Merced has long been a Central California transportation hub. The town was born when the Central Pacific Railroad established a station here in 1871, and rail service still plays an important role in getting goods to market and getting Merced’s citizens where they want to go. With Highway 99 (the Main Street of California) running through the City of Merced, and I-5 on the West side of the county, a substantial portion of all north/south traffic in the state passes through the county.