Riverbank, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Riverbank, California
City
Downtown Riverbank (Third Street)
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  City of Action
Location in Stanislaus County and the state of California
Riverbank, California Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Stanislaus
Incorporated	August 23, 1922
Government
• Type	City
Area
• Total	4.10 sq mi (10.61 km2)
• Land	4.07 sq mi (10.54 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)  0.59%
Elevation	86 ft (43 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	24,865
• Density	6,065/sq mi (2,343.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	95367
Area code(s)	209
FIPS code	06-61068
GNIS feature ID	1659518

Riverbank is a city located in Stanislaus County, California, in the United States. In 2020, about 24,623 people lived there. This was a big jump from 15,826 people in 2000.

Riverbank became an official city on August 23, 1922. Its official saying is "City of Action." The city is part of the larger Modesto area.

The city started as a place where people could cross the Stanislaus River by ferry. It grew into a town when the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad arrived. This railroad was later bought by the Santa Fe Railroad. Riverbank got its name because it is located right on the bank of the Stanislaus River.

History of Riverbank

In the 1850s, the area where Riverbank is now was called Burneyville. A person named Major James Burney, who was a sheriff, set up the Burneyville Ferry. This ferry helped people cross the Stanislaus River at the spot where the modern bridge in Riverbank is today.

Geography and Location

Riverbank is a small city in terms of size. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers about 4.1 square miles (10.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a tiny part, about 0.02 square miles (0.07 square kilometers), is water.

Population and People

Riverbank's Population in 2020

The 2020 census showed that Riverbank had 24,623 people. Most residents, about 67.5%, were White. About 5.6% were Asian, and 1.8% were African American. Many people in Riverbank, about 58.3%, were of Hispanic or Latino background.

There were 6,579 households in Riverbank. A large number, 51.4%, had children under 18 living there. About 61.6% of households were married couples. The average household had 3.42 people.

The population also included many young people. About 28.2% of residents were under 18 years old. About 7.4% were under 5 years old. Around 10.8% of the people were 65 or older. Slightly more than half of the population, 51.6%, were female.

Riverbank's Population in 2000

A store and gas station in Riverbank in 1940. This photo was taken by Dorothea Lange.

In the 2000 census, Riverbank had 15,826 people. There were 4,544 households. The city was home to about 5,091.7 people per square mile.

The racial makeup was mostly White, at 66.85%. About 24.03% were from other races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 45.91% of the population.

Many households, 49.6%, had children under 18. Most households, 65.0%, were married couples living together. The average household size was 3.45 people.

The population was quite young. About 33.9% were under 18. About 30.8% were between 25 and 44 years old. The average age in the city was 30 years.

Arts and Culture in Riverbank

The Riverbank Branch Library is a special building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.

Every October, Riverbank hosts the Riverbank Cheese and Wine Festival. This event features different wines and cheeses. It also has arts and crafts, and many vendors selling various items.

Riverbank's downtown area was updated in 2009. New additions include a downtown plaza. This plaza has a large mural and a statue of a cable ferry operator.

Education in Riverbank

Riverbank has several schools for students of different ages.

Elementary Schools

• California Avenue Elementary School
• Crossroads Elementary School
• Mesa Verde Elementary School

Middle Schools

• Cardozo Middle School

High Schools

• Riverbank High School

Other Schools

• Riverbank Language Academy

City Services and Transportation

Transportation in Riverbank

An Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway train in Riverbank.

The BNSF Railway has a main train line that goes through Riverbank. This line connects Northern California to the main route between Los Angeles and Chicago. This railway line used to belong to the Santa Fe Railway (ATSF).

Amtrak once had a train station in Riverbank. This station also served the nearby city of Modesto, California. However, a new station in Modesto replaced it in 1999. The old Riverbank station was later destroyed by fire in 2005.

The Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority runs one bus route in Riverbank. This helps people get around the city.

Public Safety in Riverbank

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department is in charge of police services for the city of Riverbank. They help keep the community safe.

Famous People from Riverbank

• Oscar Zeta Acosta - He was a lawyer, politician, and writer. He also worked as an activist for the Chicano Movement.
• German Fernandez - He is a professional runner from America.

Sister Cities of Riverbank

Riverbank has special connections with other cities around the world. These are called "sister cities."

City	State/Province	Country	Population
Fuyang	Zhejiang	China	659,000
Tamazula de Gordiano	Jalisco	Mexico	41,121
Fürstenfeld	Styria	Austria	5,986

See also

In Spanish: Riverbank (California) para niños