The city, in theSan Joaquin Valley, is surrounded by rich farmland. Stanislaus County ranks sixth among California counties in farm production.[10] It is home toGallo Family Winery, the largestfamily-owned winery in theUnited States.[11]Led by milk, almonds, chickens, walnuts, and corn silage, the county grossed nearly $3.1 billion in agricultural production in 2011.[12] Thefarm-to-table movement plays a central role in Modesto living in the Central Valley.
The City of Modesto was originally a stop on the railroad connectingSacramento toLos Angeles, built byCentral Pacific Railroad.[14] When Modesto was founded in 1870, the railroad company co-founderMark Hopkins Jr. suggested to name it after his associate the bankerWilliam C. Ralston. Ralston asked that another name be found, and a railroad employee exclaimed loudly in Spanish that Ralston was a modest man. The railroad company co-founderCharles Crocker then named the town Modesto in recognition of Ralston's modesty.[15]
Modesto's population exceeded 1,000 residents in 1884. With fields of grain, the nearbyTuolumne River for grain barges, and railroad traffic, the town grew. Irrigation water came from dams in the foothills, and irrigated fields of vegetables and fruit and nut trees flourished. By 1900, Modesto's population was more than 4,500. DuringWorld War II, the area provided canned goods, powdered milk, and eggs for the USarmed forces and Allied forces. For the next few decades, Modesto's population grew about two percent per year, to over 100,000 in 1980 and over 200,000 in 2001.
The city's official motto, "Water Wealth Contentment Health," is emblazoned on the downtownModesto Arch, which is featured in local photographs and postcards. The motto was selected in a contest held in 1911, with a $3 prize for the winner. (The original winning motto, "Nobody'sgot Modesto's goat",[16] was later declined by town officials.) Modesto's motto is sometimes spoofed as "The land gets the water, the bankers get the wealth, the cows get contentment, and the farmers get the health."[17]
In 1885, Modesto enacted what is now considered to be the firstzoning ordinance. The ordinance's primary goal was to keep laundries (which were primarily Chinese run), out of the city.[18] After an arrested man filed to contest the constitutionality of the ordinance, the case escalated to the California Supreme Court which found the law to be constitutional.[19]
In the late 1980s Modesto embarked on an update to the city'sgeneral plan pursuant to requirements of the State of California. The result was a comprehensive evaluation of alternative population and land use projections along with associated environmental impact analysis. Some of the environmental factors technically assessed were air quality,water quality,environmental noise,soil contamination and visual impacts.
Much of the soils in Modesto are classified as part of the Hanford series: (HbpA) finesandy loam, moderately deep over silt.[20] These soils are well-drained, moderately coarse-textured soils derived fromalluvium from granitic rock. The Hanford soils are important for the production of a wide variety of irrigated orchard, field, andtruck crops.
Vicinity watercourses include theStanislaus River, theTuolumne River andDry Creek which empties into the Tuolumne River. Area groundwater, which is the principal source of water supply in the city,[21] has been historically impaired in a fashion that is spatially variable. Water from the nearby Modesto Reservoir is now used to augment city water. In various parts of the city and its perimeter the followingwater pollutants have occurred from time to time:nitrates,dibromochloromethane,volatile organics, salinity,total dissolved solids and otherpesticides.[22] Each of these contaminants is not present citywide.
TheEPA rates air quality in Modesto as a 23 on a scale to 100 (higher is better), making Modesto an unhealthy place to live for those with breathing difficulties. This is based on ozone alert days and number of pollutants in the air. In May 2010,Forbes magazine, in association with theAmerican Lung Association, indicated that Modesto was one of the top 25 most polluted cities in the U.S.[23]
As of the 2000s, downtown Modesto (DOMO) has new attractions including the Gallo Center for the Arts and the new Downtown Plaza adjacent to Modesto Centre Plaza. Downtown Modesto has lost the Hotel Covell, theart deco Strand Theatre, and the Sears building.
Historic 10th and 11th streets, which were the original locations of the cruising featured inAmerican Graffiti, have been designated by the City of Modesto as the Historic Cruise Route. This is now a tourist walk with information about Modesto's music, car and Graffiti culture.
In 2014, the Walk of Fame was launched on the Historic Cruise Route with markers celebrating classic legends likeGeorge Lucas,Gene Winfield, Bart Bartoni and others.
