Access and Location:
Contra Costa County is located to the east of the city and county of San Francisco and is one of the nine counties comprising the San Francisco/ Oakland Bay Area.
It is approximately 20 miles from the city of San Francisco and 30 miles from the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) . It is also located approximately 20 miles from the Oakland International Airport (OAK).
The county is served by the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) linking Antioch in the far eastern portion of the county with Oakland, San Francisco, and the suburbs of San Mateo County and Alameda County.
It is a heavy-rail system with five lines on 104 miles of track operating in four Bay Area counties and is the fifth busiest heavy rail rapid transit system in the United States.
BART serves as a highly successful rapid transit and commuter rail system, and has provided a valuable public transportation alternative for the commuters and residents of the Bay Area. It is continually being modernized to keep up with the county’s public transportation needs.
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Climate:
The climate varies throughout the county due to variances between the coastal areas and inland parts of the county. In general, however, temperatures range from 35 degrees in winter to highs often reaching the 90’s in the summer. There are an average of 57 rain days a year with average annual rainfall of around 18 inches.
Communities and Lifestyle:
With San Francisco, Oakland, and Alameda County at your back, Contra Costa and the Diablo Valley lay before you, punctuated by the majestic peak of Mt. Diablo as its centerpiece.
Standing over 3800 feet high, Mt. Diablo and its 20,000 acre State Park provide the focal point for a stunning backdrop of this lush valley.
But lovely geography is not all there is to offer in Contra Costa! With Walnut Creek serving as a financial hub of the East Bay and large industrial, manufacturing, and service employers, the local communities enjoy a relatively stable employment base.
Incorporated in 1914, Walnut Creek has become the financial, cultural, and business center of the East Bay. Located at the junction of Highway 24 and Highway 680, this location continues to serve as a convenient access point for commerce and business commuters to larger Oakland and San Francisco.
At approximately 65,000 residents, it is not as large as neighboring Concord, but provides the kind of sophisticated cosmopolitan lifestyle favored by those who value entertainment, fine-dining, night-life, and cultural pursuits.
Walnut Creek is also the home of Rossmoor, a gated adult community known for its well-groomed golf course and safe, secure, and relaxing environment.
Diverse industries, quality service providers, excellent schools, and low crime make quality of life a real attraction to those moving into the area.
There are recreational opportunities are here as well. With the San Joaquin / Sacramento River Delta to the east, the San Francisco Bay to the west, and an abundance of reservoirs and streams, fishermen, water-lovers, or anyone looking for a spot to relax will find this a great place to call home.
The communities of Orinda, Moraga, and Lafayette (also known by their combined name of “Lamorinda”) serve as an upscale suburban home for many executives working in Oakland or across the Bay in San Francisco.
Pleasant Hill, once a sleepy little agricultural and ranching community, has become somewhat of a rival to larger and more established Walnut Creek as a place to raise your family. Many of the local public schools have received the coveted California Distinguished School award. Only the top 5% of schools who apply receive this award, and it shows the community commitment to public education.
A new downtown center, Crescent Drive, joins other shopping centers in the city, making this a great place to live and an easy place to like.
Martinez, the county seat, is a charming little town overflowing with history – much of it from pre-California statehood. The downtown is a good place to take a leisurely stroll by the antique shops and family owned restaurants, many of which have been in the same hands for generations. Don’t forget to take a short walk past the Martinez Train Station on your way to the Marina. This is the resting spot for many sailors and power boaters about to travel the Carquinez Straits and get a water view of the coastal communities of Crockett, Rodeo, Port Costa, and Hercules on the way to the San Francisco Bay.
Pittsburg, too, has a Marina and a newer development of homes right on the water! If you’re lucky, you will be there in time for the Pittsburg Seafood Festival or the Pittsburg Restaurant Tour.
The southern part of Contra Costa is made up of the upscale communities of Alamo, Diablo, Blackhawk, San Ramon, and Danville. If elegant celebrity-style homes and country clubs are what you are looking for, this is the spot for you. The Danville 4th of July parade and a host of other family activities make this feel like a little bit of Midwest Americana combined with Beverly Hills!
The southern-most city in Contra Costa is San Ramon, with a large business footprint of its own and home to Chevron Oil Company, Pacific Bell, and many nationally-known companies. But this is not just a great place to work – it offers a real sense of community as well as a commitment to quality public education.
Parks and Recreation:
Pleasant Hill Park and Recreation District
City of Walnut Creek Recreation Department
Golf:
Boundary Oaks Golf Course – Walnut Creek
Crow Canyon Country Club – Danville
Contra Costa Country Club – Pleasant Hill
other Contra Costa County golf courses
Transportation and Services:
Pleasant Hill BART redevelopment project
Local Charitable and Community Service Organizations:
Contra Costa Search and Rescue
Citizens Emergence Response Team (CERT)
Shopping:
Shopping Centers in Central Contra Costa County
Additional Information:
All in all, Contra Costa County has a lot to offer and a lot to enjoy. There is so much to tell about this thriving area it is hard to do it justice.
If you have any specific questions regarding any of these subjects, or anything not mentioned here, we are happy to provide any additional information or offer specific guides to the many amenities you will find!
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