In 1869 the Central Pacific Railroad (now Southern Pacific) completed a rail line through the area which is now Tracy. The rail line ran from Sacramento through Stockton then over the Altamont Pass and then by ferry service to San Francisco. Shortly after the line was built, a new town sprung up nine miles from Stockton and became known as Lathrop Junction. Lathrop consisted of a roundhouse, railroad shop, yards and hotels for feeding railroad employees. The community became the center of railroad business and the headquarters for the Central Pacific Railroad in the San Joaquin Valley.

The railroad found it necessary to build a coaling station at the base of the Altamont Pass, just fourteen miles to the west of Lathrop. The new station was called Ellis and by 1870 it had about 45 buildings serving the needs of the railroad and its employees and their families.

In 1878 construction of a new rail line was started from Oakland around the shores of San Francisco Bay, through Martinez to connect to the Central Pacific at a point three miles to the east of Ellis. The line had been built to make possible greater efficiency by avoiding hills and to eliminate the expense of helper engines. The result of the new rail line was the founding of Tracy on September 8, 1878, named for Lathrop J. Tracy, a grain merchant and railroad director in Mansfield, Ohio.

Soon after the establishment of the new line connecting in Tracy, the railroad discontinued the coaling station at Ellis and employees and their families were moved to Lathrop and to the new Tracy station. The town of Ellis moved bag and baggage to Tracy including moving two hotels.

Tracy continued to grow as a railroad center. A new line through Los Banos was the fastest and least expensive to Los Angeles. In March of 1894 railroad headquarters at Lathrop were moved to Tracy. All of the railroad equipment including engines and buildings were moved. Thus, Tracy's beginning is in fact the story of a railroad.

Tracy was incorporated in 1910 and it grew rapidly after the first irrigation district was established in 1915. Although railroad operations began to decline in the 1950s, Tracy continued to prosper as an agricultural area. Today, the City seal reflects this history of railroads and agriculture.

Tracy is a growing community of around 74,000 in the beautiful Central San Joaquin Valley. Just 60 miles east of San Francisco, Tracy provides easy access to points North, South and East via I-580.

Tracy is a thriving industrial, commercial, and residential community based on well-planned growth and progress. The quality of life is demonstrated in Tracy's "small town" yet bustling atmosphere, numerous beautiful parks and open spaces, attractive landscaping and arterial streets throughout the City, a low crime rate, quality schools and affordable housing.

Because of the geographic location, a pro-business environment, and a proactive local government Tracy is expected to continue to grow to approximately 80,000 by the year 2010.

In the 1980s Tracy experienced a growth spurt as people moved to Tracy to seek a more affordable alternative to Bay Area home prices and to enjoy a less hectic pace of life. This was the beginning of a steady period of growth for the community. Tracy began to develop as a commercial center for the west side. New retail establishments were put in place and the Tracy economy became more diverse from its historical roots in agriculture.

In the 1990s Tracy was discovered as an attractive location for the distribution facilities of many companies. Tracy's ideal location and proximity to 3 major freeways allows for quick and efficient movement of products to a variety of markets. Tracy is now home to the distribution facilities for Safeway, Costco, Orchard Supply and United Grocers. In addition, Yellow Freight located its new Western Regional hub in Tracy. The Tracy economy once again diversified and new employment opportunities were added.

The population of Tracy as of January 2005 was 78,307 and has seen steady increase. The City's population is expected to grow to 94,000 by the year 2020. While residential development will be the major growth factor, office park, commercial and light industrial is also expected to increase.

Residential growth will occur primarily in a westerly direction, with building occurring in the "Plan C" and related residential subdivisions. Light industrial and office park development, which will create additional job centers in Tracy, will be concentrated along the Freeways (I-580 and I-205). These job centers will be geared toward the "hi-tech" companies expanding from their Silicon Valley bases and will include a "mixed use" development concept, including high density residential, service retail and recreational uses all in close proximity to work.

Tracy has a bright future. The continued diversification of the local economy is a priority as manifested in the strategy to recruit business parks and "hi-tech" companies and make additional jobs available in Tracy. Other employment opportunities will continue in the Bay Area and to this end, emphasis will also be placed on transportation enhancements. At the center of Tracy's future will be its retention of small town charm, excellent schools, abundance of parks, and a desirable quality of life.

Learn more about TRACY , CALIFORNIA

City of TRACY , CA official website

County of SAN JOAQUIN, CA official website

City of TRACY , CA general information

City of TRACY , CA chamber of commerce

City of TRACY , CA yellow pages

City of TRACY , CA newspaper

State of California official site