San Leandro, California
Encyclopedia
San Leandro is a city in Alameda County
, California
, United States
. It is considered a suburb
of Oakland
and San Francisco
. The population was 84,950 as of 2010 census. The climate of the city is mild throughout the year.
run above the city to the northeast. In the lower elevations of the city, an upper regionally contained aquifer
is located 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 m) below the surface. At least one deeper aquifer
exists approximately 250 feet (75 m) below the surface. Some salt water intrusion has taken place in the San Leandro Cone. Shallow groundwater
generally flows to the west, from the foothills toward the San Francisco Bay
. Shallow groundwater is contaminated in many of the locales of the lower elevation of the city. Contamination by gasoline
, volatile organic compounds and some heavy metals
has been recorded in a number of these lower elevation areas.
was 5,423.8 people per square mile (2,094.1/km²). The racial makeup of San Leandro was 31,946 (37.6%) White, 10,437 (12.3%) African American, 669 (0.8%) Native American, 25,206 (29.7%) Asian, 642 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 11,295 (13.3%) from other races
, and 4,755 (5.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23,237 persons (27.4%).
The Census reported that 84,300 people (99.2% of the population) lived in households, 282 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 368 (0.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 30,717 households, out of which 10,503 (34.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 14,142 (46.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 4,509 (14.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,863 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,706 (5.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 326 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 8,228 households (26.8%) were made up of individuals and 3,128 (10.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74. There were 20,514 families
(66.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.36.
The population was spread out with 18,975 people (22.3%) under the age of 18, 7,044 people (8.3%) aged 18 to 24, 23,469 people (27.6%) aged 25 to 44, 23,779 people (28.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 11,683 people (13.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
There were 32,419 housing units at an average density of 2,069.9 per square mile (799.2/km²), of which 17,667 (57.5%) were owner-occupied, and 13,050 (42.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. 50,669 people (59.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 33,631 people (39.6%) lived in rental housing units.
, there were 30,642 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average
In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,081, and the median income for a family was $60,266. Males had a median income of $41,157 versus $33,486 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $23,895. About 4.5% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
and the Spanish Catholic priest Father Crespi.
San Leandro is located on the Rancho San Leandro
and Rancho San AntonioMexican land grants.
The smaller, Rancho San Leandro, approximately 9000 acres (36.4 km²), was given to José Joaquín Estudillo
in 1842. The larger, Rancho San Antonio, approximately 44000 acres (178.1 km²) was given to another Spanish soldier Don Luis Maria Peralta in 1820. Beginning in 1855, two of Estudillo's sons-in-law, John B. Ward and William Heath Davis
, laid out the town site that would become San Leandro. The city has a historic Portuguese
population dating from when immigrants from the Azores
and laborers from Hawaii
began settling in the city in the 1880s and established farms and businesses. By the 1910 census, they had accounted for nearly two-thirds of the San Leandro's population.
In 1856 San Leandro became the county seat of Alameda county, but the county courthouse was destroyed there by the devastating 1868 quake on the Hayward Fault. The county seat was then re-established in the town of Brooklyn (now part of Oakland), California in 1872.
During the Civil War San Leandro and its neighbor, Brooklyn
, fielded a California militia
company
, the Brooklyn Guard.
San Leandro was one of a number of suburban cities built in the post-war era of California that had restrictive covenant
s, which barred property owners in the city from selling properties to African Americans and other minorities. As a result of the covenant, In 1960, the city was almost entirely white (99.3%), while its neighbor city of Oakland had a large African American population. The United States Supreme Court, in Shelley v. Kraemer
, later declared such covenants unenforceable by the state. San Leandro was an 86.4% white-non Hispanic community according in the 1970 census. The city's demographics began to diversify in the 1980s. By 2010, Asian Americans had become a plurality population in San Leandro, with approximately one third of the population, with non-Hispanic Whites accounting for 27.1% of the population.
, The North Face
, Ghirardelli and Otis Spunkmeyer
and Coca-Cola
plant. It also has five shopping centers, the Bayfair Center
, Westgate Center
, Greenhouse Shopping Center, Marina Square Center, and Pelton Plaza. Lucky
's flagship store opened in San Leandro.
, Pacific High School (in the San Leandro Unified School District) and Marina High School (located within the San Leandro city limits but coming under the authority of the neighboring San Lorenzo Unified School District
). San Leandro High School was established in 1926. As the city's population grew, so did the need for a second high school. Pacific High School was built across town nearer the industrial area adjacent to State Route 17 (now Interstate 880) and opened in 1960. It featured a round main building and more traditional outbuildings, as well as a lighted football field. (The football field at San Leandro High School did not have, and still does not have, lights. All night games for both high schools were played at the Pacific football field, named C. Burrell Field after a former San Leandro Unified School District superintendent. San Leandro High School's night football games are still played there.)
