San Pablo, California

 

The city of San Pablo is on land once occupied by the Cuchiyun band of the Ohlone indigenous people. This Ohlone territory was claimed for the king of Spain in the late 18th century. and was granted for grazing purposes to the Mission Dolores located in today's San Francisco, but these church properties were secularized (or made separate from the Catholic church) when Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821.

In 1823, Mexican governor Luís Antonio Argüello granted the Ohlone territory to Francisco María Castro, an ex-soldier stationed at the San Francisco Presidio. The grant was given the name Rancho San Pablo. This is the origin of the city's name, as well as the name of one the East Bay's oldest principal roads: San Pablo Avenue (formerly known, during the Spanish colonial era, as El Camino Real de la Contra Costa, which means "The Royal Way of the Opposite Coast," referring to the costal region opposite San Francisco). San Pablo Avenue, originating in San Pablo, runs through the entire East Bay.

 

San Pablo's Alvarado Adobe has been designated a California State Landmark (No.512), as a historic reproduction of the city's Mexican era. The home was originally constructed in 1842 by Jesús Maria Castro, one of Francisco Castro's sons, for his mother, Gabriéla Berryessa de Castro. Upon Gabriéla's death in 1851, it was inherited by her daughter, Martina Castro de Alvarado, wife of Juan Bautista Alvarado, who was Governor of California from 1836 to 1842. The Alvarado Adobe was demolished in the mid-20th century to make way for a motel. A reproduction was built later in the century, and is now located in San Pablo Civic Center, on the northwest corner of San Pablo Avenue and Church Lane. A single beam from the original structure is incorporated into the roof of the replacement structure, at the rear of the adobe facing the interior courtyard.

The first post office was established in 1854.^[10] The city incorporated in 1948.^[10]

Since the middle of the 20th century, College Center at El Portal has been the backbone of the community's retail economy.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), all land.

San Pablo lies on a sedimentary plain between the northern end of the Berkeley Hills and San Pablo Bay, although the city limits do not extend to the bayshore. Two principle creeks traverse the city: Wildcat Creek and San Pablo Creek. Both originate in the mountain ranges to its southeast. The minor Rheem Creek also runs through the city.

The northeastern limits of San Pablo are also traversed by the Hayward Fault, a major branch of the San Andreas Fault, which lies to the west.

Interstate 80 (Eastshore Freeway) passes through San Pablo.

There are several communities to the north of (and separated from) the city, but which have San Pablo mailing addresses. These include the census areas of Tara Hills, Bayview, and Montalvin.

According to the city's 2021-2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,^[11] the top employers in the city are:

The Casino San Pablo is considered the economic backbone of the city.^[12]

At the 2010 census San Pablo had a population of 29,139. The population density was 11,063.4 inhabitants per square mile (4,271.6/km²). The racial makeup of San Pablo was 9,391 (32.2%) White, 4,600 (15.8%) African American, 244 (0.8%) Native American, 4,353 (14.9%) Asian, 172 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 8,812 (30.2%) from other races, and 1,567 (5.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16,462 persons (56.5%).^[14]

The census reported that 28,698 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 68 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 373 (1.3%) were institutionalized.

There were 8,761 households, 4,099 (46.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,905 (44.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,715 (19.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 738 (8.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 638 (7.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 59 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,854 households (21.2%) were one person and 638 (7.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.28. There were 6,358 families (72.6% of households); the average family size was 3.83.

The age distribution was 8,244 people (28.3%) under the age of 18, 3,233 people (11.1%) aged 18 to 24, 8,734 people (30.0%) aged 25 to 44, 6,364 people (21.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,564 people (8.8%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 31.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

There were 9,571 housing units at an average density of 3,633.9 units per square mile (1,403.1 units/km²),of which 8,761 were occupied, 4,110 (46.9%) by the owners and 4,651 (53.1%) by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%. 13,903 people (47.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 14,795 people (50.8%) lived in rental housing units.

At the 2000 census there were 30,215 people in 9,051 households, including 6,489 families, in the city. The population density was 4,521.7/km² (11,711/sq mi). There were 9,340 housing units at an average density of 1,397.7 units/km² (3,620 units/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 31.62% White, 18.33% Black or African American, 0.90% Native American, 16.37% Asian, 0.51% Pacific Islander, 25.44% from other races, and 6.83% from two or more races. 44.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[16]

Of the 9,051 households in San Pablo, 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 22.5% of households were one person and 8.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.87.

The age distribution was 31.7% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.

The median household income was $37,184 and the median family income was $42,042. Males had a median income of $31,599 versus $28,140 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,303. About 15.5% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

The languages spoken were 42.49% English, 40.3% Spanish, 5.47% Tagalog, 2.8% Vietnamese, 2.52% Miao-Mien, 1.95% Laotian, 1.18% Punjabi, 0.92% Portuguese, 0.75% Chinese, 0.57% Hindi, and 0.95% other languages spoken by less than 0.5% of the population each.^[17]

According to the California Secretary of State, as of February 10, 2019, San Pablo has 11,121 registered voters. Of those, 6,756 (60.7%) are registered Democrats, 626 (5.6%) are registered Republicans, and 3,281 (29.5%) have declined to state a political party.^[18]

The community is served by AC Transit buses that connect it with Hilltop Mall Shopping Center, Richmond Parkway Transit Center, and Richmond BART and Amtrak station in Richmond and El Cerrito del Norte BART in El Cerrito. This is in addition to services around San Pablo and to El Sobrante. There is transbay service directly to the San Francisco Transbay Terminal. There is owl service to Richmond, Pinole, and El Cerrito. AC also provides school service to high and middle schools of the West Contra Costa Unified School District. WestCat provides a link between Contra Costa College and Hercules Transit Center along San Pablo Avenue a major north–south arterial boulevard. San Pablo Avenue is home to a BRT line, the 72R, that connects the college with Downtown Oakland and BART. The college services as a major transit hub for buses and the city. Interstate 80 flanks the eastern boundary of the city.

The city hosts the county's western campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. This school is named Contra Costa College and is part of the California community college system.^[19]

The city also hosts a variety of primary and secondary education schools, such as Tara Hills Elementary School, Downer Elementary School, Highland Elementary School, Dover Elementary School, and Middle College High School.

The San Pablo Library of the Contra Costa County Library system is located at the corner of Church Street and San Pablo Avenue, having relocated there in 2017.^[20]

• Gene Clines, former Major League Baseball outfielder, was born in San Pablo
• Gary Holt, guitarist for metal bands Slayer and Exodus
• Eric the Actor, former caller and actor for Howard Stern's radio show, was born in San Pablo

•   Manzanillo, Mexico

• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: San Pablo, California

• Official website  
• San Pablo Library