Stockton

City of Stockton
—  City  —
Seal
Nickname(s): California's Inland Sea Port, Stocktown
Motto: "Stockton--All America City"
Location in San Joaquin County and the state of California
Coordinates: 37°58′32″N 121°18′03″W / 37.97556°N 121.30083°W / 37.97556; -121.30083
Country	United States
State	California
County	San Joaquin
Incorporated	1850
Government
- Type	Council-Manager
- Mayor	Ann Johnston
- City Council	Elbert Holman Katherine Miller Leslie Baranco Martin Diana Lowery Susan Talamantes Eggman Dale Fritchen
- City Manager	J. Gordon Palmer, Jr.
- Senate	Lois Wolk (D)
- Assembly	Guy Houston (R) Cathleen Galgiani (D)
Area
- City	150.9 km2 (75.1 sq mi)
- Land	147.7 km2 (73.9 sq mi)
- Water	3.2 km2 (1.2 sq mi)  2.22%
Elevation	4 m (13 ft)
Population [1]
- City	290,409
- Density	1,980.3/km2 (5,129.0/sq mi)
- Metro	685,660
Time zone	Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	Pacific (PDT) (UTC-7)
ZIP code	952xx
Area code(s)	209
FIPS code	06-75000
GNIS feature ID	1659872
Website	http://www.stocktongov.com/

Stockton, the county seat of San Joaquin County, is currently the 13th largest city in the U.S. state of California in terms of population and one of the largest in terms of area in the Central Valley. Stockton is located in Northern California south of Sacramento and north of Modesto. Stockton's population estimate for January 1, 2009 according to the California Department of Finance, is 290,409.^[1]

Surrounding Interstate 5, State Route 99 and State Route 4, Stockton is connected westward with San Francisco Bay by the river’s 78-mile channel, and is, with Sacramento, one of the state’s two inland sea ports. Stockton is surrounded by the farmland of the California Central Valley. In and around Stockton are thousands of miles of waterways and rivers that make up the California Delta. It is also a rail center and a processing and distribution point for farm products and wines from the Central Valley.

Over the past decade, Stockton and the nearby cities of Tracy and Manteca have experienced a population boom, due in large part to thousands of people settling in the area in an effort to escape the San Francisco Bay Area's relatively high cost of living. This influx of new residents, however, resulted in a sharp increase in the cost of living of Stockton (although it is still significantly lower than any Bay Area city of comparable size).

As a result of the population increase, Stockton found itself squarely at the center of the United States' speculative housing bubble in the 2000s. Real estate in Stockton more than tripled in value between 1998 and 2005, but when the bubble burst in 2007, the ensuing financial crisis arguably hit Stockton harder than any other city in America. Stockton housing prices fell 39% in the 2008 fiscal year, and the city had the country's highest foreclosure rate (9.5%) as well. Because of the shrinking economy, Stockton also had an unemployment rate of 13.3% in 2008, one of the highest marks in the U.S. Stockton has also been rated by Forbes in 2009 as America's fifth most dangerous city because of its crime rate.^[2]

History

The first human beings to settle along the streams and riverbanks in and around what is now Stockton were indian tribes, who lived in the delta's waterways, using them for food and transportation. The northern San Joaquin Valley was also the southern end of the Siskiyou Trail, a centuries-old footpath leading through the Sacramento Valley, over the Cascades, and onward to Oregon.

When Captain Charles Maria Weber, a German immigrant, decided to try his hand at gold mining in late 1848, he soon discovered that serving the needs of gold-seekers was a more profitable venture.^[3] It was for this reason that he founded Stockton in 1849 when he purchased over 49,000 acres (200 km²) of land through a Spanish land grant. The area now known as Weber Point is the same spot where Captain Weber built the first permanent residence in the San Joaquin Valley.^[4]

During its early years, Stockton was known by several names, including "Tuleburg", "Gas City, "Crapton," and "Mudville". Captain Weber decided on "Stockton" in honor of Commodore Robert F. Stockton. Stockton was the first community in California to have a name not of Spanish or Native American origin.

The city was officially incorporated on July 23, 1850, by the County Court, and the first city election was held on July 31, 1850. In 1851, the City of Stockton received its charter from the State of California. Early settlers included gold seekers from Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Pacific Islands, Mexico and Canada. The historical population diversity is reflected in Stockton street names, architecture, numerous ethnic festivals, and in the faces and heritage of a majority of its citizens.

