About Cressey

Cressey (formerly, Cressy) is a census-designated place in Merced County, California.It is located 6 miles (9.7 km) north-northwest of Atwater, at an elevation of 167 feet (51 m). The population was 394 at the 2010 census.

Cressey is located in the northern part of Merced County. It is just east of where the Santa Fe railroad crosses the Merced River. Ballico is across the river to the northwest. Livingston is to the southwest, and Winton is southeast of Cressey. The ZIP Code is 95312. The area is inside area code 209.

The Cressy post office opened in 1882, closed in 1883, re-opened in 1909, and changed its name to Cressey in 1912. The town was named by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway for Calvin J. Cressey, local landowner. Cressey has one Postal Office, located on Cressey Way. The Old Post Office was located behind the Cressey General Store, on Third St. Cressey has one active General Store, located on the corner of Santa Fe Dr. and Third St. In the past, the Cressey Store had two Gasoline Pumps; then was reduced to one. Then after, all were taken out of service and removed. Cressey has one County-Owned Park located on Cressey Way, just West of the Ward Canal, but it's said to be maintained by a few citizens and the Cal-Fire Firefighter Volunteers. Cressey was also said to have one church (but later turned into a private home) on the corner of Crocker Ave and Third St. It was also said that Cressey had a Hotel near the RailRoad (Santa Fe) but has not been confirmed. Cressey had an Old "one-lane" iron suspension bridge (similar to the Historic Shaffer Bridge), that was off of Meadow Dr, that went over the Merced River. That bridge was a "cut-off" or an alternate way to Ballico, CA; that went onto Alves Rd. The bridge was later demolished for an unspecific reason. Cressey is Patrolled by the Merced County Sheriffs Office. Cressey has one Elementary School (Ballico-Cressey School District, K-3), and has had many changes to its playground structures (some to had been eliminated because of safety precautions) and has had a few buildings since its existence. At the school Baseball field (with four fully operating "stadium-like" lights) that the school grounds had, but were later taken out for an unknown reason. Cressey locals are very familiar with the term "River Rats". Although, the name has no real identity, nor one can say where the origin really came from, "REAL", "TRUE", Cressey citizens have embraced it and can state that Cressey has been known as that, the towns' "mascot" in the past (possibly still now) for that reason.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²), all of it land. To the North of Cressey, beyond the Merced River, it's considered Ballico, Ca. To the South of Cressey, Palm Ave and Beyond, it's considered Winton, Ca. To the West of Cressey, over the Santa Fe Rail Road and beyond, it's considered Livingston, Ca. To the East of Cressey, off of Cressey Way onto Meadow Dr and beyond, it's considered Winton, Ca as well.