Classic Community Murals was launched by Modesto magazineModestoView and the Peer Recovery Art Center to create a series of large scale murals celebrating the Modesto Classic Graffiti heritage. Many of these are on the Cruise Route.
New business incentives have been created to enhance facades, signage, and permitting. A promenade is being designed to create a special entertainment zone along the corridor between the Modesto Centre Plaza and the Gallo Center for the Arts and the adjacent core streets of 10th, 11th and J streets.
Modesto is located in the center of the Central Valley surrounded by theCoastal Ranges and theSierra Nevada, and close by, the numerous farmlands that produce a majority of several crops for the United States. There are also grassy and tree-filled preserves nearby. The city is in between theTuolumne River and the nearbyStanislaus River. There is a small creek named Dry Creek, which is badly polluted by agricultural runoff and is adjacent to several parks. Rivers and lakes nearWaterford are accessible for akayak, or smallmotorboat, and there are several points of public access. This access was given as part of a government plan whenhydroelectric power dams were installed upstream for flood control,irrigation, andelectric power generation. The nearest large openseaport is thePort of Stockton, used for oceangoing ships that transport goods, particularly cement, fertilizer, and agricultural products, from California to overseas.
Modesto has ahot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa)[24] under theKöppen climate classification. It has cool to mild winters with moderate rainfall and hot, dry summers. Most of the rainfall occurs during the winter and the annual total is 13.2 in (340 mm). The highest rainfall in a season was 26.01 in (661 mm) in 1982–83 and the lowest being 4.3 in (110 mm) in 1912–1913. Precipitation usually comes in the form of atmospheric rivers or bomb cyclones and some of the most precipitation can come during the El Niño years. In addition, Modesto experiences drought cycles like the rest of California where the seasonal rainfall can be a few inches below average in dry seasons and a few inches above during wet seasons. The city does not have a full storm sewer system, and many streets flood during winter rain storms. Measurable snowfall has only been recorded in only 4 months in the last 100 years with the highest amount being 1.5 inches that fell in January 1962.[25]
Usually on average the weather does not go below 30 °F and not above 103 °F. Average January temperatures range from 56 °F (13 °C) in the day to 34 °F (1 °C) at night. There are about 20 days per year that see temperatures at or below 32 °F (0 °C) and 79 that are at or above 90 °F (32 °C). Winter days that receive precipitation tend to be milder while drier days have freezing nights that allow for frost build up until the morning. Thus, winter temperatures can vary from lows in the low 30s in dry months to 40s in wetter months. Days in the winter can occasionally be as high as 70 °F (21 °C), but there can also be cool rainy days as late as May reaching only 60 °F (16 °C). Average July temperatures range from 95 °F (35 °C) in the day to 63 °F (17 °C) at night. During the summer months there can be multiple days in a row with high temperatures exceeding 100 °F (38 °C). This can pose health risks for people with weak constitutions or who ignore the dangers of heat stroke. Onshore breezes (known locally as the "delta breeze") moderate these high temperatures somewhat, with cooler air coming in after 8 or 9 pm on summer nights, making Modesto potentially a couple or few degrees cooler than the northern and southern parts of the Central Valley.
Climate data for Modesto, California (Modesto City County Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1927–present
Modesto, California – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
The2010 United States Census[32] reported that Modesto had a population of 201,165. The population density was 5,423.4 inhabitants per square mile (2,094.0/km2). The racial makeup of Modesto was 130,833 (65.0%)White, 8,396 (4.2%)African American, 2,494 (1.2%)Native American, 13,557 (6.7%)Asian (1.5% Filipino, 1.3% Asian Indian, 1.2% Cambodian, 0.7% Chinese, 0.6% Vietnamese, 0.5% Laotian, 0.2% Japanese, 0.2% Korean, 0.1% Hmong, 0.1% Pakistani), 1,924 (1.0%)Pacific Islander, 31,244 (15.5%) fromother races, and 12,717 (6.3%) from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 71,381 persons (35.5%): 30.8% Mexican, 0.7% Puerto Rican, 0.6% Salvadoran, 0.5% Spaniard, 0.4% Spanish, 0.3% Nicaraguan, and 0.2% Guatemalan.Non-Hispanic Whites were 49.4% of the population in 2010,[33] down from 83.1% in 1980.[34]
The Census reported that 198,210 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 1,189 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1,766 (0.9%) were institutionalized.