Geography and climate

Stockton is located at 37°58' North, 121°18' West; its land area is 60.9 square miles (136 km²); its water area is 1.02 square miles (2.5 km²). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 62.1 square miles (144.9 km²), of which, 60.9 square miles (141.7 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²) of it (2.22%) is water. The city lies at the nadir of the San Joaquin Valley.

Stockton has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers, and cool, wet winters. In an average year, about 80% of the 16.6 inches of precipitation falls during the rainy season from October through April. Being located in the Central Valley, the range of temperatures here is much greater than in the nearby Bay Area. Tule fog usually covers Stockton during winter.

At Stockton Fire Station #4, where records have been kept since March 3, 1906, the highest recorded temperature was 112°F on July 15, 1972, and the lowest recorded temperature was 13°F on February 7, 1989. Annually, there are an average of 73.2 days with high temperatures of 90°F (32°C) or higher and an average of 29.3 days with low temperatures of 32°F (0°C) or lower. The wettest year was 1983 with 31.37 inches and the dryest year was 1929 with 5.92 inches. The most rainfall in one month was 9.93 inches in February 1998 and the most rainfall in 24 hours was 3.20 inches on February 1, 1963. There are an average of 55 days with measurable precipitation. Measurable snowfall has been recorded on several occasions; the most snow was 2.0 inches in January, 1930.^[5]

At the airport, the highest recorded temperature was 115°F on July 23, 2006, and the lowest recorded temperature was 16°F on January 11, 1949. Annually, there are an average of 81.3 days with high temperatures of 90°F (32°C) or higher and an average of 22.2 days with low temperatures of 32°F (0°C) or lower. The wettest year was 1983 with 26.65 inches and the lowest year was 1976 with 5.60 inches. The most rainfall in one month was 8.22 inches in February 1998 and the most rainfall in 24 hours was 3.01 inches on January 21, 1967. There are an average of 55 days with measurable precipitation. Only light amounts of snow have been recorded; the most was 0.3 inches in February 1976.^[6]

Demographics

As of the census^[8] of 2000, there were 243,771 people; 78,556 occupied housing units; and 82,042 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 43.3% White, 11.2% Black or African American, 1.1% Native American and Alaska Native, 19.9% Asian, 0.4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 17.3% from other races, and 6.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.5% of the population.^[9]

The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.59. The median age was 29.8 years. The median income for a household in the city was $35,453, and the median income for a family was $40,434. The per capita income for the city was $15,405. About 18.9% of families and 23.9% of the population were below the poverty line.^[9]

As of Jan. 1, 2009 estimates place it as 290,409 residents. Since it has a booming population growth it has grown about 268 residents in just a year. Projections estimate it to be at least 290,784 in 2010 and 291,054 in 2011.

In 2005, Forbes magazine listed it as having 6,570 crimes per 100,000 residents^[10] — the highest listed;^[11] and 0.8% of engineers within total employment^[12] — the lowest listed.^[11] The city had the 7th lowest (of 150) educational attainment (bachelor's degree or higher over the age 25).^[13] However, in 2009, Forbes reported Stockton was no longer the most dangerous city, moving to number five.[22]

Central Connecticut State University surveys from 2005 and 2006 ranked the city as the most illiterate of all U.S. cities with a population of more than 250,000.^[14][15][16]

Government

Local Government

Ann Johnston is the mayor of Stockton as of January 1, 2009^[17] Johnston succeeded Ed Chavez, who succeeded Gary Podesto.

The City Council consists of the following members as of January 1, 2009;^[18]
Elbert Holman - District 1
Katherine Miller - District 2
Leslie Martin - District 3
Diana Lowery - District 4
Susan Talamantes Eggman - District 5
Dale Fritchen - District 6

According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $443.9 million in Revenues, $485.4million in expenditures, $1,903.5 million in total assets, $679.9 million in total liabilities, and $203.5 million in cash and investments. ^[19]

The structure of the management and coordination of city services is: ^[19]

J. Gordon Palmer, Jr.was named City Manager on March 7, 2006 September 25, 2009. Palmer announced his retirement from the City of Stockton that would become effective September 25, 2009. Former Fairfield, CA City Manager Kevin O'Rouke has assumed the position as "Interim City Manager" until the Stockton City Council finds a permanent replacement sometime by the Spring of 2010.

