Stockton is the seat of San Joaquin County east of San Francisco, between Sacramento and Modesto. It lies along Interstate 5 on the banks of the San Joaquin River.
 
Stockton saw its origins during the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s, when it was an outfitting center and staging area for prospectors bound for the Mother Lode country. Later, the city became the heart of San Joaquin Valley agricultural enterprises.
 
Today, Stockton is an inland seaport at the head of the San Joaquin Delta; its harbor is deep enough for oceangoing ships. It also is a railroad hub as well as a processing and distribution point for San Joaquin and Central valley farm produce and wines. The delta attracts a variety of water sports. Other attractions include the Italian Street Painting Festival and Pixie Woods Amusement Park.
 
The San Joaquin River Watershed is the source of life for the Valley. Along its 350 mile journey, th Sa Joaquin flows down the mountains on its way to the Pacific Ocean. It begins high in the Sierra Nevada Thousand Island Lakes which is the head waters. The river crashes over 101 foot Rainbow Falls. It continues by the towering basalt columns of Devils Postpile National Monument before entering the San Joaquin River Gorge. For more information about visiting this area see www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo

Before the European settlement of our state wetlands created by the river covered nearly 5 million acres. Today, less than 5% of those acres remain. When Friant Dam was completed just outside of Fresno, much of the water in the wet lands dried up. Only a very small percentage of San Joaquin River water flows past the dam, about 2%. Efforts are being made to increase the water flow out of Friant Dam for the San Joaquin River Watershed to be increased. www.riverparkway.org or www.calwater.ca.gov.

CSAC Snapshot Info

Official County Website