There were 69,107 households, out of which 27,152 (39.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 33,230 (48.1%) were married couples living together, 10,774 (15.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 4,904 (7.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 5,177 (7.5%)unmarried. 15,887 households (23.0%) were made up of individuals, and 6,221 (9.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87. There were 48,908families (70.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.38.
The population was spread out, with 54,012 people (26.8%) under the age of 18, 20,838 people (10.4%) aged 18 to 24, 53,116 people (26.4%) aged 25 to 44, 49,691 people (24.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 23,508 people (11.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.
There were 75,044 housing units at an average density of 2,023.2 per square mile (781.2/km2), of which 39,422 (57.0%) were owner-occupied, and 29,685 (43.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%. 112,065 people (55.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 86,145 people (42.8%) lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $49,852, and the median income for a family was $56,629.[35] Males had a median income of $47,473 versus $37,629 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,886. About 14.9% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
In September 2010, the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research released a study indicating that 32% of the population was obese vs. a statewide average obesity rate of 22.7%. Poverty was one of the factors listed as contributing to the high obesity rates.[citation needed]
As of the census[36] of 2000, there were 188,856 people, 64,959 households, and 46,640 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,277.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,037.6/km2). There were 67,179 housing units at an average density of 1,877.2 per square mile (724.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 69.6%White, 25.6%Hispanic orLatino, 4.0%African American, 1.2%Native American, 6.0%Asian, 0.5%Pacific Islander.
There were 64,959 households, out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
Modesto has a large agricultural industry which is based on the fertile farmland surrounding the city. Modesto is home to the largest winery in the world:E & J Gallo Winery. The Gallo Glass Company, a company of Gallo Winery, is the largest wine bottle manufacturing company in the world. Gallo provides about 3,500 jobs to Modesto residents and 2,500 jobs in other parts of the state, country, and world (meaning that most of its employment base is in Modesto).[37] In 2023, Gallo laid off 355 of its California workers.[38] Other major privately owned companies based in Modesto includeCrystal Creamery,Royal Robbins, international award winner Fiscalini Cheese, Sciabica Olive Oil,Save Mart, Acme Construction, Aderholt Specialty, and5.11 Tactical (formerly a part of Royal Robbins, a United States brand of clothing consisting ofuniforms andtactical equipment for military). A cannery downtown produces food which is usually shipped toSacramento andFresno for transfer to rail or ship.Ceres has a few cereal and snack factories in the area. There are several small steelworking companies in Modesto. In mid-2008, a number of road projects were underway, with roads being constructed, repaved or repaired, at an estimated total cost of nearly $120 million.
Rates of both violent crimes and property crimes are higher in Modesto than the state average.[40] Of particular note is that Modesto ranks among the top car theft cities in the US. As of 2012[update], Modesto ranked number 1 in car thefts per 100,000 people,[41] although the city dropped to number 3 in 2013, behind Bakersfield and Fresno.[42] In Modesto the crime rate is higher than 86% of California's cities.[43]
TheRockabilly genre of music originated in Modesto with the formation of Maddox Brothers & Rose on KTRB Radio in 1937. The "Hillbilly Boogie" sound, featuring the string slapping percussive sound by Fred Maddox, would become popular on a national scale and would later be the foundation for Rockabilly. Fred Maddox's bass is housed at the Experience Project Museum in Seattle, Washington.[44]
The city's annualArchitectural Festival honors Modesto's history as a testing ground formid-century modern architecture during the 1940s and 1950s. Modesto's mid-century buildings have been featured four times in Museum of Modern Art publications.
