Mountain House, California
Encyclopedia
Mountain House is a census-designated place
and planned community
in San Joaquin County, California
. An exburb
of the San Francisco Bay Area
, Mountain House is located 5 miles (8 km) from the City of Tracy
near Interstate 205
. In November 2008, the community appeared in nationwide news reports as having the highest percentage of negative equity
in the U.S.—the most homes "under water", worth less than their mortgage.
, the CDP covers an area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all of it land.
was 3,030.8 people per square mile (1,170.2/km²). The racial makeup of Mountain House was 3,467 (35.8%) White, 903 (9.3%) African American, 45 (0.5%) Native American, 3,830 (39.6%) Asian, 71 (0.7%) Pacific Islander, 663 (6.9%) from other races
, and 696 (7.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,637 persons (16.9%).
The Census reported that 9,675 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,807 households, out of which 1,676 (59.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,985 (70.7%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 227 (8.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 151 (5.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 186 (6.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 31 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 299 households (10.7%) were made up of individuals and 18 (0.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.45. There were 2,363 families
(84.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.73.
The population was spread out with 3,351 people (34.6%) under the age of 18, 501 people (5.2%) aged 18 to 24, 3,780 people (39.1%) aged 25 to 44, 1,676 people (17.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 367 people (3.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.4 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.
There were 3,237 housing units at an average density of 1,014.0 per square mile (391.5/km²), of which 2,205 (78.6%) were owner-occupied, and 602 (21.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.6%. 7,444 people (76.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,231 people (23.1%) lived in rental housing units.
Demographers estimate Mountain House will reach 45,000 people by 2026.
to administrate a Mountain Home Community Services District
. A five-member board was elected in 2008.
s, one high school
and a satellite college campus.
Mountain House currently has three k-8 elementary schools, Wicklund, Bethany, and the latest addition, Questa, which opened on August 24, 2010. All Mountain House high school students attend high schools in Tracy Unified School District
.
community college
opened in August 2009.
is a twice-weekly newspaper that covers both Tracy and Mountain House and has operated since the 19th century. The Stockton Record is a daily paper that covers the San Joaquin County area.
, operated by Altamont Commuter Express
(ACE). Tri-Delta Transit
provides bus service to Hacienda Business Park
and the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. A Intermodal train station, transit center and bus system are planned for Mountain House and would be built in future.
reported that Mountain House was the "most underwater community in America,"—the zip code with the highest amount of negative equity
on its homes. With home values decreasing across the nation, Mountain House was described as the worst-hit, with 90% of its homes worth less than the amount their owners owe in mortgages. The average homeowner in Mountain House was reported to be $122,000 in debt. Many local businesses in the 95391 zip code were closing because the homeowners were cutting back on their spending and could not support them.
CalPERS
, an agency that manages pensions for California public employees, invested heavily in Mountain House beginning in 2005, purchasing approximately 9,000 residential lots from Shea Homes. By May 2010, the $1.12B investment by CalPERS had been reduced to 18% of that figure: $200M. Even though home values had dropped significantly, CalPERS determined that they would hold onto the investment, counting on a recovery of the housing market.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
and planned community
Planned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
in San Joaquin County, California
San Joaquin County, California
San Joaquin County is a county located in Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, just east of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 685,306. The county seat is Stockton.-History:...
. An exburb
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, Mountain House is located 5 miles (8 km) from the City of Tracy
Tracy, California
Tracy is the second most populated city in San Joaquin County, California, United States and an exurb of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 82,922 at the 2010 census.-History:...
near Interstate 205
Interstate 205 (California)
Interstate 205 is a short Interstate Highway that connects Interstate 5 with Interstate 580 in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Along with those highways, I-205 forms the north side of a triangle around the city of Tracy...
. In November 2008, the community appeared in nationwide news reports as having the highest percentage of negative equity
Negative equity
Negative equity occurs when the value of an asset used to secure a loan is less than the outstanding balance on the loan. In the United States, assets with negative equity are often referred to as being "underwater", and loans and borrowers with negative equity are said to be "upside down".People...
in the U.S.—the most homes "under water", worth less than their mortgage.
