San Pablo, California
Encyclopedia
San Pablo is a city in Contra Costa County
, California
, United States
. The city of Richmond surrounds nearly the whole city. The population was 29,139 at the 2010 census. The current Mayor is Paul V. Morris, and the current Vice Mayor is Cecilia Valdez. Current Councilmembers include Arturo M. Cruz, Leonard R. McNeil, and Genoveva Garcia Calloway.
indigenous people. The area was claimed for the king of Spain
in the late 18th century and was granted for grazing purposes to the Mission Dolores located in today's San Francisco
. Upon Mexico
's independence from Spain, church properties were secularized and in 1823, the area became part of a large grant to an ex-soldier stationed at the San Francisco Presidio, Francisco María Castro
. The grant was given the name Rancho San Pablo
, thus originating the name for today's city as well as for one of the East Bay's oldest principal roads, today's San Pablo Avenue (called in the prior Spanish era "El Camino Real de la Contra Costa").
A historic reproduction of the city's Mexican era is designated as a California State Landmark (No.512): the Alvarado Adobe, originally constructed in 1842 by one of Francisco Castro's sons, Jesús María Castro, for his mother, Gabriéla Berryessa de Castro
. Upon Gabriéla's death in 1851, it was inherited by her daughter, Martina Castro de Alvarado, wife of Juan Bautista Alvarado
, who was Governor of California from 1836 to 1842. The Alvarado Adobe was demolished in the mid-20th century to make way for a motel. A reproduction was built later in the century which is located in the San Pablo Civic Center on the northwest corner of San Pablo Avenue and Church Lane. A single beam from the original structure is incorporated into the roof of the replacement structure, at the rear of the adobe facing the interior courtyard.
The first post office was established in 1854. The city incorporated in 1948.
Since the middle of the 20th Century El Portal Shopping Center has been the backbone of the community's economy.
, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), all land.
San Pablo lies on a sedimentary plain between the northern end of the Berkeley Hills
and San Pablo Bay
, although the city limits do not extend to the bayshore. The city is traversed by two principal creeks, Wildcat Creek
and San Pablo Creek
, both of which originate in the ranges to its southeast. The minor Rheem Creek
also runs through the city. It is also traversed along its northeast limits by the Hayward Fault, a major branch of the San Andreas Fault
which lies to the west.
Interstate 80 (Eastshore Freeway) passes through San Pablo.
There are several communities to the north of the City and separated from the City, but which have San Pablo, California mailing addresses, These include the census areas of Tara Hills, Bayview, and Montalvin.
The Casino San Pablo
is considered the economic backbone of the city.
was 11,063.4 people per square mile (4,271.6/km²). The racial makeup of San Pablo was 9,391 (32.2%) White, 4,600 (15.8%) African American, 244 (0.8%) Native American, 4,353 (14.9%) Asian, 172 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 8,812 (30.2%) from other races
, and 1,567 (5.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16,462 persons (56.5%).
The Census reported that 28,698 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 68 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 373 (1.3%) were institutionalized.
There were 8,761 households, out of which 4,099 (46.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,905 (44.6%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 1,715 (19.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 738 (8.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 638 (7.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 59 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,854 households (21.2%) were made up of individuals and 638 (7.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.28. There were 6,358 families
(72.6% of all households); the average family size was 3.83.
The population was spread out with 8,244 people (28.3%) under the age of 18, 3,233 people (11.1%) aged 18 to 24, 8,734 people (30.0%) aged 25 to 44, 6,364 people (21.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,564 people (8.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.6 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
There were 9,571 housing units at an average density of 3,633.9 per square mile (1,403.0/km²), of which 4,110 (46.9%) were owner-occupied, and 4,651 (53.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%. 13,903 people (47.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 14,795 people (50.8%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 30,215 people, 9,051 households, and 6,489 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,521.7/km² (11,726.9/mi²). There were 9,340 housing units at an average density of 1,397.7/km² (3,625.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 31.62% White
, 18.33% Black
or African American
, 0.90% Native American
, 16.37% Asian
, 0.51% Pacific Islander
, 25.44% from other races
, and 6.83% from two or more races. 44.65% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
Of the 9,051 households, 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples
living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.7% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,184, and the median income for a family was $42,042. Males had a median income of $31,599 versus $28,140 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,303. About 15.5% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
The languages spoken were 42.49% English, 40.3% Spanish, 5.47% Tagalog, 2.8% Vietnamese, 2.52% Miao-Mien, 1.95% Laotian, 1.18% Punjabi, 0.92% Portuguese, 0.75% Chinese, 0.57% Hindi, and 0.95% other languages spoken by less than 0.5% of the population each.
