Moraga, California | |
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Town of Moraga | |
Top: view of Moraga; bottom: St. Mary's College | |
![]() Location in Contra Costa County and the state of California | |
Coordinates: 37°50′06″N122°07′47″W / 37.83500°N 122.12972°W Coordinates: 37°50′06″N122°07′47″W / 37.83500°N 122.12972°W | |
Country | USA |
State | ![]() |
County | Contra Costa |
Incorporated | November 13, 1974 [1] |
Government | |
• Mayor | Mike McCluer [2] |
• State Senator | Steve Glazer (D) [3] |
• State Assembly | Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D) [4] |
• U. S. Congress | Mark DeSaulnier (D) [5] |
Area | |
• Total | 9.45 sq mi (24.49 km2) |
• Land | 9.45 sq mi (24.46 km2) |
• Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) 0.09% |
Elevation | 499 ft (152 m) |
Population | |
• Total | 16,870 |
• Density | 1,800/sq mi (690/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
ZIP codes | 94556, 94570, 94575 |
Area code(s) | 925 |
FIPS code | 06-49187 (formerly 06-49194) |
GNIS feature IDs | 1659171, 2413013 |
Website | www |
Moraga is a town in Contra Costa County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The town is named in honor of Joaquín Moraga, member of the famed Californio family, son of Gabriel Moraga, and grandson of José Joaquín Moraga, famous 18th-century expeditionaries of Alta California. As of 2020, Moraga had a total population of 16,870 people. Moraga is the home of Saint Mary's College of California.
The land now called Moraga was first inhabited by the Saklan Native Americans who belonged to the Bay Miwok language group. [8]
Joaquin Moraga was the grandson of José Joaquín Moraga, builder of the Presidio of San Francisco and founder of the pueblo that grew into the city of San Jose. Joaquin's father Tenzin Moraga was also a soldier, and an early explorer who named many of the state's rivers, including the Sacramento and San Joaquin.
Moraga is located on the 1835 Mexican Land Grant Rancho Laguna de Los Palos Colorados given to Joaquin Moraga and his cousin, Juan Bernal. Part of that grant was the property today known as Moraga Ranch. The Moraga Adobe has been preserved and is located in neighboring Orinda. Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School, a middle school in Moraga, bears his name.
In the first half of the 20th century, the line of the Sacramento Northern Railroad ran through Moraga; much of the old right-of-way is now part of the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail.
Moraga's first post office opened in 1886, and was closed in 1887; it reopened in 1915. [9] In 1955, Moraga built a new post office.
Saint Mary's College of California moved to Moraga in 1928.
Moraga incorporated in 1974, when the communities of Moraga Town, Rheem, and Rheem Valley, united into one town. [10]
In June 2017, Moraga declared a fiscal emergency, because a sinkhole in the downtown area and a failed bridge on Canyon Road were expected to cost $5 million to repair. [11]
Moraga is located at 37°50'06" North, 122°07'47" West, at an elevation of 499 feet (152 m). [10] It is located adjacent to the cities of Lafayette and Orinda, as well as the unincorporated community of Canyon. Other nearby cities include Walnut Creek, Oakland, San Francisco, Concord and Berkeley.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24 km2), of which 9.4 square miles (24 km2) is land and 0.09% is water. Moraga is in a valley, surrounded by rolling hills. Large sections of the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail pass through the town.
Moraga has a Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. In the summer, morning fog is a common occurrence, but it usually burns off by the late morning or early afternoon, giving way to clear skies the rest of the day. Most of the annual rainfall comes during the winter; snow is very rare, but occasional light dustings have been seen. Over the course of a year, the town averages 26 days of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher, 40 nights of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower, and 59 days with rain. In 2014, the southwestern US was plagued by a serious drought. Moraga was badly burdened, with high fire warnings. [12]
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Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1970 | 14,205 | — | |
1980 | 15,014 | 5.7% | |
1990 | 15,852 | 5.6% | |
2000 | 16,290 | 2.8% | |
2010 | 16,016 | −1.7% | |
2020 | 16,870 | 5.3% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [13] |
The 2010 United States Census [14] reported that Moraga had a population of 16,016. The population density was 1,696.3 people per square mile (654.9/km2). The racial makeup of Moraga was 12,201 (76.2%) White, 277 (1.7%) African American, 31 (0.2%) Native American, 2,393 (14.9%) Asian, 25 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 281 (1.8%) from other races, and 808 (5.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1,123 persons (7.0%).
