Modesto, California
Modesto: The third most populous city in Stanislaus County, California.
About
Modesto is a city located in the county of Stanislaus in the U.S. state of California. Its population at the 2010 census was 201,165. After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 215,666 inhabitants.
The city was created 155 years ago in 1870.
Modesto is a city located in central California's San Joaquin Valley. With a population over 215,000, it is the county seat of Stanislaus County.
History and Origins
Modesto was founded in 1870 and emerged as a major agricultural and transportation hub within California's fertile Central Valley.
Key historical facts:
- Founded in 1870 and incorporated in 1884
- Early growth fueled by agriculture and the Central Pacific Railroad
- dubbed the “Garden City” due to wealth of orchards, fields, and dairies
- Home to George Lucas’ American Graffiti depicting 1960s cruising car culture
Economy and Major Industries
Modesto relies heavily on agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail sectors. Top employers are:
- E & J Gallo Winery headquarters
- Stanislaus County schools
- Doctors Medical Center
- Stanislaus Food Products canned goods facility
Attractions and Things to Do
Popular attractions include:
- Great Valley Museum showcasing history and culture
- Modesto Nuts minor league baseball at John Thurman Field
- Classic car cruising culture along McHenry Avenue
- Annual festivals like Graffiti Summer and the County Fair
- Music and performing arts at the Gallo Center for the Arts
Modesto provides agriculture, attractions, and a unique car culture within California’s Central Valley.
Quick Facts about Modesto
| Population | 215,666 (2020) |
| Country | United States of America |
| State | California (United States) |
| County | Stanislaus County |
| Postal code | 95350–95358, 95397 |
| Phone Area Codes | 209 |
| Official name | Modesto |
| Water as percent of area | 0.61% |
| Land as percent of area | 99.39% |
| Latitude & Longitude | 37.6391,-120.9969 |
| Altitude | 292 feet / 89 meters |
| Capital city | Modesto is capital of Stanislaus County |
| Establishment | November 08, 1870 (155 years ago) |
| Time Zone | Pacific Time Zone |
| Local time | 02:13:16 (18th April 2026) |
| Population growth | 6.72% (2010-2020) |
| Weather | 47℉ Mostly Clear 7-days weather |
Geography
Modesto is located at 37°38'21"N 120°59'49"W (37.6391000, -120.9968800).
Modesto map
icon to open full mode. View satellite images
Weather
Mostly clear, with a low around 47.
7-Day ForecastOfficial website of Modesto
Official Website- Aguascalientes City
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- Laval (2011 )
- Vernon
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Demographics
The population of Modesto increased by 6.72% in 10 years.
| Year | Population | % Change | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 201,165 | - | census |
| 2011 | 204,017 | 1.4% | estimation process |
| 2012 | 205,040 | 0.5% | estimation process |
| 2013 | 206,075 | 0.5% | estimation process |
| 2014 | 207,652 | 0.76% | estimation process |
| 2015 | 209,245 | 0.76% | estimation process |
| 2016 | 211,231 | 0.94% | estimation process |
| 2017 | 213,000 | 0.83% | estimation process |
| 2018 | 214,389 | 0.65% | estimation process |
| 2019 | 215,196 | 0.38% | estimation process |
| 2020 | 215,666 | 0.22% | estimation process |
People born in Modesto (119)
People born in Modesto, including computer scientist Ralph Griswold, racecar driver Fred Agabashian, swimmer Mark Spitz, .
More notable people
- Erin Cafaro (American rower) she was born in 09/06/1983
- Ann Veneman (Executive Director of UNICEF and United States Secretary of Agriculture) she was born in 29/06/1949
- Adam Smith (American snowboarder) he was born in 07/09/1980
- James Corson (American discus thrower) he was born in 14/01/1906
- Boaz Myhill (association football player (born 1982)) he was born in 09/11/1982
- Marcia Lucas (American film editor) she was born in 04/10/1945
- Michael McDonald (American mixed martial artist) he was born in 15/01/1991
- Jesse Williams (American high jumper) he was born in 27/12/1983
- Jo Clayton (American writer) she was born in 15/02/1939
- Kenny Roberts (American motorcycle racer) he was born in 31/12/1951
- Herbert McLean Evans (American scientist) he was born in 23/09/1882
- Sonny Barger (American gang member) he was born in 08/10/1938
- Steve Forrest (American drummer) he was born in 25/09/1986
- James Algar (Film director, screenwriter, film producer) he was born in 11/06/1912
- Cy Young (American javelin thrower) he was born in 23/07/1928
- Heath Pearce (American soccer player) he was born in 13/08/1984
- Lindsay Pearce (American actress) she was born in 30/04/1991
- Harve Presnell (American actor and singer) he was born in 14/09/1933
Nearby Schools and Colleges
Schools and campuses linked to Modesto, CA. Select a name to open its map and contact details.
| Code | Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110875 | California Beauty School | Modesto (CA) | 95354 |
| 118976 | Modesto Junior College | Modesto (CA) | 95350-5800 |
| 119951 | North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc | Modesto (CA) | 95350-2381 |
| 459170 | Paul Mitchell the School-Modesto | Modesto (CA) | 95350 |
| 488192 | DeHart Technical School | Modesto (CA) | 95356-9292 |
Nearby Transit Stations (42)
Rail and bus stations connected to Modesto, CA. Select a station to open its map and address details.
| Code | Name | Address | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOD | Modesto station | 1700 Held Drive | RAIL |
| TRK | Denair station | 3800 Santa Fe Avenue | RAIL |
| LTM | Manteca, CA | 17800 Shideler Parkway | RAIL |
| TRC | Tracy, CA | 4800 Tracy Boulevard | RAIL |
| TRA | Tracy, California | 725 West Clover Road | BUS |
Closest post offices linked to Modesto.
| Post Office Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Mod Post Office | Modesto (CA) | 95350 |
| Parad Post Office | Modesto (CA) | 95358 |
| Cer Post Office | Ceres (CA) | 95307 |
| Hudson Post Office | Modesto (CA) | 95355 |
| Empir Post Office | Empire (CA) | 95319 |
Other places with the same name (1)
- Modesto, Illinois human settlement in Illinois, United States of America with a population of 180 people.
Other cities in Stanislaus County
Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Stanislaus County , CA.
| City Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Turlock | 73,059 | The most populous city in Stanislaus County, California. |
| Ceres | 48,603 | A city in Stanislaus County, California. |
| Riverbank | 24,710 | City in Stanislaus County, California, United States |
| Oakdale | 23,228 | City in Stanislaus County, California, United States |
| Patterson | 22,542 | City in Stanislaus County, California, United States |
| Salida | 13,722 | City in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States |
| Newman | 11,702 | Human settlement in Stanislaus County, California, United States of America |
| Waterford | 8,944 | City in Stanislaus County, California, United States |
| Hughson | 7,628 | City in Stanislaus County, California, United States of America |
| Keyes | 5,601 | City in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, United States of America |
| Denair | 4,404 | Census-designated place in Stanislaus County, California |
| Empire | 4,189 | Place in Stanislaus County, USA |
| Bystrom | 4,008 | Census-designated place in Stanislaus County, California |
| East Oakdale | 2,762 | Census-designated place in Stanislaus County, California |
Distance to Other Cities
Modesto distances to largest California cities