History

Modesto started in the 1870's when the Central Pacific Railroad announced its extension to the new site.  There was an effort made to name the new village after William C. Ralston, a San Francisco banker. Mr. Ralston thanked his colleagues for the compliment, but declined. Noted for his modesty, the town was to be named Modesto (Spanish for modesty).

By 1910, Modesto's population reached 4,500 and was referred as the "most metropolitan and classy of its size in California."

In 1912, the downtown Modesto Arch, located at 9th and I streets, was built for a cost of $1,200. Details of a 1911 contest reveal that the winning slogan for the arch was "Nobody's got Modesto's goat."  Because most people agreed that this was too 'low brow', they awarded the prize to the 2nd place winner. "Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health," was selected by a committee of the Modesto Business Men's Association. They paid Sam Harbaugh $3 for his winning slogan.

In the last decades of Modesto's history, there has been progress, vision and growth beyond even founder William Ralston's prediction for the wheat field that was Modesto in 1870. 

I Street and 10th Street, Circa 1889
To the left is the old Tynan Hotel.

This page was updated on: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 11:40:20 AM