As student enrollment declined in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the school board elected to close one of the two high schools. Amid much controversy and accusations of back door dealing, Pacific High School graduated its last class in 1983. Those who wished to keep Pacific High School open cited the fact that it was a much newer facility and handicap accessible, with a more modern football field. Those who were in favor of retaining San Leandro High School maintained that it was a larger campus and therefore had more room to house both school populations; but planned on using Marina High School as a buffer. Through failed dealings and negotiations with the San Lorenzo Unified School District, Marina closed its doors shortly after leaving San Leandro with only 1 high school instead of 3. Some Pacific High School supporters to this day hold the opinion that San Leandro High School was retained because it was located on the "rich" side of town.
Instead of leasing out the Pacific High School property for a few years until birth rates recovered and school enrollments were back on the rise, in 1989 the school district sold the property on which the school facility was located but retained Burrell Field. The developers who purchased the site have since constructed an outlet mall (Marina Square Center) on the former school site.
In recent years, as school enrollment has increased, San Leandro High School has been the recipient of newly built wings intended to increase classroom space and relieve overcrowding. Recently, a newly built Freshmen campus dedicated after Fred Korematsu is slated to open for the 2010 - 2011 school year for the same reason.
San Leandro High School is home to such academic programs as the Business Academy, Social Justice Academy, and San Leandro Academy of Multimedia (SLAM). One of the award winning national programs located in San Leandro is Distributed Education Clubs of America (DECA), an association for marketing students. In 2007, six students from San Leandro High School won in their competitive events and won a slot to compete in Orlando, Florida on April 27, 2007. In 2005, San Leandro High School had ranking of 4 compared to all other schools in California and 2 when compared to other similar schools (Scale of 1-10).
A number of students residing in San Leandro attend San Lorenzo Unified School District
schools, including Arroyo High School
, Washington Manor Middle School and Corvallis Elementary School, due to proximity to the San Leandro/San Lorenzo border.
The rest of San Leandro is served by San Leandro Unified School District
.
Today San Leandro is governed by mayor
Stephen Cassidy, who was elected in November 2010, and a six-member City Council. City Council members include Michael Gregory (District 1), Ursula Reed (District 2), Diana Souza (District 3), Joyce Starosciak (District 4), Pauline Cutter (District 5), and Jim Prola (District 6).
San Leandro is home to two school districts: The San Lorenzo Unified School District includes parts of Washington Manor and the San Leandro Unified School District includes most of San Leandro plus a small part of Oakland. The seven-member School Board for San Leandro Unified School District is composed of Hermy Almonte (Area 1), Lance James (Area 2), Carmen Sullivan (Area 3), Mike Katz-Lacabe (Area 4), Diana Prola (Area 5), Ron Carey (Area 6) and Morgan Mack-Rose (At-Large).
, 580
and 238
freeways connecting to other parts of the Bay Area. East 14th Street
is a major thoroughfare in downtown and continues towards East Oakland and Hayward. Davis Street
is also another major street that intersects East 14th Street in downtown before heading towards the San Francisco Bay. Public transportation is provided by the Bay Area Rapid Transit BART District with the San Leandro
and Bayfair
stations servicing the city. San Leandro LINKS
provides free bus shuttle service for the western part of the city to the San Leandro BART station and AC Transit
is the local bus provider for the city. A senior's oriented local bus service, Flex Shuttle, also operates within the city, as does East Bay Paratransit, which provides shuttle type transportation to residents with disabilities. There has been a revival of plans for a ferry connecting the city's marina to Downtown San Francisco and possibly Jack London Square
in downtown Oakland.
's psychiatric hospital, the John George Psychiatric Pavilion
, is located in unincorporated San Leandro. Fairmont Hospital, located close by, is an Acute Rehabilitation, Neuro-Respiratoy and HIV care center. San Leandro Hospital is the city's full service hospital.
Also present within the city are Kindred SF Acute Care Hospital and All Saints Skilled Nursing Hospital.
In addition to Marina Park, the City of San Leandro maintains and services 16 other parks throughout the city, all of which are available for use by residents and visitors alike. The Department of Recreation and Human Services for the City of San Leandro also staffs and maintains the Marina Community Center, the San Leandro Senior Community Center and the San Leandro Family Aquatic Center. Adjacent Lake Chabot Regional Park
is popular for its scenic hiking trails, camping, and fishing. At the Fairmont Ridge Staging Area of the park is the Children's Memorial Grove, which consists of an Oak grove and a stone circle, with annual plaques listing the names of all children who have died as a result of violence in Alameda County.
's song "Tania", San Leandro is (mistakenly) named as the city in which Patty Hearst
's photo was taken during a bank robbery.
