Antioch, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Antioch, California
City
View of Antioch
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Motto(s):  Opportunity Lives Here
Location of Antioch in Contra Costa County, California
Antioch, California Location in California Show map of California Antioch, California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Contra Costa
Incorporated	February 6, 1872
Area
• City	29.94 sq mi (77.55 km2)
• Land	29.17 sq mi (75.55 km2)
• Water	0.77 sq mi (2.00 km2)  2.52%
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	115,291
• Rank	3rd in Contra Costa County 55th in California
• Density	3,952.25/sq mi (1,525.96/km2)
• Urban	326,205 (US: 124th)
• Urban density	4,447.4/sq mi (1,717.2/km2)
• Metro	7,468,390
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	94509, 94531
Area code	925
FIPS code	06-02252
GNIS feature IDs	1657936, 2409715

Antioch is the third-largest city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area along the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. The city's population was 115,291 at the 2020 census. The city has grown substantially more diverse since the 1970s.

History

1850-1999

Antioch is one of the oldest towns in California. In 1848, John Marsh, owner of Rancho Los Meganos, one of the largest ranches in California, built a landing on the San Joaquin River in what is now Antioch. It became known as Marsh's Landing, and was the shipping point for the 17,000-acre rancho. It included a pier extending well out into the river, enabling vessels drawing 15 feet of water to tie up there at any season of the year. The landing also included a slaughterhouse, smokehouse for curing hams, rodeo grounds, and even a 1½-story dwelling, embellished with a liberal amount of fretwork, that was brought around the Horn to serve as a home for the mayordomo (manager) and his wife.

In 1850, two brothers, William and Joseph Smith, founded a town slightly west of Marsh's Landing, and named it Smith's Landing. In 1851, the town's new minister persuaded the residents to change the name of the town to Antioch, for the biblical city of Antioch.

Around 1859, coal was discovered in several places in the hills south of Antioch and coal mining formed the first substantial business apart from farming and dairying by the inhabitants of this community. This new industry resulted in the founding of the towns of Nortonville, Somersville, Stewartsville, and Black Diamond (now Pittsburg, California), and added greatly to the economic activity of the Antioch area. The Empire Coal Company was formed by John C. Rouse and George Hawxhurst in 1876, which built a railroad that passed from Antioch toward the mines over what is now "F Street" (formerly Kimball Street). However, later on, both the mine and the railroad passed into the hands of the Belshaw brothers. The mines have long ago ceased operation, and the railroad tracks have been dug up, though the building that served as the Antioch terminus of the railroad still stands on the corner of F Street and Fourth Street, and the grading and trestles still remain much as they were in those early days.

In 1863, a great excitement arose over the discovery of copper ore near Antioch. Smelting works were built at Antioch, and a value of fifteen to twenty-five dollars per ton was paid for the ore, according to its quality. Unfortunately the copper bubble eventually burst, to the dismay of the citizens with connections. Petroleum was first drilled for near Antioch in 1865, but not enough oil was found to make a decent profit.

The Antioch Post Office was opened in 1851, closed in 1852, re-opened in 1855, closed again in 1862, and it has operated continuously since re-opening in 1863. The city of Antioch was incorporated in 1872.

The Antioch Ledger was first issued on March 10, 1870, and in all its forty-seven years never missed an issue. In memory of when the paper was formed, a copy of its first issue has been framed and hangs over the desk of the present editor. It is five by eight inches in size, printed on one side only, and its sole news item is a report and editorial comment on women's suffrage meeting that had just been held in the town. The Ledger later merged with the Contra Costa Times and printed its last issue in 2005.

During the mid-1950s the Fibreboard Research patented a method of applying wax coatings to cardboard containers that spawned the first milk, juice and ice cream containers hence making Antioch "the home of the milk carton".

Today, Antioch is mainly a "bedroom" community, with most adults working in larger cities toward Oakland and San Francisco. The town has seen an enormous amount of growth in the last 30 years, as the population of the Bay Area continues to grow, and real estate prices force families to move towards the outskirts of the Bay Area.

2010s

The city was attempting in 2012 to annex an adjacent 678-acre area of unincorporated land, which includes a GenOn Energy 760-megawatt power plant, to include the plant within city limits.

