The Legend of Ralston - Or How Modesto Got Its Name

If you've lived in Modesto for any length of time, you've probably heard the story of how the city got its name. Originally laid out by the Central Pacific Railroad, there was an effort made to name the new village after one of those people involved wth the development of the railroad venture, William C. Ralston, a San Francisco banker.

There are several versions of the story about the naming of Modesto. The one version, contained in the 1970 Centennial Book, "One Hundred Years," probably has the most charm, even if it is a bit politically incorrect by today's standards. The late Jeannette Gould Maino's research came up with this one:Clarence Wooster, whose nickname was the Kid, had joined the railroad construction crew at Ripon, where a town had been staked out.The crew waited in the 110 degree heat while a bridge was constructed over the Stanislaus River. The order of work went quickly on the level land. Excavations and fills were made, the rails were laid and spiked down, while the bridge builders went ahead to span creeks and rivers with trestles.

When the crew arrived at the spot which was to be Modesto, more stakes were laid down. The Kid worked in the car drawing in ink a map "Engineer Tom" (no other name given) had sketched out in pencil for the town. . . "for which 'The Kid' had importuned almost every man on the job to give a name." A single passenger car and engine approached. Charles Crocker, Mark Hopkins and William C. Ralston had come to confer with the engineers and construction boss, Jim Casey.