About RIPON, CA
The City of Ripon was incorporated in 1945, with the Chamber of Commerce as the leading sponsor and financial backer. The City Council met for their first meeting on December 4, 1945 at the Ripon Improvement Club. The next meeting was held on December 11, at the office of the Justice of the Peace of Ripon Township. From December 18, 1945 to January 21, 1947, the council met at the Ripon County Water District. From February 1, 1947, the council met at the Women's Improvement Club which had originally purchased the first "Holland Church" building to use for their club meetings. The club donated the building to the city as a memorial to those who had served their country during World War II. On March 18, 1947, the property at 311 First Street was deeded to the City of Ripon from the Ripon Chamber of Commerce.
The steady influx of people of Holland descent has continued through the years, bringing not only immigrants directly from the Netherlands, but also Hollanders who had settled first in other areas of the United States and Canada. The period of 1930 to 1940 saw continued slow growth of the city, especially with the coming of more Holland settlers. As their number increased, another church and a private high school were added to their educational and religious facilities. Considerable changes in the civic structure of Ripon developed between 1940 and 1950. In 1944, the Ripon County Water District was formed and the Water Company was purchased from the Alney J. Nourse Estate at a cost of $32,500. This money was borrowed from the Bank of America to be paid back from revenue income. The loan was written on lined tablet paper--in pencil, and signed by George M. Markham. The name of the bank does not appear on the "document."
Today, the area incorporated comprises about 4.3 square miles. The principal object of incorporation was to get police protection, to operate the water company, and to expand the sanitary district. A five-man council was elected; C.B.Tawney, John A. Thiemann, G.S. Tornell, H. Madsen and W. Schut. Mr. Hans Madsen was elected by the Council to be the first Mayor. The Water District voted to have the City operate the water company and Mr. L. S. Brady was hired as City Clerk. The stability of the earliest settlers has remained a characteristic of the Community of Ripon. Its growth has been slow but steady; the population has increased from approximately 600 in 1939 to 13,908 in 2006. Ripon is quite proud of its quality of life. It boasts a small-town atmosphere with an abundance of parks and wide, tree-shaded streets. With an eye to the future, Ripon provides adequate schools and is continually improving its public facilities to meet the needs of a growing community.
Learn more about this city.
City of Ripon, CA official site
City of Ripon, CA Chamber of Commerce
City of Ripon, CA newspaper
County of Ripon, CA official site
State of California official site