, image_skyline = , image_caption = Images, from top down, left to right: Modesto Arch, Knights Ferry, California, Knights Ferry's General Store, a view of the Tuolumne River from Waterford, California, Waterford , image_flag = , image_seal = Seal of Stanislaus County, California.png , motto = "Striving to be the best!" , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive map of Stanislaus County , image_map1 = Map of California highlighting Stanislaus County.svg , mapsize1 = 200px , map_caption1 = Location in the state of California , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1 = U.S. state, State , subdivision_name1 = California , subdivision_type2 = List of regions of California, Region , subdivision_name2 = San Joaquin Valley , established_title = Municipal corporation, Incorporated , established_date = April 1, 1854 , named_for = Estanislao , seat_type = County seat (and largest city) , seat = Modesto, California, Modesto , unit_pref = US , area_total_sq_mi = 1515 , area_land_sq_mi = 1495 , area_water_sq_mi = 20 , elevation_max_footnotes = , elevation_max_ft = 3807 , government_type = Council–manager government, Council–CEO , governing_body = Board of Supervisors , leader_title1 = Chair , leader_name1 = Terry Withrow , leader_title2 = Vice Chair , leader_name2 = Channce Condit , leader_title3 = Board of Supervisors , leader_name3 = , leader_title4 = Chief executive officer, CEO , leader_name4 = Jody Hayes , population_as_of = 2020 United States Census, 2020 , population_total = 552878 , population_density_sq_mi = auto , timezone = Pacific Time Zone , utc_offset = −8 , timezone_DST = Pacific Daylight Time , utc_offset_DST = −7 , area_code_type = North American Numbering Plan, Area code , area_code = Area code 209, 209 , blank_name_sec1 = Federal Information Processing Standard, FIPS code , blank_info_sec1 = 06-099 , blank1_name_sec1 = Geographic Names Information System, GNIS feature ID , blank1_info_sec1 = , website = Stanislaus County (; es, Condado de Estanislao) is a County (United States), county located in the San Joaquin Valley of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 552,878. The county seat is Modesto, California, Modesto. Stanislaus County makes up the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is located just east of the San Francisco Bay Area and serves as a bedroom community for those who work in the eastern part of the Bay Area.

History

The first European to see the area was Gabriel Moraga in 1806. The county was named after the Estanislao river, which in turn was named in honor of Estanislao, a mission-educated Turncoat, renegade Native Americans in the United States, Native American chief who led a band of Native Americans in a series of battles against Mexico, Mexican troops until finally being defeated by General Mariano Vallejo in 1826. Estanislao was his baptismal name, the Spanish name version after Stanislaus of Szczepanów, Saint Stanislaus the Martyr. Between 1843 and 1846, when California was a province of independent Mexico, five Ranchos of California, Mexican land grants totaling were granted in Stanislaus County. Rancho Orestimba y Las Garzas, Rancho Pescadero (Grimes), Rancho Pescadero and Rancho Del Puerto were located on the west side of the San Joaquin River, and Rancho Del Rio Estanislao and Rancho Thompson on the north side of the Stanislaus River. Additionally, in 1844 Salomon Pico received a Mexican land grant of in the San Joaquin Valley, somewhere near the Stanislaus River and the San Joaquin River in what is now Stanislaus County. However, the grant was never confirmed by the Land Commission. Stanislaus County was formed from part of Tuolumne County, California, Tuolumne County in 1854. The county seat was first situated at Adamsville, then moved to Empire in November, La Grange in December, and Knights Ferry in 1862, and was ultimately fixed at the present location in Modesto in 1871. As the price of housing has increased in the San Francisco Bay Area, many people who work in the southern reaches of the Bay Area have opted for the longer commute and moved to Stanislaus County for the relatively affordable housing.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.3%) is water. Stanislaus County has historically been divided socially and economically by the north-flowing San Joaquin River, which provided a natural barrier to trade and travel for much of the county's history. Isolated from the main rail corridors through the county and the irrigation projects that generated much of the region's economic prosperity, the part of Stanislaus County west of the river (known to locals as the "West Side" of the county) has largely remained rural and economically dependent on agricultural activities. Because of its proximity to Interstate 5 (California), Interstate 5 and the California Aqueduct some towns within this area, including Patterson, California, Patterson and Newman, California, Newman, have experienced tremendous growth and are being transformed into Commuter town, bedroom communities for Commuting, commuters from the nearby San Francisco Bay Area, while others (including Westley, California, Westley and Crows Landing, California, Crows Landing) have been almost entirely overlooked by development and remain tiny farming communities.

