Castro Valley, California

Castro Valley, California
Castro Valley, 2022
Castro Valley, 2022
Location of Castro Valley within Alameda County, California
Location of Castro Valley within Alameda County, California
Castro Valley, California is located in the United States
Castro Valley, California
Castro Valley, California
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 37°41′39″N 122°05′11″W / 37.69417°N 122.08639°W / 37.69417; -122.08639[1]
Country United States
State California
CountyAlameda
Named forDon Guillermo Castro
Government
 • State SenateNancy Skinner (D)[2]
 • State AssemblyLiz Ortega (D)[3]
 • U. S. CongressEric Swalwell (D)[4]
Area
 • Total
17.07 sq mi (44.21 km2)
 • Land16.85 sq mi (43.64 km2)
 • Water0.22 sq mi (0.57 km2)  1.68%
Elevation161 ft (49 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
66,441
 • Density3,943.55/sq mi (1,522.58/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
94546, 94552, 94541,
Area code(s)510, 341
FIPS code06-11964
GNIS feature IDs1658237, 2407987

Castro Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Alameda County, California, United States. At the 2010 census, it was the fifth most populous unincorporated area in California.[7] The population was 66,441 at the 2020 census.[8]

Castro Valley is named after Guillermo Castro, a noted 19th-century Californio ranchero who owned the land where the community is located.

History

[edit]
Castro Valley is named after Don Guillermo Castro, a noted Californio ranchero who owned much of the area.

Before the arrival of European settlers the area was settled by the Chocheño (also spelled Chochenyo or Chocenyo) subdivision of the Ohlone Native Americans.

With the arrival of Europeans, they established Mission San Jose in 1797. The area Castro Valley now occupies was part of the extensive colony of New Spain in what was the province of Alta California.

Castro Valley was part of the original 28,000 acre (110 km2) land grant given to Castro in 1840, called Rancho San Lorenzo. This land grant included Hayward, San Lorenzo, and Castro Valley, including Crow Canyon, Cull Canyon, and Palomares Canyons. Castro had a gambling habit and had to sell off portions of his land to pay gambling debts. The last of his holding was sold in a sheriff's sale in 1864 to Faxon Atherton for $400,000.[9]

Atherton (after whom the city of Atherton is named[9]) in turn began selling off his portion in smaller parcels. Two men named Cull (the namesake of Cull Canyon) and Luce bought some 2,400 acres (10 km2) and began running a steam-operated saw mill in Redwood Canyon. The Jensen brothers also bought land from Atherton in 1867.

In 1866, Redwood school was built, the first public school in the area. Many Portuguese families immigrated to the surrounding canyons (especially Palomares Canyon) and farmed large amounts of land, where their descendants remain today. In the 1870s, Lake Chabot, a reservoir and popular park, was built by Chinese laborers living at Camp Yema-Po. During the 1940s and 1950s, Castro Valley was known for its chicken ranches. Later it developed into a bedroom community, where workers live and commute to their jobs in the surrounding communities.[10]

Geography

[edit]

Lake Chabot lies in the northwest part of Castro Valley. Directly to the west is San Leandro. Hayward is to the south. Dublin, Pleasanton, and San Ramon are to the east.

The eastern hills of Castro Valley constitute the headwaters of the San Lorenzo Creek watershed and the origin of several creeks that flow into San Lorenzo Creek: Bolinas, Castro Valley, Chabot, Crow, Cull, Eden, Hollis, Kelly Canyon, Norris, and Palomares Creeks.

Interstate 580, with BART tracks in the center, near east Castro Valley

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19404,145
196037,120
197044,76020.6%
198044,011−1.7%
199048,61910.5%
200057,29217.8%
201061,3887.1%
202066,4418.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1850–1870[12][13] 1880-1890[14]
1900[15] 1910[16] 1920[17]
1930[18] 1940[19] 1950[20]
1960[21] 1970[22] 1980[23]
1990[24] 2000[25] 2010[26]

2010

[edit]

At the 2010 census 61,388 people, 22,348 households, and 16,112 families resided in the CDP. The population density was 3,690.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,424.8/km2). There were 23,392 housing units at an average density of 1,382.6 units per square mile (533.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 58.0% White (49.5% non-Hispanic), 6.9% African American (6.6% non-Hispanic), 0.5% Native American, 21.4% Asian, 0.7% Pacific Islander, 6.1% from other races, and 6.3% from two or more races. 17.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.[27]

The census reported that 98.0% of the population lived in households, 0.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1.5% were institutionalized.

