A magnetically latching solenoid and method of determining a position of a plunger contained therein. The solenoid includes a frame, a plunger configured to move through the frame between a first stable position and a second stable position, and at least one magnet mounted near the center of the frame such that a first and second magnetic fields are produced by the magnet through the frame and the plunger, wherein each of the first and second magnetic fields drive a separate portion of the frame into magnetic saturation depending on the position of the plunger. The solenoid also includes a first and second sensors mounted on the frame at different locations configured to detect and measure the first and second magnetic fields. The detected and measured magnetic fields are then used to determine the position of the plunger in the solenoid.