Pleasanton, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pleasanton, California
City
Main Street sign Downtown panorama Houses along First Street in historic downtown area Veterans Memorial Building Farmers' Market Ruby Hill Winery Quarter horse racing at the Alameda County Fair
Flag Seal Logo
Nickname(s):  The City of Planned Progress
Country	United States
State	California
County	Alameda
Mexican land grant	1839
Established	1869
Incorporated	June 18, 1894
Named for	General Alfred Pleasonton
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area
• Total	24.29 sq mi (62.91 km2)
• Land	24.14 sq mi (62.52 km2)
• Water	0.15 sq mi (0.38 km2)  0.61%
Elevation	351 ft (107 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	79,871
• Rank	109th in California 444th in the U.S.
• Density	3,288.2/sq mi (1,269.61/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	94566, 94568, 94588
Area code(s)	925
FIPS code	06-57792
GNIS feature IDs	277578, 2411441

Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located in the beautiful Amador Valley, which is part of the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2020, about 79,871 people lived here. Pleasanton is known as a successful city.

Many important companies have their main offices in Pleasanton. These include Safeway, Workday, and Veeva Systems. Other big employers are Kaiser Permanente and Oracle. Even though Oakland is the main county seat, some county offices are in Pleasanton.

The Alameda County Fairgrounds are also in Pleasanton. They host the fun county fair every summer. You can also explore Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park on the west side of town.

History of Pleasanton

Early Native American Life

Long ago, before Europeans arrived, the Amador-Livermore Valley was home to Native American tribes. These tribes were part of the Ohlone language group. They mainly spoke Chochenyo. Around the 1770s, about seven different tribes lived in the valley. They lived in villages of 60 to 90 people. The total Native American population in the valley was around 2,000 to 2,500 people.

Spanish Explorers and Missions

Spanish explorers first came to the Amador-Livermore Valley in 1772. Later, some Native Americans started to live at the Spanish missions. These included Mission Santa Clara, founded in 1777, and Mission San Jose, founded in 1797.

Mexican Ranchos and Early Settlements

After Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821, the mission lands were given to Spanish and Mexican settlers. These large land areas were called "ranchos." Pleasanton sits on land that was once part of two such ranchos: Rancho Valle de San José and Rancho Santa Rita.

Alisal: An Early Town

Before Pleasanton was officially founded in the 1850s, there was an earlier settlement called Alisal. It was near an old Native American village. One of the oldest houses in the valley, the Francisco Solano Alviso Adobe, was built here in 1844. You can still see it today at the Alviso Adobe Community Park!

Alisal was a stopping point along an old trail called La Vereda del Monte. During the California Gold Rush, some people who were not following the law would sometimes hide there. Today, Alisal Elementary School keeps the memory of this early settlement alive.

Founding of Pleasanton

The land for Rancho Valle de San José was given to the Bernal family and their relatives. During the Gold Rush (1840s-1850s), the Bernal family moved to their ranch to protect their land. They were joined by John Kottinger, an Austrian lawyer who married into the family.

In the 1860s, John W. Kottinger named the town "Pleasanton." He named it after his friend, Major General Alfred Pleasonton. It is believed that a small spelling mistake by a clerk in Washington, D.C., led to the name being spelled "Pleasanton" instead of "Pleasonton."

Pleasanton in the 1900s

In 1917, Pleasanton was a filming location for the movie Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. It starred the famous actress Mary Pickford. A well-known person named Phoebe Apperson Hearst once lived here. She had a huge mansion on a large estate, which is now the Castlewood Country Club.

In 1931, a sand and gravel plant called Radum Plant opened nearby. After World War II, Pleasanton grew a lot. It changed from a farming area to a place where many people live and work for big companies in the Bay Area.

Geography and Climate

Pleasanton's Location and Parks

Pleasanton is next to cities like Hayward, Livermore, and Dublin. The city covers about 24.3 square miles (62.9 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.

On the east side, you will find Shadow Cliffs Regional Park. It has a lake where you can swim, fish, and boat. To the west is the Pleasanton Ridge, home to Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park and Augustin Bernal Park. Two creeks, Arroyo Valle and Arroyo Mocho, flow through Pleasanton. The city is also along the path of the historic First transcontinental railroad.

