Power of Intergenerational Collaboration

For a Monterey County Weekly cover story, Celia Jiménez spoke with several teenagers about the work they’ve done in their communities.

Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

10/25/2023
Image for display with article titled High Prices Push South County Cities to Reject Trash Service Proposals

Earlier this month, the cities of Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield and King City rejected three proposals they received for waste hauling services.

Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

10/25/2023
Image for display with article titled Salinas Valley Cities Urge More Flexible Ag Mitigation Terms

As Salinas Valley cities like Soledad and Gonzales look to expand their footprints by annexing surrounding farmland and converting it into housing and other uses, there’s an ongoing debate.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo From Salinas Valley Tribune...

10/16/2023
Image for display with article titled Gonzales Annexation Makes Room for future Agriculture Industrial Development

Local Agency Formation Commission of Monterey County has approved the annexation of about 49 acres that allows for a planned 313,800-square-foot agricultural cooler processing facility to move forward.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo From Salinas Valley Tribune...

06/28/2023
Image for display with article titled Gonzales Council Awards Contract for Community Center

The Gonzales City Council awarded the design-build contract for the Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center, to be built at Gabilan Court and Fifth Street.

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