:Turlock, California

Founded on December 22, 1871, by prominent grain farmer John William Mitchell, the town consisted of a post office, a depot, a grain warehouse and a few other buildings.{{Cite web |last=rbcushman3 |date=August 13, 2018 |title=History in Turlock CA - A Brief History |url=https://townsquarepublications.com/turlock-history/ |access-date=August 25, 2022 |website=Town Square Publications |language=en-US}} Mitchell declined the honor of having the town named for himself. The name "Turlock" was then chosen instead. The name is believed to originate from the Irish village of Turlough. In October 1870, Harper's Weekly published an excerpt from English novelist James Payn's story Bred in the Bone, which includes the mention of a town named "Turlock".{{Cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CIM-AQAAMAAJ&q=Harper%27s+magazine+%22turlock%22&pg=PA631|title=Harper's Weekly – Volume 14 – Page 631|website=Books.google.com|date=September 5, 2018|last1=Bonner |first1=John |last2=Curtis |first2=George William |last3=Alden |first3=Henry Mills |last4=Conant |first4=Samuel Stillman |last5=Foord |first5=John |last6=Schuyler |first6=Montgomery |last7=Davis |first7=Richard Harding |last8=Schurz |first8=Carl |last9=Bangs |first9=John Kendrick |last10=Nelson |first10=Henry Loomis |last11=Harvey |first11=George Brinton Mcclellan |last12=Hapgood |first12=Norman }} Local historians believe that the issue of Harper's Weekly was read by early resident H.W. Lander, who suggested the alternate name.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/state/article3243509.html |title=Landowner Mitchell was Turlock founder | Merced Sun-Star |access-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906124604/https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/state/article3243509.html |url-status=dead }}

Mitchell and his brother were successful businessmen, buying land and developing large herds of cattle and sheep that were sold to gold miners and others as they arrived. They were also leaders in wheat farming and cultivated tracts of land under the tenant system. Eventually, the Mitchells owned most of the area, over 100,000 acres, from Keyes to Atwater. In the early 20th century, 20-acre lots from the Mitchell estate were sold for $20 an acre.{{Cite web |url=http://local.townsquarepublications.com/california/turlock/history.html|title=Turlock Chamber of Commerce|website=Local.townsquarepublications.com|date=September 5, 2018}}

While it grew to be a relatively prosperous and busy hub of activity throughout the end of the 19th century, it was not incorporated as a city until February 15, 1908.[http://gifi.stat.ucla.edu/background/CodReg/LocGov/Cities_by_incorp_date.pdf]{{dead link|date=June 2012}} By that time intensive agricultural development surrounded most of the city (agriculture remains the major economic force in the region in current times). Many of the initial migrants to the region were Swedish. As an early San Francisco Chronicle article stated of the region and the community's lacteal productivity, "you have to hand it to the Scandinavians for knowing how to run a dairy farm."{{Cite news |title=Turlock's Advance Indicative of Magic Wand|last=Bowles|first=EE|date=May 12, 1914|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}}

File:Exhibitor with cow and old cars.jpg

Turlock went on to become known as the "Heart of the Valley" because of its agricultural production. With the boom came racial and labor strife. In July 1921, a mob of 150 white men evicted 60 Japanese cantaloupe pickers from rooming houses and ranches near Turlock, taking them and their belongings on trucks out of town.{{Cite news|title=Deportation Made Quietly by 150 Men|date=July 21, 1921|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}} The white workers claimed they were being undercut by the Japanese who were working for lower wages.{{Cite book|title=The Long Road to Manzanar|last=Meloy|first=Michael|publisher=Ph.D. Diss., UC Davis|year=2004|pages=180–181}} In protest, fruit growers briefly threatened not to hire any white workers who supported the eviction, preferring to let their melons rot on the vines, rather than hire such characters.{{Cite news |title=White Workers Barred by Fruit Growers at Turlock|date=July 22, 1921|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}} As a result of this stance, the eviction had the opposite effect of what the mob had intended. By August 1921, Japanese workers had returned to the Turlock area and were nearly the only people employed to pick melons.{{Cite news |title=Turlock Left to Japanese Pickers|date=August 8, 1921|newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor}}

