The Community Of Alamo, California
During World War II, an Alamo air watch tower was built by the community. Volunteers watched for Japanese war planes round the clock from 1942 to 1945. San Ramon Valley's population totaled 2,126 at that time. The Alamo Improvement Association (AIA) began in 1953. For 50 years its purpose has been to advance and improve the welfare of properties in Alamo and to preserve the established character of Alamo as an agricultural and semi-rural residential area. After the war, hundreds and then thousands of new people arrived. Round Hill Country Club opened in 1960 on land that had belonged to the Mott sisters and Grover Squire. In 1964, Interstate 680 was completed through San Ramon Valley, which encouraged even more growth. Rapid valley growth fueled controversies. In the mid-'60s, one controversy focused on the philosophy of a new, visionary superintendent of the San Ramon Unified School District, Richard L. Foster. The Superintendent of the Alamo School District, John "Jock" Waugh, strongly supported Richard Foster and his visionary educational philosophy. Also, debates about the pace of development led to several votes on cityhood, spearheaded by residents who wanted more local control. An Alamo-Danville incorporation election in 1964 lost 2,086 to 1,958 with "loss of identity for Alamo" a main concern. Today Alamo is an enclave of green with many one-half acre lot homes between Walnut Creek and Danville. Its population in 2000 was 15,625. It is governed by the County Board of Supervisors, with the AIA and several active county service areas advising on police, landscape and park issues.
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The Blackhawk Community, California
Blackhawk, an unincorporated community of Danville, noted for its magnificent homes and famous residents, is located in the rolling hills of Tassajara Valley and boasts sweeping views of Mt. Diablo and the surrounding valleys. Built around the Blackhawk Country Club, Blackhawk is comprised of a luxury gated golf course community, plus six individual gated communities. While the homes in Blackhawk are mostly known for their grandeur, there are also condos, townhouses, and smaller tennis villas that are part of the community. In addition, Blackhawk is home to a convenient shopping plaza that offers residents fine dining options, boutique stores, a movie theatre and the world-renowned Blackhawk Auto Museum, which houses numerous classic cars as well as traveling exhibits from the Smithsonian. The community's magnificent homes and unmatched views make it quite a place to call home.
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The City Of Clayton, California
In 1857, the town of Clayton was laid out and founded by Joel Henry Clayton (1812ñ1872) and his two younger brothers. Clayton was born in Bugsworth, now Buxworth, in the United Kingdom, and immigrated to the United States in 1837. After years in other states he settled down with his wife Margaret (1820ñ1908) at his town at the foot of Mt. Diablo, where he and his family prospered. Clayton was named after Joel Henry Clayton, although only by the flip of a coin. Joel Clayton and Charles Rhine cofounded the town, and each wanted to name it after them. If Charles had won it would have become Rhinesville, but Joel Clayton won. Clayton prospered during the coal mining boom in eastern Contra Costa County. The post office opened in 1861. Clayton incorporated in 1964. December 7, 2009 it snowed in Clayton and nearby Concord.
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City Of Concord, California
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA, and the 202nd largest in the U.S. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 121,780. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months. The city is a major regional suburban East Bay center within the San Francisco Bay Area, and is located just 31 miles (50 km) east of San Francisco. In terms of travelling distance on the ground, it is 29 miles (47 km) northeast of San Francisco, 22 miles (35 km) northeast from Oakland, 65 miles (105 km) southwest of Sacramento, and 51 miles (82 km) north of San Jose. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 30.1 square miles (78.1 km≤), all of it land. The focal point of downtown Concord is Todos Santos Plaza, which encompasses an entire city block and is known for its farmers market, free summer concerts, and large number of surrounding restaurants. Much of the area immediately around downtown has recently been redeveloped, with new high-density apartment and condominium projects to take advantage of the close proximity to public transportation and the vibrant area surrounding the park. Despite this, some crime and homelessness remain issues in the downtown area. To the north and east of downtown is the older residential area of Concord, with many homes dating back to before World War II. In the far northern edge of town is a primarily industrial area, dominated by the Tesoro Golden Eagle refinery (which is actually not located within city limits). The southeastern area of the city, centered along Clayton Road, is primarily residential and was mostly developed in the 1960s and 1970s. In the southwest area of the city is the primarily Latino neighborhood known as Four Corners, centered around the intersection of Monument Boulevard and Oak Grove Road. Concord is bordered on the west by Pleasant Hill and the unincorporated community of Pacheco, on the south by Walnut Creek, on the southeast by Clayton, on the northeast by Pittsburg and the unincorporated community of Bay Point, and on the north by the unincorporated community of Clyde. Though it shares no border with Concord, Martinez (the county seat) is located almost immediately adjacent to Concord on the northwest.
