On January 3, 1999, 27 people met for church in the Lathrop Community Center and continued to grow. On December 3, 2006 Lathrop Baptist Church and Blossom Valley Community Church merged as one church (recorded March 8, 2007 with the State of California). As a testament to a new church family, on June 8, 2007, with approximately 300 regular attendees, the church family decided to plant a satellite church in the near by community of Tracy (population approximately 70,000 residents.) With 50+ key members of all age groups, Grace Community Church of Tracy held services. This satellite church made some progress in reaching out and spreading the Word of God in the community of Tracy form January 2008-December 2018.
Grace Community Church of Lathrop is located at 850 "J" Street on 3.4 acres and is debt free with a 12,000+ square feet building that was built in 1970's. Within the facility us 4,200 square foot Auditorium/Sanctuary with 5 meeting rooms, 3 offices for staff and a full kitchen. At present approximately 125-150 people attend services each Sunday. The demographic age groups are 10% 20-34; 25% 35-45; 65% 50+.
The town of Lathrop began with a store and a schoolhouse prior to the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad around 1870, and was known as Wilson's Station. The was founded initially by Leland Stanford, as a product of political controversy with the City of Stockton over negotiations on the Central Pacific's alignment through Stockton. Wilson's Station was renamed for Standford's brother-in-law, Charles Lathrop, and became an important division point and rail stop by 1871. The Multicultural City of Lathrop is located in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, east and west of the San Joaquin River. Interstate 5, Interstate 205 and State Route 120 intersect within the City. Lathrop was incorporated in 1989, with it's first General Plan adopted in 1991. Lathrop is centrally located wihtin 30-minute commute of Tracy, Manteca, Stockton, Lodi, Modesto, Livermore and Pleasanton. Lathrop's population as of Janurary 1, 2019, reported by the State of California Department of Finance, is 24,936 which represents a 5.17% growth form 2018. Reported by the State of California Department of Finance January 1, 2019: Lathrop has seen significant growth from 2018 with new home construction propelling it's expansion. It's population grew by 5.2 percent, giving it 24,936 residents. Its rate of growth for new housing units was second-highest in the state, at 4.79 percent.
Schools within the City of Lathrop are part of the Manteca Unified School District(MUSD) and San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE). At this time, the City has three elementary schools, Lathop Elementary; Joseph Widmer School; and Mossdale Elementary, and one high school, Lathrop High School. River Islands has two charter elemenatry schools located in Banta Unified School District. They are River Islands Technology Academy and the S.T.E.A.M Academy.
24,936 Ethnicity: White 46.8%; Hispanic 41.8%; and Asia 26%. Language: English 49%; Hispanic 26%. Median Age: 32.8. Married: 57%. Families with Childern under 18: 53%. Meian Houslehold Income:$65,699. Home Value $250,000. House Rental Range: $1,600-$2,200. Unemployment Rate: 6.7%
January to May:34 to 84 degrees; June to September: 56-97 degrees; October to December: 36-81 degrees.
