Ridgemont, Oakland, California facts for kids
Ridgemont is a neighborhood located in Oakland, California. It sits right next to Merritt College, along Campus Drive. This road is the main street that runs along the top of the ridge.
Discovering Ridgemont
Ridgemont was first built in the 1970s and 1980s. At that time, it was one of the last areas in Oakland that hadn't been developed yet. The first homes were large, similar in design, and made in a suburban redwood style.
How Ridgemont Grew
As Ridgemont became more popular, new and even larger homes were built. Some of these were part of the original plans, while others were custom-designed by architects. The biggest homes were placed on the highest points of the hills. This allowed them to have amazing views of the San Francisco Bay, including three bridges.
The Leona Quarry Story
A newer part of Ridgemont, called "Monte Vista Homes," started in 2005. This area is on the lower slopes below the original Ridgemont neighborhood. It was built on the land of a former quarry called the Leona quarry. A quarry is a large pit where stone or other materials are dug out of the ground. This quarry was also known as the Alma pyrite mine. Pyrite is a shiny mineral, sometimes called "fool's gold."
Before building the new homes, the land needed a lot of work. Teams helped restore the area. They planted native plants that are good for holding the soil and are also resistant to fire. Even with all this work, you can still see the shape of the old quarry from far away, even from San Francisco.
Wildfire Safety
On September 26, 2017, a wildfire started in the Ridgemont area. It burned about twenty acres of land. The fire came very close to many homes located on the ridgeline. However, the Oakland Fire Department quickly put out the blaze. They had help from an air tanker and helicopters. These aircraft got water from the nearby San Leandro Reservoir. Luckily, no buildings were burned in the fire.
