San Leandro, California

The city of San Leandro highlighted within Alameda County

San Leandro is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. The population was 79,453 at the 2000 census. Weather is mild throughout the year.

Geography

Location of San Leandro, California

San Leandro is located at 37°42′39″N 122°9′12″W (37.710697, -122.153357)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 40.3 km² (15.6 mi²). 34.0 km² (13.1 mi²) of it is land and 6.3 km² (2.4 mi²) of it (15.62%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 79,452 people, 30,642 households, and 19,825 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,336.4/km² (6,053.0/mi²). There were 31,334 housing units at an average density of 921.4/km² (2,387.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 51.29% White, 9.88% Black or African American, 0.77% Native American, 22.96% Asian, 0.86% Pacific Islander, 8.48% from other races, and 5.76% from two or more races. 20.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 30,642 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $51,081, and the median income for a family was $60,266. Males had a median income of $41,157 versus $33,486 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,895. About 4.5% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

History of San Leandro

San Leandro Marina

San Leandro was discovered on March 20, 1772 by Spanish soldier Captain Pedro Fages and the Spanish Catholic priest Father Crespi. Forty-eight years later, to increase settlement and strengthen their claim to the Bay Area, the Spanish gave to retired Spanish soldier Don Luís María Peralta a 43,000 acre (174 km²) land grant which he named Rancho San Antonio. In 1842, Don José Joaquín Estudillo, also a retired Spanish soldier (for whom Estudillo Ave. is named), was granted 7,000 acres (28 km²) of land in the San Leandro area, which he named Rancho San Leandro.

In 1849 the Gold Rush struck California, and thousands journeyed to the state in search of wealth and prosperity. However, many who were not successful in the gold fields soon moved on to the San Francisco Bay Area, and settled in the San Leandro area. As a result of this increased settlement, in 1855 John Ward, the son-in-law of Joaquin Estudillo, filed a map of a townsite to be called San Leandro with the County government. From 1856 to 1868, San Leandro was the County Seat for Alameda County until the County Courthouse located at Clarke and Davis Streets was destroyed by the 1868 earthquake. Afterwards, Oakland became the county seat, largely because it was to be the terminal of the proposed Central Pacific Railroad. San Leandro was incorporated as a town on March 21,1872, one hundred years and a day after the area was discovered by Europeans.

San Leandro industry continued to develop during the late 1800s, thanks to the San Francisco, Alameda and Stockton Railroad Company, which offered relatively cheap transportation. Built in 1865, the line ran from Alameda to Davis Street, and many factories were located on or adjacent to the rail line. In San Leandro, agriculture continued to be an important industry up until the early 1900s. Cherries were one of the City's most well-known crops and, to honor their importance to San Leandro's development, the first Cherry Festival, a tradition which continues today, was held in 1909.

During and after World War II, San Leandro underwent explosive population growth. For example, from 1940 to 1950, and again from 1950 to 1960, the population doubled and thousands of homes sprang up in the community. In addition to population growth, from April 1942 to October 1965, 87 industrial parcels were annexed to the City, in addition to 27 other non-industrial tracts. Following the war, San Leandro's manufacturing and commercial sectors continued to expand. New shopping centers, such as the Pelton Center on East 14th Street, were opened to meet the expanding residential demand for commercial services. Even the city government underwent change, as the San Leandro charter was revised in 1947 and a new zoning law was passed.

By the late 1960s, the city was largely built out, with almost no land available for development or annexation. Because many of the residents who moved to San Leandro in the 1950s and 1960s have stayed here, San Leandro now has a large elderly population, although increasing numbers of families with children have begun moving in to the city. In the 1980s, the community's diversity grew as African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanics also began moving in to the city. In addition, the industrial makeup of the city has been changing, moving away from its traditional manufacturing base toward more of an emphasis on services and warehousing industries.

The 1980s brought further land development and some major redevelopment activity. For example the Caterpillar Tractor site was redeveloped to become a large commercial shopping center, the Monarch Center.

Current Leadership

Today San Leandro is run by mayor Shelia Young, whose second term ends in December 2006 and a six-member City Council. City Council members include Orval "OB" Badger (District 1), Surlene Grant (District 2), Glenda Nardine (District 3), Joyce Starosciak (District 4), Bill Stephens (District 5) and Tony Santos (District 6). Current City Council Member O.B. Badger, will compete in a run-off election on November 7, 2006, against City Council Member Tony Santos since neither managed to garner more than 50% of the vote in the election held on June 6, 2006.

Notable Residents and Natives

• Lloyd Bridges, actor, born in San Leandro on January 15, 1913.

External links

• City of San Leandro official web page