Modesto, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Modesto, California
City
Clockwise: Modesto Arch; Modesto Transportation Center; Tenth Street Place; Gallo Center for the Arts
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  City of Great Neighbors
Motto(s):  Water Wealth Contentment Health
Location in Stanislaus County and California
Modesto, California Location in California Show map of California Modesto, California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Stanislaus
Founded	November 8, 1870
Incorporated	August 6, 1884
Named for	William Chapman Ralston's modesty
Government
• Type	Council-manager
Area
• City	44.80 sq mi (116.04 km2)
• Land	42.97 sq mi (111.30 km2)
• Water	1.83 sq mi (4.74 km2)  0.61%
• Metro	15,15 sq mi (3,920 km2)
Elevation	89 ft (27 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	218,464
• Rank	1st in Stanislaus County 19th in California 104th in the United States
• Density	5,007.59/sq mi (1,933.45/km2)
• Urban	357,301 (US: 116th)
• Urban density	5,076.8/sq mi (1,960.2/km2)
• Metro	552,878 (US: 105th)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	95350–95358, 95397
Area code	209
FIPS code	06-48354
GNIS IDs	277609, 2411130

Modesto is a large city in California, United States. It is the biggest city in Stanislaus County. About 218,000 people live here. This makes Modesto the 19th largest city in California.

Modesto is in the Central Valley region. It is about 68 miles south of Sacramento. It is also 90 miles north of Fresno. The city is surrounded by rich farmland. Stanislaus County is one of the top farming areas in California. Modesto is home to Gallo Family Winery. This is the biggest family-owned winery in the United States.

History of Modesto

Modesto's 10th Street around 1890.

Modesto in 1943.

Modesto started as a stop on a railroad line. This line connected Sacramento to Los Angeles. The railroad company founded Modesto in 1870. They wanted to name it after a banker, William C. Ralston. But Ralston was a very humble man. He asked them to choose a different name. A railroad worker then called him "modesto," which means "modest" in Spanish. So, the town was named Modesto.

By 1884, Modesto had over 1,000 people. The town grew because of its grain fields and the nearby Tuolumne River. This river was used for grain barges. Railroad traffic also helped the town grow. Farmers used irrigation water from dams. This helped grow many vegetables, fruits, and nuts. By 1900, Modesto had more than 4,500 people.

During World War II, Modesto helped feed the US military. The area provided canned goods, powdered milk, and eggs. For many years, Modesto's population grew steadily. It reached over 100,000 in 1980. By 2001, it had over 200,000 people.

The city's motto is "Water Wealth Contentment Health." You can see this motto on the Modesto Arch downtown. This arch is famous in local photos. The motto was chosen in a contest in 1911.

City Planning and the Environment

In 1885, Modesto created one of the first zoning laws. This law helped organize how land could be used in the city.

Modesto's soil is good for farming. It is called Hanford series soil. This soil is great for growing many different crops.

The city gets its water from underground sources. It also uses water from the nearby Modesto Reservoir. The EPA checks the air quality in Modesto. Sometimes, the air quality can be unhealthy for people with breathing problems. This is due to ozone and other pollutants.

Downtown Modesto: A Fun Place to Visit

Downtown Modesto, also called DOMO, has many new attractions. These include the Gallo Center for the Arts. There is also a new Downtown Plaza.

The city has marked Historic 10th and 11th streets. These streets were famous for "cruising" in the 1960s. This was shown in the movie American Graffiti. Now, it is a tourist walk. You can learn about Modesto's music, cars, and "Graffiti" culture.

In 2014, the Walk of Fame started on this route. It honors legends like George Lucas. Large murals also celebrate Modesto's classic car culture.

Geography of Modesto

Modesto is in the middle of the Central Valley. It is surrounded by mountains and farmlands. These farms grow many crops for the United States. There are also parks with trees and grassy areas nearby.

