Piedmont, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Piedmont, California
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 Piedmont, California
Location in California
Piedmont, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Alameda |
| Incorporated | January 31, 1907 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.70 sq mi (4.40 km2) |
| • Land | 1.70 sq mi (4.40 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 331 ft (101 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,270 |
| • Density | 6,629/sq mi (2,561/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 |
| ZIP code |
94602, 94610, 94611, 94618
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| Area codes | 510, 341 |
Piedmont is a small, quiet city in Alameda County, California. It sits completely inside the larger city of Oakland. Because it is surrounded by another city on all sides, geographers call it an enclave. Around 11,270 people lived there during the 2020 census.
The name comes from the Piedmont area in Italy. The word itself means 'foothill' because the city rests near rolling hills. Piedmont officially became a charter city on January 31, 1907. It grew quickly during the 1920s and 1930s. Today, it is famous for its tree-lined streets, lovely parks, historic mansions, and strong neighborhood schools.
Contents
Early History of Piedmont California
Long before houses filled the area, the land belonged to the native Ohlone people. Later, Spain ruled California. In 1820, a soldier named Luís María Peralta received a huge land grant called Rancho San Antonio. This grant covered Piedmont and much of the modern East Bay.
Becoming an Independent City
In the late 1800s, people began building grand country estates on the sunny hills. James Gamble, the leader of the Western Union Telegraph Company, started the Piedmont Land Company in 1877. He helped choose the city's Italian name.
By 1907, the citizens had to make an important choice. The nearby city of Oakland wanted Piedmont to join them as one neighborhood. The local residents held two separate elections that year. Both votes narrowly favored independence. As a result, Piedmont officially incorporated as an independent municipality. On December 18, 1922, Piedmont became a charter city under the laws of the state of California. Citizens voted to accept this special city charter on February 27, 1923.
The Roaring Twenties and Mansions
During the 1920s, often called the Roaring Twenties, Piedmont grew very wealthy. People began calling it the "City of Millionaires." At the time, it had more millionaires per square mile than any other city in the United States.
Wealthy families hired famous architects to design massive mansions. Many of these grand homes still stand today along Sea View Avenue and Sotelo Avenue in the 'Alta' Piedmont neighborhood. One famous 1878 home, the Wetmore House, still reminds visitors of this early era.
Working Toward Fairness and Equality
Like many communities in California during the early 1900s, Piedmont has historical moments that were unfair to minorities. In the past, unjust housing rules and redlining prevented Black families from purchasing property there. Some historians, including James W. Loewen, noted that Piedmont once operated as a sundown town, where minority groups were not treated fairly after dark.
In 1924, a brave couple named Sidney and Irene Dearing bought a home on Wildwood Avenue. Sidney was Black and Irene was Seminole. Many neighbors treated them unkindly, and the city used city property laws to force them to sell their house in 1925. In recent times, the city worked hard to make amends for these past actions. In 2021, the city government gave an official apology to the Dearing family. In 2023, famous artist and landscape architect Walter Hood began designing a special public memorial park at their former homesite to celebrate civil rights and fairness.
Geography and Neighborhood Layout
Piedmont is a compact city covering a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2). All of this space is land, meaning there are no large lakes, bays, or natural rivers inside the city lines.
Earthquakes and Fault Lines
The hills of the East Bay were shaped over millions of years by shifting tectonic plates. The famous Hayward Fault, an active geological fault line, runs right near Piedmont. Because the area experiences earthquakes, modern builders follow strict safety guidelines to protect houses and public buildings.
City Borders and Surrounding Areas
Piedmont is completely surrounded by Oakland. On the northwest side, Piedmont meets Oakland's lively Piedmont Avenue shopping area. To the southwest, it touches the Grand Lake District. The northeast border reaches the wooded Montclair neighborhood, while the south borders Crocker Highlands and Glenview.
Important Roads and Neighborhoods
Several main streets help people travel through the community:
- Highland Avenue runs straight through town and separates the community into upper and lower sections.
- Oakland Avenue connects the small city center from east to west.
- Moraga Avenue outlines the northern border.
- Grand Avenue marks the western edge near Oakland.
Upper Piedmont features bigger building lots and steeper hills. Lower Piedmont features flatter roads and homes placed closer together. While there are no big freeways running directly through the community, drivers can easily hop onto CA Highway 13 or CA I-580 just outside city borders.
Homes and Local Businesses
Piedmont is almost entirely zoned for single-family residences. You will not find huge factories, big malls, or tall office skyscrapers here. Instead, nearly all the land is reserved for quiet family homes, gardens, and playgrounds. Piedmont has only a few small shops, including Mulberry's Market on Highland Avenue, a gas station, and three local banks. A few additional shops operate along Grand Avenue.
Because there are very few commercial businesses, the city collects most of its public funds through local property taxes. Piedmont operates its own municipal police force, fire stations, and public parks. However, Piedmont shares some major public amenities with Oakland, including mail delivery from the federal post office and public library branches.
Population and Community Life
According to the 2020 census, Piedmont is home to 11,270 citizens. The city has a population density of about 6,629 people per square mile.
