Modesto, CA:
Modesto is the county seat of Stanislaus County, California. As of January 1, 2008 the estimated population is 209,936. Its population has boomed for the last decade, becoming the sixteenth largest in the state and sixth inland behind Stockton, Bakersfield, Riverside, Sacramento, and Fresno. The proximity to major business centers has turned the agriculturally based city into a bedroom community. Over twenty percent of the workforce travels outside of the county to their place of employment. The area is plagued by some of the worst air quality in the nation, on occasion surpassing even that of Los Angeles. It is reported to have had the highest car theft per capita rate in the United States in 2005 and 2006. It dropped to fifth in 2007[1], but regained the top spot in 2008.[2] In 2007, Modesto was named last in a list of best American cities in Cities Ranked & Rated, 2nd Edition[3] and one of the top three most dangerous metropolitan areas in California by Morgan Quitno[4] (it ranked second in 2006)[5].