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Colorado Springs Directory
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Modesto Background
Modesto is the county seat of Stanislaus County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of
188,856. Current census estimates place the population at 206,300. Its location, an hour and half from both the San
Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento, has turned the once agriculturally based region into a bedroom community. Over twenty
percent of the workforce travels outside of the county to their place of employment. The area is plagued by some of the
worst air quality in the nation, on occasion surpassing even that of Los Angeles. It is also reported to have the highest
car theft per capita rate in the United States for at least 2 years running. What’s more Modesto’s unemployment
rate is typically double the state rate, boasts high levels of teenage pregnancy and is the seat of a county that puts
few students through college.
Modesto, originally a stop on the railroad connecting Sacramento to Los Angeles, was founded in 1870 and was to be named
for William Chapman Ralston, its founder and the financier of many projects in early California. However, he declined the
suggestion and a Spanish-speaking railroad workers at the naming ceremony said that Ralston was "Muy modesto" or very modest.
Instead, the town was named Modesto.
Modesto is the setting for the movie American Graffiti created by George Lucas, who was born in the city (the actual location
set was Petaluma, California). Many of the characters and scenes from the movie are based on actual events that happened in
Modesto during the time that Lucas went to high school there, such as the time Lucas wrecked his father’s car on Coffee
Road.
Modesto and the greater Modesto area have recently been been associated with high profile murders, including Chandra Levy and
Laci Peterson. It was also the district of Gary Condit.
Modesto’s official slogan is Water Wealth Contentment Health, which is emblazoned on a large arch downtown that has been
immortalized in many photographs. The original winning slogan was: "Nobody’s got Modesto’s goat".
The Modesto Airport lies next to the Tuolumne River. Between the airport and the river lies Veterans’ Park.
Modesto is Home to the Modesto Nuts of the High-A California League (Colorado Rockies minor league team); the Nuts play their
home games at John Thurman Field. Modesto is also the home of the critically acclaimed but insipid band Grandaddy. Modesto is
also the home of Gallo Winery. The Modesto Tallow Co., operating on the south bank of the Tuolumne River since 1917, processes
10,000 tons of animal carcasses a month, emitting a noxious stench across a poorer swath of the city. The plant has violated air
quality standards more often since 1999 than any other company in the San Joaquin Valley.
Modesto’s international character can also be seen in its five officially recognized sister cities. They are, Kurume, Japan,
Vernon, Canada, Vijawata, India, Aquascalientes, Mexico, and Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. On the other hand, Modesto’s redneck
character can be seen everywhere.
Geography
Modesto is located at 37°39’41" North, 120°59’40" West (37.661479, -120.994543). Modesto is located on the Tuolumne River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 93.1 km˛ (36.0 mi˛). 92.7 km˛ (35.8 mi˛) of it is land
and 0.4 km˛ (0.2 mi˛) of it is water. The total area is 0.47% water.
Transportation
Modesto is served by one of the busiest rail corridors in the country. The Amtrak San Joaquins make six daily stops on the route
between Oakland and Bakersfield, and two stops daily on the route between Sacramento and Bakersfield. Air service is provided to
San Francisco International Airport by Skywest Airlines, under an agreement with United Airlines. Modesto Is also served by
California route 99, and Both CA- 132, and California route 108, which is the main route into the Sierra Gateway.
Industry
Modesto’s industries are mainly food processing and related industries, although "partaying" has long been a major export.
Gallo, Del Monte Foods, Foster Farms, Frito Lay, Blue Diamond Growers, Hershey and Con-Agra are nationally recognized food companies
with large operations in the area.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 188,856 people, 64,959 households, and 46,640 families residing in the city. The population
density is 2,037.4/km˛ (5,277.3/mi˛). There are 67,179 housing units at an average density of 724.7/km˛ (1,877.2/mi˛). The racial
makeup of the city is 69.58% White, 3.97% African American, 1.24% Native American, 6.03% Asian, 0.50% Pacific Islander, 12.74% from
other races, and 5.93% from two or more races. 25.58% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 64,959 households out of which 38.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% are married couples living
together, 14.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% are non-families. 22.5% of all households are made up
of individuals and 8.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.86 and the average
family size is 3.36.
In the city the population is spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64,
and 11.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 94.1 males. For every 100
females age 18 and over, there are 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $40,394, and the median income for a family is $45,681. Males have a median income
of $38,595 versus $26,989 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,797. 15.7% of the population and 12.2% of families
are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.9% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those 65 and older are living
below the poverty line.
Famous/Infamous People From Modesto
- Chidi Ahanotu - NFL defensive end
- Gary Condit - Former Congressman
- George Lucas - Writer, Producer, Director
- Scott Peterson - Convicted Murderer
- Ann Veneman - UNICEF Executive Director/Former US Secretary of Agriculture
- James Marsters - Actor (Best known as "Spike" From the hit television show, Buffy The Vampire Slayer)
Source: wikipedia.org
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