By Matthew Fortuna
The city of Ceres in California lies near the center of the state, in the San Joaquin Valley. It is in Stanislaus County and lies along
United States Route 99. The city dates back to the mid-1800s, and hosts a number of annual events throughout the year that attract tourists from the Valley and beyond.
History
Ceres was first inhabited permanently by Americans in 1867 by the families of John Service, Daniel Whitmore and Cassius Warner. The Whitmore Home still stands today at 2928 5th Street.
The City
As of the 2000 Census, the city had a population of just over 34,000 in an area of just under seven square miles. The Ceres Courier has printed news for the city since 1910.
Demographics
The population of the city is 64% white, 20% Hispanic, 3% black and 5% Asian. 60% of the population is over the age of 25, and most of them are married.
Politics
The city of Ceres is located in the 14th Senate District, 25th Assembly District and 18th congressional district. The city is governed by a mayor.
Famous Ties
Gary Condit (former United States Democratic Congressman from 1989 to 2002) is from Ceres, as is Cliff Barrows, the former ministry partner of evangelical preacher Billy Graham.
Annual Events
The city annually hosts the Ceres Street Faire on the first weekend of May, the Concert in the Park in the summer and the Christmas Tree Lane opening ceremony in December.
Fun Fact
The city was named for Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture.
About the Author:
Matthew Fortuna is a full-time freelance writer with a journalism degree from Wayne State University, living in the Detroit metropolitan area. He has written about a wide range of topics across varying publications, including Demand Studios, wiseGEEK.com and Suite101.com, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Wayne State University.
