Pinole, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pinole, California | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Contra Costa |
| Settled (by Europeans) | 1772 |
| Incorporated | June 25, 1903 |
| Government | |
| - Type | council-manager |
| - City Manager | Belinda B. Espinosa |
| - Mayor | Maria L. Alegria |
| - Mayor pro Tem | Peter Murray |
| Area | |
| - City | 13.3 sq mi (34.4 km²) |
| - Land | 5.2 sq mi (13.5 km²) |
| - Water | 8.1 sq mi (20.9 km²) |
| Elevation | 23 ft (7 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - City | 19,039 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 94564 |
| Website: http://www.ci.pinole.ca.us/ | |
Pinole is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 19,039 at the 2000 census. It is one of many small “bedroom communities” along the I-80 corridor in Western Contra Costa County. It is located about 20 miles northeast of San Francisco, and approximately a half-hour drive (without traffic) from either Oakland or San Francisco. Neighboring towns are Richmond and San Pablo to the southwest, and Hercules to the northeast. The unincorporated area of El Sobrante lies to the south.
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[edit] History
The name derives from "pinole", a Native American word for a kind of flour made from the seeds of maize, chia, and various other grasses and annual herbs. An expedition under Don Pedro Fages was said to have run out of provisions while exploring the area, and been fed pinole by a local village, and so the Spaniards named their camp "El Pinole". In 1823, Don Ignacio Martinez, commandant of the Presidio of San Francisco, received a land grant of more than 17,000 acres (69 km²) from the Mexican government. This land became known as "El Pinole". Don Ignacio Martinez built a hacienda in Pinole Valley at the present side of Pinole Valley Park. During the 1850s Bernardo Fernandez, a Portuguese immigrant, started a trading facility on the shores of San Pablo Bay and eventually built the historic Fernandez Mansion which still stands today at the end of Tennent Avenue. From these early beginnings a small but thriving community grew into the city we now know as Pinole.
The settlement grew with the coming of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1878 and the establishment of the California Powder Works in nearby Hercules. During this period this city had an active waterfront and was a regional commercial and banking center. The City of Pinole was incorporated in 1903.
Pinole and the surrounding area grew rapidly during the Post World War II boom. With the coming of I-80 in 1958 the town evolved in a suburban bedroom community within the San Francisco / Oakland Commuter Belt. Much of its original industry was displaced during this time and the town became predominantly residential.
Today, the town is locally known for its “big box” shopping store district along Fitzgerald Ave. Pinole Vista Shopping Center which is continuous with Richmond's Hilltop Area. The downtown area still retains many turn-of-the-century (1900’s) building stock and is being preserved by the city’s development agency as a historic area.
[edit] Geography and environmental features
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 34.4 km² (13.3 mi²). 13.5 km² (5.2 mi²) of it is land and 20.9 km² (8.1 mi²) of it (60.89%) is water.
The city of Pinole has habitat areas that support the endangered species Santa Cruz Tarweed on the California coastal prairie ecosystem. A colony of this rare plant was discovered during preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for a proposed shopping center on the east side of Interstate Highway 80 in the late 1980s. Subsequently a plan was developed by the city to conduct replanting of this tarweed on the slopes within the right-of-way of Interstate Highway 80.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 19,039 people, 6,743 households, and 5,057 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,413.7/km² (3,662.3/mi²). There were 6,828 housing units at an average density of 507.0/km² (1,313.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.39% White, 11.11% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 21.71% Asian, 0.37% Pacific Islander, 5.81% from other races, and 6.03% from two or more races. 13.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,743 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $62,256, and the median income for a family was $70,172. Males had a median income of $47,335 versus $38,019 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,170. About 3.5% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Popular Culture
[edit] Music
- Green Day members Billie Joe and Mike Dirnt attended Pinole Valley High School.
- Fleshies singer John "Geek" Mink, is from Pinole.
- The defunct S.P.A.M. Records collective originated in Pinole.
- Suburbs Vs. Cities is a Ska band from Pinole.
- Dance singer Jocelyn_Enriquez also attended Pinole Valley High School.
[edit] Performing Arts
- East Bay Improv, an improvisational troupe, performs at the Pinole Community Theater.
- The Pinole Community Players have been performing in Pinole since 1986.
[edit] Sports
- 1992 Heisman Trophy Winner Gino Torretta is from Pinole.
- NFL offensive lineman, Darrick Brilz attended Pinole Valley High School.
[edit] External links
- Official City of Pinole website
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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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 |