FilmmakerGeorge Lucas, who was born in Modesto, graduated fromThomas Downey High School in 1962 and attended Modesto Junior College, immortalized the city in his award-winning 1973 filmAmerican Graffiti. The film portrayed the spirit ofcruising and friendship on Modesto's 10th and 11th streets in 1962, and inspired a revival of interest in 1950s pop culture. TheModesto American Graffiti Festival is held annually in June. It attracts thousands of visitors and car enthusiasts, along with hundreds of classic andantique cars.[45]
X-Fest, deriving from its real nameXclamation Festival, was a 21-and-over music festival in downtown Modesto. Begun in 2000, X-Fest evolved into a large outdoor event stretching for 15 blocks and featuring the world's largest disco which occupied four blocks on its own. In 2008 X-Fest featured 50 bands and a crowd of 15,000 people. Much of the profits ended up in local non-profit charities. Some business owners and citizens of Modesto complained of a rowdy and often drunkMardi Gras atmosphere exhibited at X-fest. The last X-fest occurred in Modesto in 2015.
Located in downtown Modesto is the State Theater with music acts and independent films.
Downtown Modesto hosts a monthly Art Walk, with local artists displaying art for sale, artist demos, local gallery shows, in a multi-venue map self-guided tour.
TheModesto Symphony Orchestra, which finds its home at the Gallo Center, held their first performance when Modesto had a population of 17,000 in 1931 and continues to be a staple in the community.[46] Not to be outdone by the Symphony, MoBand (Modesto Band of Stanislaus County), established in 1919, is one of the oldest continuously performing bands in the U.S.[47] The group performs a free 6-week summer concerts-in-the-park series with its 130 volunteer musicians.
Modesto is also home to Townsend Opera, founded in 1983 by the late Modesto-born opera singer Buck Townsend, and Modesto Performing Arts, as well as the Gallo Center for the Arts.[48] Modesto is also home to the area's leading professional ballet company, Central West Ballet.
The Mexican culture and traditions are displayed by the Ballet Folklorico Group "Casa Cultural Tradiciones". Folklorico groups are often at Modesto events, sharing their culture with traditional dance and colorful attire.
The Modesto Area Music Awards (MAMA) are held each October. Local radio stations and promoters nominate local bands and voting happens online. There is a black-tie ceremony and trophies are given to winners in multiple categories. A lifetime achievement award is also presented. The MAMAs were created by Chris Murphy and Chris Ricci to support and encourage local musicians.
TheMcHenry Mansion is a restored historic home located at Fifteenth and I Streets. The McHenry family built the house in 1883 after the patriarch of the family, Oramil McHenry, left $20,000 in his will.[49] The mansion was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1978.
Graceada Park is anurban park north of Needham Avenue and was recognized as a historic landmark by the City of Modesto Landmark Preservation Commission in 1998.
TheHawke Castle is a historic residence built in 1929. It was influenced by the Norman architecture, and is now the property of George Thayer Real Estate.
or the Walter B. Wood House, was originally located at 814 Twelfth Street. The house was originally owned by Walter Wood and was constructed in 1884 in the Italianate style. The house has been removed from its original location, and modern renovation of the house has compromised its NRHP designation.
TheU.S. "El Viejo"Post Office is located on Twelfth and I streets. Wall murals inside the post office were painted byRay Boynton, a Work Projects Administration artist.[50] The post office was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[51]
TheDry Creek Bridge, formerly on State Route 132, was recommended eligible for its design. The bridge is a major example of John B. Leonard's bridge designs.
TheSouthern Pacific Railroad Depot was constructed in 1915 in the Mission style at the corner of J and Ninth Streets. The City of Modesto was established as a town by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1870. The building has been restored and expanded as the City Transportation Center.
McHenry Museum – Across the street from the McHenry Mansion. It is filled with tidbits from Modesto's history.
George Lucas Plaza –American Graffiti-inspired bronze statue made in honor of Modesto filmmakerGeorge Lucas, located at Five Points (the intersection of McHenry Avenue, "J" Street, 17th Street, Downey and Needham).
Gallo Center for the Arts – Center for the performing arts opened in 2007 and located in downtown Modesto at 1000 "I" Street.
Downtown Modesto – Known for having a variety of restaurants and night life, including 3 weekly farmer's markets. It also hosts a multi-venue Art Walk year-round on the third Thursday of the month, free to view with maps available.
