Modesto, California

Kota Modesto pada awalnya adalah sebuah stasiun kereta api yang menghubungkan Sacramento dan Los Angeles, yang dibangun oleh Central Pacific Railroad. Ketika Modesto didirikan pada tahun 1870, salah satu pendiri perusahaan kereta api Mark Hopkins Jr. menyarankan untuk memberi nama kota tersebut sesuai dengan nama rekannya, seorang banker bernama William C. Ralston. Ralston meminta agar ditemukan nama lain, dan seorang karyawan kereta api berteriak keras dalam bahasa Spanyol bahwa Ralston adalah seorang yang sederhana. Pendiri perusahaan kereta api, Charles Crocker, lalu menamakan kota tersebut Modesto sebagai penghargaan terhadap kesederhanaan Ralston.

Populasi Modesto melebihi 1.000 warga pada tahun 1884. Dengan ladang gandum, Sungai Tuolumne yang berdekatan untuk tongkang gandum, dan lalu lintas kereta api, kota ini berkembang pesat. Air irigasi berasal dari bendungan yang dipasang di pegunungan, dan lapangan sayur-mayur serta pohon-pohon buah dan kacang berkembang pesat. Pada tahun 1900, populasi Modesto telah mencapai lebih dari 4.500 orang. Selama Perang Dunia II, daerah ini menyediakan makanan kaleng, susu bubuk, dan telur bagi pasukan bersenjata Amerika Serikat dan pasukan Sekutu. Selama beberapa dekade berikutnya, populasi Modesto tumbuh sekitar dua persen per tahun, mencapai lebih dari 100.000 pada tahun 1980 dan lebih dari 200.000 pada tahun 2001.

Moto resmi kota, "Water Wealth Contentment Health", terpampang di atas Gerbang Kota (downtown Modesto Arch), yang banyak dipakai dalam foto-foto dan kartu pos lokal. Motto ini dipilih melalui sebuah kontes yang diadakan pada tahun 1911, dengan hadiah $3 untuk pemenangnya. (Motto pemenang asli, "Nobody's got Modesto's goat", kemudian ditolak oleh pejabat kota). Moto Modesto kadang-kadang diparodikan sebagai "Lahan mendapat air, para bankir mendapat kekayaan, sapi mendapat kepuasan, dan para petani mendapatkan kesehatan."

Pada tahun 1885, Modesto mengeluarkan apa yang sekarang dianggap sebagai peraturan zonasi pertama. Tujuan utama peraturan tersebut adalah untuk menghalau pekerjaan laundry (yang pada saat itu sebagian besar dijalankan oleh orang Tionghoa), dari kota. Setelah seorang orang yang ditangkap mengajukan penolakan atas konstitusionalitas peraturan tersebut, kasusnya merembet ke Mahkamah Agung California yang menemukan bahwa undang-undang tersebut sah konstitusional.

Pada akhir tahun 1980-an, Modesto memulai pembaruan terhadap rencana umum kota sesuai dengan persyaratan Negara Bagian California. Hasilnya adalah evaluasi komprehensif atas proyeksi populasi dan penggunaan lahan alternatif bersama dengan analisis dampak lingkungan yang terkait. Beberapa faktor lingkungan yang ditinjau secara teknis adalah kualitas udara, kualitas air, kebisingan lingkungan, pencemaran tanah, dan dampak visual.

Sebagian besar tanah di Modesto tergolong dalam seri Hanford: (HbpA) fine sandy loam, yang sedang dalam kedalaman moderat di atas silt. Tanah-tanah ini terdalam, berbutir kasar moderat, dan berasal dari aluvium batuan granit. Tanah-tanah Hanford penting untuk produksi berbagai macam kebun, pertanian, dan tanaman truk dengan penyiraman.

Sungai-sungai terdekat di sekitar kota termasuk Sungai Stanislaus, Sungai Tuolumne, dan Sungai Dry Creek yang mengalir ke Sungai Tuolumne. Air tanah daerah, yang merupakan sumber utama pasokan air di kota, secara historis mengalami kerusakan secara spasial yang berbeda-beda. Air dari Waduk Modesto yang berdekatan kini digunakan untuk memperkuat pasokan air kota. Di berbagai bagian kota dan daerah sekitarnya, pencemar air berikut ini terjadi dari waktu ke waktu: nitrat, dibromoklorometana, organik mudah teruap, salinitas, total padatan terlarut, dan pestisida lainnya. Masing-masing bahan pencemar ini tidak terdapat di seluruh kota.

EPA menilai kualitas udara di Modesto sebagai 23 dari skala 100 (skala tertinggi lebih baik), sehingga membuat Modesto menjadi tempat yang tidak sehat untuk dihuni bagi orang yang memiliki kesulitan bernapas. Hal ini didasarkan pada hari peringatan alerta ozon dan jumlah pencemar di udara. Pada bulan Mei 2010, majalah Forbes, bekerja sama dengan American Lung Association, menunjukkan bahwa Modesto adalah salah satu dari 25 kota paling tercemar di Amerika Serikat.

Mulai tahun 2000-an, pusat kota Modesto^[9] (DOMO) memiliki atraksi baru termasuk Gallo Center for the Arts dan Downtown Plaza yang baru di sebelah Modesto Centre Plaza. Downtown Modesto telah kehilangan Hotel Covell, Strand Theatre bergaya art deco, dan bangunan Sears.