The Census reported that 14,293 people (89.2% of the population) lived in households, 1,545 (9.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 178 (1.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 5,570 households, out of which 1,945 (34.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,685 (66.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 418 (7.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 165 (3.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 121 (2.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 24 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,073 households (19.3%) were made up of individuals, and 564 (10.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57. There were 4,268 families (76.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.95.
The population was spread out, with 3,474 people (21.7%) under the age of 18, 2,342 people (14.6%) aged 18 to 24, 2,193 people (13.7%) aged 25 to 44, 4,947 people (30.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,060 people (19.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
There were 5,754 housing units at an average density of 609.4 per square mile (235.3/km2), of which 4,673 (83.9%) were owner-occupied, and 897 (16.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%. 12,073 people (75.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,220 people (13.9%) lived in rental housing units.
As of February 10, 2019, Moraga has 11,024 voters with 4,737 (43%) registered Democrats, 2,766 (25.1%) registered Republicans and 3,105 (28.2%) independent voters. [15]
Moraga is home to the grade schools of Los Perales Elementary, Donald L. Rheem School, Camino Pablo School, and Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School; Campolindo High School; and Saint Mary's College of California, a private college. In 2011, Moraga was named a top city to live and learn in. [16]
The Moraga School District includes:
The Acalanes Union High School District includes:
The Saklan School (formerly known as Saklan Valley School and The Carden School of Moraga), a private elementary school founded in 1954, is also located in Moraga. [21] It is a co-educational school with around 155 students from preschool to 8th grade. The school is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (a member of the National Association of Independent Schools), and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It has a maximum class size of 16.
Moraga's only public high school is Campolindo High School, although some Moraga students choose to attend Miramonte High School, located just across the town border in Orinda. Both schools are part of the Acalanes Union High School District, which encompasses Moraga, Lafayette, Orinda, and parts of Walnut Creek.
Orion Academy is a private secondary school for students with conditions such as Asperger syndrome, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and nonverbal learning disorder.
Saint Mary's College of California is located just northeast of downtown Moraga; [9] it is a Catholic university with 3,962 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the 2007–2008 school year. The college was originally located in San Francisco and then Oakland, but moved to Moraga in 1928.
The Moraga Library of the Contra Costa County Library is located along Saint Marys Road in Moraga. [22]
Fairfield is a city in and the county seat of Solano County, California, in the North Bay sub-region of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is generally considered the midpoint between the cities of San Francisco and Sacramento, approximately 40 miles (64 km) from the city center of each city, approximately 40 miles (64 km) from the city center of Oakland, less than 19 miles (31 km) from Napa Valley, 16 miles (26 km) from the Carquinez Bridge, and 14 miles (23 km) from the Benicia Bridge. Fairfield was founded in 1856 by clippership captain Robert H. Waterman, and named after his former hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut.
Contra Costa County is a county in the state of California located on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 1,165,927. The county seat is Martinez. It occupies the northern portion of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area and is primarily suburban. The county's name refers to its position on the other side of the bay from San Francisco. Contra Costa County is included in the San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Alamo is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Contra Costa County, California, in the United States. It is a suburb located in the San Francisco Bay Area's East Bay region, approximately 28 miles (45 km) east of San Francisco. Alamo is equidistant between the city of Walnut Creek and the incorporated town of Danville. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,750. The community of Alamo is well known for its bucolic country feel, notable residents, and its affluent lifestyle with the median home sold price being $3,010,000 as of February 2022.
Lafayette is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of 2020, the city's population was 25,391. It was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military officer of the American Revolutionary War.
Orinda is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 17,643 at the 2010 census, and increased to 19,514 at the 2020 census.
Pittsburg is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. It is an industrial suburb located on the southern shore of the Suisun Bay in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, and is part of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta area. The population was 76,416 at the 2020 United States Census.