Of the 22,348 households 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 54.3% were opposite-sex married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present. 5.0% of households were unmarried opposite-sex partnerships and 1.0% were same-sex married couples or partnerships. 21.7% of households were one person and 8.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15.

The age distribution was 23.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% aged 18 to 24, 24.5% aged 25 to 44, 31.1% aged 45 to 64, and 13.4% 65 or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

There were 23,392 housing units, of which 22,348 were occupied, of which 69.0% were owner-occupied and 31.0% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%. 68.8% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 29.2% lived in rental housing units.

2000

[edit]

At the 2000 census there were 57,292 people, 21,606 households, and 15,016 families in the CDP. The population density was 3,971.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,533.4/km2). There were 22,003 housing units at an average density of 1,525.3 units per square mile (588.9 units/km2).[28] Of the 21,606 households 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 23.2% of households were one person and 9.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.05.

The age distribution was 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median household income was $76,197 and the median family income was $91,713 as of a 2008 estimate.[29] About 2.7% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Rowell Rodeo Park

Economy

[edit]

The economy of Castro Valley consists largely of the provision of goods and services for local residents. Being a primarily residential community, only about 5% of the area has been developed for commercial uses.[30]

The greatest number of people (6,683) are employed by the health care and social assistance industry, followed by the retail trade industry with 1,073 employees and accommodation and food service with 1,044 employees.[31] The health care and social assistance industry provided $1.1 billion in sales, shipments, receipts or revenue in 2012, which is the highest of all industries, and it is followed by the retail trade industry, which had a value of $324.1 million in sales, shipments, receipts or revenue.[31]

The median household income of residents was $108,488 in 2019,[32] compared to a median income of $99,406 for all of Alameda County.[33] The poverty rate was 6.9%,[32] compared to 8.6% in all of Alameda County.[33]

Art and culture

[edit]
Holy Cross Orthodox Monastery

Castro Valley is one of the sites where Joseph Eichler built some of the 10,000 or so homes he built in the Bay Area.[34] Castro Valley has a one-screen movie theater, the Chabot Cinema. The Castro Village complex on Castro Valley Boulevard is widely considered the commercial center of town.[35] The Harry Rowell Rodeo Ranch is located in Castro Valley and is managed by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District. Rodeos are held there regularly.[36]

Historical landmarks and museums

[edit]
Site of the first public school in Castro Valley
Location19200 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley, California
Coordinates37°42′24″N 122°04′26″W / 37.7067°N 122.073983°W / 37.7067; -122.073983
Reference no.776[37]

First public school in Castro Valley

[edit]

The first public school in Castro Valley is a designated California Historical Landmark. A plaque is placed at the original site. The one-room schoolhouse was donated for "educational purposes only," by Josiah Grover Brickell in 1866. Brickell provided the salary for the first teacher. During the day the teacher taught children and in the evening they taught farmhands.[37] The school burned down in 1901. It was rebuilt and burned down again in 1920. A new school was built on another property.[38]

[edit]

The Adobe Art Gallery is a program operated by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District promoting the visual arts and uses the Adobe building, built as a Works Progress Administration project in 1936.[39]

Law and government

[edit]

Castro Valley is an unincorporated community and thus is governed directly by the County of Alameda. There is no city police force, with policing provided by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol. Most of the community has fire protection provided by the Alameda County Fire Department, while the Five Canyons neighborhood has fire protection provided by the Fairview Fire Protection District. Castro Valley Sanitary District[40] provides refuse and sewer collection services for the majority of the community, with wastewater processed at the Oro Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Lorenzo.