Economy

According to the City's 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, ^[19] the top employers in the city are:

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2009)

Although historically an agriculturally based community, Stockton's economy has since diversified into many other areas. These include telecommunications and manufacturing among others. Because of the new focus on renewable energy, the proximity to agriculture will become even more important in the future as research and development combine agriculture with alternative fuels.

Stockton is in a unique position vis-a-vis its proximity to both the San Francisco and Sacramento markets. Partly due to this and the availability of relatively inexpensive land, several companies have chosen to base their regional operations in Stockton. These include Duraflame, Pac-West Telecommunications, Golden State Lumber Company and several others.

Stockton is rapidly becoming the community of choice for companies looking for an area to move or expand industries related to renewable energy. The Port of Stockton is one of the largest receivers of wind turbines in the world. Stockton’s rail capacity makes distribution from the Port seamless. The sun and wind potential in Stockton is among some of the best in the country and with 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) available, the Port is already home to biodiesel and ethanol plants. The City of Stockton and the Port have worked in partnership to focus resources on developing green sustainable industry. The City of Stockton has been leading the way with their own policies for supporting green and renewable technologies. Stockton is working with local educational institutions, including high schools, community colleges, and four year universities, to educate the workforce for the booming renewable energy industry.

Real estate crash

Stockton was disproportionately affected by the collapse of the sub-prime lending market in 2007, and led the United States in foreclosures for that year, with one out of every thirty homes posted for foreclosure.^[20].

Stockton's Weston Ranch neighborhood, a 15-year-old subdivision of modest tract homes, has the worst foreclosure rate in the area according to ACORN, a national advocacy group for low and moderate-income families.

On September 19, 2007, CNN reported that Stockton led the nation in the 100 largest metro areas that are forecast to witness a decline in the median existing single-family house price. [1]

Media

Television stations

As part of the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto television market, Stockton is primarily served by stations based in Sacramento, but may carry some San Francisco Bay area television stations' airwaves. These are listed below, with the city of license in bold:

• KCRA Channel 3 (NBC affiliate) Sacramento
• KCSO-LP Channel 33 (Telemundo affiliate) Sacramento
• KMAX-TV Channel 31 (The CW O&O) Sacramento
• KOVR Channel 13 (CBS O&O) Stockton
• KQCA Channel 58 (My Network TV affiliate) Sacramento
• KTFK-TV Channel 64 (TeleFutura affiliate) Stockton
• KTNC-TV Channel 42 (Estrella TV affiliate) Concord
• KTXL Channel 40 (FOX affiliate) Sacramento
• KUVS Channel 19 (Univision affiliate) Modesto
• KVIE Channel 6 (PBS affiliate) Sacramento
• KXTV Channel 10 (ABC affiliate) Sacramento
• KSPX Channel 29 (ION Media Networks affiliate) Sacramento

Radio broadcast stations

FM Stations

• KJOY 99.3: Adult Contemporary
• KMIX 100.9: Regional Mexican
• KQOD 100.1: Rhythmic Oldies
• KSTN-FM 107.3: Regional Mexican
• KUOP 91.3: News/Talk and Jazz
• KWIN 97.7: Rhythmic Top 40
• KYCC 90.1: Christian
• KLOVE 90.7: Christian
• KRXQ 98.5: Alternative Rock
• The Hawk 104.1: Classic Rock

AM Stations

• KCVR 1570: Spanish Adult Hits
• KSTN 1420: Classic Hits
• KWG 1230: Catholic, switched formats to News/talk. One of California's oldest running AM radio stations.^{[citation needed]}
• KWSX 1280: Spanish Oldies simulcast of KMRQ 96.7 Manteca

In addition, several radio stations from nearby San Francisco, Sacramento and Modesto are receivable in Stockton.

