Modesto, California
Modesto is a city of 219,215 people in Stanislaus County, California, founded in November 8, 1870.
Why visit Modesto
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 69 parks and trails, 261 places to eat, 11 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Gallo Center for the Arts, Brenden Modesto 18, McHenry Mansion and El Viejo Post Office.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 95°F; December lows average 39°F.
Weather in Modesto
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Modesto
Modesto ( mə-DESS-toh; Spanish pronunciation: [moˈðesto]; Spanish for "modest") is the county seat of and the largest city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,069 according to 2022 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, it is the 19th-most populous city in California.
From the Wikipedia article Modesto, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do6
Gallo Center for the Arts
Cinema and theater
Performing arts center in Modesto, California, United States
1000 I Street, Modesto
Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 12:00-18:00; 2 hours before all events
Museums and landmarks9
McHenry Mansion
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Building in California, United States
906 15th Street, Modesto
Mo,Fr,Su 12:00-16:00
El Viejo Post Office
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Courthouse in California, United States of America
Hotel Covell
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Former hotel in Modesto, California, USA
Modesto Children's Museum
Museum
930 11th Street, Modesto
Mo 10:00-17:00; Tu 13:00-17:00; We-Su 10:00-17:00
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Engine #2921
Monument and historic site · 5.4 mi
Steam Locomotive on Static Display
Parks, trails and playgrounds69
Graceada Park
Park · 0.7 mi
Park in Stanislaus County, California, United States of America
Tuolumne River Regional Park
Park · 2.4 mi
Park in San Joaquin Valley, California, US
Ceres River Bluff Regional Park
Park · 5.4 mi
Park in California, United States of America
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
Park · 0.7 mi
601 South Martin Luther King Drive, Modesto
sunrise-sunset
Empire Community Park
Park · 5.8 mi
Park in California, United States of America
César E. Chavez Neighborhood Park
Park · 0.4 mi
619 Sierra Drive, Modesto
sunrise-sunset
57 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes261
China Gourmet
Restaurant · Chinese · 3.1 mi
2401 East Orangeburg Avenue, Modesto
We-Mo 11:00-21:00; Su 12:00-21:00
Delicioso Bistro
Restaurant · Sandwich, American, Breakfast, Crepe, Bistro, Brunch, Diner, Lunch, Coffee Shop, Burger, Pasta, Salad, Pancake, Fries · 0.6 mi
1410 H Street, Modesto
Mo-Su 09:00-21:00
Food Fix Butcher & Baker
Diner · American
938 11th Street, Modesto
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-16:00
GK Mongolian BBQ
Restaurant · Mongolian Grill · 3.8 mi
1300 Sylvan Avenue, Modesto
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:30; Su 12:00-20:00
249 more on the map.
History
The City of Modesto was originally a stop on the railroad connecting Sacramento to Los Angeles, built by Central Pacific Railroad. When Modesto was founded in 1870, the railroad company co-founder Mark Hopkins Jr. suggested to name it after his associate the banker William C. Ralston. Ralston asked that another name be found, and a railroad employee exclaimed loudly in Spanish that Ralston was a modest man. The railroad company co-founder Charles Crocker then named the town Modesto in recognition of Ralston's modesty.
Modesto's population exceeded 1,000 residents in 1884. With fields of grain, the nearby Tuolumne River for grain barges, and railroad traffic, the town grew. Irrigation water came from dams in the foothills, and irrigated fields of vegetables and fruit and nut trees flourished. By 1900, Modesto's population was more than 4,500. During World War II, the area provided canned goods, powdered milk, and eggs for the US armed forces and Allied forces. For the next few decades, Modesto's population grew about two percent per year, to over 100,000 in 1980 and over 200,000 in 2001.
From the History section of Modesto, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay11
Churches and places of worship38
Saint Stanislaus Convent
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.3 mi
1320 Maze Boulevard, Modesto
Clinton African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Church · Protestant
1024 4th Street, Modesto
Shopping51
Gas and EV charging23
Schools, colleges and libraries105
Healthcare24
Kaiser Permanente Modesto Medical Center and Medical Offices
Hospital · 5.5 mi
4601 Dale Road, Modesto
Golden Valley Health Centers-Medical Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.3 mi
1717 Las Vegas Street, Modesto
Map of Modesto
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 39°F | 2.6 in |
| Feb | 62°F | 42°F | 2.2 in |
| Mar | 68°F | 45°F | 1.8 in |
| Apr | 74°F | 48°F | 1.0 in |
| May | 82°F | 54°F | 0.7 in |
| Jun | 90°F | 59°F | 0.1 in |
| Jul | 95°F | 63°F | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 94°F | 62°F | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 89°F | 59°F | 0.1 in |
| Oct | 79°F | 52°F | 0.6 in |
| Nov | 66°F | 43°F | 1.1 in |
| Dec | 56°F | 39°F | 2.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Modesto City Co Ap (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Stanislaus County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-08-22: Wildfires (Fire)
- 2020-08-21: Scu Ligtning Complex Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Modesto City-County Airport (MOD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 miles away.
- Ceres 3 mi southeast, about 5 min by car
- Riverbank 7 mi northeast, about 11 min by car
- Salida 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Ripon 10 mi northwest, about 16 min by car
- Turlock 12 mi southeast, about 19 min by car
- Oakdale 12 mi northeast, about 20 min by car
- Patterson 14 mi southwest, about 22 min by car
- Manteca 16 mi northwest, about 26 min by car
- Delhi 19 mi southeast, about 31 min by car
- Lathrop 21 mi northwest, about 34 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Modesto California photo Don Ramey Logan, Don Ramey Logan, CC BY 4.0
- McHenryMuseum, Rayana fazli at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- El Viejo Post Office1, Saeidb, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hotel Covell NRHP 94001501 Stanislaus County, CA, Jon Roanhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gallo Center for the Arts Modesto, OsotedeMonte, CC BY 3.0
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