Discovering Northern California
Travel Guide to NorCal Adventures

---

Discover Alameda County and
Explore the Heart of the East Bay

Alameda County, California contains a huge part of what we call the East Bay in the San Francisco Bay Area. Considering this, you'd think the county would be bigger in area than it is!

Indeed, Alameda County boasts an impressive roster of major cities, including Berkeley, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Oakland, and Pleasanton, each a bustling hub in its own regard. However, don't let its urban prominence deceive you.

At only 738 square miles (compare to say Monterey's 3,771 square miles), it's the ninth smallest county in the state of California.

Remarkably, despite its relatively modest area, Alameda County, California  stands as the seventh most densely populated county in California. Its vibrant communities house an impressive populace of nearly 1,530,000 residents—an astonishing contrast when juxtaposed with the 422,000 individuals that call Monterey County home.

---

Discover Alameda County History

The historical evolution of Alameda County mirrors much of California's own narrative. Its chronicle unfolds in a sequence that resonates with the broader state's development:

First, the Native Americans, embodied by the Ohlone people—a nomadic assemblage of hunters, fishers, and gatherers—occupied the central coastal expanse of California.

They were followed by the Spanish conquistadors and missionaries who left their indelible mark, paving the way for the era of Mexican rancheros and their aristocratic way of life. And finally by the influx of European settlers who introduced farms, ranches, and orchards. Among their ranks were those who arrived during the California Gold Rush, initially drawn by the allure of gold but ultimately finding their purpose in agriculture.

As the Gold Rush wore on, more and more people came to California to find their fortunes in ways other than gold panning. These were the barbers and shopkeepers, the doctors and lawyers, the bakers and restaurateurs.

As tiny San Francisco became more and more overcrowded, some of its citizens relocated across the bay to what was called the San Francisco Trolley Car Suburb of Alameda County. This led to the emergence of the city centers, townships, and neighborhoods we recognize today.

However, the East Bay relinquished its designation as a mere San Francisco suburb long ago, carving out its distinct identity and ultimately solidifying its reputation as a full-fledged California county in its own right—a defining evolution that stands testament to its unique journey.

---

Discover the Present-Day Wonders of
Alameda County California

As we explore Alameda County, you'll discover there are several cities and towns that lend their individual spirits to the county, but none more so than Berkeley

Home to the renowned University of California, Berkeley, Immersed in the counter-cultural movement of the late 1960s, it became an epicenter for the hippie ethos - with its Telegraph Hill and People's Park, tie-dye, and anti-Vietnam War protests, and its involvement in just about every social movement from the left of center to come along since that time - has a flavor all its own!

From Telegraph Hill to People's Park, and from tie-dye fashion to anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, Berkeley's imprint resonates across various social movements that have graced the left-of-center spectrum since that era.

In stark contrast stands Oakland, an industrious metropolis that wears its working-class identity with pride. Seated as the county's nucleus, it wields the dual mantle of a prominent West Coast port city and a pivotal transportation nexus for both the Bay Area and Northern California at large. Its narrative has spanned the gamut of identities: from a crucible of political turbulence to a focal point of drug-related issues and violence, even marking its presence in the Ebonics movement.

Yet, Oakland has embarked on a transformative journey to reshape its image and substance. The seismic aftermath of the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 triggered a wave of gentrification, luring San Franciscans to migrate across the bay. Corporations, dot-com firms, and manufacturers followed suit, catalyzing comprehensive redevelopment ventures. This renaissance era has ushered in a shifting landscape, where the traditional grit melds with a burgeoning culinary scene, lively nightlife, and distinguished music venues—catapulting Oakland into a prized Bay Area destination.

For a change of pace, cross the High Street or Park Street Bridges to explore the island-city of Alameda and you'll discover a combination shady-grassy park and wide sandy beach known as Crown Memorial State Beach, plus spectacular Victorian gingerbread houses, tidy streets, mom-and-pop shops, and some of the best antiques shopping you'll find anywhere!

In the early 1900s Alameda was home to Neptune Beach, a beach-town carnival with a Coney Island atmosphere that was famous for introducing snow cones, Popsicles, and the Kewpie doll to the world. Neptune Beach is long gone, but you can still catch a glimpse of that carny atmosphere via the Neptune Beach Amusement Museum and some of the period buildings in the Crab Cove area.

---

Discover Alameda County Parks

Alameda's terrain is a mix of a wide coastal plain near the bay, and undulating valleys, meadows, and foothills - sometimes inhabited like the Oakland Hills, sometimes not - inland.

A splendid assortment of over 350 parks grace this diverse landscape, with certain gems shared alongside neighboring Contra Costa County. Among these, a panorama of offerings unfolds: from the untouched majesty of Redwood Regional Park, its ancient groves preserved in their natural splendor, to the multifaceted landscapes of parks adorned with golfing clubs, precision marksmanship enclaves, campgrounds, amphitheaters, and equestrian facilities—Anthony Chabot Regional Park stands as a vivid exemplar of these offerings.

Moreover, Alameda County extends its embrace to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a shared sanctuary of ecological wonder spanning into San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. This conservation haven fosters the protection of local flora and fauna, rendering it a testament to the region's commitment to preserving its precious natural heritage.

---

We'll have more to share with you about Alameda County in the coming
weeks - things like:

• Alameda County Attractions
  From North to South and West to East!
• Alameda County Beaches
  All along the bay!
• Alameda County Communities
  From the biggest to the smallest!
• Alameda County Parks and Preserves
  State Parks, Nature Preserves, Marshes and Bogs!
  

Please continue your exploration of what Northern California has to offer by using the Nav Bars in the left and right columns or by using the links at the bottom of the page.

Like what you're finding here at Discovering Northern California? Then please share with the Social Network of your choice.

And thanks for coming!