Print media

• The Record a daily newspaper
• Vida en el Valle a weekly bi-lingual newspaper from Fresno, CA
• Bilingual Weekly is a bi-weekly newspaper (Spanish & English) based in Stockton, serving San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties
• Caravan is a local community arts and events monthly newspaper.
• 209Vibe is an alternative monthly newspaper covering music, entertainment and culture.
• San_Joaquin_Magazine Regional lifestyle magazine covering Stockton, Lodi, Tracy, Manteca and more
• The Downtowner is a free monthly guide to Downtown Stockton's events, commerce, real estate, and other cultural and community happenings.

Transportation

Stockton has access to several different modes of regional and international transportation:

Land

Due to its location at the 'crossroads' of the Central Valley and a relatively extensive highway system, Stockton is easily accessible from virtually anywhere in California. Interstate 5 and State Route 99, California's major north-south thoroughfares, pass through city limits. In addition, Stockton is minutes away from Interstate 80, Interstate 205 and Interstate 580.

Stockton is served by San Joquian Regional Transit District.[2]

Stockton is also connected to the rest of the nation through a network of railways. Amtrak and Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) both make stops in Stockton, with Amtrak providing passenger access to the rest of the nation. Union Pacific and BNSF Railway, the two largest railroad networks in North America both service Stockton and its port via connections with the Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad and Central California Traction Company, who provide local and interconnecting services between the various rail lines. Recently, BNSF Railway opened a much needed $150 million intermodal freight transport facility in southeast Stockton, which satisfies long-haul transportation needs.

Air

Stockton is served by Stockton Metropolitan Airport, located on county land just south of city limits. The airport has been designated a Foreign Trade Zone and is mainly used by manufacturing and agricultural companies for shipping purposes. Since airline deregulation, passenger service has come and gone several times. Most recently, domestic service resumed in June 2006 with service to Las Vegas by Allegiant Air, and the days of service/number of flights were expanded a few months later due to demand. Also in 2006, Aeromexico had planned to provide service to and from Guadalajara, Mexico, but the airport's plan to build a customs station at the airport was initially rejected by the customs service. However, the possibility of building this station is currently a continuing matter of negotiation between the airport and the customs service, and Aeromexico has indicated a continuing interest in eventually providing service. Ground transportation is available from Hertz, Enterprise, Yellow Cab and Aurora Limousine. Air service to Phoenix began in September 2007.

Water

The Port of Stockton is a fully operating seaport approximately 75 nautical miles (120 km²) east of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Set on the San Joaquin River, the port operates a 2,000 acre (8.5 km²) transportation center with berthing space for 17 vessels. The port also includes 1.1 million square feet (102,000 m²) of dockside transit sheds and shipside rail trackage and 7.7 million square feet (715,000 m²) of warehousing.^[21] Adjacent to the port is Rough and Ready Island, which served as a World War II-era naval supply base until it was decommissioned as a result of BRAC 1995.

Education

Primary and Secondary

Stockton feeds into four public school districts, Stockton Unified School District, Lincoln Unified School District, Lodi Unified School District, and Manteca Unified School District. There are more than 30 private elementary and secondary schools, which include Saint Mary's High School, Presentation Catholic School, and Annunciation Catholic School.

Post-Secondary

Stockton is home to several institutions of higher education.

The largest is the University of the Pacific, which moved to Stockton in 1924 from San Jose. The university campus has been used in the filming of several Hollywood films (see below), partly due to its aesthetic likeness to East Coast Ivy League universities.

Also located in Stockton are National University (the second largest private university in the state), Kaplan College of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College, Humphreys College and School of Law (which has its main campus in Stockton and a branch campus in Modesto, CA), Heald College, MTI Business College, and University of Phoenix.

San Joaquin Delta College is currently expanding and features Distance Learning Education and Internet Classes. Additional sites are being set up to expand access to education in distant locations.

California State University, Stanislaus established its Stockton campus on the grounds of the former Stockton State Hospital, which was founded in 1853 and closed in 1996. The hospital was the first state mental institution in California.