Historic 10th dan 11th streets, yang merupakan lokasi asli cruising yang ditampilkan di film American Graffiti, telah ditetapkan oleh Kota Modesto sebagai Historic Cruise Route. Saat ini, kawasan ini menjadi jalur wisatawan yang menyajikan informasi tentang kebudayaan musik, mobil, dan Graffiti di Modesto.

Pada tahun 2014, Walk of Fame diluncurkan di Historic Cruise Route dengan penanda yang memperingati legenda klasik seperti George Lucas, Gene Winfield, Bart Bartoni, dan lainnya.

Classic Community Murals diluncurkan oleh majalah ModestoView dan Peer Recovery Art Center untuk membuat serangkaian mural besar yang merayakan warisan Modesto Classic Graffiti. Banyak dari mural ini berada di Cruise Route.

Insentif bisnis baru telah dibuat untuk meningkatkan fasad, tanda, dan izin. Sebuah promenade sedang dirancang untuk menciptakan zona hiburan khusus di sepanjang koridor antara Modesto Centre Plaza dan Gallo Center for the Arts dan jalan inti yang bersebelahan dengan 10th, 11th, dan J streets.

Modesto^[10] adalah sebuah kota di Lembah Tengah California yang dikelilingi oleh Rangkaian Pesisir dan Pegunungan Sierra Nevada. Kawasan ini merupakan salah satu produsen utama beberapa jenis tanaman pertanian yang ditanam di Amerika Serikat. Di sekitarnya, terdapat berbagai kawasan pelestarian dengan padang rumput dan pepohonan yang hijau dan sejuk.

Kota Modesto terletak antara dua sungai, yaitu Sungai Tuolumne dan Sungai Stanislaus. Terdapat pula sebuah anak sungai kecil bernama Dry Creek, namun sayangnya sangat tercemar oleh limbah pertanian. Meskipun demikian, terdapat beberapa taman yang berdekatan dengan anak sungai ini.

Di daerah sekitar Waterford terdapat beberapa sungai dan danau yang dapat diakses untuk aktifitas kayak dan perahu motor kecil. Akses ke area ini diberikan sebagai bagian dari rencana pemerintah ketika bendungan listrik hydro dipasang di hulu untuk pengendalian banjir, irigasi, dan pembangkit listrik.

Pelabuhan terbuka terbesar yang terletak dekat dengan Modesto adalah Pelabuhan Stockton. Pelabuhan ini digunakan oleh kapal laut untuk mengangkut barang, terutama semen, pupuk, dan produk pertanian dari California ke luar negeri.

Modesto memiliki iklim semi-kering dengan batas dingin (Bsh) dan iklim Mediterania musim panas yang panas (Csa) berdasarkan klasifikasi iklim Köppen. Kota ini memiliki musim dingin yang sejuk hingga sedang dengan curah hujan yang sedang dan musim panas yang panas dan kering. Kebanyakan curah hujan terjadi selama musim dingin dan total tahunannya adalah 132 inci (3.400 mm). Curah hujan tertinggi dalam satu musim adalah 2.601 inci (66.100 mm) pada 1982-1983 dan terendah adalah 43 inci (1.100 mm) pada 1912-1913. Curah hujan biasanya datang dalam bentuk sungai atmosfer atau siklon bom dan beberapa curah hujan tertinggi dapat terjadi selama tahun-tahun El Nino. Selain itu, Modesto mengalami siklus kekeringan seperti seluruh California di mana curah hujan musiman dapat beberapa inci di bawah rata-rata pada musim kering dan beberapa inci di atas pada musim basah. Kota ini tidak memiliki sistem saluran air hujan lengkap, dan banyak jalan yang banjir selama badai hujan pada musim dingin. Hanya empat bulan dalam 100 tahun terakhir yang mencatat hujan salju yang dapat diukur dengan jumlah tertinggi sebesar 1,5 inci yang jatuh pada Januari 1962.

Rata-rata suhu tidak pernah turun di bawah 30°F dan tidak melebihi 103°F. Rata-rata suhu pada bulan Januari berkisar antara 56°F (13°C) pada siang hari hingga 34°F (1°C) di malam hari. Terdapat sekitar 20 hari per tahun yang suhunya sama atau di bawah 32°F (0°C) dan 79 hari yang sama atau di atas 90°F (32°C). Hari-hari musim dingin yang menerima curah hujan cenderung lebih hangat sementara hari-hari yang lebih kering memiliki malam beku yang memungkinkan pembentukan embun hingga pagi. Oleh karena itu, suhu musim dingin dapat bervariasi dari suhu rendah di bawah 30-an untuk bulan kering hingga 40-an pada bulan yang lebih basah. Rata-rata suhu pada bulan Juli berkisar antara 95°F (35°C) pada siang hari hingga 63°F (17°C) di malam hari. Selama bulan-bulan musim panas, dapat terjadi beberapa hari berturut-turut dengan suhu tinggi yang melebihi 100°F (38°C). Hal ini dapat menimbulkan risiko kesehatan bagi orang dengan kondisi lemah atau mereka yang mengabaikan bahaya dari heat stroke. Angin lepas pantai (dikenal sebagai "delta breeze" secara lokal) agak menurunkan suhu tinggi ini dengan udara yang lebih dingin masuk setelah pukul 8 atau 9 malam pada malam musim panas, menjadikan Modesto beberapa derajat lebih dingin daripada bagian utara dan selatan Lembah Tengah.