The incident gained national attention, and California Governor William Stephens vowed that justice would be served.{{Cite news |title=Turlock Japanese Assured Governor will Uphold Rights|date=July 22, 1921|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}} Six men were promptly arrested but were apparently untroubled by the charges, stating that leaders of Turlock's American Legion and Chamber of Commerce had told them that no trouble would result from their actions.{{Cite news |title=Six Men Admit Aiding Turlock Deportations|date=July 24, 1921|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}} Although a former Turlock night watchman testified that one of the accused had disclosed a plan "to clean up Turlock of the Japs," all six men were acquitted.{{Cite news |title=Surprise at Deportation Trial Occurs|date=April 28, 1922|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}}{{Cite news |title=Turlock Men Acquitted of Riot Charges|date=May 6, 1922|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}}

An editorial in the July 22, 1921 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle opposed both the evictions and Japanese labor, with one column stating that "we in California are determined that Oriental workers shall be kept out of the state. But that does not mean that the decent citizens of California will tolerate for one moment such proceedings as the attack of a mob on the Japanese cantaloupe workers in the Turlock district."{{Cite news |title=Mobbing the Japanese|date=July 22, 1921|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}}

In 1930, Turlock's population was 20% Assyrian. They were such a significant part of the population that the southern part of town even became referred to as Little Urmia, referring to the region of northwestern Iran from which most had come.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nineveh.com/The%20Assyrians%20of%20the%20San%20Joaquin%20Valley,%20California.html|title=The Assyrians of the San Joaquin Valley|last=Aprim|first=Fred|website=Nineveh.com}} In the 1930s, Turlock was cited by Ripley's Believe It or Not as having the most churches per capita in the US, which had partly to do with the variety of ethnic churches established for the relatively small settler population. Various religious centers reflecting a diverse population, such as Sikh Gurdwaras, various Assyrian Christian churches, and many mainline Protestant, Mormon and Roman Catholic churches have been built.

During World War II, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US government placed Japanese Americans into concentration camps all over the country. The Stanislaus County Fairgrounds was the site of one of 15 temporary "assembly centers" and held 3,669 Japanese Americans, most of whom were US citizens.{{cite web|last=Canelo |first=Kayla |url=http://encyclopedia.densho.org/Turlock%20%28detention%20facility%29/ |title=Turlock (detention facility) |publisher=Densho Encyclopedia |access-date=August 13, 2014}} The US Army also built the Ballico Auxiliary Field (1942–1946) for training pilots in Turlock.{{Cite web|url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/BallicoAuxFld.html|title=Ballico Auxiliary Field|website=Militarymuseum.org|access-date=April 14, 2021}}

In 1960, California State University, Stanislaus, opened to students, helping to spur growth in the city as the university expanded in its early years. In the 1970s, State Route 99 (formerly U.S. Route 99) was completed through the area, largely bypassing the then-incorporated areas of Turlock in a route to the west of the city through mostly undeveloped land. Since that time, the city has grown westward considerably to meet the freeway's north–south path, but urban development west of the freeway has only recently begun to take hold. In an attempt to allow for orderly growth of the city, comprehensive growth master plans have established urban growth boundaries since the 1960s.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

In the 1980s, Turlock experienced extensive growth of both residential and commercial areas, following a statewide boom in housing demand and construction. The housing boom of the 1980s diminished in the early 1990s but increased again in the second half of the decade, partly as a result of growth in the San Francisco Bay Area, which placed a higher demand for more affordable housing in outlying areas. After the dot-com bust, housing demand intensified, producing much higher housing prices in an area formerly known for affordable housing. A recent boom in the retail sector has produced considerable growth along the Highway 99 corridor. Turlock reached its northern urban growth boundary, Taylor Road, in the late 1990s, and growth beyond it is restricted by the city's Master Plan.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}{{Cite web |last=City of Turlock |first=Dyett and Bhatia Urban and Regional Planners |date=September 2012 |title=City of Turlock General Plan |url=https://ci.turlock.ca.us/_pdf/files/generalplancomplete.pdf |website=City of Turlock}}

The Stanislaus County Fairgrounds are located in Turlock. Before the land was known as Stanislaus County Fairgrounds it was first known as Melon Carnival because of its crop of cantaloupes, the main source of Turlock's economy. In 1911, the first Melon Carnival was held in downtown Turlock. Eventually, the Melon Carnival became the Stanislaus County Fair and was held at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds. Promoting agriculture, entertainment and technology with the help of the community, is the main mission of the Stanislaus County fairgrounds.{{Cite web |title=Fair History |url=https://stancofair.com/fair-history/ |access-date=December 11, 2023 |website=Stanislaus County Fairgrounds |language=en-US}}

