About Ceres
Demographics
According to the latest Department of Finance numbers
issued annually by the State, Ceres is home to 40,943 people
and the third largest city in Stanislaus County. The City’s
population is currently growing at an annual rate of about
five percent and is expected to continue at a steady pace
over the next 20 years. Ceres grew 31.5 percent between 1990
and 2000.
According to the
2000 U.S. Census, median household income was $40,736 and
the average household size was 3.31 persons. The median
price of a house in 2006 was $355,000. While the housing
market surged in recent years, Ceres is still one of the
most affordable cities in the northern San Joaquin Valley.
The City’s housing vacancy rate has remained relatively
stable at 3.1 percent and is the second lowest in the
County.
Growth & Development
Economic Development
Economic development continues to be vigorous. Over the
past decade Ceres has experienced a nearly 90% increase in
sales tax generated. Within the last five years development
projects have included:
-
WinCo Foods Distribution Center 107 acres/720,000
square feet
-
Home Depot 10.67 acres/137,156 square feet
-
Central Valley Marketplace 8.06 acres/83,710 square
feet
-
Food-4-Less
-
Banking
-
Dining
-
Service
Developing projects include the Ceres Commerce Center, an
8.8-acre, 87,000 square foot business park on Mitchell Road
at the northern gateway into town. When complete the center
will consist of 24 buildings; current construction includes
buildings of 3,000 to 6,000 square feet.
At Ceres southern entrance—Mitchell Road at Highway
99—the 420-acre South Gateway Regional Commercial Center is
also being developed. The center’s first large retail anchor
will break ground in 2007 and major infrastructure projects,
including the Service/Mitchell roads interchange are in
process.
The Ceres Enterprise Zone encompasses most of the city’s
industrial and commercial areas and includes 6,804 acres. An
application is now in process—as part of a countywide
effort—to expand the Zone by 132 acres, taking in nearly all
commercial land on Mitchell Road. Property owners in Zone
can take advantage of tax, financial and development
incentives and business assistance.
Housing
New home
construction has been going at record pace over the past few
years—in Fiscal Year 2003 the building department issued
more permits than it had since before 1990. While median
home prices increased, the City has had continued success in
providing affordable housing opportunities, including
construction of a senior apartment complex; rehabilitation
and construction of a number of multi-family developments;
as well as operating robust first-time homeowner and housing
rehabilitation assistance programs.
Parks, Recreation & Facilities
Ceres River Bluff Regional Park
Progress continues at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park
with construction projects moving along in both the sports
park and riverfront habitat. In September 2006 the City
celebrated the completion of the five-field soccer complex;
the first two fields were open for play in 2004. The parking
lot has been expanded and the concession, plaza and
restrooms are nearly complete. The riverfront has also
undergone a major transformation; part of the old walnut
orchard has been cleared and the new ponds are being
excavated and graded in preparation for liners. When
complete, the 76-acre park will feature soccer, softball,
basketball, volleyball, a playground and group picnic area,
as well as a restored natural habitat with trails and access
to the Tuolumne River.
