San Joaquin City, California


San Joaquin City, a former settlement in San Joaquin County, California during the California Gold Rush. The site of San Joaquin City, was located on the west bank of the San Joaquin River just below the point where Airport Way crosses the river today. It was an important settlement along the old River Road between Banta and Grayson's Ferry (now the community of Grayson in Stanislaus County.

History

San Joaquin City was a river town established in 1849. Pioneers and freight wagons following post roads to the southern mines crossed the San Joaquin River nearby at Durham's Ferry, and as a terminal for riverboats, the town played an important part in development of the west side of San Joaquin Valley grain farming and cattle raising.
The site of the former city is located opposite 31167 Kasson Road, in Tracy, California. It was marked by California Historical Landmark 777. The fifty-pound, bronze plaque is missing from this monument. The family residing across the street reported its disappearance to the County Sheriff in October, 2005, according to Jake Armstrong reporting in the 9 June 2007 edition of the Stockton Record.
According to the Record, "the agencies whose names are emblazoned on the face of the plaque - the California State Park Commission and the San Joaquin County Historical Society - did not know it was even missing or who is responsible for maintaining it."
According to the California Office of Historic Preservation, California Historical Landmark plaques are paid for by county, city, and private historical societies and sometimes interested individuals.
As of August 17, 2017 the original bronze plaque has been replaced by a wooden plaque with a paper copy of the original bronze plaque attached to it. The paper plaque reads:
"Site of San Joaquin City
This river town was established in 1849. Pioneers and freight wagons crossed the river at nearby Durham's Ferry, following post roads to the southern mines. As terminal for river boats it played an important part in development of west side grain farming and cattle raising.
California Registered Historical Landmark No. 777
Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in cooperation with the San Joaquin County Historical Society, November 3, 1962."
A hand written inscription at the bottom of the plaque reads: Replaced by Jim Dorroh 8-17-17