Stockton is the seat of San Joaquin County in central California. Stockton is the 13th largest city in California with a population nearing 300,000. Stockton is the fourth largest inland city in California, behind Fresno, Sacramento, and Bakersfield.

It was founded in 1849 by Captain Charles Maria Weber, who built the first permanent residence in the San Joaquin Valley after acquiring 49,000 acres through a Spanish land grant. Soon, he established this spot as a stop for 49ers on their way to the Sierra Nevada gold rush.

Stockton is about 60 miles east of the San Francisco Bay Area and 45 miles south of Sacramento, the capital of California. Stockton is surrounded by the rich and fertile lands of the California Central Valley and is home to the largest inland seaport in California. In and around Stockton are thousands of waterways, canals, and rivers that comprise the California Delta.

Rich peat soil and a temperate climate have combined to make the area around Stockton one of the richest agricultural and dairy regions in California. Throughout the 150 years of Stockton’s history almost every major fruit, nut and field crop has been grown, some with greater success than others. Current major crops include asparagus, cherries, tomatoes, walnuts and almonds plus many other smaller-production orchard, row and feed crops. The annual Asparagus festival attracts more than 100,000 visitors.  Grapes amount to forty percent of the fruit and nut harvest and contribute 18% to the county’s agricultural earnings. The famous California Napa Valley is a short drive north from Stockton.