Modesto, California

Modesto (Spanish for '"modest"'),[10] officially the City of Modesto, is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, it is the 18th largest city in the state of California and forms part of the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland Combined Statistical Area.

"Modesto" redirects here. For other uses, see Modesto (disambiguation).

Modesto, California
City
City of Modesto
Clockwise: Modesto Arch; Hotel Covell; Gallo Center for the Arts
Seal
Motto(s): 
Water Wealth Contentment Health[1]
Location in Stanislaus County and the state of California
Modesto
Location in the United States
Modesto
Modesto (the United States)
Coordinates: 37°39′41″N 120°59′40″W
Country United States
State California
County Stanislaus
RegionSan Joaquin Valley
FoundedNovember 8, 1870
IncorporatedAugust 6, 1884[2]
Named forThe modesty of William Chapman Ralston
Government
 • TypeCouncil-manager[3]
 • MayorSue Zwahlen
 • City managerJoseph Lopez
Area
 • City44.80 sq mi (116.04 km2)
 • Land42.97 sq mi (111.30 km2)
 • Water1.83 sq mi (4.74 km2)  0.61%
 • Metro
1,515 sq mi (3,920 km2)
Elevation52 ft (27 m)
Population
 • City201,165
 • Estimate 
(2019)[7]
215,196
 • Rank1st in Stanislaus County
18th in California
103rd in the United States
 • Density5,007.59/sq mi (1,933.45/km2)
 • Metro
514,453
 • Metro density340/sq mi (130/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP codes[8]
95350–95358, 95397
Area code209
GNIS IDs[5][9]277609, 2411130
FIPS code[5][9]06-48354
Websitewww.modestogov.com

Modesto is located in the Central Valley, 68 miles (109 km) south of Sacramento and 90 miles (140 km) north of Fresno. Its distance from other places include 40 miles (64 km) north of Merced, California, 92 miles (148 km) east of San Francisco, 66 miles (106 km) west of Yosemite National Park, and 24 miles (39 km) south of Stockton. Modesto has been honored as a Tree City USA numerous times.[11]

It is surrounded by rich farmland; Stanislaus County ranks sixth among California counties in farm production,[12] and is home to Gallo Family Winery the largest family-owned winery in the United States.[13] Led by milk, almonds, chickens, walnuts, and corn silage, the county grossed nearly $3.1 billion in agricultural production in 2011. The farm-to-table movement plays a central role in Modesto living as in the Central Valley.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index for 2011, which interviews 1,000 participants about their jobs, finances, physical health, emotional state of mind and communities, ranked Modesto 126 out of the 190 cities surveyed.[14] In December 2009, Forbes ranked Modesto 48th out of 100 among "Best Bang-for-the-Buck Cities". In this ranking, Modesto ranked 8th in housing affordability and travel time but also ranked 86th in job forecast growth and 99th in foreclosures.[15]

History
Modesto's 10th street in 1890

The City of Modesto was originally a stop on the railroad connecting Sacramento to Los Angeles. When Modesto was founded in 1870, it was to be named Ralston after financier William C. Ralston. Ralston's modesty prompted him to ask that another name be found, and the town was named Modesto in recognition of his modesty.[16]

Modesto's population was over 1,000 residents in 1884. With fields of grain, a nearby Tuolumne River for grain barges, and railroad traffic, the town grew. Irrigation water came from dams installed in the foothills, and irrigated fields of vegetables and fruit and nut trees flourished. By 1900, Modesto's population was over 4,500. During World War II, the area provided canned goods, powdered milk, and eggs for the US armed 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 downtown Modesto Arch, which is featured in local photographs and postcards. The motto was selected in a contest held in 1911, where the winner won $3 as his prize. (The original winner, "Nobody's got Modesto's goat",[17] 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."[18]

Geography

Although the city is located on the Tuolumne River and near the Stanislaus River, it has no operating port for oceangoing ships due to the shallow depths of these rivers, and also due to a small dam on the Tuolumne River near Highway 99. In Modesto there is also a small creek aptly named Dry Creek, which although badly polluted by agricultural runoff, is adjacent to several parks in Modesto. Most of the rivers and streams are otherwise not accessible to public use or view due to fences and private property rights. There are no public boat ramps or docks within the city limits. Although summertime brings high temperatures, swimming is prohibited by local ordinance in rivers, creeks, and the many irrigation canals. Rivers and lakes near Waterford are wide enough to be accessible for a kayak, or small motorboat, and there are several points of public access. This access was given as part of a government plan when hydroelectric power dams were installed upstream for valuable flood control, irrigation, and electric power generation. The nearest large open seaport is the Port of Stockton, used for oceangoing ships that transport goods, particularly cement, fertilizer, and agricultural products, from California to overseas.

