Page Contents for Modesto, California

Statistics & Facts

Location

Weather & Climate

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Economy

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Community news

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The California state capital is Sacramento.
The population of Modesto is approximately 205,721 (2006), 201165 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 67,179 (2000), 69107 (2010).
The amount of land area in Modesto is 78.174 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Modesto is 35.8 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0.466 sq kilometers.
The distance from Modesto to Washington DC is 2496 miles.
The distance to the California state capital is 63 miles. (as the crow flies)
Modesto is positioned 37.65 degrees north of the equator and 120.99 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Modesto elevation is 91 feet above sea level.
The city tree is the Modesto Ash.
Modesto per capita income is $ 17,797 (2000).
Modesto median income is $ 45,769 (2005).
The Modesto median home price is $ 336,900 (2005).
Modesto average annual rainfall is 12 inches per year

Location

in the Central valley of California above Fresno. Other nearby communities include Stockton, Bystrom, Shackelford, West Modesto, Bret Harte, Riverdale Park, Ceres, Riverbank and Del Rio.

Modesto is located on State Highway 99, the major north-south business route within California. Interstate 5 is just 20 miles to the west. Route 99 is 9th street which runs through downtown Modesto to Ceres. This route is longer than even I-5. It breaks off of I-5 before Chico and ends past Bakersfield before the Grapevine to Los Angeles. Route 99 continues on into Canada.
Modesto has access to three major Pacific ports -Port of Stockton, Oakland, and San Francisco. Modesto is accessible by its local metropolitan airport which provides weekly flights to Las Vegas and daily flights to Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angles.
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Climate

moderate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. Spring and Fall seasons are quite comfortable. Most rain falls from November until March. This is also the time of dense fog in the area. The highest temperature on record for Modesto was 113 F. in 2006 and the lowest temperature was 18 F. in 1932.
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Weather

comfortable most of the year. Here is a weather page for Modesto.
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History & History Related Items

Modesto was to be named Ralston after a prominent San Francisco banker named William Ralston, but he declined the offer, so citizens named the city after his modesty using the spanish word "Modesto".

The downtown Modesto arch was built in 1912. The arch has 668 lights and is 25 feet high at its center. The length of the span is 75 feet across I Street. The slogan on the arch, Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health, was chosen during a contest in 1911. Sam Harbaugh's slogan won the $ 3.00 prize.

People and businesses began to come in 1870 when the new town was announced. The end of the line was at Modesto by 8 November 1870. The new area was rather bleak with few trees or plants, but lots of sand. By the early 1900's, Modesto had grown to over 4,000 citizens. It soon became known as the "Rose City" and the "Garden City" for the beauty of its yards and gardens.

Take a historical photo tour of Modesto. See some great old pictures!

See this history page for Modesto. Here is another good history page.

You will find good information at this historic Modesto site.
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The founding of Modesto

1870

Attractions

Modesto Centre Plaza - State Of The Art Meeting/Convention Center which includes a 16,000 square foot exhibit hall, meeting rooms totaling 4,000 sq. feet and a 300-seat lecture hall.

Mc Henry Mansion and Museum of Art & History
located downtown is a beautiful remodeled Victorian mansion - free tours are given.
1402 I Street
Modesto, CA
Phone: 209-577-5366
The McHenry Museum offers a unique history of Stanislaus Pioneers and old Modesto and Stanislaus County. It is located down the street from the McHenry Mansion. The McHenry Village is one of the largest shopping centers in town. McClatchy Square is just across the street from the beautiful McHenry Mansion. It represents gardens and recreation area for downtown goers and the "paper boy" statue with a boy delivering copies of the Bee and a dog at his side.

See Photographs of Modesto.

Modesto has been an "All American City" in both 1954 and 1972. It has been a Tree City USA for many years.

The Modesto Arch (9th & I streets) - Built in 1912, this Orange-rust color arch is one of the few remaining in California. The arch is popular for what it displays, which is the city motto: MODESTO (Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health).

Vintage Faire Mall (Located off Hwy99 @ the Standiford Exit) - Since 1977, The mall offers over 115 specialty stores including Macys, GAP, and Sears. The mall is the largest throughout the region.