People and Families
Piedmont is very popular with families. Census records show that about 44% of households have children under 18 years old. The median age of residents is 45.7 years.
The community includes people from many backgrounds. In the 2020 census, 64.0% identified as White, 20.1% as Asian, 12.9% as two or more races, 6.5% as Hispanic or Latino, and 1.1% as Black or African American. About 11.7% of residents were born in other countries around the world. While most families speak English at home, others speak Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and various Indo-European languages.
Local Government and Voting
Local citizens care deeply about voting and civic decisions. While Piedmont historically favored candidates from the Republican Party before 1992, the majority of voters now support the Democratic Party. In 1992, Bill Clinton became the first modern Democrat to win the presidential vote in Piedmont. In the 2020 presidential election and 2024 presidential election, over 85% of local ballots supported Democratic candidates. The city is led by an elected Mayor and city council.
Parks Arts and Fun Community Traditions
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Even though Piedmont is small, it has lots of green spaces where children play soccer, walk dogs, and ride bicycles.
Beautiful City Parks
Piedmont maintains many popular neighborhood parks:
- Piedmont Park sits in the center of the city. It features grassy lawns, a bubbling creek, shady redwood trees, and a historic open-air pavilion called the Exedra.
- Dracena Park has a fun climbing structure, open lawns, and an off-leash play space for pet dogs.
- Kennelly Skate Park offers ramps and bowls where kids practice skateboarding and scootering.
- Hampton Park features lighted tennis courts, softball diamonds, and turf athletic fields.
- Dearing Park, Blair Park, and Crocker Park provide peaceful picnic spots with walking paths under leafy oaks.
Annual City Celebrations
The community gathers throughout the year for fun neighborhood traditions:
- Fourth of July Parade: Every summer, neighbors decorate antique cars, play marching band instruments, and wave flags down Highland Avenue.
- Movies in the Park: Families bring blankets and lawn chairs to watch outdoor films on giant inflatable screens during warm autumn evenings.
- Harvest Festival: A lively autumn fair with carnival games, craft booths, and a fun pet show.
- Thanksgiving Turkey Trot: A morning fun-run through the hills that raises charitable funds for local food banks.
- Holiday Tree Lighting: Every December, citizens bundle up to sing carols and watch the town holiday tree sparkle with colorful lights.
Schools and Education
Education is a central focus of the Piedmont community. The Piedmont Unified School District oversees public education across the town.
Public Schools
Younger children attend one of three neighborhood elementary schools: Havens Elementary, Beach Elementary, or Wildwood Elementary. When students reach sixth grade, they attend Piedmont Middle School. High school students attend either Piedmont High School or Millennium High School, an alternative school with smaller classrooms.
Local voters regularly pass tax measures to fund modern science labs, art programs, and athletic centers. Through Measure E, the community invested $56 million to reinforce school walls against earthquakes. Sports fields, such as Witter Field and Becker Playfield, feature safe, modern artificial turf for soccer, football, and track events.
The Famous Bird Calling Contest
One of Piedmont's most entertaining traditions is the Leonard J. Waxdeck Bird Calling Contest, held every spring at Piedmont High School. Students spend weeks practicing to mimic real birds using only their voices and hands. The calls sound remarkably lifelike, from squawking blue jays to hooting barn owls. Over the years, funny and talented student champions have performed their calls on nationwide television shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and the Late Show with David Letterman.
Local News and Public Transportation
Piedmont keeps residents informed through local newspapers, including the Piedmont Post and the Piedmonter, which is connected to the Contra Costa Times.
Public transportation is managed by AC Transit. Regular buses, like Route 12 and Route 33, carry passengers into Oakland to connect with fast electric trains run by BART. For people who work across the bay in Downtown San Francisco, express commuter buses drive commuters directly to the Transbay Terminal.
Famous People from Piedmont
Many writers, artists, athletes, and leaders have called Piedmont home.
Film Makers Authors and Artists
- Pete Docter, famous movie animator and director at Pixar who created beloved films like Monsters, Inc., Up, and Inside Out.
- Alex Hirsch, clever animator and voice actor who created the mystery cartoon series Gravity Falls.
- Jack London, famous author who wrote his adventure novel Call of the Wild while living on Blair Avenue.
- Clint Eastwood, famous Hollywood movie actor and director who went to school in Piedmont as a boy.
- Billie Joe Armstrong, famous rock singer and guitarist for the band Green Day.
Star Athletes and Civic Leaders
- Mackenzie McDonald, professional tennis player who competed on international championship tours.
- Brad Gilbert, Olympic tennis medalist and famous tennis coach.
- Bubba Paris and Bill Romanowski, champion football players who won Super Bowl rings in the National Football League.
- David McCarty, talented professional baseball player in Major League Baseball.
- Robert S. McNamara, who grew up in town and later served as the Secretary of Defense under President John F. Kennedy.
- Ruth Leach Amonette, a pioneering businesswoman who became the very first female vice president of the technology company IBM.
See Also
In Spanish: Piedmont (California) para niños
- List of sundown towns in the United States
- Alameda County, California
- San Francisco Bay Area