Crime

Stockton has had a reputation for high crime rates relative to other cities in the region. The city has made efforts to reduce this rate, including improvements to public venues, using a "broken windows" strategy of linking city repairs to reduced rates, as modeled in Los Angeles^[22]. In 2009, Forbes magazine reported Stockton to be on their list of the nation's most dangerous cities, at number five.^[23]

According to the City of Stockton District Attorney, the city of Stockton has the "second most violent crime rate in the state," while San Joaquin County is the fifth-most dangerous metropolitan area in the United States. This is because of Stockton's proximity to Interstate 5 in the center of California, making it "a hub for the drug cartel between Mexico, Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia."^[24]

Events of historical significance

Development of the Caterpillar Tractor and the Caterpillar Company

Benjamin Holt, who settled in Stockton in the 1880s, founded Holt Manufacturing Company in Stockton and was one of the most important early developers in the United States of the "caterpillar"-type tractor, which he began developing shortly after 1900. ^[25] After his death, Holt's company merged with the C.L. Best Tractor Co. of San Leandro, California to form the Caterpillar Tractor Co., which eventually became Caterpillar, Inc..

Completion of port and deepwater channel

The extensive network of waterways in and around Stockton were fished and navigated by Native Americans for centuries. Even prior to the California Gold Rush, the San Joaquin River was navigable by ocean-going vessels, making Stockton a natural inland seaport. From the mid 19th century onward, Stockton was the region's transportation hub, dealing mainly with agricultural products. Modernization of the port and deepening of the Stockton Deepwater Channel to San Francisco Bay were completed in 1933, giving rise to commercial opportunities that have fueled the city's growth ever since, and paving the way for the Rough and Ready Island naval base which placed Stockton in a strategic position during the Cold War.

Charles Manson Family Members Living in Stockton

Lynette Fromme, Also known as "Squeaky Fromme", moved to Stockton, California, with friends Nancy Pitman and Priscilla Copper, a pair of ex-convicts named Michael Monfort and James Craig, and a couple, James and Lauren Willett. When the Willetts died within days of each other in 1972, the housemates were taken into custody on suspicion of murder. However, she was released due to a lack of evidence.

The 1989 Cleveland Elementary School shooting

On January 17, 1989, the Stockton Police Department received a threat against Cleveland Elementary School from an unknown person. Later that day Patrick Purdy, a mentally ill resident, opened fire on the school's playground with a semi-automatic rifle, killing five children, all Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees, and wounding twenty-nine others and a teacher, before taking his own life. This event received national news coverage and is sometimes referred to as the Stockton Massacre.^[26]

Then-Mayor Barbara Fass' subsequent work on gun control received national attention and sparked nationwide efforts that sought to ban semi-automatic military-style rifles like the one used in the shooting.

Closure of Stockton's naval reserve center

In September 1996, the Base Closure and Realignment Commission announced the final closure of Stockton's Naval Reserve Center on Rough and Ready Island, which had served as a major communications outpost for submarine activities in the Pacific during the Cold War. The site is currently being considered for commercial development.

Awards and honors

Stockton received an All-America City award from the National Civic League twice, in 1999 and 2004. 2004's award was based on a 60-member delegation's presentation titled "The Dream Lives On!", and featured three community-driven projects: Community Partnership for Families, Downtown Alliance, and the Peace Keeper Program.^[27] The 1999 award recognized the Apollo Night Talent and Performing Series, the conversion of the Stockton Developmental Center into an off-campus center for the California State University at Stanislaus, and the LEAP (Let Education Attack Pollution) program.^[28]

Sunset magazine named Stockton Best Tree City in the western United States in March 2002.^[29], and "Best of the West Food Fest" in March 2000.

Stockton boasts 49 city, state, and national historical landmarks, dating as far back as 1855.

The Stockton Fire Department has held a Class 1 ISO rating since 1971.

In February 2009, Stockton was named "America's Most Miserable City" by Forbes, reflecting Stockton's issues with commuting times, violent crime rates, income tax levels, and unemployment rates.^[30] Stockton was placed second in this listing in 2008.

Downtown revitalization

Beginning in the late 1990s under the mayorship of Gary Podesto, Stockton's downtown has attempted a dramatic turnaround and revitalization. Over the past decade downtown Stockton has tried to transform itself from a crime-ridden eyesore to a family-friendly destination. Most local residents are still extremely wary of the area, though, and most of the newly-built facilities are already having trouble making ends meet.^{[citation needed]}. Newly built or renovated buildings include:

• The Bob Hope Theater
• Regal City Centre Cinemas
• San Joaquin RTD Downtown Transit Center
• Sheraton Hotel
• Hotel Stockton
• Stockton Arena
• Banner Island Ballpark (Stockton Ballpark)

A new Downtown Marina and adjacent promenade (as of January 1, 2009) are under construction along the South Shore of the Stockton Deep Water Channel.