Climate

Modesto has a Warm Bsh climate classification. It has mild winters with moderate rainfall and long, hot, dry summers. Average January temperatures range from 56 °F (13 °C) in the day to 40 °F (4 °C) at night. Most of the rainfall occurs during the winter and the annual total is 13.2 in (340 mm). The city does not have a full storm sewer system, and many streets flood during winter rain storms.

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 (locally known as the "delta breeze") moderate these high temperatures somewhat, with cooler air coming in after 8 or 9 pm on summer nights.

Climate data for Modesto, California (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 75
(24)		 80
(27)		 89
(32)		 100
(38)		 107
(42)		 112
(44)		 113
(45)		 111
(44)		 109
(43)		 101
(38)		 88
(31)		 75
(24)		 113
(45)
Average high °F (°C) 55.4
(13.0)		 62.8
(17.1)		 69.0
(20.6)		 75.1
(23.9)		 82.9
(28.3)		 90.0
(32.2)		 95.1
(35.1)		 94.2
(34.6)		 90.0
(32.2)		 79.0
(26.1)		 65.5
(18.6)		 55.6
(13.1)		 76.0
(24.4)
Average low °F (°C) 40.1
(4.5)		 43.2
(6.2)		 46.3
(7.9)		 49.9
(9.9)		 54.9
(12.7)		 60.1
(15.6)		 63.1
(17.3)		 62.3
(16.8)		 60.1
(15.6)		 53.9
(12.2)		 45.3
(7.4)		 39.8
(4.3)		 51.3
(10.7)
Record low °F (°C) 18
(−8)		 24
(−4)		 27
(−3)		 30
(−1)		 32
(0)		 41
(5)		 46
(8)		 46
(8)		 40
(4)		 29
(−2)		 25
(−4)		 18
(−8)		 18
(−8)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.61
(66)		 2.38
(60)		 2.04
(52)		 0.97
(25)		 0.63
(16)		 0.12
(3.0)		 0.00
(0.00)		 0.02
(0.51)		 0.24
(6.1)		 0.68
(17)		 1.36
(35)		 2.04
(52)		 13.19
(335)
Source: NOAA[19]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18801,693—
18902,40241.9%
19002,024−15.7%
19104,03499.3%
19209,241129.1%
193013,84249.8%
194016,37918.3%
195017,3896.2%
196036,585110.4%
197061,71268.7%
1980106,96373.3%
1990164,73054.0%
2000188,85614.6%
2010201,1656.5%
2019 (est.)215,196[7]7.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]

2010

The 2010 United States Census[21] reported that Modesto had a population of 201,165. The population density was 5,423.4 people 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%) from other races, and 12,717 (6.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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,[22] down from 83.1% in 1980.[23]

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 48,908 families (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.[24] 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.

2000

As of the census[25] 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 people per square mile (2,037.4/km2). There were 67,179 housing units at an average density of 1,877.2 per square mile (724.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 69.6% White, 25.6% Hispanic or Latino, 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.

Economy

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. The company provides thousands of office and manufacturing jobs to Stanislaus County residents. Other major privately owned companies based in Modesto include Foster Farms Dairy, Royal Robbins, international award winner Fiscalini Cheese, Sciabica Olive Oil, Acme Construction, Aderholt Specialty, and 5.11 Tactical (formerly a part of Royal Robbins, a United States brand of clothing consisting of uniforms and tactical equipment for military). A cannery downtown produces food which is usually shipped to Sacramento and Fresno 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 being constructed, repaved or repaired, with an estimated total cost of nearly $120,000,000.

