Hercules, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Hercules, California | |||
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| Nickname: The Dynamic City | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | California | ||
| County | Contra Costa | ||
| Incorporated | 1900 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Ed Balico | ||
| - Vice mayor | Joanne Ward | ||
| - City Council | Charleen Raines Joe Eddy McDonald Kris Valstad |
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| - State Leg. | Sen. Tom Torlakson (D) Asm. Mark DeSaulnier (D) |
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| - U. S. Congress | George Miller (D) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 18.3 sq mi (47.4 km²) | ||
| - Land | 6.5 sq mi (16.8 km²) | ||
| - Water | 11.8 sq mi (30.6 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 79 ft (24 m) | ||
| Population (2005 (est)) | |||
| - Total | 24,109 | ||
| - Density | 1,010.1/sq mi (390.0/km²) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP code | 94547 | ||
| Area code(s) | 510 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-33308 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1658738 | ||
| Website: http://www.ci.hercules.ca.us/ | |||
Hercules is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 19,488 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 Pinole to the southwest, Rodeo to the north, as well as Martinez to the east via Route 4.
The population generally ranges between middle class to affluent and is racially diverse, Asian Americans being the largest group. The town has some light manufacturing and high-tech industry (most notably Bio-Rad Laboratories, a Fortune 500 company, is based here) as well as various commercial and retail activities. Most of the housing and other building stock is of recent construction. New commercial and residential development is ongoing, including the development of the town's waterfront near several historic buildings that remain from the original town (see history below).
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[edit] History
The town was established as company housing by the California Powder Works in 1881 when it relocated its operations from San Francisco. Hercules was named after the company's leading brand of explosive, in turn named after the mythical hero. Powder manufacturing was an extremely dangerous endeavor at the time, and uncontrolled explosions were frequent (indeed 59 workers died in the first 40 years of operation at this site). Hercules' isolated location at the time, plus its proximity to rail and water transportation along San Pablo Bay, made it an ideal choice. Some time during the 1940s, long time employee William Darke was named sheriff, becoming Hercules' first law enforcement officer.
Considerable study has been made of the heavy metal lead accumulated as upper layer soil contamination from prior air pollution stack emissions from the California Powder Works operations.[1]
By the Second World War, the plant had diversified to produce fertilizers and other chemical products. Eventually the facility was out-competed by foreign manufacturers, and the plant was closed in 1976. However, by this time the surrounding area was experiencing rapid growth as the commuter belt moved further outward from San Francisco. By the mid 1970’s Centex Homes and other developers began to build new subdivisions and transform Hercules into the residential suburb it is known as today.
Hercules was one of the first cities in the United States to develop a comprehensive Noise Element of the General Plan in the 1970s, which work included production of noise contour maps for all major highways and arterials, as well as a city wide mitigation plan.
[edit] Current issues
A current controversy involves the regulation of new development. Residents are divided on how best to balance the preservation of the undeveloped land around the city against building of new housing and commercial developments. The redevelopment of the city's formerly industrial waterfront as an upscale mixed use commercial/residential district that will include the construction of a new ferry terminal to provide direct service to San Francisco and a new rail stop for Amtrak Capitol Corridor services.
On May 23, 2006, the Hercules city council voted unanimously to use its power of eminent domain to prevent Wal-Mart from building a store on an undeveloped 17-acre property overlooking San Pablo Bay which it deemed incompatible with the industrial waterfront redevelopment project.[2]
[edit] Geography
Hercules is located at (38.007489, -122.258742)[3], at the southeast shore of the San Pablo Bay. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.3 square miles (47.4 km²), of which, 6.5 square miles (16.8 km²) of it is land and 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²) of it (64.59%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 19,488 people, 6,423 households, and 4,997 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,008.2 people per square mile (1,161.2/km²). There were 6,546 housing units at an average density of 1,010.5/sq mi (390.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 27.98% White, 18.78% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 42.73% Asian, 0.46% Pacific Islander, 4.47% from other races, and 5.33% from two or more races. 10.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,423 households out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.2% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.46.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $75,196, and the median income for a family was $82,214. Males had a median income of $50,672 versus $40,433 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,699. About 1.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Miscellaneous
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- The explosives manufactured at Hercules played a significant and decisive role in the Army's efforts to contain the fires started by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, as recounted by General Funston.[5]
- Hercules's sister city is
Tsushima, Japan.
[edit] References
- ^ M. Papineau and C. Michael Hogan, Air quality analysis of stationary sources, Hercules, Ca., Earth Metrics inc. (1976)
- ^ San Francisco Chronicle. "Vote goes against Wal-Mart", San Francisco Chronicle, Knight Ridder, May 24, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-05-24.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ How the Army Worked to Save San Francisco, by Brigadier General Frederick Funston (U.S.A.). Cosmoplotian Magazine, July 1906. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
[edit] External links
- Official City Website
- Waterfront Watch, a development news blog
- Hercules, California is at coordinates Coordinates:
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