buses that connect it with Hilltop Mall Shopping Center, Richmond Parkway Transit Center
, and Richmond BART and Amtrak station
in Richmond
and El Cerrito del Norte BART
in El Cerrito
. This is in addition to services around San Pablo and to El Sobrante
. There is transbay service directly to the San Francisco Transbay Terminal
. Owl service to Richmond, Pinole
, and El Cerrito. AC also provides school service high and middle schools of the West Contra Costa Unified School District
. WestCat
provides a link between Contra Costa College
and Hercules Transit Center
along San Pablo Avenue a major north-south arterial boulevard. San Pablo Avenue is home to a BRT
line, the 72R that connects the college with Downtown Oakland
and BART
. The college services as a major transit hub for buses and the city. Interstate 80 flanks the eastern boundary of the city. Friends of El Cerrito del Norte, the closest BART station propose that the system be extended to Hercules through the city.
is the west campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. It is part of the California community colleges system, one of the three college systems in California.
is located in San Pablo.
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
, 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...
. The city of Richmond surrounds nearly the whole city. The population was 29,139 at the 2010 census. The current Mayor is Paul V. Morris, and the current Vice Mayor is Cecilia Valdez. Current Councilmembers include Arturo M. Cruz, Leonard R. McNeil, and Genoveva Garcia Calloway.
History
The area in which today's San Pablo is situated was originally occupied by the Cuchiyun band of the OhloneOhlone
The Ohlone people, also known as the Costanoan, are a Native American people of the central California coast. When Spanish explorers and missionaries arrived in the late 18th century, the Ohlone inhabited the area along the coast from San Francisco Bay through Monterey Bay to the lower Salinas Valley...
indigenous people. The area was claimed for the king of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the late 18th century and was granted for grazing purposes to the Mission Dolores located in today's 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...
. Upon Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's independence from Spain, church properties were secularized and in 1823, the area became part of a large grant to an ex-soldier stationed at the San Francisco Presidio, Francisco María Castro
Francisco María Castro
Francisco María Castro was a landowner in an area of Alta California which later became part of Contra Costa County, California.Francisco María Castro was the third son of Joaquin Ysidro de Castro, one of the founding settlers of the Pueblo of San José and Maria Marina Botiller...
. The grant was given the name Rancho San Pablo
Rancho San Pablo
Rancho San Pablo was a land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1823 by Governor Luís Antonio Argüello to Francisco María Castro , a former soldier at the San Francisco Presidio and one-time alcalde of the Pueblo of San José. The grant was reconfirmed by Governor José...
, thus originating the name for today's city as well as for one of the East Bay's oldest principal roads, today's San Pablo Avenue (called in the prior Spanish era "El Camino Real de la Contra Costa").
A historic reproduction of the city's Mexican era is designated as a California State Landmark (No.512): the Alvarado Adobe, originally constructed in 1842 by one of Francisco Castro's sons, Jesús María Castro, for his mother, Gabriéla Berryessa de Castro
María Gabriela Berreyesa Castro
María Gabriela Berrelleza was born November 26, 1780, and christened the same day at Mission Santa Clara de Asís in upper Las Californias, near present day San José . She was the first child of the family of María Gertrudis Peralta and Nicholas Antonio Berrelleza...
. Upon Gabriéla's death in 1851, it was inherited by her daughter, Martina Castro de Alvarado, wife of Juan Bautista Alvarado
Juan Bautista Alvarado
Juan Bautista Valentín Alvarado y Vallejo was a Californio and twice Governor of Alta California from 1836 to 1837, and 1838 to 1842.-Early years:...
, who was Governor of California from 1836 to 1842. The Alvarado Adobe was demolished in the mid-20th century to make way for a motel. A reproduction was built later in the century which is located in the San Pablo Civic Center on the northwest corner of San Pablo Avenue and Church Lane. A single beam from the original structure is incorporated into the roof of the replacement structure, at the rear of the adobe facing the interior courtyard.
The first post office was established in 1854. The city incorporated in 1948.
Since the middle of the 20th Century El Portal Shopping Center has been the backbone of the community's economy.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), all land.
San Pablo lies on a sedimentary plain between the northern end of the Berkeley Hills
Berkeley Hills
The Berkeley Hills are a range of the Pacific Coast Ranges that overlook the northeast side of the valley that surrounds San Francisco Bay. They were previously called the "Contra Costa Range/Hills" , but with the establishment of Berkeley and the University of California, the current usage was...
and San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay is a tidal estuary that forms the northern extension of San Francisco Bay in northern California in the United States. Most of the Bay is shallow; however, there is a deep water channel approximately in mid bay, which allows access to Sacramento, Stockton, Benicia, Martinez, and...