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The Town Of Danville, California
The Town of Danville is located in the San Ramon Valley in Contra Costa County, California. It is one of the incorporated municipalities in California that uses "town" in its name instead of "city". The population was 41,715 in 2008. Danville is an upscale suburb of Oakland and San Francisco. Danville is one of the wealthiest suburbs in the San Francisco Bay Area, with some of the most expensive and exclusive country clubs and houses in the country. It still preserves the characteristics of a town, being compact, largely self-sufficient as far as shopping goes, and having only a couple of commercial centers. Its downtown is noted for its rustic charm, intensively upgraded owing to its now affluent demographics and its popularity as a regional destination for dining and light shopping. With heavy restrictions on large development, the downtown consists of many small shops on several traditional-styled plazas. It does not have its own hospital, being well-served by nearby regional medical centers including John Muir Hospital, San Ramon Regional Medical Center, and Kaiser Permanente. With the exception of a Costco location near its boundary with San Ramon, it does not host the "heavy shopping" provided by shopping malls located in nearby cities to the north or south. Danville's main street is Hartz Avenue in downtown Danville.
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City Of Lafayette, California
Lafayette (formerly, La Fayette) is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city's population was 23,908. It is named (in 1857) after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero of the American Revolutionary War. Today Lafayette is known for its pastoral rolling hills and upscale lifestyle. Lafayette is separated from greater Berkeley and Oakland by the Berkeley Hills (and the Caldecott Tunnel running beneath), a geographical boundary within the East Bay which also represents interesting meteorological, cultural, and political distinctions. The climate differences can be striking: during the summer, temperatures can soar beyond 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Lafayette and its neighboring cities while the areas west of the hills and nearer to the bay remain up to 20 degrees cooler. Temperatures highs are generally from 60-75 from February through May,75-95 June through November, and 55-60 from December through January. Summer days can reach 100, though generally are in 80s and low 90s. Nights can be as low as the low 30s in December-March, though most of the year low temps at night are in upper 40s and 50s. The region directly east of the hills is generally known for its more suburban or rural atmosphere, and features rolling, grassy hills which highlight a more peaceful and domestic aura. In the southwestern part of Lafayette, is the Lafayette Reservoir, and Briones Regional Park extends into the northern part of Lafayette.
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City Of Martinez, California
Martinez (from Spanish: MartÃŒnez: meaning: Martinson) is a city in and the county seat of Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 35,866 at the 2000 census. The downtown is notable for its large number of preserved old buildings. Martinez is located on the south side of the Carquinez Strait in the San Francisco Bay Area, directly facing the city of Benicia. Martinez is one of the only two places in the Bay Area, the other being Golden Gate Bridge, where the Bay Area Ridge Trail and the San Francisco Bay Trail converge. The Bay Trail is a planned recreational corridor that, when complete, will encircle San Francisco and San Pablo bays with a continuous 400-mile (640 km) network of bicycling and hiking trails. It will connect the shoreline of all nine Bay Area counties, link 47 cities, and cross the major toll bridges in the region, including the Martinez-Benicia Bridge. To date, approximately 240 miles (390 km) of the alignmentóover half the Bay TrailÃs ultimate lengthóhave been completed. The Bay Area Ridge Trail ultimately will be a 500+ mile trail encircling the San Francisco Bay along the ridge tops, open to hikers, equestrians, mountain bicyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts of all types. So far, over 300 miles (480 km) of trail have been dedicated for use. East Bay Regional Park District's Iron Horse Regional Trail will join the Bay Trail along the waterfront, and the Contra Costa Canal Trail threads through the city from Pleasant Hill to the south.
