The first families that inhabited Ceres were those of John Service, Cassius Warner, and Daniel Whitmore in the year 1867. Daniel C. Whitmore is considered the first family and founder of Ceres.
On February 25, 1918, Ceres’ founding families incorporated this growing town of 1,000 inhabitants, as a general law city of the State of California. The first election for Board of Trustees held on April 08, 1918 with Vaughn D. Whitmore being elected as Mayor over Dr. S.W. Cartwright by a tally of 28 votes to 27 votes.
The name of "Ceres", selected by Elma J. Carter in 1871 for her father's granary and warehouses near the railroad depot, stands for health, beauty, fruitfulness, and wholesomeness after the Roman pre-Christian goddess who presided over pagan festivals of fertility and harvest.
In the last 100 years, Ceres has grown into a vibrant town with a newly renovated downtown, recreation activities and a community center, as well as, housing and community services for a diverse community.
On February 25, 2018, the City celebrated the 100-year journey that created one of Stanislaus County’s premier cities!