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is considered a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
and San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. The population was 84,950 as of 2010 census. The climate of the city is mild throughout the year.
Geography and water resources
The San Leandro HillsSan Leandro Hills
The San Leandro Hills are a range of the Pacific Coast Ranges located on the eastern side of the valley which includes San Francisco Bay. They run along the southeastern city limits of Oakland, extending southeastward above the city of San Leandro and the unincorporated community of Castro Valley....
run above the city to the northeast. In the lower elevations of the city, an upper regionally contained aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
is located 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 m) below the surface. At least one deeper aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
exists approximately 250 feet (75 m) below the surface. Some salt water intrusion has taken place in the San Leandro Cone. Shallow groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
generally flows to the west, from the foothills toward the San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
. Shallow groundwater is contaminated in many of the locales of the lower elevation of the city. Contamination by gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
, volatile organic compounds and some heavy metals
Heavy metals
A heavy metal is a member of a loosely-defined subset of elements that exhibit metallic properties. It mainly includes the transition metals, some metalloids, lanthanides, and actinides. Many different definitions have been proposed—some based on density, some on atomic number or atomic weight,...
has been recorded in a number of these lower elevation areas.
Demographics
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that San Leandro had a population of 84,950. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 5,423.8 people per square mile (2,094.1/km²). The racial makeup of San Leandro was 31,946 (37.6%) White, 10,437 (12.3%) African American, 669 (0.8%) Native American, 25,206 (29.7%) Asian, 642 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 11,295 (13.3%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4,755 (5.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23,237 persons (27.4%).
The Census reported that 84,300 people (99.2% of the population) lived in households, 282 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 368 (0.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 30,717 households, out of which 10,503 (34.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 14,142 (46.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4,509 (14.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,863 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,706 (5.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 326 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 8,228 households (26.8%) were made up of individuals and 3,128 (10.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74. There were 20,514 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(66.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.36.
The population was spread out with 18,975 people (22.3%) under the age of 18, 7,044 people (8.3%) aged 18 to 24, 23,469 people (27.6%) aged 25 to 44, 23,779 people (28.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 11,683 people (13.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
There were 32,419 housing units at an average density of 2,069.9 per square mile (799.2/km²), of which 17,667 (57.5%) were owner-occupied, and 13,050 (42.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. 50,669 people (59.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 33,631 people (39.6%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
According to the 2000 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 30,642 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average
In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,081, and the median income for a family was $60,266. Males had a median income of $41,157 versus $33,486 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $23,895. About 4.5% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
History
The first inhabitants of San Leandro were the ancestors of the Ohlone Nation, who arrived sometime between 3500 and 2500 BC. The Spanish settlers called these natives Costeños or "coast people" and the English-speaking settlers called them Costanoans. San Leandro was first visited by Europeans on March 20, 1772 by Spanish soldier Captain Pedro FagesPedro Fages
Pere Fages Beleta , nicknamed L'Ós , was a soldier, explorer, and the second Spanish military Governor of Las Californias Province of New Spain from 1770 to 1774, and the Governor of Las Californias from 1782 to 1791.-Life:...
and the Spanish Catholic priest Father Crespi.
San Leandro is located on the Rancho San Leandro
Rancho San Leandro
Rancho San Leandro was a Mexican land grant in present day Alameda County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to José Joaquín Estudillo...
and Rancho San AntonioMexican land grants.
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
The smaller, Rancho San Leandro, approximately 9000 acres (36.4 km²), was given to José Joaquín Estudillo
José Joaquín Estudillo
José Joaquín Estudillo was a Mexican citizen of Alta California who was the second alcalde of Yerba Buena, California , and whose land holdings, known as Rancho San Leandro, formed the basis of the city of San Leandro.-Biography:He was born at the Presidio of Monterey, to José María Estudillo, a...
in 1842. The larger, Rancho San Antonio, approximately 44000 acres (178.1 km²) was given to another Spanish soldier Don Luis Maria Peralta in 1820. Beginning in 1855, two of Estudillo's sons-in-law, John B. Ward and William Heath Davis
William Heath Davis
William Heath "Kanaka" Davis, Jr. was an early settler of San Diego, California.-Life:Davis was born in 1822, in Honolulu, Sandwich Islands to William Heath Davis, Sr. and Hannah Holmes Davis, a daughter of Oliver Holmes, royal governor of Oahu, and relative of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.. Both...
, laid out the town site that would become San Leandro. The city has a historic Portuguese
Portuguese American
Portuguese Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates in the southwest European nation of Portugal, including the offshore island groups of the Azores and Madeira....
population dating from when immigrants from the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
and laborers from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
began settling in the city in the 1880s and established farms and businesses. By the 1910 census, they had accounted for nearly two-thirds of the San Leandro's population.