Turlock is located in Stanislaus County, between the cities of Modesto and Merced, at the intersection of State Route 99 and State Route 165.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|16.9|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

Turlock has hot, mostly dry summers and cool, wet winters. Average January temperatures are a maximum of {{convert|53.7|F|C}} and a minimum of {{convert|38.1|F|C}}. Average July temperatures are a maximum of {{convert|104.4|F|C}} and a minimum of {{convert|62.6|F|C}}. There are an average of 78.0 days with highs of {{convert|90|F|C}} or higher and an average of 19.8 days with lows of {{convert|32|F|C}} or lower. The record high temperature was {{convert|114|F|C}} on July 9, 1896. The record low temperature was {{convert|18|F|C}} on January 21, 1922, and December 19, 1924.

The average annual precipitation is {{convert|11.88|in|mm}}. There are an average of 48 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1983 with {{convert|27.03|in|mm}} and the driest year was 1953 with {{convert|5.32|in|mm}}. The most precipitation in one month was {{convert|8.47|in|mm}} in February 1998. The most precipitation in 24 hours was {{convert|2.70|in|mm}} on December 11, 1906. Although snow is very rare in Turlock, {{convert|3.0|in|mm}} fell in January 1922 and {{convert|2.0|in|mm}} fell in February 1976.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca9073 |title=TURLOCK #2, CALIFORNIA - Climate Summary |website=Wrcc.dri.edu |access-date=June 18, 2012}}

{{Weather box

| location = Turlock, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present

| single line = Y

| Jan record high F = 75

| Feb record high F = 79

| Mar record high F = 87

| Apr record high F = 96

| May record high F = 103

| Jun record high F = 111

| Jul record high F = 114

| Aug record high F = 113

| Sep record high F = 106

| Oct record high F = 98

| Nov record high F = 85

| Dec record high F = 73

| Jan high F = 54.9

| Feb high F = 61.1

| Mar high F = 66.9

| Apr high F = 72.1

| May high F = 80.1

| Jun high F = 87.8

| Jul high F = 93.0

| Aug high F = 91.8

| Sep high F = 87.5

| Oct high F = 77.2

| Nov high F = 64.2

| Dec high F = 55.0

| year high F = 74.3

| Jan mean F = 48.5

| Feb mean F = 53.2

| Mar mean F = 57.7

| Apr mean F = 62.0

| May mean F = 68.7

| Jun mean F = 75.1

| Jul mean F = 79.4

| Aug mean F = 78.3

| Sep mean F = 74.8

| Oct mean F = 66.3

| Nov mean F = 55.6

| Dec mean F = 48.4

| year mean F = 64.0

| Jan low F = 42.2

| Feb low F = 45.4

| Mar low F = 48.5

| Apr low F = 52.0

| May low F = 57.3

| Jun low F = 62.4

| Jul low F = 65.8

| Aug low F = 64.8

| Sep low F = 62.1

| Oct low F = 55.4

| Nov low F = 46.9

| Dec low F = 41.9

| year low F = 53.7

| Jan record low F = 18

| Feb record low F = 21

| Mar record low F = 25

| Apr record low F = 28

| May record low F = 34

| Jun record low F = 40

| Jul record low F = 43

| Aug record low F = 41

| Sep record low F = 37

| Oct record low F = 32

| Nov record low F = 21

| Dec record low F = 18

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 2.63

| Feb precipitation inch = 2.29

| Mar precipitation inch = 1.85

| Apr precipitation inch = 0.93

| May precipitation inch = 0.59

| Jun precipitation inch = 0.12

| Jul precipitation inch = trace

| Aug precipitation inch = 0.01

| Sep precipitation inch = 0.03

| Oct precipitation inch = 0.61

| Nov precipitation inch = 1.07

| Dec precipitation inch = 2.26

| year precipitation inch = 12.39

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 10.4

|Feb precipitation days = 10.3

|Mar precipitation days = 8.9

|Apr precipitation days = 4.8

|May precipitation days = 2.9

|Jun precipitation days = 0.9

|Jul precipitation days = 0.1

|Aug precipitation days = 0.2

|Sep precipitation days = 0.5

|Oct precipitation days = 2.6

|Nov precipitation days = 5.8

|Dec precipitation days = 9.8

|year precipitation days= 57.2

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=hnx

|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = October 4, 2022

}}

{{cite web

|url =https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00049073&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020

|publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = October 6, 2022

}}

|date=November 2018}}

{{US Census population

|1880= 175

|1890= 203

|1910= 1573

|1920= 3394

|1930= 4276

|1940= 4839

|1950= 6235

|1960= 9116

|1970= 13992

|1980= 26287

|1990= 42198

|2000= 55810

|2010= 68549

|2020= 72740

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|website=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

The 2010 United States Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0680812|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904104849/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0680812|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 4, 2015|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Turlock city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}} reported that Turlock had a population of 69,733. The population density was {{convert|4,049.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Turlock was 47,864 (69.8%) White, 1,160 (1.7%) African American, 601 (0.9%) Native American, 3,865 (5.6%) Asian, 313 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 11,328 (16.5%) from other races, and 3,418 (5.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24,957 persons (36.4%). The Census reported that 67,342 people (98.2% of the population) lived in households, 687 (1.0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 520 (0.8%) were institutionalized.

There were 22,772 households, out of which 9,339 (41.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 12,055 (52.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,161 (13.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,453 (6.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,387 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 153 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 4,755 households (20.9%) were made up of individuals, and 2,058 (9.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96. There were 16,669 families (73.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.45. The population was spread out, with 18,820 people (27.5%) under the age of 18, 8,087 people (11.8%) aged 18 to 24, 18,313 people (26.7%) aged 25 to 44, 15,317 people (22.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 8,012 people (11.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

There were 24,627 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,454.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 12,622 (55.4%) were owner-occupied, and 10,150 (44.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%. 37,867 people (55.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 29,475 people (43.0%) lived in rental housing units.

As of the United States 2000 Census,{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} there were 55,810 people, 18,408 households, and 13,434 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|4,194.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 19,095 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,435.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 72.3% White, 1.4% African American, 0.9% Native American, 4.5% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 15.2% from other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. 29.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

4.9% of Turlock's population reported ancestry in the category Assyrian. This was the fourth highest percentage in the United States for this category, the highest for a community outside of Oakland County, Michigan and the only one of the top seven places in this category that was not one of Detroit's northern suburbs.{{cite web|url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac.html |title=Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac |website=Epodunk.com |access-date=June 18, 2012}}

There were 18,408 households, out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.42. In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $39,050, and the median income for a family was $44,501. Males had a median income of $35,801 versus $27,181 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,844. 16.2% of the population and 12.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.8% of those under the age of 18 and 9.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Culturally, the area is home to large concentrations of Americans of South Asian descent (particularly Sikhs), Mexican-Americans, and people of varied European descent. Swedes and Portuguese were early settlers to the area. Continued immigration from the Azores Islands (Portugal) in recent decades has established a large Portuguese-speaking community within the city. Turlock is a major center for the Assyrian community in the United States,{{cite web|url=http://www.nineveh.com/The%20Assyrians%20of%20the%20San%20Joaquin%20Valley,%20California.html|title=The Assyrians of the San Joaquin Valley, California: From Early Settlements to the Present|website=Nineveh.com|access-date=June 18, 2012}} who began to arrive in the 1910s seeking opportunities in farming. By 1924 the Assyrian Evangelical Church was established and by the 1950s, 8% of the population of Turlock was Assyrian.{{cite web|url=http://www.nineveh.com/ASSYRIAN-AMERICANS.html|title=Assyrian-Americans|website=Nineveh.com|date=September 2, 2001|access-date=July 7, 2012}} There was an increased influx into Turlock in the 1970s following political strife in Iraq and in the 1980s following the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. {{citation needed|date=February 2014}}

{{unreferenced section|date=July 2022}}

Foster Farms, Emanuel Medical Center, and Turlock Unified School District are the largest employers in Turlock. MedicAlert, a non-profit, charitable, and membership-based organization for 24/7 medical response information, has been based in Turlock since its founding in 1956. La Perla Tapatía Supermarkets is headquartered in Turlock.

