Modesto is a city in Stanislaus County, California, and its county seat, in the northern San Joaquin Valley about 90 miles east of San Francisco. The 2020 census counted 218,464 residents, making Modesto the largest city in the county and a principal hub of the valley's agricultural economy. The city's identity is rooted in farming and food processing. Founded in the late 19th century as a railroad town serving the surrounding farmland, Modesto grew with irrigation into a center for dairies, almonds, walnuts, peaches, and wine grapes. E. & J. Gallo Winery, founded by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo in 1933, grew into the world's largest wine producer, and Foster Farms also began in Modesto — together cementing the city's place in American food and agriculture. Modesto also has a place in popular culture. Filmmaker George Lucas was born in the city in 1942 and drew on its 1950s-60s cruising culture for his film American Graffiti. That car-culture heritage remains a point of local pride, celebrated through events and the city's classic-car community. Education is anchored by Modesto City Schools, a district of roughly 32,000 students, and Modesto Junior College, one of California's oldest community colleges. The city functions as a regional center for healthcare, government, and retail for Stanislaus County. Commuting shapes much of local life. Modesto sits along the Altamont Pass corridor, one of California's busiest, and is among the state's notable commuter cities, with residents traveling to Bay Area jobs. Amtrak's San Joaquin line serves the city, and the Altamont Corridor Express is extending to Modesto, strengthening rail links toward Sacramento and the Bay Area.