In 1856 San Leandro became the county seat of Alameda county, but the county courthouse was destroyed there by the devastating 1868 quake on the Hayward Fault. The county seat was then re-established in the town of Brooklyn (now part of Oakland), California in 1872.
During the Civil War San Leandro and its neighbor, Brooklyn
Brooklyn, California
Brooklyn is a former city in Alameda County, California, now annexed to Oakland, California.Brooklyn first formed from the amalgamation in 1856 of two settlements, the sites of which are both now within the city limits of Oakland: San Antonio and Clinton. The name Brooklyn commemorated the ship...
, fielded a California militia
California Army National Guard
The California Army National Guard is the land force component of the California National Guard, one of the reserve component United States Army and is part of the United States National Guard. The California Army National Guard is composed of about 20,000 soldiers...
company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
, the Brooklyn Guard.
San Leandro was one of a number of suburban cities built in the post-war era of California that had restrictive covenant
Restrictive covenant
A restrictive covenant is a type of real covenant, a legal obligation imposed in a deed by the seller upon the buyer of real estate to do or not to do something. Such restrictions frequently "run with the land" and are enforceable on subsequent buyers of the property...
s, which barred property owners in the city from selling properties to African Americans and other minorities. As a result of the covenant, In 1960, the city was almost entirely white (99.3%), while its neighbor city of Oakland had a large African American population. The United States Supreme Court, in Shelley v. Kraemer
Shelley v. Kraemer
Shelley v. Kraemer, 334 U.S. 1 , is a United States Supreme Court case which held that courts could not enforce racial covenants on real estate.-Facts of the case:...
, later declared such covenants unenforceable by the state. San Leandro was an 86.4% white-non Hispanic community according in the 1970 census. The city's demographics began to diversify in the 1980s. By 2010, Asian Americans had become a plurality population in San Leandro, with approximately one third of the population, with non-Hispanic Whites accounting for 27.1% of the population.
Economy
San Leandro has long been home to many food processing operations, and is home to many corporate businesses such as JanSportJanSport
JanSport is a brand of backpacks owned by VF Corporation, one of the world's largest apparel companies. The company was founded in 1967 in Seattle, Washington by Jan Lewis , Murray Pletz and Skip Yowell...
, The North Face
The North Face
The North Face, Inc. is an American outdoor product company specializing in outerwear, fleece, shirts, footwear, and equipment such as backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags....
, Ghirardelli and Otis Spunkmeyer
Otis Spunkmeyer
Otis Spunkmeyer Inc. is a baked goods distribution company widely known for its name and flagship line of muffins and cookies. Although a relatively small company, Otis Spunkmeyer has enjoyed a large amount of success in the industry, with clients ranging from small family-owned businesses and...
and Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
plant. It also has five shopping centers, the Bayfair Center
Bayfair Center
The Bayfair Center is a regional shopping mall located in San Leandro, California. It was formerly known as the Bay Fair Mall until 2004. It is currently anchored by Macy's, Target, Kohl's, Bed Bath and Beyond, Old Navy and Staples, along with an external Century Theatres multiplex...
, Westgate Center
Westgate Center
The Westgate Center shopping mall is a mega-strip mall located in San Leandro, California. It is currently anchored by Wal-Mart, Costco, Sports Authority, The Home Depot and Office Depot. Costco, Burger King and Shell are externally located from the rest of the mall...
, Greenhouse Shopping Center, Marina Square Center, and Pelton Plaza. Lucky
Lucky Stores
Lucky Stores is an American supermarket chain founded in Alameda County, California in 1935. Lucky is currently operated by SuperValu in Southern California and Nevada and by Save Mart in Northern California and Nevada.In 1998, Lucky's parent company, American Stores, was taken over by Albertsons,...
's flagship store opened in San Leandro.
Top employers
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Leandro Unified School District San Leandro Unified School District San Leandro Unified School District is a publicly funded unified school district in San Leandro, Alameda County, California. The District has 12 schools and 447 teachers, with a total enrollment of 8,729 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.-Staff:... |
1,262 |
| 2 | Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000... |
540 |
| 3 | City of San Leandro | 453 |
| 4 | American Medical Response American Medical Response American Medical Response, Inc. or is an American provider of emergency and non-emergency medical transportation, operating in 38 states and the District of Columbia. It employs around 17,000 personnel and has a fleet of 4,400 vehicles... |
402 |
| 5 | Costco Costco Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world... |
333 |
| 6 | Coca-Cola Bottling Company | 317 |
| 7 | The North Face, Inc. | 314 |
| 8 | Kindred Hospital | 268 |
| 9 | OSIsoft OSIsoft OSIsoft, LLC is a worldwide manufacturer of Application software for real-time data infrastructure solutions, called the PI System. Founded in 1980, OSIsoft, LLC is privately held and headquartered in San Leandro, CA, with operations worldwide.... LLC |
238 |
High school history and education
In the latter part of the 20th century, San Leandro was home to three high schools: San Leandro High SchoolSan Leandro High School
San Leandro High School is an American four-year public high school in San Leandro, California. The school is a member of the San Leandro Unified School District...
