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Stockton History, California

Stockton, CA US - History: An All-American City

Stockton is located several miles east to San Joaquin River and around 90 miles inland off San Francisco Bay. The strategic location of the city alongside numerous waterways has defined Stockton and the surrounding communities. Currently, it continues to be one of the major shipping points for several manufactured and agricultural products in Northern California.

In 1849, Charles Weber, who was a German immigrant, acquired 48,000 acres of land through a grant and founded this wonderful city. He tried his hand at gold mining. However, he realized that opportunities lay in offering gold seekers from across the globe.

Stockton was attributed several nicknames including Gas City, Mudville and Tuleburg. It was officially named Robert F. Stockton, who was naval officer responsible for driving Mexican forces out of the Californian State during 1840s. This was the first city in the state to get a name, which wasn’t Native American or Spanish.

Discovery of gold transformed Stockton Channel into a gateway and transportation center for southern mines of California. Although its gold rush ended in 1855, businesses in the city prospered from their knack of processing and transporting agricultural product to global markets. Combination of a temperate climate and rich soil made the region around the city amongst the richest dairy and agricultural regions of the state.

Current major crops in the city include cherries, asparagus, tomatoes, almonds and walnuts apart from row & feed crops. In the north of Stockton, you’ll also come cross vineyards producing prize-winning wines.

By 1890s, Stockton became a major commercial and transportation center. Carriage & wagon factories, flour mills, shipyards and iron foundries surrounded the channel along with its tributaries. Manufacturing of tools useful for agriculture turned into a major Stockton Industry. Some local inventions, which included Stockton Gang Plow & farm machinery, revolutionized the farming methodology in the city.

By the end of nineteenth century, numerous other industries flourished in Stockton and made it to be counted amongst the most industrialized cities. Its shipbuilding industry got developed during early 1900s and kept functioning through the Second World War. The city even homes the first inland seaport of California, Port of Stockton, which was opened in 1933.

On July 23, 1850, Stockton officially got incorporated. The city’s charter from the Californian State dates back from 1851. In 1854, the city was the fourth largest in California. Currently, it is San Joaquin County’s county seat with a population of over 280,000. In 1999 & 2004, Stockton was voted an All-American City.

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Children's Museum of Stockton
travel tip by cipristb posted more then 30 days ago
The most interactive and hands-on place where kids can learn so many things is the Children's Museum of Stockton. They have a wide variety of rooms 'equipped' with store, bank, post office and so on. The kids can perform...
The Haggin Museum
travel tip by zsoldicsa posted more then 30 days ago
Located in Victoria park in a beautiful surrounding, The Haggin Museum features mostly artworks like paintings, photographies and children's art. There are however other historically significant items on display, each telling a small...