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The City of Ceres is located in the central San Joaquin Valley, 80 miles south of Sacramento and 95 miles east of San Francisco, in the heart of Stanislaus County. Ceres is in one of the Central Valley's richest and most diverse agricultural areas and is the home of the new $14 million County Agriculture Center. Even the name "Ceres" originates from the Roman goddess of agriculture.
The City enjoys a comfortable climate, with 12 inches of rainfall annually. The average low winter temperature is 38F, with an average high of 85F in spring and fall, and an average high temperature in the 90's in summer. The Tuolumne River forms part of the City's northern boundary.
The Daniel C. Whitmore family was considered the first family of Ceres and, with two other founders, John Service and Cassius Warner, settled in Ceres in 1867. Mr. Whitmore built the first home in Ceres in 1870. That home still stands, fully restored by the City and the Ceres Historical Society, at 2928 Fifth Street.
Ceres is a growing community with a heartfelt commitment to retaining its small neighborhood personality. Businesses, organizations, and nonprofit community service groups band together for a number of activities throughout the year. Events such as the annual Downtown Street Fair in May, summertime concerts in the park, Halloween Fun Festival, and the Christmas Tree Lane opening are well attended by the community.
Demographics
According to the 2000 Census, Ceres is home to 35,650 people, making it the third largest city in Stanislaus County. The City's population is currently growing at an annual rate of about 2 percent and this rate is expected to increase in the next few years. Ceres grew 31.5 percent between 1990 and 2000.
The City's housing vacancy rate in 2000 was 3.13 percent, second lowest in the County, and the median price of a house was $119,000. In 2000, median family income was $43,587 and the average size was 3.62 people. Both housing prices and family incomes have increased since 2000 but Ceres is still one of the most affordable cities in the northern San Joaquin Valley.
Economic Development
Economic development efforts of the City of Ceres vary greatly and involve such simple things as helping a business obtain a business license to assisting a major employer find a site and go through the development process. Economic development involves assisting existing businesses with retention and expansion issues as well as attracting new businesses. As a foundation to build from, a plan was developed in support of the following vision.
We will have a highly competitive, vibrant, and diverse regional economy that provides economic opportunity for everyone close to home and results in both individual and regional prosperity.
The City of Ceres recently participated in a county-wide effort entitled Strengthening Stanislaus. This effort was funded through a grant from the Dept of Housing and Community Development and facilitated by ES1 Consultants. Goals adopted for Ceres include the following:
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Industrial, commercial and retail sites and buildings will be available for businesses interested in starting up, relocating or expanding in Ceres. |
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Infrastructure will meet the needs of existing and future businesses and residents. |
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The City's permit process will be efficient, customer friendly, and simple to navigate. |
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The Alliance, the City and the Chamber of Commerce will be partners in advancing the community's economic development goals. |
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Our educational system will prepare Ceres residents for 21st century jobs. |
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Downtown will be the social, economic and governmental hub of the community. |
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Ceres will be an attractive community which businesses and residents can be proud of |
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The City's workforce will not be constrained by barriers to employment. |
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Recreational and cultural amenities in Ceres will support the needs of residents as well as provide economic development opportunities. The Assistant to the City Manager for economic and redevelopment, Heidi McNally-Dial, acts as a facilitator both internally and externally. She represents the City of Ceres on the Ceres Chamber of Commerce Board, the county-wide Alliance for Business and Workforce Development Board, the four county Small Business and Development Center Board and a variety of other committees related to business development and economic development. |
Learn more about this city
City of CERES, CA official site
City of CERES, CA general information
City of CERES, CA yellow pages
City of CERES, CA newspaper
County of STANISLAUS, CA official site
State of California official site