TURLOCK

city, Stanislaus county, central California, U.S., in the San Joaquin Valley, 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Stockton. It was founded (c. 1860) by John Mitchell, a grain farmer. After the Central Pacific Railroad came through the valley in the 1870s, Turlock (from the Irish turlough, dry lake) became a shipping point for wheat. In 1901 Turlock Irrigation District transformed the dry farming of the valley into diversified farming (fruit growing, poultry raising, dairying). Food processing is supplemented by warehousing and light manufacturing. California State University, Stanislaus (1957), is in the city. Turlock Lake State Park is to the east. Inc. 1908. Pop. (1992 est.) 45,743.