Principal employers
# Employer # of Employees
1 E & J Gallo Winery[26] 5,000
2 Memorial Medical Center 3,023
3 Modesto City Schools 3,010
4 Doctors Medical Center 2,600
5 Kaiser Permanente 1,759
6 Modesto Junior College 1,522
7 Graspointner Management Incorporated 1,403
8 City of Modesto 1,250
9 Sutter Gould Medical Foundation 1,079
10 Save Mart Supermarkets 950
11 Walmart 745
12 Sylvan Union School District 712
13 Modesto Irrigation District 317

Crime

Rates of both violent crimes and property crimes are higher in Modesto than the state average.[27] Of particular note is that Modesto ranks among the top car theft cities in the US. As of 2012, Modesto ranked number 1 for car theft rate per 100,000 people,[28] although they dropped to number 3 in 2013, behind Bakersfield and Fresno.[29] Modesto is also home to many street gangs. The Stanislaus County Gang Intelligence Task Force estimates there to be 5,000 to 10,000 gang members.[30]

Tourism

Modesto is known for the following tourist attractions and historical sites:

The McHenry Mansion
Gallo Center for the Arts
  • McHenry Mansion[31] – Built in the early 1880s by Robert McHenry, a local rancher and banker. The mansion is included on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours are given.
  • 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 filmmaker George Lucas, located at Five Points (the intersections of McHenry Avenue, "J" Street, 17th Street, Downey and Needham).
  • Gallo Center for the Arts – Center for the performing arts opened in 2007 and is 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.
  • John Thurman Field – The stadium renovated several years ago, the home of the Modesto Nuts baseball team (single "A" affiliate of the Seattle Mariners team).[32]
  • 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 that helped promote the idea of a park, Grace and Ada.

The 1973 film American Graffiti, starring Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, and Cindy Williams, was set in 1962 Modesto; however, the scenes of weekend cruising were actually filmed in Petaluma, California.

Culture

The Rockabilly 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 nationally and would later be the foundation of Rockabilly. Fred Maddox's bass is housed at the Experience Project Museum in Seattle Washington.[33]

The city's annual Architectural Festival honors Modesto's history as a testing ground for mid-century modern architecture during the 1940s and '50s. Modesto's mid-century buildings have been featured four times in Museum of Modern Art publications.

Filmmaker George Lucas, who was born in Modesto, graduated from Thomas Downey High School in 1962 and attended Modesto Junior College, immortalized the city in his award-winning 1973 film American Graffiti. Although it was not shot in Modesto, the film portrayed the spirit of cruising and friendship on Modesto's 10th and 11th Streets in 1962, and inspired a revival of interest in 1950s pop culture. Modesto celebrates Graffiti Summer annually and features the Historic Cruise Route and Walk of Fame of Graffiti Legends. Downtown Modesto features a series of Graffiti-themed and other cultural murals.

Historical places

This is a list of historic places in Modesto, California.

McHenry Mansion
Main article: McHenry Mansion

The McHenry 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 twenty thousand dollars in his will.[31] The mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1978.

Hawke Castle
Main article: Hawke Castle

The Hawke 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.

Crow House

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.

Robert Walton House

The Robert Walton House was constructed in 1957, as a development of Frank Lloyd Wright's New York Usonian Exhibition House concept.

El Viejo Post Office

The U. S. "El Viejo" Post Office is located on Twelfth and I Streets. Wall murals inside the post office were painted by Ray Boynton, a Work Projects Administration artist. The post office was listed in the NRHP in 1983.

Dry Creek Bridge

The Dry 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.

Southern Pacific Railroad Depot
Main article: Southern Pacific Railroad Depot (Modesto, California)

The Southern 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.

Transportation
Aerial photo of City of Ceres, California

Rail

Modesto is served by one of the busiest rail corridors in the country. The Amtrak San Joaquin makes eight daily stops on the route between Oakland and Bakersfield, and four stops daily on the route between Sacramento and Bakersfield, at a station on the east edge of town.

Altamont Corridor Express commuter rail is planned to recommence rail service to the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot in 2023.[34]

The large industrial region south and east of the city is served by the Modesto and Empire Traction Company, a 5-mile (8.0 km) short line railroad, with a web of industry tracks and many customers.

At one time, Modesto was the operational center of the Tidewater Southern Railway, which had its main line down the center of Ninth Street, a major north–south street. A city ordinance passed by the city council kept electric 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 the Union Pacific Railroad since 1983) no longer passes through Modesto.

Modesto also is planned to be served by the future California High-Speed Rail.

Public transit

Three public transit systems serve Modesto: Modesto Area Express (MAX), StaRT, and the San Joaquin Regional Transit District along the northern edge of the city on McHenry Avenue. MAX is the local system with additional connections to the Altamont Corridor Express train station in Lathrop and the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. MAX also provides a paratransit "dial-a-ride" service which specifically caters to seniors and the disabled. It is open to the general public only during certain times.[35] StaRT connects Modesto to the county's other populated centers.