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The Town Of Moraga, California
Moraga (incorporating the former communities of Moraga Town, Rheem, and Rheem Valley) is an affluent suburban incorporated town located in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is named in honor of Joaquin Moraga, whose grandfather was JosÈ Joaquin Moraga, second in command to Juan Bautista de Anza. As of the 2000 census, Moraga was the 79th wealthiest place in the US with a population above 10,000. It is also the home of Saint Mary's College of California, a Catholic university with 3,962 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the 2007-2008 schoolyear. The college was originally located in San Francisco and then Oakland, but moved to Moraga in 1928. As of 2007, Moraga had a total population of 17,421, not including the college. Moraga is located at 37∞50'06" North, 122∞07'47" West, at an elevation of 499 feet (152 m).[1] It is located adjacent to the cities of Lafayette and Orinda, as well as the unincorporated community of Canyon. Other nearby cities include Walnut Creek, Oakland, San Francisco, Concord and Berkeley. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.3 square miles (24.0 km≤), of which, 9.3 square miles (24.0 km≤) of it is land and 0.11% is water. Originally Moraga was abundant with pears, however, over the years more houses are being built and it is losing its pear trees. Large sections of the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail pass through the town. Moraga is a valley, surrounded by rolling hills (green in the winter, golden in the summer) and grazing cows. Residents enjoy walking or biking the many trails in the Lamorinda area.
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Community Of Pleasant Hill, California
Pleasant Hill is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 32,837 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated in 1961. Pleasant Hill is the home of College Park High School, Diablo Valley College, John F Kennedy University, the central branch of the Contra Costa County Library system, and Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District. The first post office opened in 1948. The city incorporated in 1961.
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City Of Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton (formerly, Alisal and Pleasonton) is a city in Alameda County, California, incorporated in 1894. It is a major suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about 25 miles (40 km) east of Oakland, and 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Livermore. The population in July 2007: 66,544 at the 2000 census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in the United States by the Census Bureau. Pleasanton is home to the headquarters of Safeway Inc. Oracle and Kaiser Permanente have offices in Hacienda Business Park. Although Oakland is the Alameda County seat, a few county offices and a courthouse are located in Pleasanton. Additionally, the main county jail is in the neighboring city of Dublin. The Alameda County Fairgrounds are located in Pleasanton, and the annual County Fair is held there during the last week of June and the first week of July. Shadow Cliffs Regional Park is located on the east side of town. Pleasanton continues to maintain a small town flavor with regular events for the community. Every Saturday morning a farmers' market sets up on Angela, off Main Street. In December, there is Christmas parade, and a parking lot near downtown is converted to an outdoor ice-skating rink. The Pleasanton Downtown Association organizes the popular First Wednesday celebrations from May through September. On every first Wednesday of those summery months, Main Street is blocked to traffic and adopts a street fair atmosphere. Each First Wednesday celebration is given a different theme and planned with related activities. Typically the first theme is Cinco de Mayo since May is the first month for these street parties. At this local event, businesses and organizations from downtown and around the Tri-Valley set up booths in the center of the street. A local band performs in the Round Table Pizza parking lot, which is closed off for dancing. The parking lot is also set up as a beergarden, with beer and wine available for consumption. Another Pleasanton Downtown Association tradition is the Friday Concerts in the Park series. Every Friday from June until September the PDA schedules different local bands to perform in the evenings at the Lions' Wayside Park off of First Street. The events are free of charge and draw a crowd. Locals will start laying out blankets in the park on Friday mornings as a way to reserve a spot. The music is generally eclectic. Past acts have included Tommy and the Four Speeds, The CoolTones, Night Fever Band, Night Shift, Midnight Hour, Magic Moments, La Ventana and Public Eye. The Alameda County Fair runs annually at the Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. Many car shows are held at the Fairgrounds during the fair's off-season, and California's largest Scottish Highland Games are held there annually.