Mountain House plan
Mountain House is projected to be a small full-fledged city developed over 30 year period by Trimark Communities. The community covers 4784 acres (19.4 km²) in San Joaquin County. The town will be organized into 12 distinct neighborhoods including 10 family neighborhoods and two age restricted neighborhoods each organized around a Neighborhood Center containing a neighborhood park, a K-8 school, and a small commercial area.At buildout the community will have 15,500 households or approximately 40,000 people and over 20,000 onsite jobs will be created by a planned 143 acre (0.57870098 km²) business park of 143 acre (0.57870098 km²). Major shopping and other services will be met by three Village Centers and a 39 acres (157,827.5 m²) Town Center.Construction began in 2001, but expansion of Mountain House is currently on hold due to the late 2000s economic recession. Currently, four villages have been built in 3,200 homes: Wicklund, Bethany, Altamont and Questa.Notable dates
- November 10, 1994 - Mountain House project approved by San Joaquin CountySan Joaquin County, CaliforniaSan Joaquin County is a county located in Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, just east of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 685,306. The county seat is Stockton.-History:...
Board of Supervisors - May 14, 2001 - Trimark breaks ground on Mountain House project
- January 18, 2003 - First home foundation poured
- August 24, 2004 - Wicklund Elementary School opens
- November 22, 2005 - Kamilos' College Park Specific Plan III & Delta College approved by San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors
- November 6, 2007 - Mountain House votes to form independent Community Services District
- December 7, 2007 - Delta College site annexed to Mountain House CSD through a public-private partnership with Kamilos
- November 2008 – noted for having the highest percentage of homes "under water" in the U.S.
- August 17, 2009 - Delta College Mountain House Campus opens for classes
- June 8, 2010 - Voters approve unification of Lammersville School District.
- January 2011 - 15-year-old resident Thia MegiaThia MegiaThia Megia is an American singer from Mountain House, San Joaquin County, California. Megia finished in the top 11 of the tenth season of American Idol...
becomes youngest finalist ever on American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. - July 1, 2011- Lammersville school district is officially Unified school district
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP covers an area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Mountain House had a population of 9,675. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,030.8 people per square mile (1,170.2/km²). The racial makeup of Mountain House was 3,467 (35.8%) White, 903 (9.3%) African American, 45 (0.5%) Native American, 3,830 (39.6%) Asian, 71 (0.7%) Pacific Islander, 663 (6.9%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 696 (7.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,637 persons (16.9%).
The Census reported that 9,675 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,807 households, out of which 1,676 (59.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,985 (70.7%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 227 (8.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 151 (5.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 186 (6.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 31 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 299 households (10.7%) were made up of individuals and 18 (0.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.45. There were 2,363 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(84.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.73.
The population was spread out with 3,351 people (34.6%) under the age of 18, 501 people (5.2%) aged 18 to 24, 3,780 people (39.1%) aged 25 to 44, 1,676 people (17.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 367 people (3.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.4 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.
There were 3,237 housing units at an average density of 1,014.0 per square mile (391.5/km²), of which 2,205 (78.6%) were owner-occupied, and 602 (21.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.6%. 7,444 people (76.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,231 people (23.1%) lived in rental housing units.
Demographers estimate Mountain House will reach 45,000 people by 2026.
Government
In 2007, Mountain House approved the creation of a Board of DirectorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
to administrate a Mountain Home Community Services District
Special-purpose district
Special-purpose districts or special district governments in the United States are independent governmental units that exist separately from, and with substantial administrative and fiscal independence from, general purpose local governments such as county, municipal, and township governments. As...
. A five-member board was elected in 2008.
Parks and recreation
Mountain House has plans for 18 parks.There are four current parks in Mountain House: Wicklund, Bethany, Altamont, Questa and two larger parks: Central Park and Mountain House Creek Recreation Park.Education
Mountain House plans to have a total of 14 state-of-the-art schools which includes: 12 K-8 schoolK-8 school
A K-8 school in the United States is a school that combines both elementary school and middle school students in the range from kindergarten through eighth grade.- Examples :* David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center, North Miami, Florida...
s, one high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
and a satellite college campus.