The city is located between the Tuolumne River and the Stanislaus River. There is also a small creek called Dry Creek. Rivers and lakes near Waterford are good for kayaking or small boats. Dams were built upstream for flood control and power. This also created public access points to the water. The nearest large seaport is the Port of Stockton. It is used for shipping goods like cement and farm products.

Modesto's Climate and Weather

Modesto has warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Most of the rain falls during winter. The city gets about 13.2 inches of rain each year. Sometimes, there are very wet or very dry years.

It rarely snows in Modesto. The highest snowfall recorded was 1.5 inches in 1962.

In winter, temperatures usually range from 34°F at night to 56°F during the day. About 20 days a year have temperatures at or below freezing. In summer, temperatures range from 63°F at night to 95°F during the day. It can get very hot, sometimes over 100°F for several days. Cool breezes from the coast, called the "delta breeze," help cool things down in the evenings.

People of Modesto

Modesto is home to many different people. In 2020, the city had 218,464 residents. About 42.9% of the people were Hispanic or Latino. White people made up about 38.7% of the population. Asian people were 7.75%, and Black or African American people were 3.71%.

The average household size in Modesto is about 2.87 people. Many families live in the city. About 26.8% of the population is under 18 years old. The median age in Modesto is 34.2 years.

Economy and Jobs in Modesto

Modesto has a strong farming industry. This is because of the rich farmland around the city. The E & J Gallo Winery is located here. It is the largest winery in the world. Gallo also has a company that makes wine bottles. Gallo provides many jobs for people in Modesto.

Other big companies in Modesto include Foster Farms Dairy. There is also Save Mart, a grocery store chain. A cannery downtown processes food. This food is then shipped to other cities. Several small steel companies are also in Modesto.

Top Employers in Modesto

Many people in Modesto work for these large employers:

Arts and Culture in Modesto

Modesto has a rich history in music. The Rockabilly music style started here in 1937. This sound later became popular across the country.

The city celebrates its unique buildings with an Architectural Festival. Modesto has many cool mid-century modern buildings.

Filmmaker George Lucas grew up in Modesto. His famous 1973 movie American Graffiti was inspired by the city. The film showed the fun of "cruising" on Modesto's streets in 1962. The Modesto American Graffiti Festival happens every June. It brings thousands of visitors and classic cars to the city.

Downtown Modesto also hosts a monthly Art Walk. Local artists show their work for sale. You can also see live art demonstrations.

Music and Performing Arts

The Modesto Symphony Orchestra has been performing since 1931. They perform at the Gallo Center for the Arts. MoBand, also known as the Modesto Band of Stanislaus County, started in 1919. It is one of the oldest bands in the U.S. They offer free summer concerts in the park.

Modesto is also home to Townsend Opera and Modesto Performing Arts. The Central West Ballet is the area's top professional ballet company.

The Ballet Folklorico Group "Casa Cultural Tradiciones" shares Mexican culture. They perform traditional dances in colorful outfits.

The Modesto Area Music Awards (MAMA) are held every October. They celebrate local musicians.

Historic Places to Explore

Modesto has several historic buildings and parks.

• McHenry Mansion is a beautiful old home. It was built in 1883. You can take tours of the mansion.
• Graceada Park is a historic park. It was named after two local women, Grace Beard and Ada Wisecarver. They helped create parks in the area.
• Hawke Castle is a historic house built in 1929. It looks like a castle.
• Southern Pacific Railroad Depot was built in 1915. It has been restored and is now the City Transportation Center.

Things to Do in Modesto

The McHenry Mansion.

The Gallo Center for the Arts.

Modesto offers many attractions for visitors and locals:

• McHenry Mansion – Take a tour of this beautiful historic home.
• McHenry Museum – Learn about Modesto's past at this museum. It is across from the mansion.
• George Lucas Plaza – See the bronze statue honoring filmmaker George Lucas. It is inspired by his movie American Graffiti.
• Gallo Center for the Arts – Enjoy live performances at this center. It opened in 2007.
• Downtown Modesto – Explore many restaurants and nightlife spots. There are also weekly farmer's markets.
• The State Theatre – Watch independent films or live music here. This theater was built in the 1920s.
• John Thurman Field – Watch a baseball game! It is home to the Modesto Nuts baseball team. They are part of the Seattle Mariners organization.
• Graceada Park neighborhood – See old homes and tree-lined streets. This area has parks and a bandshell.