, Pacific High School (in the San Leandro Unified School District) and Marina High School (located within the San Leandro city limits but coming under the authority of the neighboring San Lorenzo Unified School District
San Lorenzo Unified School District
San Lorenzo Unified School District is a school district serving the San Lorenzo, San Leandro areas and part of Hayward in Alameda County, California. It was established in 1865. Several "small learning communities," each with a distinctive program, have been created at the district's three high...
). San Leandro High School was established in 1926. As the city's population grew, so did the need for a second high school. Pacific High School was built across town nearer the industrial area adjacent to State Route 17 (now Interstate 880) and opened in 1960. It featured a round main building and more traditional outbuildings, as well as a lighted football field. (The football field at San Leandro High School did not have, and still does not have, lights. All night games for both high schools were played at the Pacific football field, named C. Burrell Field after a former San Leandro Unified School District superintendent. San Leandro High School's night football games are still played there.)
As student enrollment declined in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the school board elected to close one of the two high schools. Amid much controversy and accusations of back door dealing, Pacific High School graduated its last class in 1983. Those who wished to keep Pacific High School open cited the fact that it was a much newer facility and handicap accessible, with a more modern football field. Those who were in favor of retaining San Leandro High School maintained that it was a larger campus and therefore had more room to house both school populations; but planned on using Marina High School as a buffer. Through failed dealings and negotiations with the San Lorenzo Unified School District, Marina closed its doors shortly after leaving San Leandro with only 1 high school instead of 3. Some Pacific High School supporters to this day hold the opinion that San Leandro High School was retained because it was located on the "rich" side of town.
Instead of leasing out the Pacific High School property for a few years until birth rates recovered and school enrollments were back on the rise, in 1989 the school district sold the property on which the school facility was located but retained Burrell Field. The developers who purchased the site have since constructed an outlet mall (Marina Square Center) on the former school site.
In recent years, as school enrollment has increased, San Leandro High School has been the recipient of newly built wings intended to increase classroom space and relieve overcrowding. Recently, a newly built Freshmen campus dedicated after Fred Korematsu is slated to open for the 2010 - 2011 school year for the same reason.
San Leandro High School is home to such academic programs as the Business Academy, Social Justice Academy, and San Leandro Academy of Multimedia (SLAM). One of the award winning national programs located in San Leandro is Distributed Education Clubs of America (DECA), an association for marketing students. In 2007, six students from San Leandro High School won in their competitive events and won a slot to compete in Orlando, Florida on April 27, 2007. In 2005, San Leandro High School had ranking of 4 compared to all other schools in California and 2 when compared to other similar schools (Scale of 1-10).
A number of students residing in San Leandro attend San Lorenzo Unified School District
San Lorenzo Unified School District
San Lorenzo Unified School District is a school district serving the San Lorenzo, San Leandro areas and part of Hayward in Alameda County, California. It was established in 1865. Several "small learning communities," each with a distinctive program, have been created at the district's three high...
schools, including Arroyo High School
Arroyo High School (San Lorenzo, California)
Arroyo High School is located in San Lorenzo, California, and is part of the San Lorenzo Unified School District. Serving as one of two public high school for San Lorenzo and parts of San Leandro, its sister high school and cross-town rival is San Lorenzo High School.-Small Learning...
, Washington Manor Middle School and Corvallis Elementary School, due to proximity to the San Leandro/San Lorenzo border.
The rest of San Leandro is served by San Leandro Unified School District
San Leandro Unified School District
San Leandro Unified School District is a publicly funded unified school district in San Leandro, Alameda County, California. The District has 12 schools and 447 teachers, with a total enrollment of 8,729 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.-Staff:...
.
Government
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Stephen Cassidy, who was elected in November 2010, and a six-member City Council. City Council members include Michael Gregory (District 1), Ursula Reed (District 2), Diana Souza (District 3), Joyce Starosciak (District 4), Pauline Cutter (District 5), and Jim Prola (District 6).
San Leandro is home to two school districts: The San Lorenzo Unified School District includes parts of Washington Manor and the San Leandro Unified School District includes most of San Leandro plus a small part of Oakland. The seven-member School Board for San Leandro Unified School District is composed of Hermy Almonte (Area 1), Lance James (Area 2), Carmen Sullivan (Area 3), Mike Katz-Lacabe (Area 4), Diana Prola (Area 5), Ron Carey (Area 6) and Morgan Mack-Rose (At-Large).