, although the city limits do not extend to the bayshore. The city is traversed by two principal creeks, Wildcat Creek
Wildcat Creek
Wildcat Creek may refer to:* Wildcat Creek * Wildcat Creek * Wildcat Creek * Wildcat Creek...
and San Pablo Creek
San Pablo Creek
San Pablo Creek is an creek in Contra Costa County, California, United States, which drains the canyon or valley between the San Pablo Ridge and the Sobrante Ridge, parts of the Pacific Coast Ranges east of San Francisco Bay....
, both of which originate in the ranges to its southeast. The minor Rheem Creek
Rheem Creek
Rheem Creek is a 3 mile long urban stream in western Contra Costa County, California which empties into San Pablo Bay south of Point Pinole. The creek rises from Rolling Hills Cemetery and passes through Rollingwood, the campus of Contra Costa Community College, and the city of San Pablo, California...
also runs through the city. It is also traversed along its northeast limits by the Hayward Fault, a major branch of the San Andreas Fault
San Andreas Fault
The San Andreas Fault is a continental strike-slip fault that runs a length of roughly through California in the United States. The fault's motion is right-lateral strike-slip...
which lies to the west.
Interstate 80 (Eastshore Freeway) passes through San Pablo.
There are several communities to the north of the City and separated from the City, but which have San Pablo, California mailing addresses, These include the census areas of Tara Hills, Bayview, and Montalvin.
Top employers
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doctors Medical Center | 982 |
| 2 | Contra Costa College Contra Costa College Contra Costa College, in San Pablo, California, is the west campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. It is part of the California community colleges system, one of the three college systems in California.- History :... |
697 |
| 3 | Casino San Pablo Casino San Pablo Casino San Pablo is a Native American reservation with a gambling hall located in San Pablo, California. It is operated by the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians.-History:... |
397 |
| 4 | Vale Healthcare Center | 275 |
| 5 | San Pablo Healthcare and Wellness Center | 275 |
| 6 | City of San Pablo | 186 |
| 7 | Creekside Health Care Center | 128 |
| 8 | 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,... CLOSED |
000 |
| 9 | Raley's | 93 |
| 10 | Food Maxx | 80 |
The Casino San Pablo
Casino San Pablo
Casino San Pablo is a Native American reservation with a gambling hall located in San Pablo, California. It is operated by the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians.-History:...
is considered the economic backbone of the city.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that San Pablo had a population of 29,139. 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 11,063.4 people per square mile (4,271.6/km²). The racial makeup of San Pablo was 9,391 (32.2%) White, 4,600 (15.8%) African American, 244 (0.8%) Native American, 4,353 (14.9%) Asian, 172 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 8,812 (30.2%) 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 1,567 (5.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16,462 persons (56.5%).
The Census reported that 28,698 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 68 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 373 (1.3%) were institutionalized.
There were 8,761 households, out of which 4,099 (46.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,905 (44.6%) 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, 1,715 (19.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 738 (8.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 638 (7.3%) 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 59 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,854 households (21.2%) were made up of individuals and 638 (7.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.28. There were 6,358 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...
(72.6% of all households); the average family size was 3.83.
The population was spread out with 8,244 people (28.3%) under the age of 18, 3,233 people (11.1%) aged 18 to 24, 8,734 people (30.0%) aged 25 to 44, 6,364 people (21.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,564 people (8.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.6 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
There were 9,571 housing units at an average density of 3,633.9 per square mile (1,403.0/km²), of which 4,110 (46.9%) were owner-occupied, and 4,651 (53.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%. 13,903 people (47.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 14,795 people (50.8%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the 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...
of 2000, there were 30,215 people, 9,051 households, and 6,489 families residing in the city. The population density
Population 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 4,521.7/km² (11,726.9/mi²). There were 9,340 housing units at an average density of 1,397.7/km² (3,625.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 31.62% White
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...
, 18.33% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 0.90% Native American
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...
, 16.37% Asian
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...
, 0.51% Pacific Islander
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...
, 25.44% 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 6.83% from two or more races. 44.65% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race.