Modesto Nuts - Modesto is home to a Minor-League baseball team. The Modesto Nuts are part of the California League North
Phone: 209-572-4487
Fax: 209-572-4490
Email

The Stanislaus Cruisers
Professional Soccer Club
Phone: 209-538-5782

A great city with a great future, that's Modesto -a city that offers a very desirable lifestyle. Modesto is conveniently located between the California Coast and the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, both are just a short drive away. Modesto is the largest city in Stanislaus County, which ranks 7th in California for agricultural production, with an annual income of $ 1.3 billion.

The Hershey's Chocolate Factory
provides information onthe chocolate and watch how your chocolate is made and eat it in the visitor center park! The E & J Gallo Winery is the largest winery in the world and taste the wine! Downtown Modesto has a new 18 screen cinema, located along with Tenth Street Place or Tenth Street Plaza. With restraunts, galleries, fountains, offices, parking levels, Hotels, and a flower clock, one clock of only 3 in the U.S. The Galo Arts Center is expected to open in Spring of 2006 that will attract valley goers throughout the region. With 400-1,000 seat theatres and art paintings with plays from California State Univeristy of Stanislaus and Modesto Jr. College. The Fat Cat Music House is a theatre and bar lounge with the fat cat play. The State Theatre is one of the historic sites left in downtown Modesto. Its renovation is now complete.

Modesto ranks 88 out of 100 for the U.S.'s safest cities.

Modesto Junior College (MJC) established in 1921 was the first jr. college in California. There are two MJC campuses. East campus, and West campus.

Points of Interest in Modesto.

NOTED NOTABLES
George Lucas - was born in Modesto and lived here in Modesto in his early years. Lucas Plaza, at "five-points" intersection, has a bronze "American Graffiti" statue by Betty Saletta in commemoration.

U.S. Women's Soccer player Tisha Venturini lived here before she became famous.
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Economy & Industry

alive and well in Modesto. Some of the projects underway or planned for the city are as follows: Kaiser-Modesto Medical Center, The Promenade, Virginia Corridor Trail, Gallo Arts Center, 9th Street Bridge, Briggsmore/Carpenter overpass landscape, Highway 132, 99 and other Road Expansions, Memorial Medical Center Enlargement, Emanuel Medical Center Enlargement, Modesto Airport Expansions, several highway interchanges and expansions.
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Modesto City Government

The Official Site for the City of Modesto.

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City Hall
1010 10th Street
Modesto, CA 95354
P.O. Box 642
Modesto, CA 95353
Phone: (209) 577-5200

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COUNTY GOVERNMENT

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Modesto is the County Seat for Stanislaus County.

Stanislaus County Administration Office
1010 Tenth Street
Modesto, CA 95354-2338
Phone: 209-525-6333

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Stanislaus County Clerk
1021 I St
Modesto, CA 95354-2337
Phone: 209-525-5250

Modesto Chamber

Chamber of Commerce
1114 J Street
P.O. Box 844
Modesto, CA 95353
Phone: (209) 577-5757
Fax: (209) 577-2673
Email: info@modchamber.org

Modesto Community News

The Modesto Bee
Newspaper for Stanislaus County

Modesto Organizations

Chamber of Commerce
1114 J Street
P.O. Box 844
Modesto, CA 95353
Phone: (209) 577-5757
Fax: (209) 577-2673
Email: info@modchamber.org

Modesto Libraries

Stanislaus County Free Library
1500 I St
Modesto, CA 95354-1120
Phone: 209-558-7824

The Modesto-Stanislaus County Library offers over 850,000 books including a complete new renovation with a children's book area.

Modesto Schools

Learn more about Education in Modesto

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Modesto City Schools

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Stanislaus County Office of Education
1100 H St.
Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: 209-525-4900

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HIGHER EDUCATION

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Modesto Junior College Modesto

Miscellany

Highways 132, 99, 108, and 219 all run through the area, also Interstate 99 along with the Modesto Amtrak Station, Southern Pacific Depot, and the Greyhound Depot.

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The population of Modesto was:
1910 - 4,500 (estimate)
1990 - 164,730
1995 - 178,000
1997 - 180,800
1998 - 182,700
1999 - 183,000
2000 - 188,856
2001 - 191,600
2003 - 203,300
2006 - 205,721

Modesto is projected to grow to a population of 320,000 in 2015 and 400,000 in 2035.

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Median age:
2000 - 32.7 years

Median household income:
2000 - $ 40,394
2005 - $ 45,769

Median house value:
2000 - $ 126,000
2005 - $ 336,900