Pinole, California

From Free net encyclopedia

Pinole is a city located in Contra Costa County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,039. It is one of many small “bedroom communities” along the I-80 corridor in Western Contra Costa County. It is located about 20 miles northeast of San Francisco, and approximately a half-hour drive (without traffic) from either Oakland or San Francisco. Neighboring towns are Richmond and San Pablo to the southwest, and Hercules to the northeast. The unincorporated area of El Sobrante lies to the south.

1 History
2 Geography and enviornmental features
3 Demographics
4 Notes
5 External links

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History

The name derives from "pinole", a Native American word for a kind of flour made from the seeds of tansy-mustard, chia, and various other grasses and annual herbs. [1] An expedition under Don Pedro Fages was said to have run out of provisions while exploring the area, and been fed pinole by a local village, and so the Spaniards named their camp "El Pinole". The name was propagated to the 17,000 acre (69 km²) land grant given to Don Ignacio Martinez in 1823, who built a hacienda in Pinole Valley at the present side of Pinole Valley Park.

The settlement grew with the coming of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1878 and the establishment of the California Powder Works in nearby Hercules. During this period this city had an active waterfront and was a regional commercial and banking center. The City of Pinole was incorporated in 1903.

Pinole and the surrounding area grew rapidly during the Post World War II boom. With the coming of I-80 in 1958 the town evolved in a suburban bedroom community within the San Francisco / Oakland Commuter Belt. Much of its original industry was displaced during this time and the town became predominantly residential.

Today, the town is locally known for its “big box” shopping store district along Fitzgerald Ave. The downtown area still retains many turn-of-the-century (1900’s) building stock and is being preserved by the city’s development agency as a historic area.

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Geography and enviornmental features

Image:CAMap-doton-Pinole.pngPinole is located at 37°59'51" North, 122°17'32" West (37.997509, -122.292086)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 34.4 km² (13.3 mi²). 13.5 km² (5.2 mi²) of it is land and 20.9 km² (8.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 60.89% water.

The city of Pinole has habitat areas that support the endangered species Santa Cruz Tarweed on the California coastal prairie ecosystem.

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Demographics

As of the census Template:GR of 2000, there were 19,039 people, 6,743 households, and 5,057 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,413.7/km² (3,662.3/mi²). There were 6,828 housing units at an average density of 507.0/km² (1,313.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.39% White, 11.11% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 21.71% Asian, 0.37% Pacific Islander, 5.81% from other races, and 6.03% from two or more races. 13.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,743 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $62,256, and the median income for a family was $70,172. Males had a median income of $47,335 versus $38,019 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,170. 5.0% of the population and 3.5% of families were below the poverty line. 5.5% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

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