Lammersville Joint Unified School District
Students in Mountain House and Lammersville are served by Lammersville Joint Unified School DistrictLammersville Joint Unified School District
Lammersville Joint Unified School district -formerly Lammersville Elementary school district is a Prekindergarten through twelfth grade Unified School district in Mountain House, California, which serves area west of Tracy and parts of Alameda County...
Mountain House currently has three k-8 elementary schools, Wicklund, Bethany, and the latest addition, Questa, which opened on August 24, 2010. All Mountain House high school students attend high schools in Tracy Unified School District
Tracy Unified School District
Tracy Unified School District is a public school district in Tracy, California. As of 2006-07, there were 23 schools in the district.-Elementary schools:*Bohn Elementary School*Central Elementary School*Freiler School *Hirsch Elementary School...
.
Higher education
A satellite campus of San Joaquin DeltaSan Joaquin Delta College
San Joaquin Delta College is a community college in Stockton, California. It is the successor of the Stockton Junior College which was formed in 1935.Part of Disney's 1973 film The World's Greatest Athlete was shot here.-Description:...
community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
opened in August 2009.
Media
The Tracy PressTracy Press
The Tracy Press is a weekday newspaper published in Tracy, California, United States. Established in 1898, the Tracy Press has been operated by the Matthews family since 1943. It is currently one of the few family-owned newspapers in California still in existence...
is a twice-weekly newspaper that covers both Tracy and Mountain House and has operated since the 19th century. The Stockton Record is a daily paper that covers the San Joaquin County area.
Transportation
The nearest railroad service is located in Tracy, CaliforniaTracy, California
Tracy is the second most populated city in San Joaquin County, California, United States and an exurb of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 82,922 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, operated by Altamont Commuter Express
Altamont Commuter Express
The Altamont Commuter Express is a regional rail service in California connecting Stockton with San Jose....
(ACE). Tri-Delta Transit
Tri-Delta Transit
Tri Delta Transit, also known as Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority, is the local public transportation provider for the eastern area of Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, U.S.A.. It provides local bus service in the communities of Bay Point, Pittsburg, Antioch,...
provides bus service to Hacienda Business Park
Hacienda Business Park
Hacienda Business Park is a 900 acre mixed used job center and housing development in Pleasanton, California.-History:Approved in 1982 and ratified by Pleasanton voters in 1983, the business park covers approximately 20 square blocks and features many multi-story office buildings and headquarters...
and the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. A Intermodal train station, transit center and bus system are planned for Mountain House and would be built in future.
Financial downturn
In November 2008, The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reported that Mountain House was the "most underwater community in America,"—the zip code with the highest amount of negative equity
Negative equity
Negative equity occurs when the value of an asset used to secure a loan is less than the outstanding balance on the loan. In the United States, assets with negative equity are often referred to as being "underwater", and loans and borrowers with negative equity are said to be "upside down".People...
on its homes. With home values decreasing across the nation, Mountain House was described as the worst-hit, with 90% of its homes worth less than the amount their owners owe in mortgages. The average homeowner in Mountain House was reported to be $122,000 in debt. Many local businesses in the 95391 zip code were closing because the homeowners were cutting back on their spending and could not support them.
CalPERS
CalPERS
The California Public Employees' Retirement System or CalPERS is an agency in the California executive branch that "manages pension and health benefits for more than 1.6 million California public employees, retirees, and their families"...
, an agency that manages pensions for California public employees, invested heavily in Mountain House beginning in 2005, purchasing approximately 9,000 residential lots from Shea Homes. By May 2010, the $1.12B investment by CalPERS had been reduced to 18% of that figure: $200M. Even though home values had dropped significantly, CalPERS determined that they would hold onto the investment, counting on a recovery of the housing market.