Lathrop is a city in San Joaquin County, California, located about ten miles south of Stockton in the northern San Joaquin Valley. The community began as a railroad town and grew modestly through the early twentieth century, then expanded after World War II as housing tracts and large industrial employers arrived. Lathrop incorporated as a city in 1989 and adopted its first general plan in 1991, setting the stage for the growth that has since transformed it. The San Joaquin River runs through the middle of the city, and its riverside landscape has become central to the community's modern identity. Lathrop's population has surged in recent years. The 2020 census counted 28,701 residents, and subsequent growth has pushed the figure significantly higher, making Lathrop one of the fastest-expanding cities in the region. Much of that growth is tied to the River Islands master-planned community, a large development rising along the San Joaquin River with neighborhoods organized around lakes, walking trails, parks, and a boathouse. New schools, shopping centers, and services have followed the housing, reshaping what was once a small industrial town into a substantial suburban city. Lathrop appeals strongly to commuters and families seeking newer housing with access to the Bay Area. The city sits at the junction of Interstate 5 and Interstate 205, the latter connecting to Interstate 580 over the Altamont Pass, and the Altamont Commuter Express train stops in Lathrop with service toward San Jose. That transportation position, combined with relatively attainable new construction, has made Lathrop a primary gateway for Bay Area workers moving into the Central Valley.