The city has had a few names since its beginning around 1846. As the county seat it was first called Lancaster. One year later the name was changed to Freemont and around 1856, the legislature changed the city name to Stockton. The annual Black Walnut festival is during the last full weekend of September at Stockton City park. This festival has its Tractor pulls, Turtle races, Duck Calling contest, Quilt show, musical entertainment, a carnival, pet parade and the grand parade. It would not be complete without tours of the largest black walnut processing plant in the world so join one. The Cedar County Historical Society has its museum in the old city jail .

Hon. Joseph Phillips

SR RB, SR 32 and SR 39 run through Stockton.