Geography

Antioch is located at 38°00′18″N 121°48′21″W / 38.00500°N 121.80583°W / 38.00500; -121.80583, along the San Joaquin River at the western end of the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.1 square miles (75 km²), of which 28.3 square miles (73 km²) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) (2.52%) is water.

Climate

Antioch has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk) with hot dry summers, and mild winters with moderate rainfall.

Demographics

2020 census

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Antioch had a population of 102,372. The population density was 3,520.0 people per square mile (1,359.1/km²). The racial makeup of Antioch was 50,083 (48.9%) White, 17,667 (17.3%) African American, 887 (0.9%) Native American, 10,709 (10.5%) Asian (5.7% Filipino, 1.4% Chinese, 0.9% Indian, 0.7% Vietnamese, 0.2% Korean, 0.2% Japanese, 0.1% Laotian, 0.1% Pakistani, 0.1% Cambodian), 817 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 14,310 (14.0%) from other races, and 7,899 (7.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32,436 persons (31.7%); 22.6% of Antioch is Mexican, 2.2% Salvadoran, 1.2% Nicaraguan, 1.2% Puerto Rican, 0.7% Peruvian, 0.4% Guatemalan, and 0.2% Cuban.

The Census reported that 101,708 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 404 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 260 (0.3%) were institutionalized.

There were 32,252 households, out of which 14,664 (45.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 17,010 (52.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 5,718 (17.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,295 (7.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2,384 (7.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 306 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 5,296 households (16.4%) were made up of individuals, and 1,781 (5.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.15. There were 25,023 families (77.6% of all households); the average family size was 3.52.

The population was spread out, with 28,807 people (28.1%) under the age of 18, 10,593 people (10.3%) aged 18 to 24, 27,459 people (26.8%) aged 25 to 44, 26,515 people (25.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 8,998 people (8.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

There were 34,849 housing units at an average density of 1,198.3 per square mile (462.7/km²), of which 32,252 were occupied, of which 20,751 (64.3%) were owner-occupied, and 11,501 (35.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%. 64,284 people (62.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 37,424 people (36.6%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 90,532 people, 29,338 households, and 23,177 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,359.5 people per square mile (1,297.0/km²). There were 30,116 housing units at an average density of 1,117.6/sq mi (431.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.33% White, 22.12% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 9.75% Black or African American, 0.93% Native American, 7.40% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, 9.23% from other races, and 6.97% from two or more races.

There were 29,338 households, out of which 46.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.07 and the average family size was 3.42.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 32.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $60,359, and the median income for a family was $64,723. Males had a median income of $50,152 versus $34,203 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,152. About 6.5% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Arts and culture

Antioch has four Historic Places or Buildings on the National Register of Historic Places: the Black Diamond Mines, Roswell Butler Hard House, Riverview Union High School Building and the Shannon-Williamson Ranch.

El Campanil Theatre

The historic El Campanil Theatre opened on November 1, 1928, in downtown Antioch. It now presents a wide variety of entertainment opportunities, including classic films, live theatre, concerts, symphony, ballet, comedy and is host to numerous local dance and community-based organizations, such as the Antioch Rivertown Theatre Group.

The Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch organizes education in graphic arts, sculpture, pottery, and performance arts for various age groups. It also hosts the Saturday Summer Concert Series, Delta Blues Festival, and Holiday De Lights, along with other community events.

Run by the Antioch Historical Society, the Antioch Historical Society Museum is in the Riverview Union High School Building. This high school was the first high school constructed in Contra Costa County.

The Lynn House Gallery houses exhibits throughout the year, with an emphasis on providing opportunities for local artists.

Rivertown Art Center is housed in a historic bank building built in 1923. It is administered by the Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch and was created to allow local artists additional opportunities to exhibit their art and to conduct art classes.

The ESPACE Academy is located within Deer Valley High School and includes a planetarium.

The Contra Costa County Fairgrounds are located in Antioch. The fairgrounds hosted the first two editions of the Genesis Super Smash Bros. tournament.

Open space and wildlife

Sunset over Mt. Diablo as seen from Antioch

Parks and trails

Antioch is home to 31 parks covering a total of 310 acres (130 ha) with an additional 600 acres (240 ha) of city-owned open space. It also has 11 miles (18 km) of walking paths connecting communities to parks and schools.

