Stanislaus County is a county located in California's California Central Valley, between Stockton and Fresno. As the price of housing increases in the San Francisco Bay Area, many commuters have begun to move to Stanislaus County. As of 2000 the population was 446,997. The county seat is Modesto.

History

Stanislaus County was formed from part of Tuolumne County in 1854.

The word Stanislaus is a corruption of Estanislao , the baptismal name of a mission-educated renegade Native American chief who led a band of Indians in a series of battles against Mexican troops. He was finally defeated by General Mariano Vallejo in 1826. The county is named for the Stanislaus River , first discovered by Gabriel Moraga in 1806, and later renamed Rio Estanislao for the chief.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,923 km² (1,515 mi²). 3,869 km² (1,494 mi²) of it is land and 54 km² (21 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.38% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 446,997 people, 145,146 households, and 109,585 families residing in the county. The population density is 116/km² (299/mi²). There are 150,807 housing units at an average density of 39/km² (101/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 69.33% White, 2.58% Black or African American, 1.27% Native American, 4.22% Asian, 0.34% Pacific Islander, 16.82% from other races, and 5.44% from two or more races. 31.74% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 145,146 households out of which 41.20% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% are married couples living together, 13.70% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.50% are non-families. 19.40% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.03 and the average family size is 3.47.

In the county the population is spread out with 31.10% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 19.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $40,101, and the median income for a family is $44,703. Males have a median income of $36,969 versus $26,595 for females. The per capita income for the county is $16,913. 16.00% of the population and 12.30% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.50% of those under the age of 18 and 8.80% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Cities and towns

• Bret Harte
• Bystrom
• Ceres
• Del Rio
• Denair
• East Oakdale
• Empire
• Grayson
• Hickman
• Hughson
• Keyes
• Modesto
• Newman
• Oakdale
• Patterson
• Riverbank
• Riverdale Park
• Salida
• Shackelford
• Turlock
• Waterford
• West Modesto
• Westley

External link

• Stanislaus County official website