A look at Stockton, Calif.
Mar 10, 2012, 4:31 PM
(AP) – Stockton at a glance:
_POPULATION: 290,000, 13th-largest city in California.
_LOCATION: About 80 miles east of San Francisco. Surrounded by farmland and home to a deep-water port on the San Joaquin River. Major industries include agriculture and shipping. A large youth prison also provides hundreds of jobs.
_CLAIM TO FAME: Annual Stockton Asparagus Festival in April attracts 100,000 people and features delicacies such as deep-fried asparagus spears and asparagus ice cream.
_TRIVIA: Once known as “Mudville,” locals have long believed their city was the inspiration for `’Casey at the Bat,” the famous poem in which Casey strikes out and breaks the hearts of Mudville Nine fans.
_NOTABLE STOCKTONIANS: Musican/actor Chris Isaak; mixed martial arts fighter Nick Diaz; Maxine Hong Kingston, author of “The Woman Warrior.”
_TITLES: The National Civic League awarded Stockton “All-America City” status in 1999 and 2004. Forbes named Stockton “most miserable city” in 2009 and 2011, and “miserable city” runner-up in 2008.
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