Pleasanton's Climate

Pleasanton has a Mediterranean climate. This means it has hot, dry summers and mild, cool winters with some rain. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 115°F (46°C) in 1950. The coldest was 17°F (-8°C) in 1990.

Population Information

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	350		—
1880	600		71.4%
1890	984		64.0%
1900	1,100		11.8%
1910	1,254		14.0%
1920	991		−21.0%
1930	1,237		24.8%
1940	1,278		3.3%
1950	2,244		75.6%
1960	4,203		87.3%
1970	18,328		336.1%
1980	35,160		91.8%
1990	50,533		43.7%
2000	63,654		26.0%
2010	70,285		10.4%
2020	79,871		13.6%
2024 (est.)	75,664		7.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 1860–1870 1880-1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Pleasanton's Population in 2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Pleasanton had a population of 79,871 people. There were 25,245 households in the city. Many of these households, about 42.7%, had children under 18 living in them.

Most homes in Pleasanton are owned by the people who live in them. In 2023, the average household income in Pleasanton was $186,206. This shows that many families in the city are doing well financially. Only a small percentage of the population was below the poverty line.

Economy and Businesses

Bernal Corporate Park

Pleasanton has seen a lot of economic growth since the early 1980s. This is thanks to many business parks, like the large Hacienda Business Park. These parks are home to many company offices. Pleasanton has successfully attracted the main offices of big companies. These include Safeway, Blackhawk Network Holdings, and Workday.

Other large companies like Oracle and AT&T also have important offices here. Pleasanton is also home to Stoneridge Shopping Center, a major mall, and many other shopping areas. Downtown Pleasanton is famous for its many restaurants and unique stores. In the 1990s, Main Street was redesigned to be more friendly for people walking and eating outside.

Pleasanton is known for its strong economy. In 2005 and 2007, it had the highest average household income for a middle-sized city in the U.S. By 2013, the average household income had risen to $121,622. This was much higher than the statewide average.

Top Employers in Pleasanton

As of July 2024, these are some of the biggest employers in Pleasanton:

Arts and Culture in Pleasanton

Pleasanton, looking north, with three quarry lakes of East Pleasanton in upper center

Community Events and Festivals

Pleasanton hosts many fun events for everyone. Every Saturday morning, you can visit a farmers' market on Angela Street. The city also has parades for holidays like Christmas, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day. These parades also celebrate the start of the Alameda County Fair and the soccer season.

First Wednesday Celebrations

For many years, the Pleasanton Downtown Association held "First Wednesday" celebrations. These events took place from May to September. On the first Wednesday of summer months, Main Street was closed to cars. It became a lively street fair with different themes and activities. Local businesses and groups set up booths. A local band would play music for dancing. In 2017, these events were stopped, but the association is looking into new types of community events.

Friday Concerts in the Park

Another fun tradition is the "Friday Concerts in the Park" series. Every Friday from June until September, different local bands play music in the evenings. These free concerts happen at Lions' Wayside Park. You can also find extra seating at Delucchi Park.

Alameda County Fairgrounds

The Alameda County Fairgrounds is a 270-acre (1.1 km²) facility in Pleasanton. It hosts the annual Alameda County Fair, which has been held since 1912. Many other trade shows and community events happen here too. This includes the Scottish Games, which take place every year on Labor Day weekend. The Pleasanton Fairgrounds Racetrack was built in 1858. This makes it the oldest 1-mile (1.6 km) horse racing track in the United States.

Historic Architecture

Pleasanton's historic downtown area has been preserved. Because of this, you can see many examples of old building styles. These styles date back to the mid-19th century. You can find buildings in Gothic Revival, Pioneer, Italianate, and Queen Anne styles. All are within walking distance of each other.

One famous building downtown is the Kolln Hardware building at 600 Main Street. It was built in 1890. It has always been a hardware store until 2004. Today, it houses a bank.

Firehouse Arts Center

The Firehouse Arts Center opened in 2010. It is a hub for culture and art in Pleasanton. It has a theater with 221 seats. There is also the Harrington art gallery and classrooms for art and drama.