Pada sensus Amerika Serikat^[14] tahun 2010, di Modesto dilaporkan terdapat 201,165 penduduk. Kepadatan penduduk adalah sebesar 5,4234 jiwa per mil persegi (2,0940/km2). Komposisi ras penduduk Modesto adalah 130.833 (65,0%) orang kulit putih, 8.396 (4,2%) orang kulit hitam, 2.494 (1,2%) orang asli Amerika, 13.557 (6,7%) orang Asia, 1.924 (1,0%) orang Pasifik Islander, 31.244 (15,5%) dari ras lainnya, dan 12.717 (6,3%) dari dua atau lebih ras. Orang Hispanik atau Latino dari ras apapun berjumlah 71.381 orang (35,5%): 30,8% Meksiko, 0,7% Puerto Riko, 0,6% El Salvador, 0,5% Spanyol, 0,4% Spanyol, 0,3% Nikaragua, dan 0,2% Guatemala. Orang kulit putih bukan Hispanik merupakan 49,4% dari populasi pada tahun 2010, turun dari 83,1% pada tahun 1980.

Sensus melaporkan bahwa 198.210 orang (98,5% dari populasi) tinggal dalam rumah tangga sendiri, 1.189 (0,6%) tinggal dalam kelompok komunal non-institusional, dan 1.766 (0,9%) berada dalam lembaga.

Terdapat 69.107 rumah tangga, di mana 27.152 (39,3%) memiliki anak di bawah usia 18 tahun yang tinggal bersama mereka, 33.230 (48,1%) adalah pasangan yang tinggal bersama, 10.774 (15,6%) memiliki kepala rumah tangga perempuan tanpa suami, dan 4.904 (7,1%) memiliki kepala rumah tangga pria tanpa istri. Ada 5.177 (7,5%) tidak menikah. Sebanyak 15.887 rumah tangga (23,0%) terdiri dari individu, dan 6.221 (9,0%) memiliki seseorang yang tinggal sendiri yang berusia 65 tahun atau lebih. Rata-rata ukuran rumah tangga adalah 2,87, dan 48.908 keluarga (70,8% dari semua rumah tangga) memiliki rata-rata ukuran keluarga sebesar 3,38.

Populasi tersebar dengan 54.012 orang (26,8%) di bawah usia 18 tahun, 20.838 orang (10,4%) berusia 18 hingga 24 tahun, 53.116 orang (26,4%) berusia 25 hingga 44 tahun, 49.691 orang (24,7%) berusia 45 hingga 64 tahun, dan 23.508 orang (11,7%) yang berusia 65 tahun ke atas. Usia median adalah 34,2 tahun. Untuk setiap 100 perempuan, terdapat 95,0 laki-laki. Untuk setiap 100 perempuan yang berusia 18 tahun ke atas, terdapat 91,5 laki-laki.

Terdapat 75.044 unit perumahan dengan kepadatan rata-rata sebesar 2.0232 per mil persegi (0,7812/km2), dari mana 39.422 (57,0%) dihuni oleh pemilik, dan 29.685 (43,0%) dihuni oleh penyewa. Tingkat kekosongan pemilik rumah adalah sebesar 2,8%, sedangkan tingkat kekosongan sewa adalah 9,1%. Sebanyak 112.065 orang (55,7% dari populasi) tinggal dalam unit hunian yang dimiliki sendiri dan 86.145 orang (42,8%) tinggal dalam unit hunian yang disewa.

Menurut survei American Community tahun 2011, pendapatan median untuk sebuah rumah tangga di kota ini adalah $49.852 dan pendapatan median untuk sebuah keluarga adalah $56.629. Laki-laki memiliki pendapatan median sebesar $47.473 dibandingkan dengan $37.629 untuk perempuan. Pendapatan per kapita untuk kota ini adalah $22.886. Sekitar 14,9% keluarga dan 18,5% dari populasi berada di bawah garis kemiskinan, termasuk 27,3% dari mereka yang berusia di bawah 18 tahun dan 9,5% dari mereka yang berusia di atas 65 tahun.

Pada September 2010, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research merilis sebuah studi yang mengindikasikan bahwa 32% populasi di Modesto mengalami obesitas dibandingkan dengan tingkat obesitas rata-rata sebesar 22,7% di seluruh Negara Bagian California. Kemiskinan menjadi salah satu faktor yang disebutkan sebagai penyebab tingginya angka obesitas tersebut.

Menurut sensus^[15] pada tahun 2000, terdapat 188.856 orang, 64.959 rumah tangga, dan 46.640 keluarga yang tinggal di kota Modesto. Kepadatan penduduk sekitar 5.273 jiwa per mil persegi (2.037,6/km2). Terdapat 67.179 unit perumahan dengan kepadatan rata-rata 1.8772 per mil persegi (0,7248/km2).

Komposisi ras penduduk kota Modesto pada tahun 2000: 69,6% orang kulit putih, 25,6% orang Hispanik atau Latino, 4,0% orang Afrika-Amerika, 1,2% orang asli Amerika, 6,0% orang Asia, dan 0,5% orang Kepulauan Pasifik.

