STANISLAUS COUNTY

County Offices
1021 I Street
Modesto 209-525-5250
www.stancounty.com

Chamber of Commerce
1114 J Street
Modesto 209-577-5757
www.modchamber.org

Services
Intersected by two of California’s major north/south routes, Stanislaus County is ideally positioned to offer the best of all worlds. Residents of the area’s cities and tranquil rural communities enjoy access to a network of state-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities. The region’s major hospitals provide more than 1,300 beds including nearly 1,000 acute-care beds. Many of these institutions have recently completed or plan upgrades and expansions to meet the needs of a growing population, from a three-story critical care center to new medical office center. Modesto is home to Doctors Medical Center, Memorial Medical Center, Modesto Rehabilitation Hospital, and the Stanislaus Surgical Hospital. Oak Valley District Hospital is located in Oakdale, and Emanuel Medical Center is in Turlock. Throughout the area, specialized and routine-care facilities combine with skilled professionals in private practice to meet nearly every need close to home.

Educational resources are equally well represented in Stanislaus County, where two important institutions of higher education complement the network of public and private schools from preschool through 12th grade. Modesto Junior College provides an affordable start on a four-year degree, opportunities for vocational and career training, and convenient continuing education courses. California State University Stanislaus in Turlock provides a first-rate educational experience on a campus that enjoys one of the best retention rates in the entire CSU system. Just beyond the Stanislaus River Valley, students will find a wide variety of public and private colleges and universities, including the recently formed University of California Merced just 30 minutes from home.

Quality of Life
Nestled in the northern section of the panoramic San Joaquin Valley, Stanislaus County offers enough diversity to support nearly every lifestyle choice. Several leading cities combine to provide a wealth of cultural, educational, and recreational advantages, from the county seat of Modesto to the college town of Turlock. One of the region’s top attractions is the Sierra Railroad Dinner Train based in Oakdale, well known for its unique blend of fine dining, live music, and murder-mystery theatre with a relaxing trip through unspoiled countryside. Natural resources include Woodward and Modesto reservoirs, man-made lakes with picnic and beach areas that also encourage sail and power boating and every imaginable type of water sport. Frank Raines Regional Park sprawls over the rugged slopes of California’s Coast Range to combine pristine habitats with developed amenities. Supervised recreational programs, golf courses, tennis courts, sports fields and courts, swimming pools, and private clubs ensure quality leisure hours for residents of all ages. The younger set will especially enjoy the 18-acre FUNWORKS! entertainment park, the largest attraction of its kind in the entire central valley.

Other highlights in this area include intriguing museums, preserved historic sites, wonderful shopping centers and quaint districts filled with antiques and collectibles. Colorful celebrations and seasonal events draw enthusiastic crowds to the county’s major cities and smaller towns, bringing friends and neighbors together for good food, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and lively competition. An active cultural community benefits from the influence of the county’s institutions of higher education, introducing opportunities to enjoy the performing and visual arts around the calendar year. For an entire world of activities and amenities within 90 miles of the county, the San Francisco Bay Area glistens to the west. The Modesto City-County Airport even provides daily air service to the Bay Area for those who prefer the convenience of air travel. Little wonder that so many new residents are finding the ideal home in beautiful Stanislaus County.


Ceres
Municipal Offices
209-538-5700
www.ci.ceres.ca.us

Chamber of Commerce

209-537-2601
http://cereschamber.com

Active and growing, the community of Ceres is large enough to provide urban amenities and conveniences but small enough to preserve an intimate hometown flavor. The city is nestled in one of California’s richest and most diverse agricultural regions just south of the bustling urban center of Modesto. Throngs of visitors flock to Ceres each spring during the city’s annual Ceres Street Faire. Flourishing agri-business enterprises are well supported by industries and manufacturing for a strong and healthy local economy. The city recently added a new feather to its cap: the $14 million County Agriculture Center. The very name of “Ceres” originated from the Roman goddess of agriculture. The rolling Tuolumne River forms part of the city’s northern boundary.

