All About Stockton, California
Stockton is located at the head of the navigable canal, a few miles east of the San Joaquin River and approximately 90 miles inland from San Francisco Bay. The strategic location of the city along several waterways is what defined Stockton and its surrounding communities.
Today, the city continues to serve as a major shipping point for many of Northern California’s agricultural and manufactured products.
Since its inception, Stockton has been culturally and ethnically diverse as a muddy-street gold-rush camp. The city has always had a diverse ethnic group, including a large Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, and Filipino population. Earlier ethnic groups included both Chinese and Mexicans.
All these groups have made a significant contribution to the development of the city. Today’s diversity is reflected in Stockton’s street names, architecture, and the faces and heritage of the majority of its citizens.
Throughout the year, ethnic festivals reflect the diversity of the microcosm that Stockton has become for the world. The town was voted All-American City in 1999 and 2004.
- Stockton Today
Rich peat soil and temperate climate make the Stockton area one of the richest agricultural and dairy regions in California. Over the 150 years of Stockton’s history, almost every major fruit, nut, and field crop has been grown, some with greater success than others.
Current major crops include asparagus, cherries, tomatoes, walnuts, and almonds, as well as other small-scale orchards, rows and feed crops. Grapes account for 40 percent of the fruit and nut harvest and 18 percent of the country’s agricultural dollar. Wine-winning wines are produced from vineyards north of Stockton, contributing to the international reputation of fine quality California wines.
- The Delta
The legendary Delta, created by the confluence of several rivers and man-made canals, encompasses 1,000 miles of waterways and defines the geography of Stockton. Wildlife, irrigation, transport, and recreation all owe their success to the muddy waters of the San Joaquin Delta.