Flora and fauna

There are a number or rare and endangered species found in Stanislaus County. The Beaked Clarkia, (''Clarkia rostrata''), is listed as a candidate for the Federal Endangered Species List. It has only been found in blue oak-gray pine associations in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada, a habitat which occurs at moderately high elevations. Colusa Grass, (''Neostapfsia colusana'') is listed as endangered by the State. It is restricted to vernal pools. (Torrey, 1989)

National protected area

* San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Transportation

Major highways

Interstate 5 in California, Interstate 5 * California 4

California State Route 4, State Route 4 * California 33

California State Route 33, State Route 33 * California 99

California State Route 99, State Route 99 * California 108

California State Route 108, State Route 108 * California 120

California State Route 120, State Route 120 * California 132

California State Route 132, State Route 132 * California 165

California State Route 165, State Route 165 * California 219

California State Route 219, State Route 219

Public transportation

*Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority (StanRTA) operates local bus service and paratransit in Modesto, regional service in Stanislaus County, and commuter service connecting to Bay Area Rapid Transit and Altamont Corridor Express. *The cities of Ceres, Oakdale, Riverbank, and Turlock run small local bus systems. *Both Greyhound Lines, Greyhound and Amtrak have stops in Modesto and Turlock. Amtrak for Turlock actually stops in Denair.

Airports

Modesto City-County Airport has previously had a number of scheduled passenger flights. Currently, its main air traffic is general aviation. Other (general aviation) airports around the county include Oakdale Airport, Patterson Airport, and Turlock Airpark.

Demographics

2020 census

''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

2011

Places by population, race, and income

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census reported that Stanislaus County had a population of 514,453. The racial makeup of Stanislaus County was 337,342 (65.6%) White (U.S. Census), White, 14,721 (2.9%) African American (U.S. Census), African American, 5,902 (1.1%) Native American (U.S. Census), Native American, 26,090 (5.1%) Asian (U.S. Census), Asian (1.5% Indian, 1.1% Filipino, 0.7% Cambodian, 0.5% Chinese, 0.3% Vietnamese, 0.3% Laotian, 0.1% Japanese, 0.1% Korean, 0.1% Cambodian), 3,401 (0.7%) Pacific Islander (U.S. Census), Pacific Islander, 99,210 (19.3%) from Race (United States Census), other races, and 27,787 (5.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic (U.S. Census), Hispanic or Latino (U.S. Census), Latino of any race were 215,658 persons (41.9%); 37.6% of Stanislaus County is Mexican, 0.6% Puerto Rican, 0.5% Salvadoran, 0.2% Nicaraguan, and 0.2% Guatemalan. (Note - the US Census Bureau says "this system treats race and ethnicity as separate and independent categories. This means that within the federal system everyone is classified as both a member of one of the four race groups and also as either Hispanic or non-Hispanic." Consequently, there are a total of 8 race-ethnicity categories (e.g., White-Hispanic, White-non-Hispanic, Black-Hispanic, Black-non-Hispanic, etc.). That in turn means that the total Hispanic population is made up of each of the four groups, thus the separate distinction for Hispanic and non-Hispanic.)