Dari total rumah tangga, 38,7% di antaranya memiliki anak di bawah usia 18 tahun yang tinggal bersama mereka. Jumlah rumah tangga dengan kepala rumah tangga wanita yang tidak memiliki suami adalah 14,7%. 28,2% dari total rumah tangga adalah bukan keluarga. 22,5% dari semua rumah tangga terdiri dari individu, dan 8,6% memiliki seseorang yang tinggal sendirian yang berusia 65 tahun atau lebih. Rata-rata ukuran rumah tangga adalah 2,86 dan ukuran keluarga rata-rata adalah 3,36.

Penduduk kota Modesto pada tahun 2000 terbagi menjadi: 30,1% di bawah usia 18 tahun, 9,6% di antara usia 18 dan 24 tahun, 28,9% di antara usia 25 dan 44 tahun, 20,3% di antara usia 45 dan 64 tahun, dan 11,1% yang berusia 65 tahun atau lebih. Usia median adalah 33 tahun. Untuk setiap 100 perempuan, terdapat 94,1 laki-laki. Untuk setiap 100 perempuan yang berusia 18 tahun ke atas, terdapat 89,7 laki-laki.

Modesto has a large agricultural industry which is based on the fertile farmland surrounding the city. Modesto is home to the largest winery in the world: E & J Gallo Winery. The Gallo Glass Company, a company of Gallo Winery, is the largest wine bottle manufacturing company in the world. Gallo provides about 3,500 jobs to Modesto residents and 2,500 jobs in other parts of the state, country, and world (meaning that most of its employment base is in Modesto).^[16] In 2023, Gallo laid off 355 of its California workers.^[17] Other major privately owned companies based in Modesto include Foster Farms Dairy, Royal Robbins, international award winner Fiscalini Cheese, Sciabica Olive Oil, Acme Construction, Aderholt Specialty, and 5.11 Tactical (formerly a part of Royal Robbins, a United States brand of clothing consisting of uniforms and tactical equipment for military). A cannery downtown produces food which is usually shipped to Sacramento and Fresno for transfer to rail or ship. Ceres has a few cereal and snack factories in the area. There are several small steelworking companies in Modesto. In mid-2008, a number of road projects were underway, with roads being constructed, repaved or repaired, at an estimated total cost of nearly $120 million.

Rates of both violent crimes and property crimes are higher in Modesto than the state average.^[19] Of particular note is that Modesto ranks among the top car theft cities in the US. Hingga 2012^[update], Modesto ranked number 1 in car thefts per 100,000 people,^[20] although the city dropped to number 3 in 2013, behind Bakersfield and Fresno.^[21] In Modesto the crime rate is higher than 86% of California's cities.^[22]

The Rockabilly genre of music originated in Modesto with the formation of Maddox Brothers & Rose on KTRB Radio in 1937. The "Hillbilly Boogie" sound, featuring the string slapping percussive sound by Fred Maddox, would become popular on a national scale and would later be the foundation for Rockabilly. Fred Maddox's bass is housed at the Experience Project Museum in Seattle, Washington.^[23]

The city's annual Architectural Festival honors Modesto's history as a testing ground for mid-century modern architecture during the 1940s and 1950s. Modesto's mid-century buildings have been featured four times in Museum of Modern Art publications.

Filmmaker George Lucas, who was born in Modesto, graduated from Thomas Downey High School in 1962 and attended Modesto Junior College, immortalized the city in his award-winning 1973 film American Graffiti. Although it was not shot in Modesto, the film portrayed the spirit of cruising and friendship on Modesto's 10th and 11th Streets in 1962, and inspired a revival of interest in 1950s pop culture. Modesto celebrates Graffiti Summer annually in June. It attracts thousands of visitors and car enthusiasts, along with hundreds of classic and antique cars.

The city has realized the importance of its connection to the award-winning film, and the city is preparing new tourist attractions and events to welcome Graffiti tourists as the Modesto Convention and Visitors bureau report that the leading request for information is American Graffiti-related. Downtown Modesto as it stands has the Modesto Historic Cruise Route on 10th and 11th St, the Legends of the Cruise Walk of Fame, and the Classic Community Mural series of large scale art celebrating the history of American Graffiti.

Music festivals include SummerFest, the Downtown summer concert series, featuring Chris Isaak, Hootie & the Blowfish, The Doobie Brothers and Styx.

X-Fest, deriving from its real name Xclamation Festival, was a 21-and-over music festival in downtown Modesto. Begun in 2000, X-Fest evolved into a large outdoor event stretching for 15 blocks and featuring the world's largest disco which occupied four blocks on its own. In 2008 X-Fest featured 50 bands and a crowd of 15,000 people. Much of the profits ended up in local non-profit charities. Some business owners and citizens of Modesto complained of a rowdy and often drunk Mardi Gras atmosphere exhibited at X-fest. The last X-fest occurred in Modesto in 2015.

Located in downtown Modesto is the State Theater with music acts and independent films.

Downtown Modesto hosts a monthly Art Walk, with local artists displaying art for sale, artist demos, local gallery shows, in a multi-venue map self-guided tour.

The Modesto Symphony Orchestra, which finds its home at the Gallo Center, held their first performance when Modesto had a population of 17,000 in 1931 and continues to be a staple in the community.^[24] Not to be outdone by the Symphony, MoBand (Modesto Band of Stanislaus County), established in 1919, is one of the oldest continuously performing bands in the U.S.^[25] The group performs a free 6-week summer concerts-in-the-park series with its 130 volunteer musicians.

Modesto is also home to Townsend Opera, founded in 1983 by the late Modesto-born opera singer Buck Townsend, and Modesto Performing Arts, as well as the Gallo Center for the Arts.^[26] Modesto is also home to the area's leading professional ballet company, Central West Ballet.