Within its boundaries it has Contra Loma Regional Park, the Antioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline and Black Diamond Mines Regional Park, and the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail and Delta de Anza Regional Trail . According to the East Bay Regional Parks District, these three parks take up 6,493 acres (2,628 ha), approximately 38% of Antioch's total land area. Just outside Antioch city limits is the 2,024-acre (819 ha) Round Valley Regional Preserve.

Established in 1980, Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge was the first national wildlife refuge in the country established for the purpose of protecting endangered plants and insects, specifically the Apodemia mormo langei known by the common name Lange's metalmark butterfly, Antioch Dunes evening primrose, and Contra Costa wallflower. It is located on the south shore of the San Joaquin River in Antioch. The refuge and a few acres of surrounding lands contain most of the remaining habitat for these three species and are all that remain of a 5.6-mile stretch (9 km) of sand dunes formed during glaciation periods.

The city has a municipal marina, along with other private marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs. There is a public fishing pier in town, and another on the San Joaquin River along the Antioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline out near the Antioch Bridge.

Burrowing owl protection

Threatened burrowing owl in Antioch

In late 2008, western burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) moved into a 25-acre (10 ha) housing development slated for construction. In November 2009 the California Department of Fish & Game gave the developer permission to evict the owls before nesting season begins in February 2010. The birds regularly reuse burrows for years, and there is no requirement that suitable new habitat be found for the owls. Despite being listed as a Species of Special Concern (a pre-listing category under the Endangered Species Act) by the California Department of Fish and Game in 1979, California's population declined 60 percent from the 1980s to the early 1990s, and continues to decline at roughly 8 percent per year. In 1994, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service nominated the western burrowing owl as a federal Category 2 candidate for listing as endangered or threatened, but loss of habitat continues due to development of the flat, grassy lands used by the owl. According to The Institute for Bird Populations, there has been a 50 percent decline in burrowing owl populations in the Bay Area in the last 10 to 15 years. Their status protects them from disturbance during nesting season or killing at any time, but does not guarantee them a permanent home, as outside of breeding season, owls can be removed. In November 2009, a local resident tallied 11 owls in the area, including four pairs. Antioch is the first East Bay city to designate habitat protected by deed for burrowing owls, since residents pushed for protections for those displaced by the community center at Prewett Park. Despite organized protests at Kiper Homes' Blue Ridge property by Friends of East Bay Owls, one-way doors were installed in the birds' burrows so that the owl families could not return to their nests. A 1992–1993 survey reported no breeding burrowing owls in Napa, Marin, and San Francisco counties, and only a few in San Mateo and Sonoma. The Santa Clara County population is declining and restricted to a few breeding locations, leaving only Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano counties as the remnant breeding range. To assist the displaced Antioch owls in finding new homes a group of local residents and the environmental group Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed constructed six artificial burrows at a designated burrowing owl habitat preserve in the hills north of Prewett Water Park.

Education

Public schools

Public schools are run by the Antioch Unified School District, which consists of three high schools, four middle schools, and numerous elementary schools that follow a single-track schedule, with school starting in late August or early September, and concluding in June.

The three high schools are:

• Antioch High School
• Deer Valley High School
• Dozier-Libbey Medical High School

The four middle schools are:

• Antioch Middle School
• Park Middle School
• Black Diamond Middle School
• Dallas Ranch Middle School

Private schools

The private schools are primarily religious. The private high schools are:

• Heritage Baptist Academy (K-12)
• Delta Christian High School
• Promised Land Christian High School

The private primary and middle schools are:

• Holy Rosary Elementary School
• Hilltop Christian School
• Kinder Care Learning Center
• Antioch Christian School
• Golden Hills Christian School
• Great Beginnings Elementary School

The charter schools are: Antioch Charter Academy (est. 1998) Antioch Charter Academy II (est. 2007)

Antioch is also home to Western Career College, located on Lone Tree Way. Also Antioch has one school for CPR and First Aid Training, Event First Aid & Safety Services located at 201 G Street, 2nd and G streets.

Public libraries

The Prewett Library of the Contra Costa County Library system serves Antioch and is located inside the Antioch Community Center, across the street from Deer Valley High School.