Air

Modesto is served by the Modesto City-County Airport that lies east of California State Route 99 within the city limits. SkyWest Airlines (operating as United Express) provided air service to San Francisco International Airport, however commercial service stopped in June 2014.[36] The airport is used for manufacturing and the shipping industries throughout California and the United States.

Highways and roads

Interstate 5 and California State Route 99 provide major highway access to Modesto. California State Route 132 links the city to Interstate 580, providing commuter access to highways into the Bay Area. California State Route 108 connects to Oakdale, California and east to the foothills. The city has added many roundabouts in an effort to ease traffic congestion within the town with varying degrees of success.

Planning and environmental

In the late 1980s Modesto embarked on an update to the city's general 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) fine sandy loam, moderately deep over silt.[37] These soils are well-drained, moderately coarse-textured soils derived from alluvium from granitic rock. The Hanford soils are important for the production of a wide variety of irrigated orchard, field, and truck crops.

Vicinity watercourses include the Stanislaus River, the Tuolumne River and Dry Creek empties into the Tuolumne River. Area groundwater, which is the principal source of water supply in the city,[38] 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 following water pollutants have occurred from time to time: nitrates, dibromochloromethane, volatile organics, salinity, total dissolved solids and other pesticides.[39] Each of these contaminants is not present citywide.

The EPA 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 the American Lung Association, indicated that Modesto was one of the top 25 most polluted cities in the U.S.[40]

Downtown revitalization

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, the art deco Strand Theatre, and the Sears building.

The historic streets of 10th and 11th streets that were the original locations of the cruising featured in American 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 like George Lucas, Gene Winfield Bart Bartoni and others.

Classic Community Murals was launched by Modesto magazine ModestoView 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.

Sports

The Modesto Nuts Minor League Baseball Club is a class A California League. The Nuts are the Single A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners and play 70 home games each season.

Track and field competition includes the Modesto Relays named after meet director Tom Moore after his death. 30 world records were set at the meet held at Modesto Junior College.

Arts and culture

Music festivals include SummerFest, the Downtown summer concert series, featuring Chris Isaak, Hootie & the Blowfish, The Doobie Brothers and Styx.

X-Fest, deriving from its real name Xclamation Festival, is a 21 and over music festival in downtown Modesto. Starting in 2000, X-Fest has evolved into a large outdoor event stretching 15 blocks and featuring the world's largest disco which covers four blocks on its own. In 2008 X-Fest featured 50 bands and a crowd of 15,000 people. Much of the profits end up in local non-profit charities. Some business owners and citizens of Modesto complain of rowdy and often drunk Mardi Gras atmosphere exhibited at X-fest. Events like these may have helped propel Modesto to be ranked, in Feb. 2010 by Men's Health magazine, as the 12th drunkest city in America, based on alcohol-related deaths, DUI and other arrests. The last X-fest occurred in Modesto in 2015.

Summers are also marked by the revival of American Graffiti, the 1973 film written and directed by Modesto native George Lucas. Lucas' film paid homage to teenage life in 1962 based on his own experiences growing up in the city of Modesto. The city has realized the importance of its connection to the award-winning film, and the city is preparing new tourist attractions and events to welcome Graffiti tourists. The Modesto Convention and Visitors bureau report that the leading request for information is American Graffiti-related. The annual festival, Graffiti Summer, celebrates this event and lasts the entire month of June, attracting thousands of visitors and car enthusiasts along with hundreds of classic and antique cars.

Downtown Modesto has the Modesto Historic Cruise Route on 10th and 11th St, the Legends of the Cruise Walk of Fame, and the Classic Community Mural series of large scale art celebrating the American Graffiti history.

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.

Music and performing arts

The Modesto 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.[41] 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.[42] The group performs a free 6-week summer concert-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.[43] 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.

Government
See also: Government of Stanislaus County, California

Local government

Modesto is governed under a council-manager system.[3] The Mayor is elected by the entire city. The six members of the city 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.[44]

Residents of Modesto also participate in the Government of Stanislaus County and elections for Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors district 1 as well as the Sheriff-Coroner, District Attorney, Assessor, Auditor-Controller, Treasurer-Tax Collector, and Clerk-Recorder. As of January 2013 these were represented by Supervisor William O'Brien, Sheriff-Coroner Adam Christianson, District Attorney Birgit Fladager, Assessor David Cogdill Sr., Auditor-Controller Lauren Klein, Treasurer-Tax Collector Gordon Ford, and Clerk-Recorder Lee Lundrigan.