Transportation
San Leandro is served by the Interstate 880Interstate 880
Interstate 880 is an Interstate Highway in the San Francisco Bay Area connecting San Jose and Oakland, running parallel to the southeastern shore of San Francisco Bay...
, 580
Interstate 580
Interstate 580 is the designation for several Interstate Highways in the United States, all of which are related to Interstate 80:*Interstate 580 , a connector in the San Francisco Bay Area to Interstate 5...
and 238
Interstate 238
Interstate 238 is a short auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States. Part of State Route 238 until 1983, and still considered the same route by the California Department of Transportation , it connects Interstate 580 in Castro Valley...
freeways connecting to other parts of the Bay Area. East 14th Street
California State Route 185
State Route 185 is a state highway in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It runs along sections of Mission Boulevard in Hayward, East 14th Street in San Leandro and International Boulevard in Oakland.-Route description:...
is a major thoroughfare in downtown and continues towards East Oakland and Hayward. Davis Street
California State Route 61
State Route 61 is a California, United States, highway which runs through Alameda and along the Oakland International Airport. The western terminus is with State Route 260 at Webster Street in Alameda, and it runs along east Central Avenue and Encinal Avenue until reaching Broadway...
is also another major street that intersects East 14th Street in downtown before heading towards the San Francisco Bay. Public transportation is provided by the Bay Area Rapid Transit BART District with the San Leandro
San Leandro (BART station)
San Leandro is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station located near the downtown area of San Leandro, California. It is the busiest station in the city and is also one of the busiest in the East Bay....
and Bayfair
Bay Fair (BART station)
Bay Fair is a Bay Area Rapid Transit station located near the Bayfair Center in San Leandro, California. The station is in BART District 3 and is represented by Bob Franklin.- Service :...
stations servicing the city. San Leandro LINKS
San Leandro LINKS
San Leandro LINKS or West San Leandro Shuttle usually referred to simply as the Links Bus is a free public transit service in San Leandro, California.-Service:...
provides free bus shuttle service for the western part of the city to the San Leandro BART station and AC Transit
AC Transit
AC Transit is an Oakland-based regional public transit agency serving the western half of Alameda County and parts of western Contra Costa County in the western, Bay-side area of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area...
is the local bus provider for the city. A senior's oriented local bus service, Flex Shuttle, also operates within the city, as does East Bay Paratransit, which provides shuttle type transportation to residents with disabilities. There has been a revival of plans for a ferry connecting the city's marina to Downtown San Francisco and possibly Jack London Square
Jack London Square
Jack London Square is a popular tourist attraction on the waterfront of Oakland, California. Named after the author Jack London and owned by the Port of Oakland, it is the home of stores, restaurants, hotels, an Amtrak station, a ferry dock, the historic Saloon, the cabin Jack London lived in the...
in downtown Oakland.
Health care
The Alameda County Medical CenterAlameda County Medical Center
Alameda County Medical Center is a medical organization operated by Alameda County, California. It operates hospitals and primary care medical clinics within the county.-Hospitals:*Highland Hospital, Oakland...
's psychiatric hospital, the John George Psychiatric Pavilion
John George Psychiatric Pavilion
John George Psychiatric Pavilion, also known as John George Hospital or John George, is a psychiatric hospital located in San Leandro, in Alameda County, California. It is operated by the Alameda County Medical Center, and is located near Fairmont Hospital and the county Juvenile Justice Center...
, is located in unincorporated San Leandro. Fairmont Hospital, located close by, is an Acute Rehabilitation, Neuro-Respiratoy and HIV care center. San Leandro Hospital is the city's full service hospital.
Also present within the city are Kindred SF Acute Care Hospital and All Saints Skilled Nursing Hospital.
Parks
The San Leandro Marina, which contains group picnic areas and trails, as well as docking facilities, is part of the San Leandro Shoreline Recreation Area.In addition to Marina Park, the City of San Leandro maintains and services 16 other parks throughout the city, all of which are available for use by residents and visitors alike. The Department of Recreation and Human Services for the City of San Leandro also staffs and maintains the Marina Community Center, the San Leandro Senior Community Center and the San Leandro Family Aquatic Center. Adjacent Lake Chabot Regional Park
Lake Chabot Regional Park
Lake Chabot Regional Park is a regional park located in Alameda County, CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system. The northern part of the lake and park lie within the boundary of the city of Oakland, CA, while the southern part lies in an unicoproarted area of Alameda County adjacent...
is popular for its scenic hiking trails, camping, and fishing. At the Fairmont Ridge Staging Area of the park is the Children's Memorial Grove, which consists of an Oak grove and a stone circle, with annual plaques listing the names of all children who have died as a result of violence in Alameda County.
