Danville, California

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Danville is a town located in a part of Contra Costa County, California called the San Ramon Valley, United States. The population was 41,715 at the 2000 census. It is considered an upscale suburb of Oakland and San Francisco.

Contents

[edit] Characteristics

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. Known for its prime real estate, Forbes Magazine rated Diablo (a subdivision of Danville) the most expensive ZIP code in the United States. Danville is filled with beautiful homes embedded on some of the best golf courses in California. It is in the local area still referred to as the Town of Danville and it still preserves the characteristics of a town — being compact, largely self sufficient as far as shopping goes, and having only a couple commercial centers. Its downtown is noted for its somewhat rustic charm, intensively upgraded owing to its now extremely affluent demographics and its popularity as a regional destination for dining and light shopping. With heavy restriction 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, nor, with the exception of a Costco location near its boundary with San Ramon, does it 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.

Every Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Danville hosts a farmer's market, where merchants gather under makeshift tents and umbrellas to sell a wide variety of goods. One can buy all sorts of fresh goods from the market, from freshly grown fruits and vegetables, to kettle corn, to baking goods, to flowers, to drinks, to olive oil, to the services of a musician who usually entertains people passing by. The market can be found on a weekly basis next to the San Ramon Valley Museum.

The Iron Horse Regional Trail runs through Danville. Extending all the way from Dublin to Concord, the trail passes right through this town. Bikers, skaters, and joggers usually find the Trail a source of outdoor recreation and exercise. Furthermore, the Trail is relatively isolated from the heavy traffic on the main road; so it's a safe path to travel on. The trail is also close to all the major cafes and restaurants in Danville, so bikers who are doing a long trip often stop in Danville to eat or drink.

The Danville Library hosts a number of community events, such as the annual Halloween activities for kids and book sales.

Danville is home to two main public high schools: Monte Vista High School and San Ramon Valley High School, which both share a longstanding cross-town rivalry. There is a continuation high school called Del Amigo, which is stationed right next to San Ramon Valley High. It is also home to the private and exclusive Athenian School, a college preparatory school for grades 6-12 that is nestled in the foothills of Mount Diablo State Park.

There is also a town theatre called "The Village Theatre," where productions of mostly broadway shows are produced.

The "Danville Bubble" or simply, "the bubble" refers to the sheltered, upper–class feel characteristic of Danville. The phrase is a staple in Danville high school vernacular.

[edit] History

Danville is named, in part, after Daniel Inman, who bought 400 acres (1.6 km²) there in 1854 with his brother Andrew, using their Gold Rush earnings. They rejected the name "Inmanville" and settled on Danville. However, "According to the modest Dan, the name was chosen as much or more out of respect for Andrew's mother-in-law, who was born and raised near Danville, Ky.," says one historical account. It was initially a farming community, switching from wheat to fruits and nuts after the Southern Pacific Railroad built a spur line through the area in 1891. It developed as a residential suburb starting in 1947 when the first sizable housing tracts were constructed and its population boomed in the 1970s and 1980s.

[edit] Geography

Location of Danville, California

Danville is located at 37°48′41″N, 121°58′27″W (37.811476, -121.974192)GR1.

Adjoining towns and cities are San Ramon to the south, Diablo, and Alamo to the north.

Interstate 680 serves as the main means of transport out of the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 46.9 km² (18.1 mi²). All of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

Danville is set in a narrow section of the San Ramon Valley with the Las Trampas Ridge to the west and the Diablo Range to the east. The most prominent landmark of Danville is the backdrop of Mount Diablo, which stands to the east at 3,849 feet and provides a picturesque backdrop for Danville and neighboring towns and cities. Sycamore Creek drains some of the Mount Diablo slopes and flows through Danville.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 41,715 people, 14,816 households, and 11,867 families residing in the town. The population density was 890.3/km² (2,305.6/mi²). There were 15,130 housing units at an average density of 322.9/km² (836.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.30% White, 0.92% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 9.00% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.91% from other races, and 2.55% from two or more races. 4.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,816 households out of which 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.7% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $114,064, and the median income for a family was $125,867. Males had a median income of $93,953 versus $53,235 for females. The per capita income for the town was $50,773. About 1.3% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Population History of Danville from the U.S. Census Bureau

(X): Census figures taken prior to incorporation.

(Z): Area reported as Alamo-Danville during the 1970 census. (The separate communities of Alamo and Danville were not returned separately by the census.)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

[edit] Seasonal events

Spring:

  • Devil Mountain 5K/10K run

Summer:

  • The Fourth of July parade is popular as reflecting its former small town values and always draws the local and regional incumbent politicians, including usually the Eleventh Congressional District representative.
  • Hot Summer Nights held every-other Thursday on Hartz Avenue in Downtown Danville in July and August features 100's of vintage pre-1960's automobiles on display with live music.

Fall:

  • The Fall Arts Festival in late October draws craftspersons and artists with their works of highest quality.

Winter:

  • Annual Christmas Tree lighting

[edit] Famous Residents

Danville, and especially Blackhawk, has been the home to many famous local athletes, coaches, writers, and celebrities who have passed through throughout the years.

[edit] Parks

[edit] Schools

Danville Schools are included in the San Ramon Valley Unified District

  • Baldwin (John) Elementary School
  • Das Montessori Kinderhaus School (private)
  • Del Amigo High (Continuation)
  • Diablo Vista Middle School
  • Fountainhead Montessori School (private)
  • Garden Montessori School (private)
  • Green Valley Elementary School
  • Greenbrook Elementary School
  • Los Cerros Middle School
  • Montair Elementary School
  • Monte Vista High School
  • San Ramon Valley Christian Academy (private Christian)
  • San Ramon Valley High School
  • St. Isidore's School (private Roman Catholic)
  • Stone Valley Middle School
  • Sycamore Valley Elementary School
  • Tassajara Hills Elementary School
  • The Athenian School (private-boarding and college preparatory)
  • Vista Grande Elementary School
  • Charlotte Wood Middle School

[edit] Museums and historic sites

[edit] External links

  v • d • e Contra Costa County, California
County Seat: Martinez
Incorporated
places

Antioch • Brentwood • Clayton • Concord • Danville • El Cerrito • Hercules • Lafayette • Martinez • Moraga • Oakley • Orinda • Pinole • Pittsburg • Pleasant Hill • Richmond • San Pablo • San Ramon • Walnut Creek
CDPs

Alamo • Bay Point • Bayview-Montalvin • Bethel Island • Blackhawk-Camino Tassajara • Byron • Clyde • Crockett • Diablo • Discovery Bay • East Richmond Heights • El Sobrante • Kensington • Knightsen • Mountain View • Pacheco • Port Costa • Rodeo • Rollingwood • Tara Hills • Vine Hill • Waldon
Other
unincorporated
communities

Canyon • North Richmond • Selby • Tormey
School districts

Acalanes Union High • Antioch Unified • Brentwood Union • Byron Union • Canyon • Knightsen • Lafayette • Liberty Union High • Martinez Unified • Moraga • Mt. Diablo Unified • Oakley Union Elem. • Orinda Union • Pittsburg Unified • San Ramon Valley Unified • John Swett Unified • Walnut Creek • West Contra Costa Unified
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