The current mayor and council members are:[45]

  • Mayor: Sue Zwahlen
  • Council Members: Rosa Escutia-Braaton, Tony Madrigal, Chris Ricci, Bill Zoslocki, Jenny Kenoyer, and David Wright.

List of mayors

This is a list of Modesto mayors by year.

  • 1923 Sol P. Elias.[46]
  • 1952 Harry Marks.[46]
  • 1960 Don D. Hammond.[46]
  • 1979 Peggy Mensinger - First woman mayor.[47]
  • 1987 Carol Whiteside.[48]
  • 2000 Carmen Sabatino.[48]
  • 2003 Jim Ridenour.[49]
  • 2012 Garrad Marsh.[50]

Federal and state representation

In the California State Senate, Modesto is split between the 5th Senate District, represented by Democrat Susan Eggman, and the 12th Senate District, represented by Democrat Anna Caballero.[51] In the California State Assembly, Modesto is split between the 12th Assembly District, represented by Republican Heath Flora, and the 21st Assembly District, represented by Democrat Adam Gray.[52]

In the United States House of Representatives, Modesto is in California's 10th congressional district, represented by Democrat Josh Harder.[53]

Education

City schools

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), seven comprehensive 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 an International 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 and Hart-Ransom.

Private schools

Higher education
  • 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.

Media

Television stations

As part of the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto television market, Modesto is primarily served by stations that are based mainly in Sacramento. They are listed below, with the city of license in bold:

FM stations
  • KMPO 88.7: World ethnic
  • KLOVE 89.7: AC Christian
  • Air 1 90.7 Christian (alternative/pop)
  • KVIN 92.3: Oldies
  • KOSO 92.9: Country
  • KPHD 93.3: The Best Local Bands and all the Real News
  • KBBU 93.9: Regional Mexican
  • KHOP 95.1: Top 40 (CHR)
  • KMRQ 96.7: Rock
  • KWIN 97.7 & 98.3: Mainstream urban
  • KQOD 100.1: Rhythmic oldies
  • KMIX 100.9: Regional Mexican
  • KAMB 101.5: AC Christian
  • KJSN 102.3: Adult contemporary
  • KATM 103.3: Country
  • KHKK 104.1: Classic rock
  • KHTN 104.7: Hip-hop
  • KRVR 105.5: Classic hits
  • KGIG-LP 104.9: Local-Bands & News / community radio

AM stations
  • KCBC 770: Christian Talk/Programs
  • KMPH 840: Catholic radio
  • KVIN 920: Oldies
  • KESP 970: Sports
  • KFIV 1360: Talk radio
  • KLOC 1390: Regional Mexican
  • The Modesto Bee: Modesto's daily newspaper, published by the McClatchy Company
  • Modestoview magazine, monthly entertainment magazine viewable on modestoview.com or in print for free pick-up at most restaurants, cafes, offices in Modesto.

Notable people

Sister cities

Modesto's sister cities are:[61]

These programs are run by the non-profit Modesto Sister Cities International.[61]

The first season of ABC's drama American Crime is set in Modesto.

The 1973 film American Graffiti is set in Modesto.

"Modesto" is the name of a song by Beck, from his Stereopathetic Soulmanure album.

"St. Modesto" is a song by Chris Walla from his Field Manual album.

The 2009 film Janky Promoters is set in Modesto.

The 2009 film Monsters vs. Aliens is set in Modesto.

The 2017 Music Video Glorious (Macklemore song) is set in Modesto. [62]

