City History

The City of Ceres is located in the central San Joaquin Valley, 80 miles south of Sacramento and 95 miles east of San Francisco, in the heart of Stanislaus County. Ceres is in one of the Central Valley's richest and most diverse agricultural areas and is the home of the new $14 million County Agriculture Center. Even the name "Ceres" originates from the Roman goddess of agriculture.

The City enjoys a comfortable climate, with 12 inches of rainfall annually. The average low winter temperature is 38 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average high of 85 degrees Fahrenheit in spring and fall, and an average high temperature in the 90s in summer. The Tuolumne River forms part of the City's northern boundary.

The Daniel C. Whitmore family was considered the first family of Ceres and, with two other founders, John Service and Cassius Warner, settled in Ceres in 1867. Mr. Whitmore built the first home in Ceres in 1870. That home still stands, fully restored by the City and the Ceres Historical Society, at 2928 Fifth Street.

Ceres is a growing community with a heartfelt commitment to retaining its small neighborhood personality. Businesses, organizations, and nonprofit community service groups band together for a number of activities throughout the year. Events such as the annual Downtown Street Fair in May, summertime concerts in the park, Halloween Fun Festival, and the Christmas Tree Lane opening are well attended by the community.