Pre-World War II Modesto | ||
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 | The Arch is still Modesto's centerpiece, but a new County Records Building, above right, eclipses the old courthouse. To the left, downtown is a busy mercantile hub - the old Tynan Hotel still has its bric-a-brac trim, but both clock towers on 10th are gone. | |||
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From "A Souvenir Folder of Modesto" mailed to Illinois in 1944 . . .
Modesto - the Modest City
Strange as it may seem, there is one city in California which takes its name from the modesty of its pioneers and the people of Modesto have tried to live up to the reputation ever since . . .
In 1871, Modesto was voted the county seat of Stanislaus County and from then on its permanency as the trading center of the county was assured. In 1884 it was incorporated and in the same year steps were taken to organize irrigation districts to supply water for the surrounding lands which were devoted to grain growing and cattle. But it was not until 1904 that the long fight for irrigation was won and the irrigation works completed.
From 1904 colonization and development has been rapid and Modesto as the metropolis has grown with the County. The population in 1910 was 4,034 and ten years later it had doubled to 9,241. In the next decade to 1930 Modesto while not equaling this record made the greatest growth of any city in Northern California or 49% to 13,842. Then in 1940, the population was again increased to 16,830.
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