See also

Footnotes
  1. "Newsroom – Press Releases". City of Modesto. February 21, 2012. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  2. "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  3. "Modesto, CA Code of Ordinances [codes] – ARTICLE IV. – Form of Government". Municipal Code Corporation. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  4. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. "Modesto". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  6. "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files – Places – California". United States Census Bureau.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  8. "ZIP Code(tm) Lookup". United States Postal Service. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  9. "FIPS55 Data: California". FIPS55 Data. United States Geological Survey. February 23, 2006. Archived from the original on June 18, 2006. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  10. Historic Spots in California, Third Edition. Stanford University Press. p. 539. ISBN 978-0804740203.
  11. City of Modesto IT. "City of Modesto – Newsroom – Press Releases". modesto.ca.us. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012.
  12. "CA Farm Bureau – County Farm Bureaus". cfbf.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  13. McCallion, Ruari. "Gallo Glass Company: Top of the glass". The Manufacturer. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  14. "State of Well Being" (PDF). Gallup-Healthways.
  15. Levy, Francesca (November 30, 2009). "America's Best Bang-For-The-Buck Cities". Forbes.
  16. "Greening of Paradise Valley - The First 100 Years of the Modesto Irrigation District" (PDF). Modesto Irrigation District. pp. 2–3.
  17. Hoover, Mildred Brooke (2002). Historic Spots in California. Stanford University Press. p. 521. ISBN 978-0-8047-7817-6.
  18. Baggese, Carl (2011). Modesto. Arcadia Publishing. p. 61. ISBN 978-0738575797.
  19. NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data NOAA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  20. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  21. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Modesto city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  22. "Modesto (city), California". State & County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 14, 2012.
  23. "California – Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990". U.S. Census Bureau.
  24. "Selected Economic Characteristics, 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates". Archived from the original on February 12, 2020.
  25. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  26. "E&J Gallo Winery on the Forbes America's Largest Private Companies List". Forbes.
  27. "Modesto crime rates and statistics". neighborhoodscout.com.
  28. "Top 10 cities for car thefts".
  29. "Hot Spots 2013". nicb.org. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  30. Gangs thriving in Modesto, Modesto Bee, September 20, 2007.
  31. "McHenry Museum & Historical Society". McHenry Museum & Historical Society. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  32. "John Thurman Ball Field". Modesto, CA. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  33. http://www.modestomusichistory.com
  34. Holland, John (April 27, 2018). "Expanded train service coming to Modesto, Merced; what it means for commuters". Modesto Bee. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  35. "Dial-A-Ride Information". Modesto Area Express. Archived from the original on February 9, 2006. Retrieved March 8, 2006.
  36. "Modesto Airport passenger service ends Wednesday". The Manteca Bulletin. June 2, 2014. Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  37. Bureau of Soils (1964). Soil survey of ... Dept. of Agriculture. p. 81.
  38. Stanislaus County General Plan (1987)
  39. John Torrey, Paul Awosika et al., Expanded initial study, Boulder Creek subdivision, Stanislaus County, Earth Metrics, Report 7999: California State Clearinghouse, Sacramento, November 1989.
  40. "List: Worst Cities For Ozone Pollution". Forbes.
  41. Modesto Symphony Official Web Site Archived April 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  42. MoBand Official Web Site Archived June 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  43. "Gallo Center for the Arts".
  44. "City of Modesto CAFR" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  45. "Council Members". modestogov.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  46. "Mayors of Modesto, 1914-60". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  47. Valine, Kevin (October 26, 2019). "Modesto's mayoral candidates are older white men. Is that bad? Experts weigh in". modbee.com. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  48. Caine, Eric (March 2, 2012). "History Comes Alive at Modesto Mayors' Reception". thevalleycitizen.com. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  49. "Former Modesto mayor is running for state Senate. I want the people to have a voice". modbee.com. November 23, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  50. Caine, Eric (April 6, 2014). "What's Happened to Garrad Marsh and Jenny Kenoyer?". thevalleycitizen.com. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  51. "Communities of Interest – City". California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  52. "Communities of Interest – City". California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  53. "California's 10th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  54. Rowland, Marijke (September 25, 2008). "Not a girl, not a woman, but a darn good Britney". Modesto Bee. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  55. "Davis High grad returns for another crack at $1 million on 'The Amazing Race'". Modesto Bee. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  56. "Joan L. Mitchell: Leading developer of image compression methods; coinventor of jpeg", Distinguished Alumni and Friends: Hall of Fame, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign College of Engineering, retrieved October 21, 2018
  57. Millegan, Lisa (March 17, 2010). "Olyphant back with a badge". Modesto Bee. Archived from the original on May 1, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
  58. Sahagun, Louis; Arax, Mark (November 12, 2004). "Scott Peterson Convicted in Murder of Wife Laci". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2020.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  59. "In Jeremy Renner profile, London paper calls Modesto a cowtown". Modesto Bee.
  60. "Mark Spitz". jewishsports.net. Retrieved August 31, 2008.
  61. "Modesto Sister Cities". Modesto Sister Cities International. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  62. https://www.modbee.com/news/article159936014.html

Further reading
  • B.J. Osborn, Modesto: An Informal History. IUniverse, 2003.
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