The Diocese of Stockton—comprising the counties of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Alpine, and Mono—covers 10,023 square miles with a total population of 1,120,741 people. The Catholic population of the diocese is 216,919, or nineteen percent of the total population. Eighty-four priests, of which thirty-six are foreign born, service thirty-four parishes and twelve missions. 

The diocese is geographically and ethnically diverse. The majority of the population lives in the San Joaquin Valley. The two major population cities are Stockton and Modesto. San Joaquin County has grown by 54% in the past ten years.  The diocese has shown a significant population increase in all counties except Alpine County.  The majority of San Joaquin Valley is farming, and there are many migrant camps in which the Church has a presence. 

Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Alpine counties are located on the western side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Most parishes in these counties date back to the gold rush days.

Mono County is on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range and is usually cut off from the rest of the diocese during winter. The parish church located in Mammoth Lakes provides for the spiritual care of vacationers during the winter and summer. 

In Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, there is no majority race or ethnic group. The largest group is white (69%), followed by Hispanics (31 %).   There are many Filipinos and South East Asian refugees (11% in San Joaquin County and 4% in Stanislaus County).   The largest Azorean Portuguese population outside the Azores is found in the Diocese of Stockton. 

It is estimated that 50% of the diocesan Catholic population is Hispanic. However, this does not imply that Spanish is their first language, only that their heritage is Spanish. The largest Pacific Island community is the Filipino community, which is followed by the Asians with the highest number being Vietnamese. The USCCB statement Asian and Pacific Presence lists the Diocese of Stockton as among the top thirty dioceses in the United States with the highest Asian and Pacific Island population. 

The U.S. Census Bureau lists the median income at about $31.000 – $35,000 in the six counties that make up the diocese, which is below the average for California.

Last Update December 11 , 2007