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Stockton, California

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Stockton, California
  File:Stockton, CA city seal.png
Stockton City Seal
City nickname: "California's Sunshine Seaport"
Stockton, California
County: San Joaquin
Area code: 209
ZIP code: 952xx
Area:
 - Total
 - Water
144.9 km² (56.0 mi²)
3.2 km² (1.2 mi²) 2.22%
Population:

 - City proper (2005 est.)
 - Density (average)


279,800
579.0/km²

Time zone: Pacific: UTC-8

Latitude:
Longitude:

37°58' N
121°18' W

Mayor: Edward Chavez
City of Stockton Official Website

Stockton is a city in California and the seat of San Joaquin County (the 5th largest agricultural county in the United States). According to 2005 estimates by the California Department of Finance, Stockton has a population of 279,800 and is the 13th largest city in California. Stockton is also the fourth largest inland city in California, behind Fresno, Sacramento, and Bakersfield.

Encompassing Interstate 5, State Route 99 and State Route 4, Stockton is strategically located about 60 miles east of the San Francisco Bay Area and 45 miles south of Sacramento, the capital of California. Stockton is surrounded by the rich and fertile lands of the California Central Valley and is home to the largest inland seaport in California. In and around Stockton are thousands of waterway, canals, and rivers that comprise the California Delta.

Recently, Stockton and the nearby communities of Tracy and Manteca have experienced a population boom. This is largely due to thousands of people settling in the area to escape the relatively high cost of living of the San Francisco Bay Area. This influx of new residents, however, resulted in a sharp increase in the cost of living of Stockton, although it is still significantly lower than any Bay Area city of comparable size.

In the midst of a massive, city-wide redevelopment project (still in progress), Stockton was twice named an All-America City, in 1999 & 2004. In the 2005 rankings of America's Most Literate Cities, Stockton was named the least literate city in the country.


Geography

Stockton is located at 37°58' North, 121°18' West; its land area is 52.57 square miles (136 km²); its water area is 0.95 square miles (2.5 km²). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 144.9 km² (56.0 mi²). 141.7 km² (54.7 mi²) of it is land and 3.2 km² (1.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.22% water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 243,771 people, 78,556 households, and 56,167 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,720.4/km² (4,455.7/mi²). There are 82,042 housing units at an average density of 579.0/km² (1,499.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 43.26% White, 11.25% African American, 1.12% Native American, 19.90% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, 17.31% from other races, and 6.76% from two or more races. 32.50% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 78,556 households out of which 40.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% are married couples living together, 17.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% are non-families. 22.9% 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 3.04 and the average family size is 3.59.

In the city the population is spread out with 32.4% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 30 years. For every 100 females there are 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $35,453, and the median income for a family is $40,434. Males have a median income of $35,181 versus $26,602 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,405. 23.9% of the population and 18.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 32.8% of those under the age of 18 and 11.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Government

Edward J. Chavez was elected mayor of Stockton in 2004 and officially began his term on January 1, 2005. Chavez succeeded the popular Gary Podesto to the mayorship. His term expires December 31, 2008.

Chavez joined the Stockton Police Department in August 1973 as a Patrol Officer. Working his way up, he was appointed Chief of Police in August 1993 and served until his retirement in 2003.

Mark Lewis was appointed City Manager by the City Council in April 2001. Lewis, best known for his economic and developmental policies, successfully served the cities of Monterey Park, Colton, Union City and South San Francisco, California in the same capacity.

The Stockton City Council is comprised of six councilmembers, each elected by their respective districts:

  • District 1 - Steve J. Bestolarides
  • District 2 - Dan J. Chapman
  • District 3 - Leslie B. Martin
  • District 4 - Clem Lee
  • District 5 - Gary S. Giovanetti (Vice Mayor)
  • District 6 - Rebecca G. Nabors

Industry

Although historically an agriculturally based community, Stockton's economy has diversified into all sectors of industry. Several top-tier companies have chosen to base their operations in Stockton, some of which include:

  • Golden State Lumber
  • Pac-West Telecommunications
  • Zacky Farms
  • Duraflame
  • Diamond of California
  • Kellogs
  • Dollar Tree
  • Washington Mutual Financial Services

In addition, due to readily available land and office space in Stockton, several corporations have either shifted their regional headquarters to the city or are in negotiations with city officials to do so.

