Alameda, California

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{{Infobox City 

| official_name = City of Alameda, California 
| nickname = The Island City 
| image_flag = Alameda_city_flag.gif 
| image_seal = Alamedaseal.gif 
| image_map = Alameda_in_Alameda_County.png 
| map_caption = Location in the state of California and Alameda County 
| subdivision_type = County 
| subdivision_name = Alameda
| leader_title = Mayor 
| leader_name = Beverley Johnson (D)
| area_note = 
| area_magnitude = 1 E9 
| area_total = 59.5 
| area_land = 28.0 
| area_water = 31.5 
| population_as_of = 2000 
| population_total = 72,259 
| population_density = 1,131.3 
| timezone = PST 
| utc_offset = −8 
| timezone_DST = PDT 
| utc_offset_DST = −9 
| latitude = 37°45'50" N 
| longitude = 122°15'25" W 
| website = City of Alameda 
| footnotes = 
}}

Alameda is a city located in Alameda County, California. It is a city on a small island of the same name next to Oakland, California in the San Francisco Bay. An additional part of the city is on Bay Farm Island, which it shares with the Oakland International Airport. The city has a small town feel with its Victorian homes and tree lined neighborhoods. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 72,259.

Today the city consists of the main original section, with the former Naval Air Station at one end, and Bay Farm Island, which is actually part of the mainland proper. Both of these are built on artificial hydraulic landfill on top of the bay's muddy bottom. The area of the former NAS is now known as "Alameda Point."

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History

The city was founded on June 6, 1853. Alameda was not originally on an island; rather, it was a peninsula off Oakland. The need for expanded shipping facilities in the late 19th century in both cities led to a shipping and tidal channel that was dug between the two cities in 1902, extending and deepening the natural estuary, which resulted in Alameda becoming an "island" with most of the dug up soil used to fill in some sections of the nearby marsh land.

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Geography

Image:CAMap-doton-Alameda.pngAlameda is located at 37°45'50" North, 122°15'25" West (37.763971, -122.256810)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 59.5 km² (23.0 mi²). 28.0 km² (10.8 mi²) of it is land and 31.5 km² (12.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 52.98% water.

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Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 72,259 people, 30,226 households, and 17,863 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,583.3/km² (6,693.4/mi²). There were 31,644 housing units at an average density of 1,131.3/km² (2,931.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 56.95% White, 6.21% Black or African American, 0.67% Native American, 26.15% Asian, 0.60% Pacific Islander, 3.29% from other races, and 6.13% from two or more races. 9.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 30,226 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $56,285, and the median income for a family was $68,625. Males had a median income of $49,174 versus $40,165 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,982. 8.2% of the population and 6.0% of families were below the poverty line. 11.4% of those under the age of 18 and 6.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

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Transportation

Vehicle access to the island is via three bridges to Oakland, a bridge to Bay Farm Island, and two one-way tunnels leading into Oakland's Chinatown. Bridges at Fruitvale Avenue, High Street, and Park Street, and the tunnels at Webster Street and Harrison Street (the latter called the "Posey tube") connect Alameda and Oakland. Public transportation includes the AC Transit buses (which include express buses to San Francisco) and two ferry services--the Alameda-Oakland Ferry and the Harbor Bay Ferry. Both ferry services may be transferred to the Water Transit Authority shortly. The island is also close to the BART train service.

Even though the island is just minutes off Interstate 880, the speed limit for the city is 25 mph (40 km/h) on almost every road. Many unaware drivers fail to slow down after exiting the highway. Groups like Pedestrian Friendly Alameda and BikeAlameda advocate stronger enforcement of speeding laws.

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Attractions

Due to its proximity to the Bay, wind surfers and kite surfers can often be seen along Crown Memorial State Beach and Shoreline Drive. From the beach there are also have views of the San Francisco skyline and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

One of the recent attractions is the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, a museum ship now moored at the former Naval Air Station.

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Economic development

Image:Afl new.jpgImage:Alameda Theater.jpg The Naval Air Station Alameda was decomissioned and is in process of being turned over to the City of Alameda for civilian development. The area of the former NAS is now known as "Alameda Point". Portions of Alameda Point are now in commercial use, but the transfer process has been slowed down by disputes between the Navy and the City regarding payment for environmental cleanup of the land. Development of the base is also opposed by a vocal minority in the City who object to modifications to a ballot measure passed in the 1970's that intended to stop a practice then popular in the City of tearing down the island's beautiful, historical Victorian homes and replacing them with apartment complexes.

After two previous failures, voters in the City passed a ballot measure in 2000 authorizing a bond measure for construction of a new library to replace the city's Carnegie library that was damaged during the Loma Prieta earthquake. The City also received state funds for the new library and it is currently under construction near the City's Park Street business district and will open in the fall of 2006.

City officials continue to seek ways to spur economic development on the Island including the reconstruction of the City's shopping mall and restoration of the historic art deco city landmark Alameda Theater. The theater restoration project is currently the subject of much controversy in the City, pitting the City's pro-development and anti-development factions against each other once again.

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Alameda Power and Telecom

Unlike surrounding communities, Alameda has a municipal power and telecommunications service (Alameda Power and Telecom) that delivers services directly to consumers. The telecommunications service has the potential of far exceeding the capabilities of the various cable and DSL providers in the larger region.

There have been proposals by the power producer to produce energy from waste, but not within the city of Alameda. Instead this energy would be produced at a waste transfer station located in neighboring (and downwind) San Leandro. Owing to the expected release of toxic emissions from what is essentially a garbage incinerator, the mayor and city council of San Leandro rejected the proposal. The mayor vowed to fight this proposal, suggesting that Alameda could instead place this near their municipal golf course.

Also, unlike the three major power producers in California, Alameda is not required to establish net metering for home photovoltaic power producers, so the city currently lags far behind other communities in producing truly "green" energy, even though they have a potentially productive site for supplemental wind energy on the western edge of the former naval air station.

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Arts and Culture

The Alameda Arts Council (AAC) is the Alameda City arts council serving the arts in the Alameda area.

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"Art In the Park"

Art In the Park is an annual event that takes place in Jackson Park (Encinal and Park Ave) which the Alameda Arts Council co-produces with Alameda Recreation & Parks. This event is held each September and features over 100 local artists, two music areas, a children's activity area, food, poetry readings and art demonstrations. This event is free to the public.

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"Shining Stars In The Arts"

Shining Stars In The Arts is an evening event that celebrates the community members in Alameda who have made an outstanding contribution in the Arts in the city. Features a fundraising silent art auction, food and music concludes in an award ceremony for the Shining Star Honorees. Held in May.

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Miscellaneous

  • The Posey tube was used, with other Bay Area tunnels, in the filming of the 1970 version of THX-1138. It was also used in the filming for The Matrix Reloaded.
  • One of Alameda's most famous residents is General James Doolittle, who won the medal of honor for his bombing of Japan during WWII.
  • Because of its active naval base, many people in naval families, such as Tom Hanks and Jim Morrison, lived in Alameda briefly during their lives.
  • Don Perata, the current President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate, lives in Alameda.
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See also

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External links

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Template:Cities of Alameda County, Californiabg:Аламида (град) de:Alameda (Kalifornien) eo:Alameda (Kalifornio) fr:Alameda (Californie) no:Alameda, California

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