Manteca is 76 miles due east of San Francisco, in the San Joaquin Valley. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are approximately a 2 hour commute. It is about midway between Stockton and Modesto on State Highway 99. The 120 Bypass connects Interstate 5 and Highway 99. The City limits cover approximately 14.9 square miles of level terrain. The City's population as of January 1st, 1998 is 47,100. Manteca is surrounded by rich agricultural lands although industries based on agriculture are still very important to the City's economy, electronic firms are now among the principal employers in Manteca. These firms are generally located in the City's developed industrial park, in the southeastern quadrant of Manteca.
Manteca itself is a relatively young town, first settled by a few pioneer farmers in the heart of one of the greatest agricultural areas in the world. A combination of good soil, excellent climate, and clean water has insured its destiny as a prosperous farming center. There was little activity in Manteca that was not related to agriculture until World War II. Changes came slowly up through the 1970’s, but today Manteca is shedding much of its old image with new high-tech industries. It has become a “bedroom community” for the industrial sites west of the Altamont Pass.
LINKS
*
San Joaquin Convention and Visitors Bureau
• City of Manteca
• Manteca Chamber of Commerce