Notable residents and natives
- Joe AlvesJoe AlvesJoe Alves is an American film production designer, perhaps best known for his work on three of the Jaws films. He directed Jaws 3-D....
is a film production designer, perhaps best known for his work on three of the Jaws filmsJaws (film series)Jaws is an American film franchise that consists of a novel, four films, a theme park ride, and other tie-in merchandise. The franchise primarily focuses on a great white shark, and its attacks on people in specific areas of the United States. The Brody family is featured in all of the films as the...
, born in San Leandro - Richard AokiRichard AokiRichard Aoki was an American civil rights activist. He was one of the first members of the Black Panther Party and was eventually promoted to the position of "Field Marshall" . Although there were several Asian Americans in the Black Panther Party, Aoki was the only one to have a formal...
, activist, charter member of the Black Panther Party, born in San Leandro in 1938. - Lloyd BridgesLloyd BridgesLloyd Vernet Bridges, Jr. was an American actor who starred in a number of television series and appeared in more than 150 feature films. Bridges is best known for his role of Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt, the most-popular syndicated American TV series in 1958...
, actor, born in San Leandro on January 15, 1913. - Brian CopelandBrian CopelandBrian Copeland is an American actor, comedian, radio talk show host, playwright and author based in the San Francisco Bay Area.Copeland has been the opening act for artists such as Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin and Ringo Starr. For the past 12 years he has hosted a radio program for...
, comedian, writer, moved to San Leandro in 1972. Author of "Not a Genuine Black Man," about growing up black in then-all-white San Leandro. - Ellen CorbettEllen CorbettEllen Marie Corbett is a Democratic politician from San Leandro, California. She is currently serving her second term in the California State Senate. Corbett represents the 10th District, which includes San Leandro, Hayward, Pleasanton, Union City, Fremont, Newark, Milpitas and part of San Jose...
, California State Senator - Dennis DixonDennis DixonDennis Lee Dixon, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, Former Quarterback for the University of Oregon DucksOregon DucksThe Oregon Ducks refers to the sports teams of the University of Oregon, located in Eugene, Oregon. The Oregon Ducks are part of the Pacific-12 Conference in the Division 1 of the NCAA. With seventeen varsity teams, the Oregon Ducks are best known for their football team and Track and Field...
and currently for the Pittsburgh Steelers who went to San Leandro High School. - Carl FridenCarl FridenCarl Friden was the Swedish born American mechanical engineer and businessman who founded the Friden Calculating Machine Company .-Background:...
a Swedish AmericanSwedish AmericanSwedish Americans are Americans of Swedish descent, especially the descendants of about 1.2 million immigrants from Sweden during 1885-1915. Most were Lutherans who affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ; some were Methodists...
who started the business Friden, Inc.Friden, Inc.Friden Calculating Machine Company was an American manufacturer of typewriters and electronic calculators. It was founded by Carl Friden in San Leandro, California in 1934. Friden electromechanical calculators were robust and popular....
in San Leandro in 1934. - Kathy GarverKathy GarverKathleen Marie "Kathy" Garver is an American film, television, voice-over and character actress of stage, most widely known for playing Uncle Bill Davis's teenaged niece, Catherine "Cissy" Davis, on the popular 1960s sitcom, Family Affair. Before that, she played a slave in The Ten Commandments...
, actress, who was raised in San Leandro, where she attended school. - Chuck HayesChuck HayesCharles "Chuck" Edward Hayes, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He is 6'6", 238 pound center/power forward who last played for the Houston Rockets of the NBA...
, NBA basketball player for the Houston RocketsHouston RocketsThe Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, born in San Leandro on June 11, 1983, former college basketballCollege basketballCollege basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
star for the Kentucky WildcatsKentucky Wildcats men's basketballThe Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
. - Pat HurstPat HurstPat Hurst is an American professional golfer who plays on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour.Hurst's father is American and her mother is originally from Japan. She was born in San Leandro, California and raised in California.-Amateur career:...
, professional golfer, born in San Leandro on May 23, 1969. - Derrick JasperDerrick JasperDerrick Lamar Jasper is an American basketball player for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels who is from San Luis Obispo, California. He is listed as a point guard, but he is versatile enough to also play the shooting guard and small forward positions.-High school:...
, College BasketballCollege basketballCollege basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
player for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, former point guardPoint guardPoint guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
of the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketballKentucky Wildcats men's basketballThe Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
team. Born in San Leandro on April 13, 1988. - Charlton JimersonCharlton JimersonCharlton Maxwell Jimerson is a guest co-host for Life Beyond The League. He played college baseball at the University of Miami.-Early life:...