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The Ruby Hill Community, California
Ruby Hill is an exclusive gated golf course community of approximately 800 luxury and estate homes nestled in the rolling oak-studded hills of the Livermore Valley wine country. Ruby Hill Country Club, featuring an exclusive championship Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, reflects the casual sophistication and elegance of wine country living. The dramatic and inviting clubhouse features elegant dining and banquet facilities. The private pool and tennis facilities offer excellent opportunities for social and family relaxation and enjoyment. Additionally, Ruby Hill also offers attractive public community facilities, including a clubhouse, tennis courts, sparkling pool, playground, and sports fields. Ruby Hill features both semi-custom homes and custom homes and estates. Premia and Ascona, built by Signature Properties, offer semi-custom luxury homes on generous 8000 to 15,000 sq ft lots, with homes ranging from 2200 sq ft to almost 4000 sq ft. These well-appointed homes offer custom amenities and dramatic designs that reflect the exclusive lifestyle of Ruby Hill. Ruby Hill offers an impressive selection of custom homes and estates, with offerings by some of California's most exclusive and reputable builders. Here the discriminating home buyer can find rich designs, including formal and country French, traditional craftsman and vineyard styles, formal Italian and Italian villa, and California contemporary to name a few. Lots range from Ω acre to over 1 acre, with many lots featuring golf course and valley views. Simply put, Ruby Hill is a showcase of the finest in custom home designs and amenities, and represents the ultimate in luxury and sophistication. Ruby Hill is located on the Eastern edge of Pleasanton in the heart of the Livermore Valley wine growing region. It is located near Livermore, approximately 50 miles from San Francisco and 35 miles from San Jose. It is in the Tri-Valley region of the East Bay, and has excellent access to highways I580, I680, BART, and the ACE train with service to San Jose. It is close to shopping, parks, schools, dining, and shopping. Because Ruby Hill is located in the interior valley region of the Bay Area, it enjoys an ideal climate with warm dry conditions and abundant sunshine. Ruby Hill Pleasanton CA While Ruby Hill enjoys a pastoral setting of rolling hills, oak trees, and vineyards, it has easy access to downtown Pleasanton and Livermore, and the abundant amenities and recreational opportunities of the East Bay. It is a short 3 hour drive to Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, an hour from the Napa Valley and San Francisco, and 1 Ω hours to the fabulous beaches of the Santa Cruz area. It is within driving distance of some of California's world-class destinations. It is easy to see why Ruby Hill has become one of the most desirable destinations in the Bay Area.
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City Of San Ramon, California
San Ramon (Spanish: San RamÛn) is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. It is within the San Francisco Bay Area. San Ramon is headquarters of Chevron Corporation, 24-Hour Fitness and is home to San Ramon Medical Center. On April 24, 2001, San Ramon received the title Tree City USA. Several corporate parks operating under the name 'Bishop Ranch' provide a healthy tax base for the city and tenants include Chevron Corporation (formerly ChevronTexaco) which is headquartered in San Ramon, as well as AT&T, whose West Coast operation is headquartered in San Ramon. The parks cover the vast majority of "Central San Ramon", which is the large square formed by Freeway 680 on the west, Crow Canyon on the north, Iron Horse trail on the east, and Bollinger Canyon Road on the south (though several complexes are south of Bollinger).
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City Of Walnut Creek, California
Walnut Creek is an incorporated city located 16 miles (26 km) east of the city of Oakland. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa County, due in part to its location at the junction of the highways from Sacramento and San Jose (I-680) and San Francisco/Oakland (SR-24). The city had a total population of 65,384 as of January 2008 according to the California Department of Finance. Portions of Walnut Creek lies in both the San Ramon Valley and the Ygnacio Valley below the western slopes of Mount Diablo. Walnut Creek owns more open space per capita than any other community in the state of California. In 1974, Walnut Creek voters approved a $6.7 million bond measure that allowed the city to purchase 1,800 acres (7 km2) of undeveloped hillsides, ridge lines, and park sites. Walnut Creek owns parts of Lime Ridge Open Space, Shell Ridge Open Space, Acalanes Ridge Open Space, and Sugarloaf Open Space. The East Bay Regional Park District operates Diablo Foothills Regional Park, and Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area, in Walnut Creek.
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