Sister cities

Stockton has six sister cities worldwide:

Transportation

Stockton has access to several different modes of transportation:

Land

Due to its location at the 'crossroads' of the Central Valley and a relatively extensive highway system, Stockton is easily accessible from virtually anywhere in California. Interstate 5 and State Route 99, California's major north-south thoroughfares, pass through city limits. Also, Stockton is just minutes away from Interstates 205 and 580.

Stockton is also connected to the rest of the nation through an extensive network of railways. Amtrak and Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) both make stops in Stockton, with Amtrak providing passenger access to the rest of the nation. Moreover, Southern Pacific and Union Pacific meet the cargo rail needs of the city. Recently, Burlington Northern Santa Fe opened a much needed $150 million intermodal freight transport facility in southeast Stockton, which satisfies long-haul transportation needs.

Air

Stockton is served by Stockton Metropolitan Airport, located on county land just south of city limits. The airport has been designated a Foreign Trade Zone and is mainly used by manufacturing and agricultural companies for shipping purposes. San Joaquin County officials are currently considering plans to upgrade the facility to provide domestic flight service. Domestic carriers such as America West had provided air service to the city as recently as 2003.

Water

The Port of Stockton is the third largest landholder seaport in California and has also been designated a Foreign Trade Zone. The Port operates a 2,100 acre (8.5 km²) transportation center with berthing space for 14 vessels. In addition, 6.5 million square feet (600,000 m²) of warehouse storage space is available.

Higher education

Stockton is home to several institutions of higher education. These include San Joaquin Delta Community College, Humphrey's College and School of Law, and the University of the Pacific (UOP).

University of the Pacific is a famous institution and has been used to film several Hollywood films, partly due to its aesthetic likeness to East Coast Ivy League universities. Its most famous such appearance is probably in Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Stockton used to be the site of a California State Hospital, the oldest in the state system, founded only a few years after statehood. Stockton State Hospital was closed in 1996 and has since been converted into the Stockton Campus of California State University, Stanislaus.

Professional sports

Although Stockton lacks a major-league sports team, it is home to several minor-league franchises:

The Stockton Ports play their home games at Banner Island Ballpark, a new 5,000 seat facility built for the team in downtown Stockton. A new 10,000 seat arena, the Stockton Arena, is also under construction in downtown Stockton, which will house the California Cougars, Stockton Thunder and Stockton Lightning.

Famous Stocktonians

Interesting facts

  • Prior to its incorporation in 1850, Stockton had several names, including 'Tuleburg', 'Gas City' and 'Mudville'.
  • Stockton was twice named an All-America City (1999 & 2004).
  • The historic Bob Hope Theatre (formerly Fox Theatre) in downtown Stockton is one of only two 'movie palaces' in the Central Valley.
  • With over 100,000 trees, Stockton was thrice named 'best tree city' in the western United States by Sunset magazine.
  • Stockton was the first community in California to have a name not of Spanish or Native American origin.
  • Several high-profile people have visited Stockton, including President George W. Bush, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, comedian Jerry Seinfeld and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.
  • The Port of Stockton is the easternmost inland seaport in California.
  • On January 17, 1989, a mentally ill Stockton man, Patrick Purdy, opened fire onto an elementary school field with an AK-47 assault rifle, killing five children and wounding twenty-nine others and a teacher, before taking his own life. This event received national news coverage and is sometimes referred to as the Stockton Massacre.
  • George W. Bush Elementary School, located in north Stockton, is the first public school in the nation to be named for a sitting president.
  • In 2005, Forbes magazine listed it as having 6,570 crimes per 100,000 residents — the highest listed crime rate [1].

External links

Template:Mapit-US-cityscale

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