The indoor soccer team the Turlock Cal Express of the Major Arena Soccer League 2 (MASL2) plays at the Turlock Indoor Soccer Complex.{{cite web|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/sports/?t_id=3112|title=Turlock Express - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) Indoor Soccer on OurSports Central|website=Oursportscentral.com|access-date=June 18, 2012}} Turlock is home to the California State University, Stanislaus Warriors in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

{{see also|Government of Stanislaus County, California}}

Turlock uses a Council–Manager form of government. It is led by a five-member City Council consisting of a Mayor and four Councilmembers. The Mayor is elected at-large, while each Councilmember is elected to one of four electoral districts.{{Cite web|url=http://turlock.ca.us/government/turlockcitycouncil/districtboundarymap.asp|title=District Boundary Map|publisher=City of Turlock|access-date=June 24, 2016}} All five Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms. The Turlock City Council holds public meetings every second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityofturlock.org/government/turlockcitycouncil/councilmeetings.asp|title=Council Meetings - City of Turlock|publisher=City of Turlock|access-date=January 27, 2017}} City Hall is located at 156 South Broadway in Turlock. A directly elected City Treasurer (Diana Lewis) also serves a four-year term.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ci.turlock.ca.us/citydepartments/administrativeservices/cityclerk/elections/|title=City Departments : Administrative Services|publisher=City of Turlock|access-date=February 6, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206211708/http://www.ci.turlock.ca.us/citydepartments/administrativeservices/cityclerk/elections/|archive-date=February 6, 2015}}

In the California State Legislature, Turlock is in {{Representative|casd|8|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|12|fmt=adistrict}}.{{Cite web |url=http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |title=Statewide Database |publisher=UC Regents |access-date=December 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |archive-date=February 1, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

In the United States House of Representatives, Turlock is in {{Representative|cacd|10|fmt=district}}.{{Cite GovTrack|CA|10|access-date=September 28, 2014}}

File:CSUSbookstore.JPG campus]]

Turlock is the home of California State University, Stanislaus, a liberal arts university, and part of the 23-campus California State University system. As of 2023, CSU Stanislaus reported a student population of 10,577 students, 9,244 of whom were undergraduate students.{{Cite web|url=https://www.csustan.edu/iea/institutional-data/enrollment|title=Institutional Data|website=California State University Stanislaus|access-date=April 14, 2021}}

Turlock is home to two public high schools, Turlock High School and John H. Pitman High School, as well as a continuation high school, Roselawn High School,{{cite web|url=http://www.turlock.k12.ca.us/roselawn|title=Roselawn High School|website=Turlock.k12.ca.us|access-date=July 7, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320101803/http://www.turlock.k12.ca.us/roselawn/|archive-date=March 20, 2012}} both being part of the Turlock Unified School District. Turlock High School, the first in the city, opened in 1907, and Pitman opened in a major growth zone of northern Turlock in 2002.

Turlock Christian High School is a private high school within the city. Classes are held at Monte Vista Chapel, a church in Turlock. Turlock has two junior high schools, two middle schools and nine elementary schools, one of which got California Distinguished School Award in 2012 and won $10,000 in a competition held by Scotties. The money gained from the competition helped the Turlock Unified School District recently purchase Chromebooks for school use.{{cite web|url=https://turlockusd-ca.schoolloop.com/ourschools|title=Our Schools|website=turlockusd-ca.schoolloop.com|access-date=April 3, 2018|archive-date=September 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915105019/http://turlockusd-ca.schoolloop.com/ourschools|url-status=dead}}

Turlock is home to Julien, Crowell, Wakefield, Osborn, Cunningham, Dennis Earl, Walnut, Medeiros and Brown Elementary Schools inside its city limits.{{cite web|url=https://www.greatschools.org/california/turlock/schools/?gradeLevels%5B%5D=e|title=Turlock Elementary Schools|website=greatschools.org|access-date=September 19, 2019}}

Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy{{Cite web |date=December 1, 2023 |title=Home - Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy |url=https://osborn.turlock.k12.ca.us/ |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=Osborn.turlock.k12.ca.us |language=en-US}} is a public elementary school that was opened in 1958 by E.B. Osborn.{{Cite web |title=History of Osborn - Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy |url=https://osborn.turlock.k12.ca.us/our-school/school-information/history-of-osborn |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=Osborn.turlock.k12.ca.us |language=en-US}} One of the school's main objectives is helping students become more proficient in both Spanish and English.{{Cite web |title=Our Mission - Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy |url=https://osborn.turlock.k12.ca.us/our-school/our-mission |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=Osborn.turlock.k12.ca.us |language=en-US}} One of the extracurricular activities offered there is Baile Folklórico, calling their dance troupe Los Luceros de Osborn, where they perform at the school, festivals, and even at Gallo.{{Cite web |title=Osborn folklorico dancers perform at Gallo |url=https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/education/osborn-folklorico-dancers-perform-at-gallo/ |access-date=November 28, 2023 |website=Turlockjournal.com}}

The Turlock Journal, a local newspaper, has been in continuous operation since 1904.{{Cite web |title=Journal celebrates 105 years of serving Turlock |url=https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/local/journal-celebrates-105-years-of-serving-turlock/#:~:text=A%20pair%20of%20printers,%20Harry,11. |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.turlockjournal.com}} A digital local newspaper is the Turlock City News found it in 2009 focusing on Turlock news.{{Cite web |title=Turlock City News - Real Local News |url=https://www.turlockcitynews.com/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=TurlockCityNews.com |language=en-US}}

Turlock Transit operates local bus service, while the Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority operates intercity routes that connect Turlock to other cities in Stanislaus County and to Dublin/Pleasanton station.{{cite web|url=http://www.turlocktransit.com/|title=Turlock Transit|website=Turlock Transit|access-date=February 7, 2019}} An Altamont Corridor Express commuter rail station is planned to be constructed in Turlock for service starting in 2027.{{cite news|last1=Holland|first1=John|title=Expanded train service coming to Modesto, Merced; what it means for commuters|url=https://www.modbee.com/news/article209941964.html|access-date=April 28, 2018|agency=Modesto Bee|date=April 27, 2018}} Amtrak serves Turlock at the nearby Turlock–Denair station.