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 446,997 people, 145,146 households, and 109,585 families residing in the county. The population density was 299 people per square mile (116/km²). There were 150,807 housing units at an average density of 101 per square mile (39/km²). The racial/ethnic makeup of the county was 69.3% Race (United States Census), White, 2.6% Race (United States Census), Black, 4.2% Race (United States Census), Asian, 1.3% Native Americans in the United States, Native American, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 16.8% from Ethnicity (United States Census), other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. 31.7% of the population were Race (United States Census), Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.4% were of German people, German, 6.3% English people, English, 6.0% United States, American, 5.5% Irish people, Irish, and 5.1% Portuguese people, Portuguese ancestry according to Census 2000. 67.8% spoke English language, English, 23.7% Spanish language, Spanish, 1.5% Syriac language, Syriac, and 1.3% Portuguese language, Portuguese as their first language. There were 145,146 households, out of which 41.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were Marriage, married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.47. In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.1% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males. The median income for a household in the county was $40,101, and the median income for a family was $44,703. Males had a median income of $36,969 versus $26,595 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,913. About 12.3% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Stanislaus County as the Modesto, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The United States Census Bureau ranked the Modesto, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area as the List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, 103rd most populous Metropolitan Statistical Area, metropolitan statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012. The Office of Management and Budget has further designated the Modesto, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area as a component of the more extensive San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland, CA Combined Statistical Area, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA Combined Statistical Area, the List of Combined Statistical Areas, 5th most populous combined statistical area in the United States.

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Cities by population and crime rates

Government, politics, and policing

Government

The Government of Stanislaus County, California, Government of Stanislaus County is defined and authorized under the California Constitution and California law, law as a Charter county, general law county. The County government provides countywide services such as elections and voter registration, law enforcement, jails, vital records, property records, tax collection, public health, and social services. In addition the County serves as the local government for all unincorporated areas. The County government is composed of the elected five-member Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, Board of Supervisors, several other elected offices including the Stanislaus County Sheriff-Coroner, Sheriff-Coroner, Stanislaus County District Attorney, District Attorney, Stanislaus County Assessor, Assessor, Stanislaus County Auditor-Controller, Auditor-Controller, Stanislaus County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Treasurer-Tax Collector, and Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder, Clerk-Recorder, and numerous county departments and entities under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer. As of January 2021 the members of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors were: * Buck Condit, District 1 * Vito Chiesa, District 2, Chairman * Terry Withrow, District 3 Vice Chairman * Mani Grewal, District 4 * Channce Condit, District 5,

Policing

Sheriff

The Stanislaus County Sheriff provides court protection, jail administration, and coroner services for the entire county of 540,000 in population. It provides patrol and detective services for the unincorporated areas of the county. The Sheriff also provides law enforcement services by contract to the municipalities of Riverbank, Patterson, Waterford, Salida, and Hughson. These municipalities fund police coverage as specified in the respective sheriff's contract with each city.

Municipal police

Municipal police departments in the county are: Modesto, population 213,000; Turlock, 73,000; Ceres, 46,000; Oakdale, 23,000; Newman 11,000.

Politics

Voter registration statistics

= Cities by population and voter registration

Overview

Just like neighboring Merced County, California, Merced County, Stanislaus is considered a bellwether county in presidential elections. The last major-party nominee to gain over 60% of the vote was Lyndon Johnson in 1964 United States presidential election in California, 1964. Furthermore, in 1960 United States presidential election, 1960, Stanislaus County was one of the most bellwether counties in terms of the popular vote, voting 0.02% more Democratic than the national average. It has voted for the winning candidate for president in every election since 1972 except in 2016 when it voted for Hillary Clinton instead of Donald Trump. In 2020, Joe Biden won the county in a slim victory returning the county to its status as bellwether county. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976, although Barack Obama won a Plurality (voting), plurality in 2008 and 2012, as did Bill Clinton in both 1992 and 1996, and as Joe Biden did in 2020. In the United States House of Representatives, Stanislaus County is in . In the California State Senate, Stanislaus is split between 3 legislative districts: * , * , and * . In the California State Assembly, Stanislaus is split between , and .

Economy

Agriculture is Stanislaus County's number one industry, with almonds being the primary agricultural product.