Media

Antioch is served by the Antioch Press, published by Brentwood Press & Publishing Corporation. Antioch Press is a weekly newspaper that is published every Friday. The current circulation is just over 4,000.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Roads

Antioch's primary surface transportation link is via the freeway State Route 4, both westward a half-hour's drive to Interstate 80 and the road network of the Bay Area, or alternatively eastward to connect with Interstate 5 at the Central Valley city of Stockton, California. State Route 160 leads north from Highway 4, crossing the San Joaquin River via the Antioch Bridge and through the Delta to Sacramento.

Public Transit

Antioch is served by both the Antioch-Pittsburg Amtrak station, and access to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is available at the Antioch eBART Station. Although public transportation agency Tri-Delta Transit is the predominant provider of public transportation in the Antioch area, County Connection bus #93X also serves Antioch going to John Muir Medical Center, Mitchell Park n' Ride, Railroad Castlewood, Delta Fair Sommersville and Hillcrest Park 'n Ride. At one time the city had a 50-cent-per-ride senior shuttle. However, due to budget cuts in 2011 a proposal was made to eliminate the $275,000 subsidy for this program. Currently the senior and paratransit system still operates on call service for $2.75 per fare.

Airports

Antioch's closest airport with commercial service is Buchanan Field Airport, though its sole airline is JSX and only flies to Las Vegas, Burbank and Orange County. Through BART, Antioch is directly connected to San Francisco International Airport, though through the use of BART transfers, Antioch is also connected to Oakland Airport and through VTA, San Jose Airport.

Antioch is also equidistant from Oakland Airport to Stockton Metropolitan Airport, though no transit services connects Stockton and Antioch.

Antioch Airport was closed in 1989.

Water

The Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta has been a large source of fresh water for the city but increasing salinity levels have reduced the city's ability to use the river intake. In response, the city is building the first surface-water desalination plant in the Bay Area.

Notable people

Sports

• Frank Beede, former offensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks, now a coach at Freedom High School
• Paul Blackburn, pitcher for the Oakland Athletics
• T. J. Carrie, professional football player currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts
• David Douglas, professional mixed martial artist
• Najee Harris, professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Taiwan Jones, football cornerback and running back for the Buffalo Bills
• Maurice Jones-Drew, former running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Mike Lucky, former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys
• Gino Marchetti, former All-American for the Baltimore Colts
• Aaron Miles, retired Oakland A's second baseman
• Sterling Moore, football cornerback who played for the Dallas Cowboys
• Jeremy Newberry, former center for the San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers
• John Olenchalk, Antioch High School 1973, Stanford 1977, played for the Montreal Alouettes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Jeff Pico, pitching coach for the Cincinnati Reds and former Chicago Cubs pitcher
• Evan Pilgrim, former offensive guard in the National Football League
• Ron Pritchard, former football linebacker and professional wrestler, played nine seasons with the Houston Oilers and the Cincinnati Bengals
• Alex Sanchez, MLB pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989 and All-Pac-10 standout at UCLA
• Gary Sheide, a former football quarterback for Brigham Young University
• Larry Silveira, a professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour
• T. J. Ward, former football strong safety for the Denver Broncos

Miscellaneous

• Chuck Billy, lead singer of metal band Testament
• Johnny Burke, lyricist
• Ty Carter, United States Marine Corps and United States Army veteran and Medal of Honor recipient
• Donovan Cook, film director and animator famous for creating 2 Stupid Dogs
• Mario "Mars" Delgado, national hip-hop recording artist, actor and entrepreneur known for his brand of horrorcore rap music.
• Carmen Dragon, conductor, composer and arranger; father of Daryl Dragon of the 1970s pop music duo Captain & Tennille
• Wade Harper, first African-American mayor of Antioch
• Leah Laviano, Miss Mississippi USA in 2008
• Ronald O. Loveridge, former mayor of Riverside, California
• John Marsh, Builder of Marsh's Landing and instrumental in achieving California statehood
• Lori McCreary, film producer and President of the Producers Guild of America
• Kevin Pereira, former co-host of G4's Attack of the Show! and Let's Ask America
• Mark L. Schneider, the 15th director of Peace Corps (1999–2001)
• Lamar Thorpe, current mayor (since 2020) and 2nd African-American mayor
• Tom Torlakson, California Superintendent of Public Education
• Jerome R. Waldie, former United States Representative

Sister cities

• Chichibu, Saitama, Japan, since September 16, 1967
• Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, Mexico

See also

In Spanish: Antioch (California) para niños