Ceres is a city in Stanislaus County, California. The population was 45,417 at the 2010 U.S. Census, up from 34,609 at the 2000 U.S. Census. It is part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area.Ceres is located in the San Joaquin Valley along State Route 99, south of Modesto and north of Turlock in Stanislaus County. Ceres is named after the Roman goddess of agriculture.The newspaper in Ceres is called The Ceres Courier. It has been in publication since 1910.