The Mexican culture and traditions are displayed by the Ballet Folklorico Group "Casa Cultural Tradiciones". Folklorico groups are often at Modesto events, sharing their culture with traditional dance and colorful attire.

The MAMA, Modesto Area Music Awards are held each October. Local radio stations and promoters nominate local bands and voting happens online. There is a black tie ceremony and trophies are given to winners in multiple categories. A lifetime achievement award is also presented. The MAMAs were created by Chris Murphy and Chris Ricci to support and encourage local musicians.

The McHenry Mansion is a restored historic home located at Fifteenth and I Streets. The McHenry family built the house in 1883 after the patriarch of the family, Oramil McHenry, left $20,000 in his will.^[27] The mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1978.

The Hawke Castle is a historic residence built in 1929. It was influenced by the Norman architecture, and is now the property of George Thayer Real Estate.

or the Walter B. Wood House, was originally located at 814 Twelfth Street. The house was originally owned by Walter Wood and was constructed in 1884 in the Italianate style. The house has been removed from its original location, and modern renovation of the house has compromised its NRHP designation.

The Robert Walton House was constructed in 1957, as a development of Frank Lloyd Wright's New York Usonian Exhibition House concept.

The U. S. "El Viejo" Post Office is located on Twelfth and I Streets. Wall murals inside the post office were painted by Ray Boynton, a Work Projects Administration artist. The post office was listed in the NRHP in 1983.

The Dry Creek Bridge, formerly on State Route 132, was recommended eligible for its design. The bridge is a major example of John B. Leonard's bridge designs.

The Southern Pacific Railroad Depot was constructed in 1915 in the Mission style at the corner of J and Ninth Streets. The City of Modesto was established as a town by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1870. The building has been restored and expanded as the City Transportation Center.

Modesto is known for the following tourist attractions and historical sites:

• McHenry Mansion^[27] – Built in the early 1880s by Robert McHenry, a local rancher and banker. The mansion is included on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours are given.
• McHenry Museum – Across the street from the McHenry Mansion. It is filled with tidbits from Modesto's history.
• George Lucas Plaza – American Graffiti-inspired bronze statue made in honor of Modesto filmmaker George Lucas, located at Five Points (the intersection of McHenry Avenue, "J" Street, 17th Street, Downey and Needham).
• Gallo Center for the Arts – Center for the performing arts opened in 2007 and located in downtown Modesto at 1000 "I" Street.
• Downtown Modesto – Known for having a variety of restaurants and night life, including 3 weekly farmer's markets. It also hosts a multi-venue Art Walk year-round on the third Thursday of the month, free to view with maps available.
• The State Theatre – Dating back to the 1920s, it was recently renovated and serves as a local performance arts center and as a theater specializing in independent and foreign films.
• John Thurman Field – Renovated stadium, home of the Modesto Nuts baseball team (single "A" affiliate of the Seattle Mariners team).^[28]
• Graceada Park neighborhood – An area of representative old homes (circa 1920s and earlier) with streets lined with large city-planted shade trees and a series of parks, a bandshell and other amenities. The name Graceada is based on two local residents, Grace Beard and Ada Wisecarver, who helped promote the idea of parks in the area and whose families donated the land for Graceada Park. This park was designed by John McLaren, who also designed and was the longtime superintendent of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.^[29]

The Modesto Nuts Minor League Baseball Club is a class A California League. The Nuts are the Single A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners and play 70 home games each season. The Nuts won the California League championship in 2017 and 2021.^[30][31]

Track and field competition includes the Modesto Relays named after meet director Tom Moore after his death. 30 world records were set at the meet held at Modesto Junior College.

Modesto is governed under a council-manager system.^[3] The Mayor is elected at-large. The six members of the city council are elected from districts by the voters within the respective district.

According to the city's most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $357,631,225 in Revenues, $1,826,668,511 in total assets, and $876,459,686 in total liabilities. The city has adopted a policy to achieve and maintain a General Fund reserve at 8% of the fund's total operating expenditures for fiscal year 2017–2018. At the end of the fiscal year, the General Fund balance was $26,745,582 or 22.5% of total General Fund expenditures.^[32]

Residents of Modesto also participate in the Government of Stanislaus County and elections for Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors district 1 as well as the Sheriff-Coroner, District Attorney, Assessor, Auditor-Controller, Treasurer-Tax Collector, and Clerk-Recorder. As of January 2013 these were represented by Supervisor William O'Brien, Sheriff-Coroner Adam Christianson, District Attorney Birgit Fladager, Assessor David Cogdill Sr., Auditor-Controller Lauren Klein, Treasurer-Tax Collector Gordon Ford, and Clerk-Recorder Lee Lundrigan.

The current mayor and council members are:^[33]

• Mayor: Sue Zwahlen
• Council Members: Rosa Escutia-Braaton, Tony Madrigal, Chris Ricci, Bill Zoslocki, Jenny Kenoyer, and David Wright.

This is a non-exhaustive list of Modesto mayors by year.

