Biographical information about the publisher McHenry Museum & Historical Society (McHenryMuseum.org, Est. 1965); authors Keith Highiet (metals recycler, ModestoJunk.com, Est. 1920) and David Seymour (history professor, MJC.edu, Est. 1921); and major benefactor Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation (Est. 1985), are shared here.

Read by Mary Lou Dieterich, details of these unincorporated places are summarized (in order of year founded): Knights Ferry, La Grange (French Bar), Grayson (Graysonville), Hills Ferry (Dutch Corners), Crows Landing, Roberts Ferry (Dickinson's Ferry), Westport (Westport Landing), Wood Colony, Salida (Murphy's Ferry, Murphy's Switch), Westley, Mountain View (Half Way House), Valley Home (Clyde, Thalheim), Hickman (Dallas), Montpelier (Montpellier), Eugene (28 Mile House), Empire, Orange Blossom, Denair (Elmwood Colony, Gratton), and Keyes.

Read by Mary Ann Sanders, details of these incorporated cities are summarized (in order of year founded): Riverbank (Islip, Burney's Ferry, Burneyville), Waterford (Bakersville), Modesto, Oakdale, Turlock, Ceres, Newman (center of the West Side / Westside), Hughson, and Patterson.

Read by Betty Ustach, details of these places are summarized (in order of year founded): Adamsville, Crescent City, Tuolumne City, 26 Mile House, Buena Vista, Don Pedro Bar, Empire City, Heath and Emory, Mahoney's Landing, Langworth, Paradise City, and a trio of Sierra Railroad-founded sites: Cooperstown, Paulsell, and Warnerville. A "Fun Facts" item, 'The 1860s Luke Church House,' tells about Modesto's oldest home today (302 Burney Street).

Read by Mary Ann Sanders and Betty Ustach, Stanislaus County has changed much over time, and quite rapidly over the past two-hundred years. Yet, some things remain similar to the past. People have come from all over the world for a better life here, and the soil remains fertile.

Read by Betty Ustach, local government in Stanislaus County is composed of people who are chosen by the local citizens to represent them. Nine communities in the county have incorporated themselves into official cities: Ceres, Hughson, Newman, Modesto, Oakdale, Patterson, Riverbank, Turlock, and Waterford.

Read by Mary Lou Dieterich, Ann M. Veneman was the highest ranking political official to come out of Stanislaus County.

Read by Mary Ann Sanders, Joan L. Mitchell invented the JPEG file transfer system.