Efforts to incorporate Castro Valley have been voted down by its residents at the polls in both 1956 and 2002.[10][41] In lieu of a city council, Castro Valley is represented by a seven-member Municipal Advisory Council, which is an advisory body appointed to advise the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on local issues.[42]

Education

[edit]

According to the 2015–2019 American Community Survey, educational attainment for Castro Valley residents at least 25 years old is 91.5% high school graduate and 44.9% bachelor's degree.[32]

Public schools

[edit]

Castro Valley is primarily served by the Castro Valley Unified School District,[43] though portions of it are served by the Hayward Unified School District (South of I-580 and West of Grove Way) and the San Lorenzo Unified School District (westernmost part). Overall, the Castro Valley Unified School District serves almost 9,000 students.[44]

The main high school is Castro Valley High School with over 2,700 students.[45] Castro Valley also has Redwood High School, an alternative high school with approximately 193 students in 2005.[46]

  • Castro Valley has two public middle schools: Canyon Middle School and Creekside Middle School.
  • Castro Valley has nine public elementary schools: Castro Valley, Chabot, Independent, Jensen Ranch, Marshall, Palomares, Proctor, Stanton, and Vannoy.

The school district includes the Castro Valley Adult School.

Private schools

[edit]

There is also a Roman Catholic school, called Our Lady of Grace (K–8), which is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland. Redwood Christian Schools has one elementary school (K–5) Redwood Christian Elementary.[47]

Transportation

[edit]
Castro Valley traffic

Interstate 580, which approaches from the east, makes a turn northward at Castro Valley. Interstate 238, which originates in Castro Valley, connects I-580 to Interstate 880. In addition to being served by those two freeways, Castro Valley is served with public transportation by bus system AC Transit, and rapid transit system BART with a station.

The primary local east–west arterial road is Castro Valley Boulevard, while Lake Chabot Road, Redwood Road and Crow Canyon Road are the major north–south arterials.[48]

Historically, Castro Valley Boulevard was part of the first transcontinental highway system, the Lincoln Highway.[49]

Through BART, Castro Valley has links to all three of the San Francisco Bay Area's major commercial airports, though the closest by distance is Oakland International Airport.

The three crosses of the Neighborhood Church form a prominent local landmark.
Palomares Hills (on the east side of Castro Valley) looking south toward Palomares Canyon
Eden Medical Center

Services

[edit]

Eden Medical Center operates in Castro Valley. It is a Sutter Health facility, and provides basic emergency medical services for the area.[50] Castro Valley Sanitary District runs wastewater treatment facilities, and was selected as California's best small wastewater system in 2002 and 2018.[51]

