[11] Led by milk, almonds, chickens, walnuts, and corn silage, the county grossed nearly $3.1 billion in agricultural production in 2011.

[14] 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.

The railroad company co-founder Charles Crocker then named the town Modesto in recognition of Ralston's modesty.

The city's official motto, "Water Wealth Contentment Health," is emblazoned on the downtown Modesto Arch, which is featured in local photographs and postcards.

Modesto's motto is sometimes spoofed as "The land gets the water, the bankers get the wealth, the cows get contentment, and the farmers get the health.

[19] In the late 1980s Modesto embarked on an update to the city's general plan pursuant to requirements of the State of California.

The result was a comprehensive evaluation of alternative population and land use projections along with associated environmental impact analysis.

Much of the soils in Modesto are classified as part of the Hanford series: (HbpA) fine sandy loam, moderately deep over silt.

The Hanford soils are important for the production of a wide variety of irrigated orchard, field, and truck crops.

Area groundwater, which is the principal source of water supply in the city,[21] has been historically impaired in a fashion that is spatially variable.

Downtown Modesto has lost the Hotel Covell, the art deco Strand Theatre, and the Sears building.

In 2014, the Walk of Fame was launched on the Historic Cruise Route with markers celebrating classic legends like George Lucas, Gene Winfield, Bart Bartoni and others.

Modesto is located in the center of the Central Valley surrounded by the Coastal Ranges and the Sierra Nevada, and close by, the numerous farmlands that produce a majority of several crops for the United States.

The nearest large open seaport is the Port of Stockton, used for oceangoing ships that transport goods, particularly cement, fertilizer, and agricultural products, from California to overseas.

This can pose health risks for people with weak constitutions or who ignore the dangers of heat stroke.

Onshore breezes (known locally as the "delta breeze") moderate these high temperatures somewhat, with cooler air coming in after 8 or 9 pm on summer nights, making Modesto potentially a couple or few degrees cooler than the northern and southern parts of the Central Valley.

Hispanic or Latino of any race were 71,381 persons (35.5%): 30.8% Mexican, 0.7% Puerto Rican, 0.6% Salvadoran, 0.5% Spaniard, 0.4% Spanish, 0.3% Nicaraguan, and 0.2% Guatemalan.

[38] Other major privately owned companies based in Modesto include Crystal Creamery, Royal Robbins, international award winner Fiscalini Cheese, Sciabica Olive Oil, Save Mart, 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).

[43] The Rockabilly genre of music originated in Modesto with the formation of Maddox Brothers & Rose on KTRB Radio in 1937.

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.

[45] Music festivalmerFest, the Downtown summer concert series, featuring Chris Isaak, Hootie & the Blowfish, The Doobie Brothers and Styx.

Some business owners and citizens of Modesto complained of a rowdy and often drunk Mardi Gras atmosphere exhibited at X-fest.

Wall murals inside the post office were painted by Ray Boynton, a Work Projects Administration artist.

[55][56][57] Track and field competition includes the Modesto Relays named after meet director Tom Moore after his death.

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.

As part of the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto television market, Modesto is primarily served by stations that are based mainly in Sacramento.

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.

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.

California State Route 132 links the city to Interstate 580, providing commuter access to highways into the Bay Area.

The city has added many roundabouts in an effort to ease traffic congestion within the town with varying degrees of success.