Projects (as of January 1, 2009) either in the planning stages or under consideration by the city council include South Shore housing, the revitalization of the Robert J. Cabral neighborhood, a museum honoring Stockton's history of gang warfare, bridges across the Stockton Deep Water Channel, and a high-rise building that may include condominiums.

Professional sports

Stockton is home to several minor league franchises:

• Stockton Cougars - (PASL soccer team)
• Stockton Ports - (High-A California League baseball team; affiliate of the Oakland Athletics)
• Stockton Thunder - (ECHL ice hockey team)
• Stockton Lightning - (af2 arena football team)

The Stockton Ports play their home games at Banner Island Ballpark, a 5,000 seat facility built for the team in downtown Stockton. A 10,000 seat arena, the Stockton Arena, located in downtown Stockton, is the home of the Stockton Cougars, Stockton Thunder and Stockton Lightning.

The University of the Pacific was the summer home of the San Francisco 49ers Summer Training Camp from 1998 through 2002.

Mixed martial artist Nick Diaz, who has been the WEC and IFC welterweight champion, was born and raised in Stockton along with his brother Nate Diaz.

Entertainment and Culture

Music schools and orchestras

• The Stockton Symphony is the third-oldest professional orchestra in California (founded in 1926), after the San Francisco Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.^[31]
• University of the Pacific is known for its music conservatory and for being the home of the Brubeck Institute, named after Dave Brubeck, a Pacific alum and jazz piano legend. The institute maintains an archive of Brubeck's work and offers a fellowship program for young musicians. The Brubeck Institute Jazz Quartet is composed of Pacific students and tours widely.^[32]
• San Joaquin Delta College has a growing jazz program and is home to several official and unofficial jazz bands composed of Delta and Pacific students and faculty.^[33]

Musicians, bands, and producers with origins in Stockton

• Indie-rock band Pavement was formed in Stockton in 1989 by Stephen Malkmus and Scott Kannberg. Much of their early material was recorded in Stockton.
• Singer Chris Isaak was born in Stockton in 1956.
• Stockton-based producers Hallway Productionz have created beats for well-known musicians, including Blackalicious, Ice Cube and WC.^[34]
• R&B singers Bear ^[34] and Erin Jennae^[35] appeared on the Billboard charts in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
• In 2006 Tim Sovinec, a Stockton youth pastor and guitarist for the Christian rock band everybodyduck, became the first local resident to perform at the Stockton Arena.^[36]
• In 2006 Latin Magic Band became the first local act to perform at both the arena and the 2,000-seat Bob Hope Theatre.^[34]
• Local rapper Okwerdz received an Australian Gold record in 2008 for his work with the Hilltop Hoods. ^[37]
• Erik Kristan Mallory, born and raised in Stockton, is the guitarist for the Rock N Roll band Endeverafter (Razor And Tie Records)^[38]
• Izzy Gallegos, former member of the band US5, was born in Stockton.
• Nathan Parrish, born and raised in Stockton, is a guitarist in the Christian Worship/Rock band Worth Dying For (Integrity Music).
• Shad Harris, musician, songwriter, producer and teacher, manages Other People Productions a musicians service company originally formed in Stockton(Dahs Music).

Auditoriums and concert halls

Stockton boasts several concert halls, including the following:

• The Stockton Arena is home to several sports teams, and has hosted nationally known entertainers such as Gwen Stefani, Rob Zombie and Ozzy Osbourne, Josh Groban, and Bob Dylan.
• The Apollo Night talent show draws about 1,500 people to the Stockton Civic Auditorium annually to watch performances by aspiring Northern California musicians.^[39]
• Bob Hope Theatre The historic theatre (formerly known as the Fox California Theatre) in downtown Stockton is one of several 'movie palaces' in the Central Valley. Bob Hope often came to Stockton to visit close friend and billionaire tycoon Alex Spanos, who donated much of the money to revitalize the theater after Hope's death.
• Faye Spanos Concert Hall
• Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium
• Warren Atherton Auditorium at Delta Center for the Arts
• Empire Theater