• Richard L. Bare, television director (Green Acres, The Twilight Zone){{Cite web |last=Slotnik |first=Daniel |date=April 12, 2015 |title=Richard L. Bare, Prolific TV Director for Decades, Dies at 101 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/13/arts/richard-l-bare-director-of-green-acres-dies-at-101.html |access-date=December 5, 2023 |website=The New York Times}}
• Tom Brandstater, NFL player (Denver, Indianapolis, Miami, St. Louis, Dallas Cowboys){{Cite web |title=Tom Brandstater Stats, News and Video - QB |url=https://www.nfl.com/players/tom-brandstater/ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}
• Tony Corbin, football player{{Cite web |last=admin |title=Bulldogs in College |url=https://www.turlockfootball.com/bulldogs-in-college/ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |website=Turlock Football |language=en-US}}
• Alison Cox, Olympic silver medalist, women's rowing, Athens 2004{{Cite web |title=Know Your Neighbor: Ali Cox |url=https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/local/know-your-neighbor-ali-cox/ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |website=Turlockjournal.com}}
• Lester Hayes, NFL athlete (Oakland Raiders)
• Doug James, rhythm and blues saxophonist{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/doug-james-mn0000161003/biography|title=Doug James | Biography & History|website=AllMusic|access-date=April 13, 2021}}
• Dot-Marie Jones, athlete and actress{{Cite web |date=March 21, 2016 |title=Hilmar High celebrates 100 years |url=http://turlockjournal.com/archives/11820/ |access-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321224252/http://turlockjournal.com/archives/11820/ |archive-date=March 21, 2016 }}
• Colin Kaepernick, NFL quarterback{{Cite web |title=Kaepernick's years in Turlock will be told in Netflix series |url=https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/local/kaepernicks-years-in-turlock-will-be-told-in-netflix-series/ |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=Turlockjournal.com}}
• Kevin Kramer, MLB athlete (Pittsburgh Pirates){{Cite web |title=Turlock's Kramer goes solar in post-baseball endeavors |url=https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/local/turlocks-kramer-goes-solar-in-post-baseball-endeavors/ |access-date=December 8, 2023 |website=Turlockjournal.com}}
• Paul Larson, football player (Cal, Chicago Cardinals, Oakland Raiders){{Cite web |title=Paul L. Larson Obituary (1932 - 2022) {{!}} Turlock, California |url=https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/ca/turlock/paul-l-larson-15450916 |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=echovita.com |language=english}}
• Brad Lesley, actor, MLB athlete (Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers){{Cite web |title=Brad Lesley Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leslebr01.shtml |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
• Tommy Mendonca, MLB athlete (Philadelphia Phillies){{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Brandon |title=Texas Rangers Prospect Tommy Mendonca Turning Heads in Texas League |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/821534-texas-rangers-prospect-profile-tommy-mendonca-turning-heads-in-texas-league |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}
• James Mitchell, actor{{Cite web |title=Long-time actor and Turlock High grad James Mitchell dies at 89 |url=https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/local/long-time-actor-and-turlock-high-grad-james-mitchell-dies-at-89/ |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=Turlockjournal.com}}
• Cal Niday, auto racer{{Cite web |title=Motorsport Memorial - |url=http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=757 |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=Motorsportmemorial.org}}
• Oliver O'Grady, Irish defrocked Catholic priest{{Cite web|author=Ross Farrow|date=December 13, 2010 |title=Former priest Oliver O'Grady arrested for child porn |url=https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_b5377df5-cb06-5c5b-93a4-c4a4af74a8ae.html |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=Lodinews.com |language=en}}
• Jonathan Quinn, football player (Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City, Chicago Bears){{Cite web |title=Jonathan Quinn Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/Q/QuinJo00.htm |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
• Hayden Sargis, soccer player{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Angelina |date=January 29, 2022 |title=Sargis makes jump into MLS |url=https://www.turlockjournal.com/sports/pro-sports/sargis-makes-jump-mls/ |access-date=March 10, 2025 |work=Turlock Journal}}
• Steve Soderstrom, former MLB player{{Cite web |title=Steve Soderstrom Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/soderst01.shtml |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
• Tyler Soderstrom, MLB baseball player for the Oakland Athletics{{Cite web |last=III |first=Dan Zielinski |date=May 24, 2020 |title=Tyler Soderstrom focused on improvement |url=https://www.baseballprospectjournal.com/tyler-soderstrom-focused-on-improvement/ |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=Baseball Prospect Journal |language=en-US}}
• Cory Williams, actor and YouTube personality{{Cite web |title=Turlocks Mr. Safety finds himself Naked and Afraid in Belize |url=https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/local/turlocks-mr-safety-finds-himself-naked-and-afraid-in-belize/ |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=Turlockjournal.com}}
• Josh Harder, a member Congress serving CA10 District and now serving in CA9 District{{Cite web |last=Zavala |first=Ashley |date=2024-10-29 |title=Josh Harder seeks his fourth term representing the San Joaquin Valley in Congress |url=https://www.kcra.com/article/josh-harder-profile-congressional-district-9/62751289 |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=KCRA |language=en}}

Turlock and Turlock High School are briefly mentioned in the 1973 film American Graffiti.{{cite web|url=https://artradarjournal.com/2021/11/17/the-scene-in-american-graffiti-where-suzanne-somers-says-turlock-high/|title=The Scene In American Graffiti Where Suzanne Somers Says Turlock High?|website=Artradarjournal.com|access-date=February 1, 2022}}

On the Grateful Dead's live album Europe '72, Bob Weir precedes the song "Truckin'" with the following introduction:

Of course, by now I needn't tell you that this next number rose straight to the top of the charts in Turlock, California (Cheers). Numero Uno and it stayed there for a week or two. They love us in Turlock, and we love them for that.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/post/1014806/what-does-weir-say-europe-72-truckin-opening|title=Internet Archive Forums: What Does Weir Say? Europe '72 Truckin' Opening|website=Archive.org|access-date=April 3, 2018}}

In the 1960s, radio advertisements by Central Valley-based Foster Farms said, "turkeys from Turlock."{{cite news |first=Lane |last=Wallace |title=Flying Lessons: Turkeys From Turlock |date=September 25, 2009 |url=https://www.flyingmag.com/rosies-hangar-cafe/flying-lessons-turkeys-turlock|work=Flying Magazine |access-date=February 6, 2019}}

{{Portal|California}}

• California Historical Landmarks in Stanislaus County, California

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{{Commons category|Turlock, California}}

• [https://ci.turlock.ca.us/ Official website]

{{Stanislaus County, California}}

{{Japanese American internment camps}}

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Category:Assyrian-American culture in California

Category:Cities in Stanislaus County, California

Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California

Category:Populated places established in 1908

Category:1908 establishments in California