Modesto History

Founded in the fall of 1870 with the coming of the railroad, Modesto was a frontier boomtown.  William Chapman Ralston, a millionaire banker whose wealth came from the Comstock silver mines in Nevada, was a director of the Central Pacific Railroad and known as the the most resourceful and daring of the West Coast?s financiers.  Modesto was originally to be named Ralston to honor him.  When he objected the town was named Modesto, a Spanish word meaning modest, after Ralston?s modesty.

The 1849 Gold Rush had a great impact on Modesto when some 300,000 people migrated to California in search of gold.  Dreams of quick prosperity were soon shattered for many and hundreds of former miners became farmers.  By the mid 1860?s the world experienced a shortage of wheat and the local farmers transformed rolling hills into thousands of acres of wheat.  From 1867 to 1885 Stanislaus County was a leader in the production of wheat.

With the formation of the Modesto Irrigation District in 1887, an extensive canal system was developed and deliveries of water to farmers began in 1904, solidifying agriculture as the economic engine of the county.  Modesto is home to Gallo Winery , the largest winery in the world employing thousands in the Modesto area.

Modesto Today

 Modesto is a community dedicated to growth, progress and the quality of community life. Proud of its vibrant citizenry, great traditions, educational opportunities and multi-cultural lifestyles, Modesto is the 16th largest city in California with over 210,000 citizens and is the seat of Stanislaus County .
Modesto offers the diversity and facilities of a metropolitan city, but still maintains an atmosphere of old-fashioned hospitality and small town charm. Modesto offers the full spectrum of arts and entertainment from talented local artists and resident companies to international touring stars we are considered the culture hub of the Central Valley .

Modesto is located in the heart of one of the greatest agricultural areas of our nation the San Joaquin Valley . Dairy products, almonds, apricots, melons, tomatoes, wine grapes, peaches, walnuts and poultry products are some of our top commodities. Visit in early spring to enjoy the delightful sights and smells of orchard blossoms. Come in the summer or fall and Taste Modesto at our traditional Farmer's Market or at a roadside produce stand. Should your tastes run more on the adventurous side, try rafting on the Stanislaus River, biking trails throughout Modesto, horseback riding at area ranches, and outdoor in-line skating or skateboarding at Modesto?s skate park.

If leisure is your pleasure, explore our regional mall with a newly expanded Village, picnic in one of our 75 parks, visit the McHenry Museum or Mansion, play a round of golf or just bask poolside in our warm sunshine. Centrally located on Highway 99 , Modesto allows for easy access to many major tourist attractions in California. To the west lies the San Francisco Bay Area (90-miles) and the Santa Cruz Beach (115-miles). To the east is the famed Gold Country other Lode (50-miles) and a little farther you can find the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range, Lake Tahoe (180-miles) and Yosemite National Park (110-miles).

With family-friendly attractions, festivals, museums, agriculture tours and tastings to first-class hotels and four-star restaurants, Modesto has something for everyone. Whenever you visit, you will have the opportunity to enjoy all of the Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health that Modesto has to offer! After all, we are a well-established community filled with civic pride and grand plans for the future.

Information cited from city's website, please follow link for more information. 

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