Visual art

• The Stockton Arts Commission, a division of city government, oversees a city endowment fund that provides grants to local artists and arts and cultural organizations. It sponsors the annual arts awards, a writing contest and the arts and crafts show at the Asparagus Festival. SAC also serves as an advocate and information clearinghouse for the arts and cultural community.
• Stockton has an extensive public art program. Public art projects include 'Stockton Rising," a sculpture by Scott Donahue located outside of the Stockton Arena. Nearby, a work by Napa artist Gordon Huether features 30,000 Mattell cars attached to the west side of the Stockton Arena parking garage. Approximately 15 downtown manhole covers also were designed by local artist Molly Toberer.
• Murals depicting the city's history decorate the exteriors of many downtown buildings.
• In addition to its history galleries, The Haggin Museum, located in Victory Park, displays fine art of late 19th and early 20th century artists such as Jean Beraud, Albert Bierstadt, Rosa Bonheur, William Bouguereau, Paul Gauguin, Jean-Leon Gerome, Childe Hassam, George Inness, Daniel Ridgway Knight, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Jehan-Georges Vibert, and Jules Worms. It also hosts temporary touring exhibitions.
• In 2005, the Downtown Stockton Alliance began sponsoring a monthly art walk during the summer. The event features local artists exhibiting their work at downtown businesses and galleries as well as in some otherwise vacant storefronts. Musicians also perform throughout downtown as part of the event.
• Critically-acclaimed silhouette artist Kara Walker was raised in Stockton.

Museums

Stockton is home to several museums. These are:

• The Haggin Museum features collections and exhibits related to local history and California history, and owns important works by late 19th and early 20th century artists. Notable among them is Albert Bierstadt, who was well-known for interpreting the towering grandeur of Yosemite and much of California's magnificent Sierra Nevada mountains.^[4]
• The Tidewater Art Gallery features the work of local artists.
• The Elsie May Goodwin Gallery is maintained by the Stockton Art League.
• The University of the Pacific’s Reynolds Gallery and San Joaquin Delta College’s Horton Gallery feature contemporary work by students and local and nationally-known artists.
• Children's Museum of Stockton, The Children's Museum of Stockton is housed in a former warehouse on the Downtown waterfront, and boasts many interactive displays.
• The Filipino American National Historical Society has proposed the construction of the National Pinoy Museum in the Little Manila district. The museum would be dedicated to the history of Filipino-Americans. Stockton once had one of the largest population of Filipinos in the United States.

Performing arts

Founded in 1951, Stockton Civic Theatre offers an annual series of musicals, comedies and dramas. It maintains a 300-seat theater in the Venetian Bridges neighborhood. The company also hosts the annual Willie awards for the local performing arts.

Festivals

Stockton hosts several annual festivals celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the city. These include:

• Lunar New Year (January or February)
• San Joaquin Children's Film Festival (January 2009)
• The Stockton Asparagus Festival (April)
• The Brubeck Festival (April)
• The Earth Day Festival (April)
• The Stockton Tree-Dip (April)
• Cambodian New Year (April)
• The San Joaquin International Film Festival (May)
• The Jewish Food Fair (June)
• The Stockton Obon Bazaar (July)
• The Stockton Quilting Bee (July)
• The Box Lunch Bazaar (July)
• The Filipino Barrio Fiesta (August)
• Bacon-wrapped Asparagus Celebration (August)
• Penny Day At The Park For Literacy Awareness (August)
• Black Family Day (September)
• The Greek Festival (September)
• The Chapman Family Days Picnic (September)
• Festa Italiana: Tutti In Piazza (September)
• Hmong New Year (November)
• The Stockton Festival of Lights and Boat Parade (December)
• The Record's Family Day at the Park

Motion Pictures

A number of motion pictures have been filmed in Stockton[3]. Over the years, filmmakers have used Stockton's waterways[4] to stand in for the Mississippi delta, the surrounding farmland as the American plains and Midwest, and UOP's campus[5] as an Ivy League college. Some of the movies filmed in Stockton include:

