San Joaquin County

San Joaquin County is an administrative division in the Central Valley of California, positioned between the Sierra Nevada and the coastal ranges. The landscape alternates between flat agricultural land with wide fields and gentle hills to the east, crossed by irrigation channels and smaller waterways.

The division was formed in 1850 when California became a state and takes its name from the river flowing through the area. Earlier, Yokuts and Miwok peoples lived here before European settlers moved into the Central Valley.

The region maintains connections to Yokuts and Miwok indigenous communities who established settlements before European colonization arrived in the area.

The main towns sit along the highway corridors that cross the area from north to south and provide access to shops and services. Visitors exploring the rural parts should plan to use a car, as public transport outside the cities is limited.

The port in Stockton lies about 75 miles (120 kilometers) inland and allows ocean vessels to reach it from the Pacific through an artificially deepened channel. This system connects the interior directly to international trade routes without transferring cargo to smaller vessels.

Location: California

Inception: 1850

Capital city: Stockton

Shares border with: Sacramento County, Amador County, Calaveras County, Stanislaus County, Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Contra Costa County

Website: https://sjgov.org

GPS coordinates: 37.93000,-121.27000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 22:10