Stanislaus County is located in the Central Valley of California. Stanislaus County is named after Estanislao, a renegade Native American Chief, who led a series of battles against Mexican troops until they were defeated by General Mariano Vallejo in 1826. The population was 514,453 as of 2010. Modesto is the county seat, and the location of the only courthouse in the county.

George Lucas, the famous director was born in Modesto, and graduated from Downey High School in 1962.  He has since made a film about Modesto, the award winning 1973 motion picture American Graffiti. For those who with an adventurous side, they rafting on the Stanislaus River, biking trails throughout the county, horseback riding at area ranches, and outdoor in-line skating or skateboarding at Modesto’s skate park.  The county has numerous parks, museums, agriculture tours, first-class hotels and four-star restaurants to cater to every one’s tastes.