Education

Tertiary

The California State University, Stanislaus is a campus of the California State University located in Turlock, California, Turlock. The Yosemite Community College District covers a 4,500 square mile area and serves a population over 550,000 encompassing all of two counties (Stanislaus and Tuolumne County, California, Tuolumne) and parts of 4 others (Calaveras County, California, Calaveras, Merced County, California, Merced, San Joaquin County, California, San Joaquin and Santa Clara County, California, Santa Clara). It is composed of 2 colleges: Modesto Junior College in Modesto and Columbia College (California), Columbia College in Sonora, California, Sonora in Tuolumne County to the northeast. There is also a Kaplan College campus in Modesto, an ITT Technical Institute campus in Lathrop, California, Lathrop in San Joaquin County, California, San Joaquin County to the northeast, and a San Joaquin Valley College campus in Modesto.

K-12 education

School districts include: Unified: * Ceres Unified School District * Denair Unified School District * Hughson Unified School District - Serves some areas for PK-12 and some only for 9-12 * Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District * Oakdale Joint Unified School District - Serves some areas for PK-12 and some only for 9-12 * Patterson Joint Unified School District * Riverbank Unified School District * Turlock Unified School District - Serves some areas for PK-12 and some only for 9-12 * Waterford Unified School District Secondary: * Modesto City High School District Elementary: * Chatom Union Elementary School District * Empire Union Elementary School District * Gratton Elementary School District * Hart-Ransom Union Elementary School District * Hickman Community Charter School District * Keyes Union Elementary School District * Knights Ferry Elementary School District * Modesto City Elementary School District * Paradise Elementary School District * Roberts Ferry Union Elementary School District * Salida Union Elementary School District * Shiloh Elementary School District * Stanislaus Union Elementary School District * Sylvan Union Elementary School District * Valley Home Joint Elementary School District

Media

Stanislaus County is in the Sacramento television market, and thus receives Sacramento, California#Media, Sacramento media. The county also has media outlets that serve the local community:
''The Modesto Press''
is the local online news site for Modesto and the surrounding areas of the Central Valley.
''The Modesto Bee''
is a Modesto-based daily newspaper.

Communities

Incorporated cities

*Ceres, California, Ceres *Hughson, California, Hughson *Modesto, California, Modesto *Newman, California, Newman *Oakdale, California, Oakdale *Patterson, California, Patterson *Riverbank, California, Riverbank *Turlock, California, Turlock *Waterford, California, Waterford

Census-designated places

*Airport, California, Airport *Bret Harte, California, Bret Harte *Bystrom, California, Bystrom *Cowan, California, Cowan *Crows Landing, California, Crows Landing *Del Rio, California, Del Rio *Denair, California, Denair *Diablo Grande, California, Diablo Grande *East Oakdale, California, East Oakdale *Empire, California, Empire *Grayson, California, Grayson *Hickman, California, Hickman *Keyes, California, Keyes *Knights Ferry, California, Knights Ferry *La Grange, California, La Grange *Monterey Park Tract, California, Monterey Park Tract *Orange Blossom, California, Orange Blossom *Parklawn, California, Parklawn *Riverdale Park, California, Riverdale Park *Rouse, California, Rouse *Salida, California, Salida *Shackelford, California, Shackelford (former) *Tuolumne, Stanislaus County, California, Tuolumne *Valley Home, California, Valley Home *West Modesto, California, West Modesto *Westley, California, Westley

Other unincorporated communities

*Hills Ferry, California, Hills Ferry *Langworth, California, Langworth *McHenry, California, McHenry *Montpelier, California, Montpelier *Mountain View, Stanislaus County, California, Mountain View *Oso, Stanislaus County, California, Oso *Roberts Ferry, California, Roberts Ferry *Timba, California, Timba (or Orestimba) *Wood Colony, California, Wood Colony *Eugene

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 United States census, 2010 census of Stanislaus County. † ''county seat''

Notes

References

External links

*
Connecting StanislausVisit StanislausStanislaus County FairCalifornia State University StanislausModesto Junior CollegeStanislaus PRIDE CenterStanislaus County Farm BureauStanislaus County Free LibraryStanislaus County Law Library
* {{Coord, 37.56, -120.99, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-CA_source:UScensus1990 Stanislaus County, California, California counties San Joaquin Valley 1854 establishments in California Populated places established in 1854 Majority-minority counties in California