• 1923 Sol P. Elias.^[34]
• 1952 Harry Marks.^[34]
• 1960 Don D. Hammond.^[34]
• 1979 Peggy Mensinger - First woman mayor.^[35]
• 1987 Carol Whiteside.^[36]
• 2000 Carmen Sabatino.^[36]
• 2003 Jim Ridenour.^[37]
• 2012 Garrad Marsh.^[38]
• 2016 Ted Brandvold.
• 2021 Sue Zwahlen.^[39]

In the California State Senate, Modesto is split between Templat:Representative/current/California state senate, and Templat:Representative/current/California state senate.^[40] In the California State Assembly, Modesto is split between Templat:Representative/format/adistrict, and Templat:Representative/format/adistrict.^[41]

In the United States House of Representatives, Modesto is in Templat:Representative/current/California congressional.^[42]

Modesto City Schools was established for students in the community in 1871. The current enrollment is approximately 32,000 students. The district operates 23 elementary schools (K-6), four junior high schools (7–8), seven comprehensive high schools (9–12), and an alternative education program that includes an opportunity and continuation school, independent study and adult evening high school. The seventh comprehensive high school, Joseph Gregori High School, was recently completed. Modesto's oldest high school, Modesto High School, also offers an International Baccalaureate program, and is the only high school in Stanislaus County accredited for this program. There are other elementary school districts within and adjacent to the limits of Modesto City Schools that feed into the high schools. They include Sylvan Union (serving the eastern portion of Modesto), Stanislaus Union, Hart-Ransom, Shilo and Paradise Elementary School Districts.

• Modesto Christian School (K–12), Central Catholic High School, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School, St. Stanislaus Catholic School, Big Valley Christian School, and Grace Lutheran School are private religious schools located in Modesto.
• ULCO Seminary (U.S.A.) has its international headquarters in Modesto.

• Modesto Junior College is a two-year junior college in Modesto and has over 20,000 students enrolled and 21 inter-collegiate sports teams.
• Community Business College, vocational college in Modesto providing vocational training and job placement services to the unemployed with non-profit tuition scholarships. Offers training in medical office, bookkeeping, property management, foreign languages, medical coding and solar technologies.

As part of the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto television market, Modesto is primarily served by stations that are based mainly in Sacramento. They are listed below, with the city of license in bold:

• KCRA Channel 3 (NBC affiliate) Sacramento
• KVIE Channel 6 (PBS member station) Sacramento
• KXTV Channel 10 (ABC affiliate) Sacramento
• KOVR Channel 13 (CBS O&O) Stockton
• KUVS Channel 19 (Univision O&O) Modesto
• MyTv26 Comcast26 Modesto/Stanislaus County. http://www.mytv26.tv/ Your Independent Public Access Television Station.
• KSPX-TV Channel 29 (Ion O&O) Sacramento
• KMAX-TV Channel 31 (Independent station)
• KCSO-LD Channel 33 (Telemundo O&O) Sacramento
• KTXL Channel 40 (Fox affiliate) Sacramento
• KTNC-TV Channel 42 (Estrella TV affiliate) Concord
• KQCA Channel 58 (dual affiliate of The CW and MyNetworkTV) Sacramento
• KTFK-DT Channel 64 (UniMás O&O) Stockton

• KMPO 88.7: World ethnic
• KLOVE 89.7: AC Christian
• Air 1 90.7 Christian (alternative/pop)
• KVIN 92.3: Oldies
• KOSO 92.9: Country
• KPHD 93.3: The Best Local Bands and all the Real News
• KBBU 93.9: Regional Mexican
• KHOP 95.1: Top 40 (CHR)
• KMRQ 96.7: Rock
• KWIN 97.7 & 98.3: Mainstream urban
• KQOD 100.1: Rhythmic oldies
• KMIX 100.9: Regional Mexican
• KAMB 101.5: AC Christian
• KJSN 102.3: Adult contemporary
• KATM 103.3: Country
• KHKK 104.1: Classic rock
• KHTN 104.7: Hip-hop
• KRVR 105.5: Classic hits
• KGIG-LP 104.9: Local-Bands & News / community radio

• KCBC 770: Christian Talk/Programs
• KMPH 840: Catholic radio
• KVIN 920: Oldies
• KESP 970: Sports
• KFIV 1360: Talk radio
• KLOC 1390: Regional Mexican

• The Modesto Bee: Modesto's daily newspaper, published by the McClatchy Company
• Modestoview magazine, monthly entertainment magazine viewable on modestoview.com or in print for free pick-up at most restaurants, cafes, and offices in Modesto.

Modesto station, east of downtown Modesto, is served by Amtrak San Joaquin intercity rail service. Future plans call for Altamont Corridor Express service at the Modesto Transportation Center by 2023, with California High-Speed Rail later serving the station as well.^[43]

The large industrial region south and east of the city is served by the Modesto and Empire Traction Company, a 5-mil (8,0 km) short line railroad, with a web of industry tracks and many customers.^[44] At one time, Modesto was the operational center of the Tidewater Southern Railway, which had its main line down the center of Ninth Street, a major north–south street. A city ordinance passed by the city council kept electric power lines over this section of street activated long after the railroad had converted to steam power. In 2000, the last trains ran down Ninth Street. Now the railroad (owned by the Union Pacific Railroad since 1983) no longer passes through Modesto.

The Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority operates local bus service and paratransit in Modesto, regional service in Stanislaus County, and commuter routes connecting to Bay Area Rapid Transit and Altamont Corridor Express stations.

Modesto is served by the Modesto City-County Airport that lies east of California State Route 99 within the city limits. SkyWest Airlines (operating as United Express) provided air service to San Francisco International Airport, however commercial service stopped in June 2014.^[45] The airport is used for manufacturing and the shipping industries throughout California and the United States.