Of the 9,051 households, 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% 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, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.7% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,184, and the median income for a family was $42,042. Males had a median income of $31,599 versus $28,140 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 $14,303. About 15.5% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
The languages spoken were 42.49% English, 40.3% Spanish, 5.47% Tagalog, 2.8% Vietnamese, 2.52% Miao-Mien, 1.95% Laotian, 1.18% Punjabi, 0.92% Portuguese, 0.75% Chinese, 0.57% Hindi, and 0.95% other languages spoken by less than 0.5% of the population each.
Transportation
The community is served by AC TransitAC 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...
buses that connect it with Hilltop Mall Shopping Center, Richmond Parkway Transit Center
Richmond Parkway Transit Center
The Richmond Parkway Transit Center or RPTC is a park and ride lot and bus terminal located in Richmond, California. It is named after the adjacent Richmond Parkway. It serves as a transfer point for the WestCAT and AC Transit...
, and Richmond BART and Amtrak station
Richmond Station (California)
Richmond Station is an at-grade Bay Area Rapid Transit and Amtrak station located in Richmond, California. Each system is served by an island platform. The Capitol Corridor, San Joaquins, California Zephyr, and Coast Starlight stop here and connect to BART. The station is currently being rebuilt...
in Richmond
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
and El Cerrito del Norte BART
El Cerrito del Norte (BART station)
El Cerrito del Norte, frequenly shorterned to del Norte, is one of two BART stations in El Cerrito, California, just east of the Cutting Boulevard interchange of Interstate 80 parallel to San Pablo Avenue and the Ohlone Greenway straddling the Richmond border. Del Norte opened to revenue service on...
in El Cerrito
El Cerrito, California
-Transportation:The city's primary transportation infrastructure consists of the El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte BART stations along with several local bus lines, operated by AC Transit, providing access to the surrounding area and the nearby cities of Albany, Berkeley and Richmond...
. This is in addition to services around San Pablo and to El Sobrante
El Sobrante, California
El Sobrante is a census-designated place in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 12,669 at the 2010 census...
. There is transbay service directly to the San Francisco Transbay Terminal
San Francisco Transbay Terminal
San Francisco Transbay Transit Terminal, or simply Transbay Terminal, was a transportation complex in San Francisco, California, USA, located roughly in the center of the rectangle bounded north–south by Mission Street and Howard Street, and east–west by Beale Street and 2nd Street...
. Owl service to Richmond, Pinole
Pinole, California
Pinole is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 18,390 at the 2010 census. It is one of many small “bedroom communities” along the I-80 corridor in Western Contra Costa County. It is located about northeast of San Francisco, and approximately a half-hour...
, and El Cerrito. AC also provides school service high and middle schools of the West Contra Costa Unified School District
West Contra Costa Unified School District
The West Contra Costa Unified School District is the school district for western Contra Costa County, California. It is based in Richmond, California...
. WestCat
WestCAT
WestCAT is a public transportation service in western Contra Costa County . It is a service of the Western Contra Costa Transit Authority....
provides a link between Contra Costa College
Contra Costa College
Contra Costa College, in San Pablo, California, is the west campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. It is part of the California community colleges system, one of the three college systems in California.- History :...
and Hercules Transit Center
Hercules Transit Center
Hercules Transit Center is a major commuter hub in the western Contra Costa County city of Hercules, California. It is anchored by WestCAT bus services. The center was originally on San Pablo Avenue...
along San Pablo Avenue a major north-south arterial boulevard. San Pablo Avenue is home to a BRT
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
line, the 72R that connects the college with Downtown Oakland
Downtown Oakland
Downtown Oakland is the central business district of Oakland, California; roughly bounded by 6th Street or the Oakland Estuary on the southwest, Interstate 980 on the northwest, Grand Avenue on the northeast, and Lake Merritt on the east....
and BART
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy-rail public transit and subway system connects San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART operates five lines on of track with 44 stations in four counties...
. The college services as a major transit hub for buses and the city. Interstate 80 flanks the eastern boundary of the city. Friends of El Cerrito del Norte, the closest BART station propose that the system be extended to Hercules through the city.
Contra Costa College
Located at 2600 Mission Bell Drive, Contra Costa CollegeContra Costa College
Contra Costa College, in San Pablo, California, is the west campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. It is part of the California community colleges system, one of the three college systems in California.- History :...
is the west campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. It is part of the California community colleges system, one of the three college systems in California.
Public libraries
The San Pablo Library of the Contra Costa County LibraryContra Costa County Library
Contra Costa County Library is a public library that is part of Contra Costa County, California, United States. There are 26 community libraries, access to electronic information via a website, over 455,000 cardholders and more than 7 million items borrowed annually...
is located in San Pablo.