, MLB outfielderOutfielderOutfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. designated for assignmentDesignated for assignmentDesignated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
by the Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
to make room for Greg NortonGreg NortonGreg Norton is an American musician, formerly of the band Hüsker Dü....
, also from San Leandro. - Fred KorematsuFred Korematsuwas one of the many Japanese-American citizens living on the West Coast during World War II. Shortly after the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, authorizing the Secretary of War and his military commanders to require all...
, see Korematsu v. United StatesKorematsu v. United StatesKorematsu v. United States, 323 U.S. 214 , was a landmark United States Supreme Court case concerning the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066, which ordered Japanese Americans into internment camps during World War II....
, resident of San Leandro. - Tony LemaTony LemaAnthony David "Tony" Lema was an American professional golfer, who rose to fame in the beginning of golf's modern era, but had his young life and career cut short in an aircraft accident. His most prestigious victory was the 1964 British Open.-Biography:Lema was born in Oakland, California, to...
, American professional golfer, moved to San Leandro in 1940 at the age of six. In June 1983, the Tony Lema Golf Course was dedicated in San Leandro. - Bill LockyerBill LockyerWilliam Westwood "Bill" Lockyer is an American politician. He is the current 32nd State Treasurer of California, elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010. He has also served as California Attorney General and President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate...
, current California Treasurer, former California Attorney General and President pro Tempore of the California State Senate, graduated from San Leandro High School and served on the San Leandro School Board from 1968 to 1973. - Todd MarinovichTodd MarinovichTodd Marvin Marinovich is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. He played for the Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League, and also in the Canadian Football League and Arena Football League...
, former NFL quarterback for the Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, born in San Leandro in 1969. - Dave McCloughanDave McCloughan-Biography:McCloughan was born David Kent McCloughan on November 20, 1966 in San Leandro, California.His father was a Oakland Raiders player named Kent McCloughan.-Career:...
, former NFL defensive back. Born in San Leandro on November 20, 1966 - Russ MeyerRuss MeyerRussell Albion "Russ" Meyer was a U.S. motion picture director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, actor and photographer....
, director, born in San Leandro on March 21, 1922. - Natali Morris is a technology news journalist and online media personality, born in San Leandro
- Arlen NessArlen NessArlen Ness is an American entrepreneur and motorcyclist, who is best known for his customized choppers and hot rods. Ness is internationally recognized as a master builder.- Career :...
, custom motorcycle designer - Greg Norton, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player, currently the hitting coach for the New Orleans ZephyrsNew Orleans ZephyrsThe New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
. Born in San Leandro on July 6, 1972. - Jarrad PageJarrad PageJarrad Matthew Page is an American football safety for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, starting safety for the Kansas City Chiefs; lettered three years at San Leandro High School. - Harold PearyHarold PearyHarold Peary was an American actor, comedian and singer in radio, film, television and animation remembered best as Throckmorton P...
was an American actor, comedian and singer in radio, film, television and animation, Born In San Leandro - Alice Ripley, Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
winning stage actress, singer and songwriter. Born in San Leandro December 14, 1963. - David SilveriaDavid SilveriaDavid Randall Silveria is a former-drummer, best known as the drummer for the band Korn from early 1993 until leaving the band in late 2006.-1993 to 2006: Korn:...
, musician (drummer for KornKornKorn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
), born in San Leandro on September 21, 1972. - Jim SorensenJim SorensenJim Sorensen is an American Track and Field athlete, known primarily for running middle distance races. He is the current Masters M40 world record holder at 800 metres and former Masters M40 world record holder at 1500 metres....
is an American Track and Field athlete, known primarily for running middle distance races. He is the current Masters M40 world record holder at 800 metres and former Masters M40 world record holder at 1500 metres.
In film
- In The Princess Diaries (film)The Princess Diaries (film)The Princess Diaries is a 2001 comedy film produced by singer and actress Whitney Houston and directed by Garry Marshall. It is based on Meg Cabot's 2000 novel of the same name...
, the cable car conductor, Bruce Macintosh, proclaims that he is from San Leandro.
In music
In the alternative punk/ska band Camper Van BeethovenCamper Van Beethoven
Camper Van Beethoven is an American alternative rock group formed in Redlands, California in 1983.An eclectic band, Camper Van Beethoven mixes elements of pop, ska, punk rock, folk and alternative country, as well as various types of world music. Their aggressive musical pluralism created a...
's song "Tania", San Leandro is (mistakenly) named as the city in which Patty Hearst
Patty Hearst
Patricia Campbell Hearst , now known as Patricia Campbell Hearst Shaw, is an American newspaper heiress, socialite, actress, kidnap victim, and convicted bank robber....
's photo was taken during a bank robbery.