Hughson
Municipal Offices
209-883-4054
www.hughson.org

Chamber of Commerce

209-883-0811
http://hughsonchamber.org

Characterized as a small but highly productive agricultural community in the heart of the Stanislaus River Valley, Hughson is surrounded by picturesque orchards a few miles southeast of the bustling urban center of Modesto. Best known for nut growing and associated processing companies, the community proudly hosts the Hughson Fruit and Nut Festival each spring. In spite of growth in recent years, Hughson offers a welcoming and friendly small-town atmosphere that holds a strong appeal for families. The smallest of the incorporated communities in Stanislaus County, Hughson is just north of Turlock with its state university and minutes away from the cultural and retail attractions of Modesto. The community of Ceres lies to the west.

Knights Ferry
County Offices
209-525-6333
www.stancounty.com

Chamber of Commerce

209-577-5757
www.modchamber.org

The small, unincorporated community of Knights Ferry is steeped in history and hosts one of the region’s most dramatic annual events. During Civil War Living History Days each March, Union and Confederate camps reenact a battlefield scene on both sides of the Stanislaus River. The river is traversed by an historic covered bridge that remains from the turn of the century. This picturesque bridge first opened in 1863 and claims the status of the longest structure of its kind west of the Mississippi River. When the bridge is not playing an integral role in Civil War remembrances, residents and visitors can enjoy strolling along its banks and taking advantage of picnic areas. The town was established in 1849 as a mining base and still supports mining operations that include sand and gravel.

Modesto
Municipal Offices
209-577-5200
www.modestogov.com

Chamber of Commerce

209-577-5757
www.modchamber.org

The county seat for Stanislaus County had its genesis in the 1870s with railroad expansion into the area. Still a vital center of commerce, the city welcomes thousands of employees each day to its offices, retail shops, and entertainment centers. Several business parks provide contemporary amenities and a strategic location in the central valley. Although the city has grown into a small metropolis of more than 200,000 residents, the community has preserved the warmth and friendliness of its roots. Greater traditions, a multicultural lifestyle, excellent educational opportunities, first-rate healthcare institutions, cultural attractions, and well-developed recreational opportunities create an unrivaled quality of life. Nestled in an area that boasts some of California’s richest soil, the community offers everything from the perfume of orchard blossoms to farm-fresh goods in markets and roadside stands.

Newman, Crows Landing
Municipal Offices
209-862-3725
www.cityofnewman.com

Chamber of Commerce

209-862-1000

Dynamic and rapidly growing, the city of Newman is located on the western side of the Stanislaus River Valley and features stunning views of the Diablo Range. The charm of the community’s historic downtown district is an ideal complement to the picturesque agricultural countryside. Dairy farming and food processing dominate the local economy, a heritage that is proudly celebrated each September by the Newman Fall Festival. One of California’s most historic communities, Newman features a number of homes and businesses that were either constructed or founded in the late 1800s. In addition to its reference for the past, the community offers contemporary advantages like an award-winning school system and easy access to California State University Stanislaus. Newman shares a school district with the nearby agricultural town of Crows Landing, which remains unincorporated.

Oakdale
Municipal Offices
209-845-3571
www.oakdalegov.com

Chamber of Commerce

209-847-2244
www.oakdalechamber.com

Situated along the scenic banks of the Stanislaus River on the eastern edge of the central valley, Oakdale is justly proud of its distinctive ranching and equestrian heritage. Throughout the four seasons, Oakdale serves as a gateway to Yosemite National Park and the central Sierra Nevada Mountains, ensuring premier recreational opportunities and breathtaking natural beauty. Characterized as an emerging urban community, Oakdale is home to a number of important food-processing companies. The strong presence of Hershey’s is celebrated each year by the Oakdale Chocolate Festival each May, an extravaganza of live music, entertainment, arts and crafts, and food booths that feature chocolate delights. Oakdale is often dubbed “The Cowboy Capital of the World” and revels in the strong influence of cattle ranchers and professional cowboys within the population mix.