The State Theatre – Dating back to the 1920s, it was recently renovated and serves as a local performance arts center and as a theater specializing in independent and foreign films.[52]
Graceada Park neighborhood – An area of representative old homes (circa 1920s and earlier) with streets lined with large city-planted shade trees and a series of parks, a bandshell and other amenities. The name Graceada is based on two local residents, Grace Beard and Ada Wisecarver, who helped promote the idea of parks in the area and whose families donated the land forGraceada Park. This park was designed byJohn McLaren, who also designed and was the longtime superintendent ofSan Francisco'sGolden Gate Park.[54]
TheModesto Nuts Minor League Baseball Club is a class ACalifornia League. The Nuts are the Single A affiliate of theSeattle Mariners and play 70 home games each season. The Nuts won the California League championship in 2017, and back to back titles in 2023 and 2024.[55][56][57]
Modesto is governed under acouncil-manager system.[3] The Mayor is electedat-large. The six members of thecity council are elected from districts by the voters within the respective district.
According to the city's most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $357,631,225 in Revenues, $1,826,668,511 in total assets, and $876,459,686 in total liabilities. The city has adopted a policy to achieve and maintain a General Fund reserve at 8% of the fund's total operating expenditures for fiscal year 2017–2018.At the end of the fiscal year, the General Fund balance was $26,745,582 or 22.5% of total General Fund expenditures.[58]
Modesto City Schools was established for students in the community in 1871. The current enrollment is approximately 32,000 students. The district operates 23 elementary schools (K-6), four junior high schools (7–8), sevencomprehensive high schools (9–12), and an alternative education program that includes an opportunity and continuation school, independent study and adult evening high school. The seventh comprehensive high school, Joseph Gregori High School, was recently completed. Modesto's oldest high school,Modesto High School, also offers anInternational Baccalaureate program, and is the only high school in Stanislaus County accredited for this program. There are other elementary school districts within and adjacent to the limits of Modesto City Schools that feed into the high schools. They include Sylvan Union (serving the eastern portion of Modesto), Stanislaus Union, Hart-Ransom, Shilo and Paradise Elementary School Districts.
Modesto Christian School (K–12),Central Catholic High School, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School, St. Stanislaus Catholic School, Big Valley Christian School, and Grace Lutheran School are private religious schools located in Modesto.
Modesto Junior College is a two-year junior college in Modesto and has over 20,000 students enrolled and 21 inter-collegiate sports teams.
Community Business College, vocational college in Modesto providing vocational training and job placement services to the unemployed with non-profit tuition scholarships. Offers training in medical office, bookkeeping, property management, foreign languages, medical coding and solar technologies.
As part of the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto television market, Modesto is primarily served by stations that are based mainly inSacramento. They are listed below, with the city of license in bold:
Modestoview magazine, monthly entertainment magazine viewable on modestoview.com or in print for free pick-up at most restaurants, cafes, and offices in Modesto.
The large industrial region south and east of the city is served by theModesto and Empire Traction Company, a 5-mile (8.0 km)short line railroad, with a web of industry tracks and many customers.[70] At one time, Modesto was the operational center of theTidewater Southern Railway, which had its main line down the center of Ninth Street, a major north–south street. A cityordinance passed by the city council keptelectric power lines over this section of street activated long after the railroad had converted to steam power. In 2000, the last trains ran down Ninth Street. Now the railroad (owned by theUnion Pacific Railroad since 1983) no longer passes through Modesto.
A 2022 episode of the paranormal documentary showA Haunting titled: "Daydreams and Nightmares" (Season 11 episode 3) tells the case of a costume store under the same name owned by Dana Walters that located in the city and believed to be haunted.
The episode "Looking for a plot" (2015), from HBO'sLooking, takes place in Modesto.
Modesto is mentioned in a popular corrido song by the famous band Fuerza Regida, a Regional Mexican genre pop culture group, a video was filmed for the song "En Modesto se La Pasa" in Modesto, CA
^Williamson, C.J.S. (May 1931). "Mechanics of Zoning Adjustments".The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.155 (2):108–122.doi:10.1177/000271623115500215.S2CID145796947.
^Bernstein, David E.; Eliot, David (January 1, 1999). "Lochner, Parity, and the Chinese Laundry Cases".William and Mary Law Review.41: 211.doi:10.2139/ssrn.146952.
^John Torrey, Paul Awosika et al.,Expanded initial study, Boulder Creek subdivision, Stanislaus County, Earth Metrics, Report 7999: California State Clearinghouse, Sacramento, November 1989.
^"California Birth Index, 1905–1995".Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California – via State of California.
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