Cowell claimed around 1,000 acres (400 hectares) and built houses on what is now the corner of Main and Yosemite, where Bank of America now stands.

[8] This was misprinted as "Manteca" (Spanish for lard) by the railroad,[8] and the misspelled version was eventually accepted as the name of the town.

As recently as the 1970s, Manteca existed primarily on agriculture and was still barely a stop between two freeways, Interstate 5 and State Route 99.

Since the construction of the 120 bypass portion of State Route 120, Manteca has become a popular choice for these commuters.

The population of Manteca continues to increase, with some housing being constructed on what was once farmland to the north and southeast.

[10] Manteca is the home base for the "Not Forgotten Memorial Day Event", the largest commemoration for veterans on the West Coast.

[11] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.8 square miles (46 km2), 99.87% of it land and 0.13% of it water.

[12] It is very hot and dry in summer, and mild in winter, except during spells of seasonal tule fog, when it can be quite chilly for many days.

In 2008, Barack Obama became the first Democrat to carry Manteca in a presidential election since Bill Clinton in 1992.

[19] However in 2024, Donald Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Manteca since George W. Bush in 2004.

The current elected council[31] In the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, Manteca is in the 3rd district, which is represented by Republican Tom Patti.

A commuter rail service is provided by the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) at the Lathrop/Manteca station.

ACE operates in peak travel directions with trips to San Jose in the morning and to Stockton in the evening.

The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) has been preparing the ACE Lathrop-Ceres Extension Project.

This project has recently completed the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and has begun the final design stage.