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)  0.13%
Elevation	36 ft (11 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	83,498
• Rank	86th 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. It's a growing community that had about 83,498 people living there in 2020. Manteca is part of the larger Stockton-Lodi, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. It's often called "The Family City" because of its welcoming atmosphere.

Manteca's Interesting History

Manteca is in California's Central Valley. It's about 76 miles (122 kilometers) east of San Francisco. The area was first home to the Yokuts people.

How Manteca Got Its Name

A man named Joshua Cowell officially started the community in 1861. He built houses where Main and Yosemite streets are today. In 1873, the Central Pacific Railroad built tracks through the area. Residents wanted to name their new train station "Cowell Station." However, there was already a "Cowell Station" nearby.

So, the community decided to pick a new name: "Monteca." But the railroad accidentally misspelled it as "Manteca." This word means "lard" in Spanish. Even though it was a mistake, everyone eventually accepted "Manteca" as the town's name. In 1918, Manteca became an official city, and Joshua Cowell was its first mayor.

Growing into a Family City

For a long time, Manteca was mostly about agriculture (farming). It was just a small stop between two major highways, Interstate 5 and State Route 99.

In the 1990s, housing prices in the Bay Area became very high. This made many families look for more affordable places to live. Manteca became a popular choice for people who commute (travel to work) because of its good location. The city's population has more than tripled since 1980!

Manteca is also known for the "Not Forgotten Memorial Day Event." This is the largest event on the West Coast that honors veterans. It happens every year on the Sunday before Memorial Day and brings in over 20,000 visitors.

Manteca's Location and Climate

Manteca covers about 17.8 square miles (46.1 square kilometers) of land. Only a tiny part of it is water.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Manteca is surrounded by other towns like Lathrop, Ripon, Escalon, and Tracy. It's located between the bigger cities of Modesto and Stockton.

Manteca's Weather

Manteca has a "hot-summer Mediterranean climate." This means summers are very hot and dry. Winters are mild, but sometimes there can be thick tule fog that makes it feel quite chilly. Summers get very little rain, while winters are rainy with some sunny days in between.

Manteca's Population Growth

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

In 2020, Manteca had a population of 83,498 people. The city is home to a diverse mix of people from different backgrounds.

Manteca's Economy

Manteca has many businesses that provide jobs for its residents.

Top Employers in Manteca

Here are some of the largest employers in the city as of 2022:

Getting Around Manteca

The Manteca Transit Center is the main place for public transportation in the city. Manteca Transit provides local bus services.

Train Services

A commuter rail service called the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) has a station nearby. It's called 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. A new station will be built at the Manteca Transit Center. This project is expected to start construction in Fall 2024, with train service possibly beginning 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 in Manteca

Elementary Schools in Manteca

Adult Schools

• Lindbergh Educational Center

Famous People from Manteca

Many talented people have come from Manteca, including athletes, artists, and actors:

• Eric Nascimento (b. 2001) - American Racing Driver
• Ethan Nascimento (b. 2007) - American Racing Driver
• Gilbert Luján (1940 – 2011) – sculptor and painter
• Joshua Patton (b. 1997) - basketball player
• Justin Roiland (b. 1980) – animator, director, producer, and voice-actor
• Kiwi Gardner (b. 1993) – basketball player; went to Manteca High School
• Scott Brooks (b. 1965) – former NBA basketball player and coach; went to East Union High School
• Sammy L. Davis (b. 1946) – a Medal of Honor recipient
• 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 U.S. House of Representatives and was a former Mayor of Manteca.
• Doug Mikolas (b. 1961) – football player
• Ted Nuce (b. 1961) – former World Champion bull rider; went to 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; went to Manteca High School
• Kenny Wooten (b. 1998) – NBA basketball player; went to Manteca High School

See also

In Spanish: Manteca (California) para niños