Known for its pleasant countryside living, Alamo is considered a well-off community in Contra Costa County in California. It is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, about 28 miles east of the city. As assigned by the US Census Bureau, the place is considered a Census - Designated Place (CDP).
This means that the community has the appearance of a city but lacks incorporation and municipal administration. Just like the lifestyle of the people living in this suburb, the rich history of the area makes it more interesting to discover.
Location:
As stated earlier, Alamo can be found in Contra Costa County in the Western state of California. It is one of the cities in the Tri-Valley Area – where the three valleys in the California Bay Area’s East Bay region (Amador Valley, San Ramon Valley, and Livermore Valley) are called. To be exact, it is in between Walnut Creek (North) and the town of Danville (South). To its west, you'll find the Las Tampas ridge while on the east is the Diablo Range. Alamo has a total area of 9.7 square miles (25 km2), all of which is land, according to the US Census Bureau. It uses the zip code 94507 and the area code 925.
History:
Since there are traces of civilization on its discovery, it was believed that there have been people living in the area for about 5,000 years. A group of Native Americans in Northern California, called Bay Miwok, had a tribe named Tatcan Indians, which was believed to live in Alamo in the eighteenth century. After the city of Martinez, the area is considered to be the second oldest community in the county.
In Spanish, the word Alamo means “poplar” or “cottonwood tree”. It was believed that the name was due to the numerous poplar trees surrounding San Ramon Creek. The founding of the Spanish mission “Mission San Jose” opened the way to have a grazing area throughout the San Ramon Valley. In 1833, the same was considered as Mexican land that was granted to uncle and nephew Mariano Castro and Bartolo Pacheco, respectively. They divided the land in half and the one belonging to Castro includes Alamo.
Ten years later, brothers Inocencio and Jose Romero were granted pieces of land in the area including Alamo. They called this Rancho El Sobrante de San Ramon. Travelers Mary Ann and John Jones were considered one of the firsts to visit the area in 1847. Later on, her diary revealed how they appreciated the area. Missing the title papers in 1857, the Romero brothers lost their ranch to the American courts.
The Jones family returned to Alamo in 1851. A year later, John became the postmaster while Mary Ann began a Cumberland Presbyterian Church. There were other early founders of the Alamo.
Which included David Glass, George Engelmeyer, Captain Wall, Joshua Bollinger, James Foster, and Silas and Susanna Stone. The area flourished as more grazing, planting, and cultivating areas began to develop. There was even a train station built in 1891 named Hemme Train Station, then later on renamed Alamo Station.
An Alamo Watch Tower was built during World War II, where volunteers would watch out for Japanese warplanes coming into the area from 1942 to 1945. Later on, AIA (Alamo Improvement Association) was formed in 1953 where it aimed to improve and preserve the properties and character of Alamo. The area prospered after the war, where it came to a point that thousands of people came to visit or migrate.
The completion of I680 aided in the area’s growth even more, as it provided easier transportation to and from the area.
Today, this place is considered to be one of the affluent communities surrounding San Francisco. A few of its famous residents are Safeway Inc. Supermarket CEO Steven Burd, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, and former AFL and NFL player Greg Kent. The population of Alamo is about 15,314 (as of 2020). The majority of the people living in the area are white which accounts for about 85%, Asians at around 8%, and the remaining are a mix of different ethnicity and race.
Climate:
Alamo is considered to have a Mediterranean climate or dry summer climate that can reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The highest average temperature in Alamo is typically recorded in July and August.
On the other hand, frost can occur on the earliest days of the coldest months. Snow can be seen on the top of Mount Diablo, but it is very seldom to be seen on the land proper.
Other information about Alamo:
The San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) is the main public school district in the area, which includes students from other nearby areas like Danville, Diablo, and Dougherty Valley. Middle schools include Alamo Elementary School and Rancho Romero and Stone Valley Middle School.
In terms of public transportation, Walnut Creek on the Antioch–SFO + Millbrae Line is the closest Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station. Local bus service is provided along Danville Boulevard in Alamo on weekdays and weekends by County Connection routes 21 and 321, which run south to Danville and San Ramon and north to Walnut Creek, finishing at the BART station.
Conclusion:
Alamo is one of the most prosperous and easily accessible communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has a rich history that reflects how it managed to preserve its current beautiful countryside living and distinct charm.
If you have questions about moving to Alamo California, Contact Andrea Scott to walk you through all the great benefits of living in Alamo with her expert knowledge and contacts. Andrea has been a top Real Estate agent in Alamo California for over 20 years.
Contact Andrea Scott for more information on buying or selling your home here in the East Bay areas of Alamo, Danville, Walnut Creek and San Ramon.
