Stockton, California


Stockton is located in the north-central part and is the 11th largest city in the U.S. State of California. It is an agricultural hub for processing crops, and historically the city was a Gold Rush port. The city is ranked among the best cities in the country for outdoor activities.

The city is home to the largest inland seaport in California, and to the University of the Pacific. It is the oldest university in California. Every year, the city attracts more than 60,000 visitors to the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival. It is an annual spring event with unique foods, live events, carnival rides, live, and family fun.



To See And To Do In Stockton


  • Weber Point Events Center
  • Historic Sing Lee Laundry Artifact Exhibit
  • Haggin Museum
  • Downtown
  • Downtown Waterfront
  • Wine Tasting Tour
  • Children's Museum of Stockton
  • Sherwood Place Shopping Center
  • Mexican Heritage Center and Gallery
  • Stockton Rural Cemetery
  • The Bob Hope Theatre
  • Park West Place - stores, shops, and restaurants
  • Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple
  • Stockton Field Aviation Museum
  • Mershops Weberstown shopping mall
  • Pixie Woods Children's Park
  • Weberstown Mall
  • Stockton Symphony


History Of Stockton - Timeline


Native Americans lived in the area long before the first Europeans arrived. In 1830, French-Canadian trappers from the Hudson's Bay Company founded a French Camp used as a regular winter campsite. In 1842, Captain Charles Weber, a German immigrant, passed through the present site of Stockton on his way to San Jose. He realized that the site would be a perfect place for a town.

In 1844, Captain Charles Weber and William Gulnac established a settlement during the Gold Rush. They built stores and a public house. The settlement was called Weber's settlement. In 1846, Commodore Robert F. Stockton annexes California. John Doak established the first ferry service.

In 1848, under the direction of Captain Weber and Major R. P. Hammond, the site was surveyed and the streets were laid out. Later a messenger from Sutter's Fort reached the settlement and told Weber that gold had been found at the river. Weber started selling supplies to miners, and Stockton transformed into a booming, strategic inland seaport and supply hub for miners. Local records identify that the very first hotel in Stockton opened.

In 1849, Stockton was founded, and the town became a center for water transportation and steamboats began arriving in Stockton. In 1850, Stockton was incorporated. It was named after Commodore Robert F. Stockton, who helped secure California for the U.S. The Stockton Times newspaper was printed, and the Weber Point Home was built by Charles Weber. The Police Department was formally founded. A volunteer fire company was organized.

In 1851 Captain Charles Webe donated all the streets, channels and public squares to the town. The San Joaquin Repub!ican newspaper was published. The Temple Israel Cemetery was built. It is the oldest Jewish cemetery in use in California. Central United Methodist Church began building its first structure. Stockton State Hospital opened.

In 1852, Jeremiah H. Woods and Alexander McQueen founded a ferry that run between Stockton and Sacramento. They also procured the laying out of a road from Stockton by way of the ferry to Sacramento. In 1853, a one-room schoolhouse was built, and a courthouse was constructed.

In 1861, Stockton's Rural Cemetery was established, and the first version of the St. Mary's Catholic Church was built. In 1865, the B&M Building was built. In 1867, the Stockton Savings Bank was established. In 1869, the Yosemite House hotel was built, and it was considered to be the finest hotel in town at the time. The Benjamin Holt's home was constructed by his father-in-law Benjamin Brown.

In 1873, the Weber Primary School was built. In 1875, the town had horse-drawn trolleys, and the Waterfront Warehouse was built. In 1880, a public library was established, and the Stockton Daily Evening Mail newspaper was in print. In 1883, the businessman and inventor Benjamin Holt arrived with his brothers and founded the Stockton Wheel Co., (the Holt Manufacturing Company). The Swett-Moreing Home was built. William Swett was a staff member at the Stockton Mail newspaper. (Erlier Stockton Daily Evening Mail newspaper).

In 1887, the Reuel Colt Gridley Monument was dedicated in Stockton's Rural Cemetery. Reuel Colt Gridley became known in America when he repeatedly auctioned a plain sack of flour and raised over $250,000 (around $6 million today) for the United States Sanitary Commission, which provided aid to wounded American Civil War soldiers. In 1888, a professional fire department was established. In 1888, the Newell Home was built. Sidney Newell was a banker for Stockton Savings Bank.

In 1890, the Charles E. Owen Home was built. Owen was a musician and businessman, known for his music/jewelry store and as the organist at St. John's Episcopal Church. The Dr. Cross House was built. Dr. Lester Emmet Cross was a prominent physician who served in the Civil War. The Moses Rodgers Home was built. Moses Rogers was born a slave, but became a mining engineer. He was an expert in the state, and investors went to him for advice regarding mining claims.

In 1891, Central United Methodist Church brick building was completed. In 1892, electric streetcars replaced earlier horse-drawn trolleys. In 1893, the County Jail was built, and the Edward B. Condy Home was built. Condy was a local jeweler and leader of the Stockton City Band. In 1895, the Dunne Home was built by the local shoe store owner Edward Dunne.

In 1900, the Santa Fe Depot was built, and there were 28,629 people living in the city. In 1906, the Hurrell-Weston Home was built. Charles Hurrell was a businessman and long-serving public official. In 1908, the Elks Building was completed. In 1910, Hotel Stockton opened. In 1912, the Gurdwara Sahib Stockton opened. It was the first Sikh temple in the United States.

In 1915, the historic Commercial and Savings Bank building was built. In 1919, the Nippon Hospital was constructed. In 1920. the Lincoln Hotel was built. In 1921, KWG-AM radio began broadcasting. The Wong Gew Mansion was built. Wong Gew was a businessman who ran successful gambling houses. In 1925, the Luther Burbank School was built. In 1926, the Stockton Symphony Association was founded.

In 1930, the Fox California Theatre opened. (The Bob Hope Theatre). In 1931, the Haggin Museum was built in Victory Park. In 1933, the Port of Stockton opened. In 1950, the Pacific Memorial Stadium opened. (Stagg Memorial Stadium). In 1956, the world famous singer and songwriter, Chris Isaak, was born in the city. In 1966, the Mershops Weberstown shopping mall opened. In 2005, the Adventist Health Arena opened. (Stockton Arena).

In 2012, the city filed for bankruptcy. It was at the time the largest city in the U.S. to do so. In 2014, the Bank of the West was robbed. Three hostages were taken and an hour-long high-speed pursuit followed. One suspect fired over 100 bullets at police, disabling 14 police vehicles. The police shot over 600 rounds into the getaway vehicle. Two bankrobbers were killed, two hostages were injured, and one hostage was killed by police. In 2025, there were 327,387 people living in the city.