Stockton, city (1990 pop. 210,943), seat of San Joaquin co., central Calif., on the San Joaquin River; inc. 1850. One of the fastest-growing U.S. cities during the late 20th cent., Stockton is an inland seaport located at the head of the San Joaquin delta. It is also a rail center and a processing and distribution point for farm products and wines from the Central Valley. Manufactures include signs, millwork, fabricated metal, metal and wood products, electrical and electronic goods, foods, feeds, transportation equipment, furniture, and apparel. There is also meat processing and canning. Dairying, cattle, fruit, nuts, vegetables, sugar beets, tomatoes, peppers, grapes, and grain are also important. Stockton was an outfitting center in the gold-rush days. It has a historical museum, an art gallery, and an impressive civic auditorium, and holds an annual asparagus festival. The Univ. of the Pacific, Humphreys College, and a campus of California State University Stanislaus are there. A U.S. navy communications station is on a nearby island.
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