Patterson, Westley
Municipal Offices
209-895-8000
www.ci.patterson.ca.us

Chamber of Commerce

209-895-8094

Distinguished as the “Apricot Capital of the World,” Patterson welcomes throngs of visitors each year to its lively Apricot Fiesta. At the same time it celebrates a strong agricultural heritage, this progressive community promotes balanced growth and development. Patterson is strategically situated in the western section of the Stanislaus River Valley near Interstate 5, one of California’s most important north/south highways. Although the city attributes the lion’s share of its economic strength to agriculture and food processing, diverse companies are also at home in its modern business park. The unique format of the city was patterned after great metropolitan areas like Paris and our own national capital city, where a circular central district is surrounded by radiating “spokes.” The small unincorporated community of Westley is so closely associated with Patterson that the two share a chamber of commerce.

Riverbank
Municipal Offices
209-869-7101
www.riverbank.org

Chamber of Commerce

209-577-5757
www.modchamber.org

Part of the attraction for new residents to Riverbank is the quick and easy access to the considerable urban amenities in nearby Modesto. Located along State Highway 108, Riverbank was named by the Santa Fe Railroad for its close proximity to the Stanislaus River. The community provides a good balance of recreational, cultural, and social activities for residents of all ages in a comfortable and intimate small-town setting. Riverbank artfully harmonizes the new with the old and balances its residential character with the surrounding rural heritage. The city proudly welcomes visitors from across the region to the Riverbank Annual Cheese and Wine Exposition each October. Agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, and service industries are all important contributors to a thriving local economy.

Salida
County Offices
209-525-5250
www.stancounty.com

Chamber of Commerce

209-577-5757
www.modchamber.org

The unincorporated community of Salida remains under the jurisdiction of Stanislaus County but also features a number of hands-on organizations including the Salida Civic Association. Originally named “Murphy’s Switch” in 1870, the community grew up around the railroad that traverses the town. A proud small-town spirit runs high in Salida, evidenced by the impressive trees that line the median of Broadway Avenue that were planted in 1910 by the Women’s Improvement Club. The community enjoys access to two major thoroughfares, State Highway 99 and State Route 219. In recent years, the area has experienced such brisk growth patterns that the boundaries between Salida and neighboring Modesto are beginning to blur. Easy access to all that Modesto has to offer has enhanced the appeal of Salida for newcomers who appreciate the tranquil hometown setting.

Turlock, Denair
Municipal Offices
209-668-5540
www.cityofturlock.org

Chamber of Commerce

209-632-2221
www.turlockchamber.com

The “college town” of Turlock is home to a California State University campus but also provides easy access to central California’s most celebrated tourist destinations. The city is marked by superior services, a strong school system, tranquil residential neighborhoods, and a rich heritage of agricultural activity. Impressive growth and development have made Turlock the second largest city in Stanislaus County, although planners and residents are determined to protect the appealing small-town feeling. The cultural community is strong, complemented by influence of a major institution of higher education and close proximity to Modesto. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the charm of the revitalized historic downtown district with its bookstores, galleries, and boutiques. Modern Turlock provides newcomers with an opportunity to combine urban amenities and conveniences with the relaxed pace of rural living. The nearby unincorporated community of Denair provides easy access to Turlock amenities and is attracting a growing number of young families to its highly regarded public school system.

Waterford, Hickman
Municipal Offices
209-874-2328
www.cityofwaterford.org

Chamber of Commerce

209-577-5757
www.modchamber.org

Providing easy access to amenities and resources in Modesto and Turlock, Waterford has experienced rapid growth in the past three decades. Known as the “Gateway to Recreation,” the city plays host to thousands of visitors who are traveling toward the premier outdoor recreational opportunities that dot the region. Turlock Lake State Recreation Area, Lake Don Pedro Reservoir, Modesto Reservoir, New Melones Reservoir, La Grange Off Road Vehicle Recreation Area, and Yosemite National Park are all easily accessible from Waterford. Incorporated in 1969, the city held its first Heritage Day festivities that same year. Waterford is surrounded by abundant agricultural activity that includes the production of almonds, peaches, apples, walnuts, and corn. Bordered by the Tuolumne River, the city attracts newcomers to an unparalleled quality of life that combines small-town pleasures with four-season recreation. The unincorporated community of Hickman lies across the river, just 1.5 miles from Waterford.

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