Wood Colony, California facts for kids

Wood Colony is a small community in Stanislaus County, California, United States. It's located west of the city of Modesto. Think of it as a neighborhood that isn't officially part of a city or town, but it's still an important place where people live and work together. Local officials call it a "Community of Interest," meaning it's a special area that they pay attention to for planning.

History of Wood Colony

Wood Colony got its name from one of its very first settlers, a man named Ebenezer "Eben" Wood. He bought a huge piece of land, about 1,760 acres, way back in 1869. Eben and his wife, Sarah, lived in a small house on their property for many years. Eben Wood passed away in 1902. A nearby stream, Wood Creek, is also named after him.

Early Settlers and Community

Starting in the 1870s, members of the Old German Baptist Brethren church began to settle in Wood Colony. Today, people from the Old German Baptist Brethren, Old German Baptist Brethren New Conference, and Old Brethren churches make up about one-third of the community's population.

Famous Walnut Tree

Wood Colony is home to California's largest and oldest walnut tree! It's located at the corner of Dakota and North avenues. An early settler named Jacob Cover planted this amazing tree. He was also the first person to plant a walnut orchard in all of Stanislaus County.

Community Events

The first ever Wood Colony Country Fair and Colony Tour happened on August 16, 2014. It was a special day for the community to celebrate together. Also, the historic Durrer Barn in Wood Colony was even featured in an article in the famous National Geographic (magazine) in October 2014!

Schools in Wood Colony

Kids in Wood Colony have a few choices for school:

• Brethren Heritage School: This is a private school that teaches students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. About 95 students attend this school.
• Hart-Ransom Union School District: This public school district serves students in the area.
• Sierra Vista Kirk Baucher School: This is another non-public school option for students.

Wood Colony Cemetery

The Wood Colony Cemetery has a long history. On January 8, 1910, a group of Old German Baptist Brethren church members decided to set aside land for a church, parking, and a cemetery. Jacob Cover helped design the layout. The very first burial in the cemetery happened in 1912. You can find the cemetery at 3511 Dakota Avenue.

"Wood Colony" Almond Tree

Did you know there's a special type of almond tree named after Wood Colony? David Elmer Blickenstaff, who lived in Wood Colony and was related to some of the first settlers, developed this unique almond variety. He even got a patent for it and proudly named it "Wood Colony" to honor his community.