Stockton’s History Stockton is the San Joaquin County Seat and the 13th largest city in the state of California. It is situated in the Central Valley along the San Joaquin Delta Waterway which connects to San Francisco Bay. The City of San Francisco is located 83 miles to the west and Sacramento, the state’s capitol, is 45 miles to the north of Stockton. In 1849, Stockton was founded on 49,000 acres granted to a German immigrant, Captain Charles Weber. He named his town after Commodore Robert F. Stockton, thus making it the first community in California to have an American name. The others names were of Native American or Spanish origin. During the 1849 Gold Rush, Weber realized that wealth was easier to acquire by meeting the needs of the gold-rushers, and so Stockton became defined as a gateway for the supplies that the gold mining communities located nearby required. Six years after the gold rush played out, Stockton’s shipping industry turned toward the agricultural products that were in abundance in the area. Today, though Stockton’s Delta waterfront’s focus is different, it remains a very busy commercial port. Demographics Early on as Stockton grew and prospered, people from all over the world began coming into the area and bringing their unique cultures with them. This diversity is found in Stockton’s architecture, in the street names, and this diversity is celebrated with many cultural events held throughout the year. Today, Stockton has a multicultural, multi-ethnic population of well over 280,000. Climate The climate is Mediterranean-like with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters which provides the perfect agricultural climate. The rainy season begins in October and runs through April. Temperatures vary much more in the Central Valley than in the Bay area. In the extremes, Stockton sees an average of 73 days with highs in the 90s or above, and an average of 29 days with temperatures below freezing. Activities and Events California’s Central Valley offers a long list of things to do. For both Stockton residents and visitors, the waterfront is a big draw with plenty of marinas and boat launches, tackle stores, picnic areas, snack bars, cafes and diners. And when the sun goes down the nightlife affords many opportunities with its fine restaurants and nightclub cocktail lounges, as well as other entertainment. A wide variety of things to do can be found in many venues around Stockton such as the historic Bob Hope Theater and the Haggin Museum. If you enjoy music, the Stockton Symphony provides moving performances throughout the year, and the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific offers unparalleled concerts. Many live performances and exhibits can be enjoyed at other downtown venues as well. Shoppers will find many stores and shops where they can purchase anything from pricey jewelry to fresh produce, from a one-of-a kind item at a flea market or antiques shops to fine department stores at the malls. The community of Stockton offers an Olympic-sized ice rink, water skiing, sailing, and other water sports. It is also known for easy access to outstanding recreational opportunities in nearby areas such as the scenic the California Coast, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite National Park. Education Students in Stockton attend schools in one of four public school districts, Lincoln Unified School District, the Lodi Unified School District, the Manteca Unified School District, and the Stockton Unified School District. In addition to public schools, there are more than 30 privates elementary and secondary schools. Stockton is home to several higher education institutions as well. Among these are the California State University Stanislaus-Stockton, Humphreys College and School of Law, San Joaquin Delta Community College, and the University of the Pacific. Stockton Real Estate In 1999 and then again in 2004, the City of Stockton was recognized as an All-American City by the National Civic League. Stockton is so well-known for its older tree-lined neighborhoods that it was named in March of 2002 by Sunset magazine as the Best Tree City in the western United States. Stockton Real Estate offers many beautiful residential communities located along waterways. Presently underway is an aggressive downtown revitalization which will include a downtown marina and new south shore housing as well as high-rises and condominiums. Stockton real estate offers all types of housing starting in the low $100s to upscale, newer gated communities with homes up to $2.5 million range. Generally, homes in Stockton run about one-third the prices of homes in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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