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History of Stockton, California

Stockton, California, was established on the edge of a deep-water port, at the head of the San Joaquin River. Captain Charles Weber made the initial discovery and named it Tuleberg in 1847. Tuleberg was changed to Stockton in 1847. The name Stockton came from the desire to honor Commodore Robert Stockton. Its citizens, having a great respect for the man, had no problem with the name change. Most of them having resided there for only a few weeks prior to the change. Over the years, the city grew as a major depot for miners during the California Gold Rush. The California gold rush brought large numbers of people to Stockton; many found it a very desirable place while passing through and decided to stay. With the large increase in population during the 1870s and 1880s, the economy in Stockton became widespread, creating many sources of income. Although the economy was widely diversified, Stockton's agriculture did continue to grow at a rapid rate, becoming the quickest growing industry the city had ever seen. It was not long into the 1900s that the national railroad companies took notice to the needs of the cities in California. The railroad companies ran tracks to many of the cities that were becoming, or were forecasted to become, the largest industrial hubs of their area. This new development of transportation to the city fortified Stockton's position as an agricultural hub for the entire nation. Although agriculture became the city's primary industry, many other industries utilized the railroad, and continued over the years to prosper because of the railroad. Some of those industries include electronics, lumber, plastics, and automobile products. Over the years, technology has brought new developments in transportation to Stockton. The Stockton Metropolitan Airport has served Stockton with an invaluable source of transportation for goods and for the public. There are many attractions in Stockton, including museums and festivals. A few of those attractions are the Haggin Museum, the Children's Museum of Stockton, and the Oak Grove Nature Center. Every year, the Asparagus Festival takes place in town and an annual parade. Stockton is home to many fine institutes, including the University of the Pacific, built in 1851; Humphreys College, built in 1896; and a branch of the California State University-Stanislaus, built in 1957.