Hacienda del Pozo de Verona

Hacienda del Pozo de Verona exterior, circa 1900

The Hacienda del Pozo de Verona (The House of the Wellhead of Verona) was a grand estate. It was built for Phoebe Hearst in 1898. Phoebe Hearst had the house made even larger by architect Julia Morgan. She used it as her main home after her husband passed away. The estate was built on a 453-acre (1.8 km²) ranch. Its name came from a beautiful marble wellhead that Phoebe and William bought in Italy. The hacienda was known for its unique architecture. Sadly, the house was destroyed in a fire in 1969.

City Government

Local Government

Pleasanton uses a council–manager system for its local government. The city council has four representatives. These are elected by district. There is also one mayor, who is elected by all citizens. Council members serve for four years, and the mayor serves for two years. The mayor and council members can serve for a maximum of eight years.

The current city council includes: Jack Balch (mayor), Craig Eicher, Matt Gaidos, Jeffrey Nibert, and Julie Testa. The city manager is Gerry Beaudin.

State and Federal Representation

In the state legislature, Pleasanton is part of State Senate District 5. In the state assembly, it is in Assembly Districts 16 and 20. For the federal government, Pleasanton is in Congressional District 14.

Pleasanton has many registered voters. About 39.2% are Democrats. About 25.7% are Republicans. Another 31.4% are registered as "Decline to State" voters.

Education in Pleasanton

Amador Valley was the first high school in Pleasanton.

Foothill High opened for students in 1973.

Most public schools in Pleasanton are part of the Pleasanton Unified School District. This district was formed in 1988. A very small part of Pleasanton is in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District.

Pleasanton has two main high schools: Amador Valley and Foothill. These schools are ranked among the top public high schools in the nation. The district also has Village High School, a continuation high school. As of 2024, there are three middle schools: Thomas S. Hart, Pleasanton, and Harvest Park. There are also nine elementary schools, one preschool, and an adult education program.

Media and News

The Pleasanton Weekly is a local newspaper that covers news in the city. Tri-Valley Community Television also operates its station in Pleasanton.

Transportation in Pleasanton

The Altamont Commuter Express train leaving Pleasanton station in the afternoon

Roads and Highways

Pleasanton is located where two major Interstate Highways meet: I-580 and I-680. These highways follow old paths used by Native American tribes for trading. This was discovered when building the Hacienda Business Park.

Public Transportation

The city has two stations for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train system. These are Dublin/Pleasanton station and West Dublin/Pleasanton station. The Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) train also stops near downtown at Pleasanton Station.

The Wheels (LAVTA) bus system provides bus service throughout Pleasanton. It also connects the city to Livermore and Dublin. Express bus routes to San Ramon and Walnut Creek are offered by County Connection.

Airports Near Pleasanton

Pleasanton's closest airport is Livermore Municipal Airport. It is mainly used for private and charter flights. There are no regular commercial flights from there. The closest commercial airports are San Jose International Airport and Oakland International Airport. You can reach these airports by train or BART. For most international flights, people use San Francisco International Airport, which is also accessible by BART.

Famous People from Pleasanton

Many notable people have connections to Pleasanton, including:

• Scott Adams, the cartoonist who created Dilbert
• Brandon Crawford, a professional baseball player for the San Francisco Giants
• Paula Creamer, a professional golfer
• David Garibaldi, a professional drummer
• Phoebe Hearst, a philanthropist and mother of William Randolph Hearst
• John Madden, a famous football coach and sportscaster
• William E. Moerner, a Nobel Prize winner in chemistry
• Jim Perry, a well-known game show host
• Stephen Piscotty, a professional baseball player
• Gabrielle Union, a film and television actress
• David Yost, an actor from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

Sister Cities

Pleasanton has sister cities around the world. These partnerships help build friendships and understanding between different cultures.

• Blairgowrie and Rattray, Scotland
• Fergus, Ontario, Canada
• Tulancingo, Mexico

See also

In Spanish: Pleasanton para niños

• Bernal Subbasin
• Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department
• Pleasanton Fault
• Pleasanton Public Library