Interstate 5 and California State Route 99 provide major highway access to Modesto. California State Route 132 links the city to Interstate 580, providing commuter access to highways into the Bay Area. California State Route 108 connects to Oakdale, California and east to the foothills. The city has added many roundabouts in an effort to ease traffic congestion within the town with varying degrees of success.

• Evin Agassi, prominent Assyrian American singer who settled in the city in the 1970s.^[46]
• James Algar, film director.^[47]
• Chidi Ahanotu, former NFL player.^[48]
• Jack Angel, voice actor: Teddy in A.I. Artificial Intelligence, AstroTrain in Transformers films, Nikki in Balto.^[49]
• Dan Archer, NFL player.^[50]
• Marcella Arguello, stand-up comedian.^[51]
• Sonny Barger, Oakland chapter founder of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.^[52]
• Derrick Barry, drag queen, Britney Spears impersonator, Rupaul's Drag Race season 8 contestant.^[53]
• Nick Bassett, multi-instrumentalist (bassist of Nothing, guitarist of Whirr), film and television composer.^[54]
• Eric Bell, former MLB pitcher.^[55]
• DaRon Bland, NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys.^[56]
• Tony Boselli, football player, University of Southern California, second pick in 1995 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, College Football Hall of Famer and Pro Football Hall of Famer; born in Modesto.^[57]
• Shawn Boskie, former MLB player; played his junior college ball at Modesto Junior College.^[58][59]
• David V. Brewer, lawyer and judge.^[60]
• Lincoln Brewster, Christian musician and worship pastor, attended Grace M. Davis High School.^[61]
• Esto Bates Broughton, one of the first women to serve in the California State Assembly.^[62]
• James Broughton (1913–1999), poet and poetic filmmaker.^[63]
• Isaiah Burse, NFL player.^[64]
• Erin Cafaro, 2008 Olympic gold medalist for women's eight crew; graduate of Modesto High School, Class of 2001.^[65]
• Meghan Camarena, YouTube personality, The Amazing Race contestant, and television host^[66][67]
• Carol Channing, three-time Tony Award-winning actress and singer.^[68]
• Bryson DeChambeau, golfer.^[69]
• Joe Dillon, MLB player for the Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Rays.^[70]
• Cam de Leon, artist.^[71]
• John Duarte, U.S. representative from California's 13th congressional district^[72][73]
• Stephen Dunn, sound engineer.^{[butuh rujukan]}
• Jack Elam (1919–2003), actor, epitome of the "bad guy" in western films; attended Modesto Junior College and had a brother who taught there.^[74]
• Chris Evans and his young partner John Sontag, notorious train robbers, operated a livery stable in Modesto in early 1890s.^[75]
• Jim Fairchild, musician, guitarist, songwriter of Grandaddy, All Smiles and Modest Mouse.^[76]
• Steve Forrest, musician.
• Ernest Gallo^[77] and Julio Gallo,^[78] winemakers.
• Don Gile, former MLB player.^[79]
• Ginger Gonzaga, actress and comedian^[80]
• Tony Graziani, Philadelphia Soul quarterback, graduate of Thomas Downey High School.^[81]
• Visco Grgich, former NFL player.^[82]
• Ralph Griswold, computer scientist.^[83]
• Bradin Hagens, MLB player.^[84]
• Chuck Hayes, basketball player, Kentucky, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors.^[85]
• Lester Hayes, football player, Oakland Raiders.^[86]
• Kirby Hensley, founder of the Universal Life Church.^[87]
• J.P. Howell, pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[88]
• Bill Koski, former MLB player.^[89]
• Brad Kilby, former MLB pitcher.^[90]
• Kamara James, Olympic fencer.^[91]
• Morgan James, singer.^[92]
• Jason Jiménez, former MLB pitcher.^[93]
• Ray Lankford, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder, graduate of Grace M. Davis High School.^[94]
• Chandra Levy, intern at Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington D.C., whose 2001 disappearance was a major news story.^[95]
• Marcia Lucas, film editor.
• George Lucas, film director, producer, screenwriter, studio mogul, graduate of Thomas Downey High School, and former student at Modesto Junior College.^[96]
• Richard Edmund Lyng, former Secretary of Agriculture.^[97]
• Jason Lytle, musician, songwriter of indie-rock bands Grandaddy and Admiral Radley.^[98]
• Roger Maltbie, golfer and television sportscaster, born in Modesto.^[99]
• James Marsters, actor, graduate of Grace M. Davis High School.^[100]
• Michael Medina, boxer.^[101]
• Joseph Meyer, songwriter.^[102]
• Kerry McCoy, musician, guitarist and member of Deafheaven.^[103]
• Jason McDonald, former MLB player.^[104]
• Michael McDonald, top-ranked bantamweight professional MMA fighter, competing for Ultimate Fighting Championship. Graduate of Grace M. Davis High School.^[105]
• Caralee McElroy, musician.^[106]
• Joan Mitchell, co-inventor of the JPEG digital image format.^[107][108]
• Shane Minor, country music artist.^[109]
• Donovan Morgan, wrestler.
• Johnny Mundt, NFL player for the Minnesota Vikings.
• Boaz Myhill, West Bromwich Albion and Wales goalkeeper (birthplace).^[110]
• Carol Neblett, operatic soprano.^[111]
• Reeves Nelson, professional basketball player.^[112]
• Madison Nguyen, politician.^[113]
• Travis Oates, actor, director, voice actor (voice of Piglet in Winnie the Pooh animated film and television show), script writer.^[114]
• Adrian Oliver, basketball player.^[115]
• Kristin Olsen, politician.^[116]
• Timothy Olyphant, actor, Deadwood and Justified, 1986 graduate of Fred C. Beyer High School.^[117]
• Ashley and Courtney Paris, WNBA basketballers.^[118][119]
• Heath Pearce, professional soccer player for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer, graduate of Peter Johansen High School.^[120]
• Lindsay Pearce, contender on The Glee Project, Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway^[121]
• Scott Peterson and Laci Peterson - A married couple at the center of a 2002 criminal case, in which Scott was convicted of murdering his pregnant wife Laci Peterson.^[122]
• Brandon Pettit, convicted of murdering his parents.^[123]
• Suzy Powell-Roos, three-time track and field Olympian and American record holder in women's discus, graduate of Thomas Downey High School.^[124]
• Harve Presnell, Golden Globe Award-winning actor and singer, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Saving Private Ryan, Fargo, born in Modesto in 1933, graduate of Modesto High School.^[125]
• Jennie Phelps Purvis (d. 1924), writer, suffragist, social reformer^[126]
• Arthur Righs, geneticist.^[127]
• Jeremy Renner, Academy Award-nominated actor, The Hurt Locker, American Hustle.^[128] Graduate of Fred C. Beyer High School.
• Kenny Roberts, three-time FIM 500 cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing champion, two-time AMA Dirt Track Grand National Champion.^[129]
• Royal Robbins, iconic rock climber. Founder of Royal Robins clothing line which spun off to the 5.11 clothing line.^[130]
• Joe Rudi, professional baseball player, three-time Gold Glove-winning outfielder with 1970s champion Oakland A's^[131]
• Larry Scott, DJ.^[132]
• Frank Solivan, mandolinist, recording artist, composer, and leader of the progressive bluegrass band Dirty Kitchen^[133]
• Mark Spitz, nine-time Olympic swimming gold medalist.^[134]
• Byron Storer, former NFL fullback.^[135]
• Nate Sudfeld, NFL quarterback.^[136]
• Zack Sudfeld, NFL player with the New England Patriots, graduated from Modesto Christian High School^[137]
• Alistair Sylvester, ice skater.
• Florence Owens Thompson (1903–1983), subject of iconic Great Depression photograph Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange, settled in Modesto in 1945.^[138]
• Ann Veneman, 27th U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.^[139]
• Tisha Venturini, member of gold medal U.S. women's national soccer team at 1996 Olympic Games; from Grace M. Davis High School.^[140]
• Gabe Vincent, NBA player.^[141]
• Darlene Vogel, actress.^[142]
• Louis Waldon, film actor.^[143]
• Ashley Walker, basketball player, attended Grace M. Davis High School, star player on UC Berkeley women's team 2005–2009, plays professionally overseas.^[144]
• Butch Walts, tennis player.^[145]
• Ron Whitney, Olympian.^[146][147]
• Paul Wiggin, former NFL player.^[148]
• Gene Winfield, legendary hot rod builder, automotive designer, movie car designer, also known as "The King Of Kustoms."^[149]
• Kenneth L. Worley, medal of honor recipient.^[150]
• Floyd Zaiger, fruit breeder.