Sports in Modesto

The Modesto Nuts are a Minor League Baseball team. They play in the Class A California League. The Nuts are linked with the Seattle Mariners. They play 70 home games each season. The Nuts won the California League championship in 2017, 2023, and 2024.

Modesto also hosts track and field events. The Modesto Relays are famous. Many world records have been set at this event. It takes place at Modesto Junior College.

Education in Modesto

Modesto has many schools for students of all ages.

City Schools

Modesto City Schools started in 1871. The district has about 32,000 students. It runs 23 elementary schools (grades K-6). There are also four junior high schools (grades 7-8). The district has seven high schools (grades 9-12). Modesto High School offers a special International Baccalaureate program.

Private Schools

Modesto has several private religious schools. These include Modesto Christian School and Central Catholic High School.

Higher Education

Modesto Junior College is a two-year college. It has over 20,000 students. The college also has 21 sports teams.

Media in Modesto

Modesto is part of the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto television market. This means most TV stations are based in Sacramento. Modesto also has its own public access TV station, MyTv26.

For radio, Modesto has many FM and AM stations. They play different types of music and talk shows.

The main newspaper in Modesto is The Modesto Bee. It is published daily. Modestoview is a free monthly magazine. It covers entertainment in Modesto.

Transportation in Modesto

Trains

The Modesto station is served by Amtrak trains. These trains are called San Joaquin. Future plans include more train services.

Local Buses

The Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority runs local bus services. They also have buses that connect Modesto to other areas.

Air Travel

Modesto has the Modesto City-County Airport. It is used for manufacturing and shipping. Commercial flights stopped in 2014.

Highways and Roads

Interstate 5 and California State Route 99 are major highways near Modesto. California State Route 132 connects the city to Interstate 580. This helps people travel to the Bay Area. The city has added many roundabouts to help with traffic.

Famous People from Modesto

Many notable people have connections to Modesto:

• Jack Angel, a voice actor.
• Tony Boselli, a football player who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• Carol Channing, a famous actress and singer.
• Bryson DeChambeau, a professional golfer.
• Jack Elam, an actor known for playing "bad guys" in Western films.
• Ernest Gallo and Julio Gallo, famous winemakers.
• Ginger Gonzaga, an actress and comedian.
• Chuck Hayes, a basketball player.
• Lester Hayes, a football player for the Oakland Raiders.
• J.P. Howell, a former MLB pitcher.
• Morgan James, a singer.
• George Lucas, the famous film director of Star Wars and American Graffiti.
• James Marsters, an actor.
• Joan Mitchell, who helped invent the JPEG digital image format.
• Boaz Myhill, a professional soccer goalkeeper.
• Timothy Olyphant, an actor known for TV shows like Deadwood.
• Ashley and Courtney Paris, WNBA basketball players.
• Heath Pearce, a professional soccer player.
• Suzy Powell-Roos, an Olympic discus thrower.
• Harve Presnell, an actor and singer.
• Jeremy Renner, an Academy Award-nominated actor.
• Kenny Roberts, a world champion motorcycle racer.
• Joe Rudi, a professional baseball player for the Oakland A's.
• Mark Spitz, a nine-time Olympic swimming gold medalist.
• Ann Veneman, a former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
• Tisha Venturini, an Olympic gold medalist in soccer.
• Gabe Vincent, an NBA player.
• Darlene Vogel, an actress.
• Gene Winfield, a legendary car designer.

Sister Cities

Modesto has sister cities around the world. These programs help people from different countries learn about each other.

Images for kids

• 

  Modesto's 10th Street around 1890.

• 

  Modesto in 1943.

• 

  The McHenry Mansion.

• 

  The Gallo Center for the Arts.

See also

In Spanish: Modesto para niños