• All the King's Men (1949) [6]
• Always
• Atlanta Child Murders (1985)
• The Big Country (1958) [7]
• Big Stan (2007) [8]
• Bird (1988) [9]
• Blind Man Sees First
• Blood Alley (1955) [10]
• Bound for Glory (1976) [11]
• Busty Backdoor Nurses 13 (2002)
• Cabana Time
• Coast to Coast (1980) [12]
• Cool Hand Luke (1967) [13]
• Coyote (1997) [14]
• Day of Independence (2003) [15]
• Dead Man on Campus (1998) [16]
• Death Machines (1976) [17]
• Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) [18]
• Dreamscape (1984) [19]
• Fat City (1972) [20], based on Leonard Gardner's acclaimed 1969 novel Fat City. It is set in Stockton in the late 1950s, and was filmed by director John Huston.
• Flubber (1997) [21]
• Friendly Fire (1979) [22]
• Funky Fresh
• Glory Days (1988) [23]
• God's Little Acre (1958) [24]
• High Time (1960) [25]
• Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) [26]
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
• Inventing the Abbotts (1997) [27]
• Oklahoma Crude (1973) [28]
• Pop Dat Booty
• Porgy & Bess (1959) [29]
• Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) [30]
• Rampage (1988) [31]
• Return Fire/Jungle Wolf II (1988) [32]
• R.P.M. (1970) [33]
• Skipping [34]
• The Strawberry Statement (1970) [35]
• The Sure Thing (1985) [36]
• Valentino's Return (1989) [37]
• The World's Greatest Athlete (1973) [38]
• The 1960s Western TV series The Big Valley was set just outside Stockton.

Sister cities

Stockton has seven sister cities worldwide:

• - Shizuoka, Japan
• - Iloilo City, Philippines
• - Empalme, Mexico
• - Foshan, China
• - Parma, Italy
• - Battambang, Cambodia
• - Asaba, Nigeria

References

External links

• City of Stockton
• Stockton, California Official Visitor & Tourist Information
• Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library
• Stockton Sister Cities Association
• SJCrime.com covers San Joaquin County crime.

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v • d • e Mayors of cities with populations exceeding 100,000 in California     Antonio Villaraigosa (Los Angeles) Jerry Sanders (San Diego) Chuck Reed (San Jose) Gavin Newsom (San Francisco) Ashley Swearengin (Fresno) Kevin Johnson (Sacramento) Bob Foster (Long Beach) Ron Dellums (Oakland) Miguel A. Pulido (Santa Ana) Curt Pringle (Anaheim) Harvey Hall (Bakersfield) Ronald O. Loveridge (Riverside) Ann Johnston (Stockton) Cheryl Cox (Chula Vista) Sukhee Kang (Irvine) Jim Ridenour (Modesto) Bob Wasserman (Fremont) Pat Morris (San Bernardino) John Drayman (Glendale) Keith Bohr (Huntington Beach)^ William H. Batey II (Moreno Valley)^ Thomas E. Holden (Oxnard) Mark Nuaimi (Fontana) Paul S. Leon (Ontario) Donald Kurth (Rancho Cucamonga) Jim Wood (Oceanside) Bob Kellar (Santa Clarita)^ William Dalton (Garden Grove) Susan Gorin (Santa Rosa)^ Elliot Rothman (Pomona) Steve Nolan (Corona)^ R. Rex Parris (Lancaster) Dennis Donohue (Salinas) James C. Ledford Jr. (Palmdale) Bill Bogaard (Pasadena) Michael Sweeney (Hayward) Frank Scotto (Torrance) Lori Holt Pfeiler (Escondido) Carolyn Cavecche (Orange) Pat Hume (Elk Grove) Tony Spitaleri (Sunnyvale) Sharon Quirk (Fullerton)^ Jacqui Irwin (Thousand Oaks)^ Ernest Gutierrez (El Monte) William D. Shinn (Concord)^ Jesus Gamboa (Visalia) Paul Miller (Simi Valley) Osby Davis (Vallejo) Roosevelt F. Dorn (Inglewood) Gina Garbolino (Roseville) Rudy Cabriales (Victorville) Patricia M. Mahan (Santa Clara) Eric R. Bever (Costa Mesa)^ Rick Trejo (Downey)^ Roger Hernandez (West Covina)^ Christy Weir (Ventura) Harry T. Price (Fairfield) Cheri Kelley (Norwalk) David Golonski (Burbank) Gayle McLaughlin (Richmond) Gonzalo "Sal" Torres (Daly City) Tom Bates (Berkeley) Jim Davis (Antioch) ^Mayor selected from city council