Manteca, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manteca, California
City
From the corner of Yosemite and Main in Manteca
Nickname(s):  The Family City
Location in San Joaquin County and the state of California
Manteca, California Location in California Show map of California Manteca, California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	San Joaquin
Incorporated	May 28, 1918
Area
• Total	21.41 sq mi (55.46 km2)
• Land	21.39 sq mi (55.40 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)  0.11%
Elevation	36 ft (11 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	83,498
• Rank	81st in California
• Density	3,899.95/sq mi (1,498.80/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	95336, 95337
Area code	209
FIPS code	06-45484
GNIS feature IDs	1659046, 2411024

Manteca is a city located in San Joaquin County, California. In 2020, about 83,498 people lived there. Manteca is part of the larger Stockton-Lodi, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is often called "The Family City."

Manteca's History

Manteca is in the Central Valley of California. It is about 76 miles (122 km) east of San Francisco. The first people to live in the Manteca area were the Yokuts tribe.

How Manteca Got Its Name

The city was officially started in 1861 by Joshua Cowell. He owned about 1,000 acres (400 ha) of land. In 1873, a railroad track was built through the area. The people wanted to name their new train station "Cowell Station." However, there was already a "Cowell Station" nearby.

The residents decided to change the community's name. They chose "Monteca." But the railroad company accidentally misspelled it as "Manteca." This word means "lard" in Spanish. Even though it was a mistake, the misspelled name stuck. In 1918, Manteca officially became a city. Joshua Cowell, who started the town, became its first mayor.

Growth and Development

In 1935, a famous photojournalist named Dorothea Lange took pictures of a family farm in Manteca. These photos were for a government project. The farm is still owned by the same family today. You can see these pictures at the Library of Congress.

Manteca is known as the "Family City." It is located near important highways and railroads. In the 1970s, Manteca was mostly a farming area. It was just a small stop between two major highways, Interstate 5 and State Route 99.

Over time, housing prices in the Bay Area became very high. This made many families look for more affordable places to live further east. Manteca became a popular choice for these families. This was especially true after the 120 bypass (part of State Route 120) was built. Many people now live in Manteca and travel to work in other cities.

The city's population grew a lot in the 1990s. A third high school, Sierra High School, was built. It joined Manteca High School and East Union High School. Manteca's population has more than tripled since 1980. New homes are being built on what used to be farmland.

Honoring Veterans

Manteca is also home to the "Not Forgotten Memorial Day Event." This is one of the biggest events on the West Coast that honors veterans. It happens every year on the Sunday before Memorial Day. More than 20,000 people attend this special event.

Manteca's Geography

Manteca covers an area of about 21.4 square miles (55.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small amount of water.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Manteca is surrounded by several other towns. These include Lathrop, Ripon, Escalon, and Tracy. It is about 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Modesto. It is also about 15 miles (24 km) south of Stockton.

Manteca's Climate

Manteca has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has very hot and dry summers. The winters are mild, but sometimes there can be thick tule fog. This fog can make it feel quite chilly for many days. Summers get very little rain, while winters are rainy with some sunny periods.

Manteca's Population

Manteca has grown a lot over the years. Here's how its population has changed:

Population Details from 2020

The 2020 United States census showed that Manteca had 83,498 people. Most people lived in homes. About 25.1% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age in Manteca was about 36.9 years.

There were 26,724 households in the city. About 40.4% of these households had children under 18. In 2023, the average household income was estimated to be $94,718.

Manteca's Economy

Manteca has a growing economy with many different businesses.

Major Employers

Here are some of the top employers in Manteca, based on a 2022 report:

Government and Politics

Manteca is a city with a council-manager government. This means it has a city council and a city manager who runs the daily operations. The city council includes the Mayor and four council members. The Mayor is elected every four years. Council members are now elected from specific districts within the city.

Local Government Leaders

The city hall is located at 1001 West Center Street, Manteca, CA 95337. Here are the current elected council members:

Transportation in Manteca

The Manteca Transit Center is the main place for public transportation in the city. Local bus services are provided by Manteca Transit.

Train Services

A commuter rail service called the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) is available at the Lathrop/Manteca station. ACE trains run to San Jose in the mornings and back to Stockton in the evenings.

There are plans to extend the ACE train route through Manteca. This new route would include a stop at the new Manteca Transit Center. Construction for this extension was planned to begin in Fall 2024. Train service is expected to start in 2025.

Education in Manteca

Public schools in Manteca are part of the Manteca Unified School District. This district also includes schools in Lathrop, French Camp, and the Weston Ranch area of Stockton. The district has 19 elementary schools, 5 high schools, and 2 continuation schools.

High Schools

Elementary Schools

Adult Schools

• Lindbergh Educational Center

Churches in Manteca

• Central Valley Baptist Church
• Crossroads Grace Community Church
• Saint Anthony's Catholic Church

Famous People from Manteca

Many notable people have connections to Manteca:

• Eric Nascimento (b. 2001) - American Racing Driver
• Ethan Nascimento (b. 2007) - American Racing Driver
• Gilbert Luján (1940 – 2011) – sculptor, painter
• Joshua Patton (b. 1997) - basketball player
• Justin Roiland (b. 1980) – animator, director, producer and voice-actor
• Kiwi Gardner (b. 1993) – basketball player; attended Manteca High School
• Scott Brooks (b. 1965) – former NBA basketball player and current assistant coach; attended East Union High School
• Sammy L. Davis (b. 1946) – Medal of Honor recipient
• Marliece Andrada (b. 1972) – actress
• Ernie Barber (b. 1914 – d. 1989) – former NFL player
• April Bowlby (b. 1980) – actress
• Milo Candini (b. 1917 – d. 1998) – Major League Baseball player
• Karen Jankowski — rally driver
• Congressman John J. McFall (1918 – 2006), served in the US House of Representatives. He was also Mayor of Manteca.
• Doug Mikolas (b. 1961) – football player
• Ted Nuce (b. 1961) – former World Champion bull rider; attended Manteca High School
• Scott Speed (b. 1983) – race car driver
• Dev (b. 1989) – singer songwriter
• Paul Wiggin (b. 1934) – former American football player and coach; attended Manteca High School
• Kenny Wooten (b. 1998) – NBA basketball player; attended Manteca High School

Other Places to See

• Great Wolf Lodge (Manteca, California)
• San Joaquin County

See also

In Spanish: Manteca (California) para niños