Modesto's sister cities are:^[151]

These programs are run by the non-profit Modesto Sister Cities International.^[151]

• The first season of ABC's drama American Crime is set in Modesto.
• The 1973 film American Graffiti is set in Modesto.
• "Modesto" is the name of a song by Beck, from his Stereopathetic Soulmanure album.
• "St. Modesto" is a song by Chris Walla from his Field Manual album.
• The 2009 film Janky Promoters is set in Modesto.
• The 2009 film Monsters vs. Aliens is set in Modesto.
• The 2017 music video for the Macklemore song "Glorious" is set in Modesto.^[152]
• Adele mentions Modesto in her single "Wild Wild West".^[153]
• The 2006 NOFX song "60% Intentional" mentions Modesto, featured on the album Wolves in Wolves' Clothing.
• A 2022 episode of the paranormal documentary show A Haunting titled: "Daydreams and Nightmares" (Season 11 episode 3) tells the case of a costume store under the same name owned by Dana Walters that located in the city and believed to be haunted.
• The episode "Looking for a plot" (2015), from HBO's Looking, takes place in Modesto.
• The character Lieutenant Brad Boimler from the television series Star Trek: Lower Decks was raised on his family's raisin vineyard in Modesto.^[154]
• Modesto is briefly depicted in the video game Counter-Strike: Condition Zero.^[155]
• In the film Scream, Sam and Richie are first seen to be working inside a bowling alley in Modesto.
• Modesto is depicted in condensed form in the video game American Truck Simulator.^[156]

• List of U.S. cities with large Hispanic populations

• B.J. Osborn, Modesto: An Informal History. IUniverse, 2003.

• Situs web resmi  
• Historical photos of Modesto, CA
• Official Modesto Police website
• Historic Modesto
• Modesto Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Modesto CA Online Diarsipkan March 1, 2021, di Wayback Machine.

Templat:Modesto, California Templat:California cities and mayors of 100,000 population Templat:Stanislaus County, California Templat:California county seats