Notable people

[edit]
* Ernesto Nava Villa, last known son of Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa. Resident of Castro Valley. Passed away on Dec. 31, 2009.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  2. ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  3. ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  4. ^ "California's 14th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  5. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  6. ^ "Castro Valley". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  7. ^ List of largest census-designated places in California
  8. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Castro Valley CDP, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Gudde, Erwin Gustav. "California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names" University of California Press 2004. 495 pp.
  10. ^ a b Lorge, L, Phelps, R, Weston, D. "Castro Valley" Arcadia Publishing, 2005. 128 pp.
  11. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  26. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  27. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Castro Valley CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  28. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  29. ^ "American FactFinder". Factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  30. ^ "Ch. 4" (PDF). Castro Valley General Plan 2012.
  31. ^ a b "Castro Valley, CDP. U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Economic Census, 2012 Economic Census of Island Areas, and 2012 Nonemployer Statistics". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  32. ^ a b c "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  33. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Alameda County, California". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  34. ^ Jones, Carolyn (June 8, 2000). "Vanishing Eichlers / Devotees try to curb loss of 1950s-era modernist tract homes". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  35. ^ "Castro Village Shopping Center". Castrovillage.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  36. ^ "index". Rowellranchrodeo.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  37. ^ a b "Site of the first public school in Castro Valley". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  38. ^ Christian, John. "Other Early Castro Valley Schools (That Weren't Borrowed, Stolen, Or Made to Disappear)". Local Voices. Hayward Area Historical Society. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  39. ^ "Adobe Art Gallery". Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  40. ^ "Castro Valley Sanitary District - Effective environmental services since 1939". cvsan.org. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  41. ^ Holzmeister, Karen. "C.V. had city plans way back in 1949; Incorporation last". The Daily Review (Hayward, CA).
  42. ^ "Castro Valley MAC". Castro Valley MAC.
  43. ^ "Welcome to CVUSD — Castro Valley Unified". cv.k12.ca.us. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  44. ^ "Our Schools — Castro Valley Unified School District". Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
  45. ^ "Castro Valley High School Overview 2024 by USNews". 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  46. ^ "Redwood Alternative High School/Redwood Continuation High School". Archived from the original on March 2, 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
  47. ^ "Redwood Christian Schools". Redwood Christian Schools. 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  48. ^ "Ch. 6" (PDF). Castro Valley General Plan.
  49. ^ "Map of the Lincoln Highway". Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  50. ^ "Eden Medical Center". edenmedicalcenter.org. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  51. ^ "CVSan Named Best Small Sewer System in California". Castro Valley, CA Patch. April 18, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  52. ^ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0073693/bio [user-generated source]
  53. ^ "David Bingham | San Jose Earthquakes". www.sjearthquakes.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2011.
  54. ^ "MusicMight :: Artists :: EZ-STREET". rockdetector.com. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  55. ^ "SportsNet Central Bios | CSNBayArea.com | CSNCalifornia.com". CSNBayArea.com. 10 September 2012. Archived from the original on 16 December 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  56. ^ Darren Brazil
  57. ^ Ganahl, Jane (August 30, 1998). "MODERN MATURITY: Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich on how his band has survived the tests of time and the rock life". San Francisco Examiner. Hearst Communications, Inc. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  58. ^ Simmons, Rusty (March 30, 2005). "It's easy to see that catchers are rising stars / Six rated among nation's top 40". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  59. ^ "Sarah Clatterbuck". Behind the Tech. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  60. ^ a b []
  61. ^ "Jaguars sack Jack Del Rio, will sell team". Espn.go.com. November 30, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  62. ^ Klatte, Arline. "Profile: Val Diamond". E-Guide Entertainment on the Gate. Hearst Communications Inc. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2008.
  63. ^ "Garret Dillahunt". IMDb. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  64. ^ "Craig Ferguson (b. 1970) hockey statistics and profile at". Hockeydb.com. April 8, 1970. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  65. ^ "Raiders' kicker pleads innocent to DUI charges. Category: Page One from". The Berkeley Daily Planet. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  66. ^ "Brian Keyser Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac". Baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  67. ^ "Galleries". CNN. August 3, 1970. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013.
  68. ^ "Nick Lima". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  69. ^ "Q&A with Borat star Luenell, headlining at Tommy T's this weekend - Pete's Popcorn Picks - November 2008 - contra costa". Diablomag.com. November 28, 2008. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  70. ^ Mccarron, Anthony (October 4, 2008). "Where are they now? Former Yankee Kevin Maas is a solid investment". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012.
  71. ^ Garofoli, Joe (September 5, 2008). "Rachel Maddow Talks to Us on GOP Culture War (Podcast)". SFGATE.com. Hearst Communications, Inc. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  72. ^ Chirazi, Steffan (October 5, 1997). "LOSING THE FAITH RENEWS MARTIN'S HOPE". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Communications, Inc. pp. PK-55. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  73. ^ "Alec Nevala-Lee". Penguin Random House. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  74. ^ "Ed Sprague Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac". Baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  75. ^ "Greg Tabor Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac". Baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  76. ^ "Christopher Titus". IMDb. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  77. ^ "Casey Wellman Stats, News, Videos, Highlights, Pictures, Bio - Florida Panthers - ESPN". Espn.go.com. October 18, 1987. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
[edit]