San Pablo is an enclave city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city of Richmond surrounds nearly the whole city. The population was 29,139 at the 2010 census. The current Mayor is Rita Xavier. Currently, the City Council consists of Arturo Cruz, Elizabeth Pabon-Alvarado, Abel Pineda and Patricia Ponce. Pineda is the Vice Mayor, and Cruz, Pabon-Alvarado, and Ponce are Council Members. Dorothy Gantt is the city Clerk. Viviana Toledo is the city Treasurer.
Walnut Creek is a microclimate city in Contra Costa County, California, United States, located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, about 16 miles (26 km) east of the city of Oakland. With a total population of 70,127 per the 2020 census, Walnut Creek serves as a vibrant hub for its neighboring cities because of its location at the junction of the highways from Sacramento and San Jose (I-680) and San Francisco/Oakland (SR-24), and its accessibility by BART. Its active downtown neighborhood features hundred-year-old buildings and extensive high-end retail establishments. Walnut Creek has a median home sold price of $1,572,500 with a highest home sold price of $4,120,500 as of March 2022. The city shares its borders with Lafayette, Alamo, Pleasant Hill, and Concord.
Kingsburg is a city in Fresno County, California. Kingsburg is located 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Selma at an elevation of 302 feet, on the banks of the Kings River. The city is 21 miles (34 km) from Fresno, and about 130 miles (210 km) from the California Central Coast and Sierra Nevada mountain range. The population was 11,382 at the 2010 census.
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located 7.5 miles (12 km) west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet (70 m). It is part of the Hanford-Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,531 at the 2010 Census. The California Department of Finance estimated that Lemoore's population was 26,725 on July 1, 2019.
Lathrop is a city located 9 miles (14 km) south of Stockton in San Joaquin County, California, United States. The 2020 United States Census reported that Lathrop's population was 28,701. The city is located in the San Joaquin Valley in Northern California at the intersection of Interstate 5 and California State Route 120.
Foster City is a city located in San Mateo County, California. The 2020 census put the population at 33,805, an increase of more than 10% over the 2010 census figure of 30,567. Foster City is sometimes considered to be part of Silicon Valley for its local industry and its proximity to Silicon Valley cities. Foster City is one of the United States’ safest cities, with an average of one murder per decade.
Lamorinda is an area within Contra Costa County, California in the United States. The name is a portmanteau from the names of the three cities that make up the region: Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda.
Mountain House is a planned community in San Joaquin County, California. Located at the border of the San Joaquin Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, Mountain House is 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest of Tracy, 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Interstate 205, and about 50 miles (80 km) east of San Francisco. The population was 24,499 at the 2020 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Mountain House as a census-designated place (CDP).
Acalanes Union High School District is a public high school district in southwest/central Contra Costa County in California. It currently has four schools: Acalanes High School in Lafayette, Campolindo High School in Moraga, Las Lomas High School and The Acalanes Center for Independent Study in Walnut Creek, and Miramonte High School in Orinda. A fifth campus, Del Valle High School located in Walnut Creek was closed at the end of the 1978–1979 school year and remaining students were transferred to Acalanes, Campolindo, and Las Lomas High Schools. The district's alternative school, Del Oro High School, opened on the former site of Del Valle High School, closed following the 2009–2010 school year, although the district still operates Acalanes Adult Education at the Del Valle Education Center in Walnut Creek. John Nickerson has served as the district's Superintendent since May, 2011.
Allensworth is a census-designated place (CDP) in Tulare County, California. Allensworth sits at an elevation of 213 feet (65 m), the same elevation as the huge and historically important Tulare Lake shore when it was full. The 2010 United States census reported Allensworth's population was 471.
Orinda Union School District (OUSD) is a school district in Orinda, California, United States, that serves students in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 8th grade. It consists of four elementary schools and one middle school. It is the highest ranked TK–8 school district in California, ranked by API score. Orinda Union School District’s Del Rey Elementary, Glorietta Elementary, and Wagner Ranch Elementary were also selected as California Distinguished Schools for 2018. On completion of middle school, students generally enroll in nearby Acalanes Union High School District, usually to either Miramonte High School (Orinda) or Campolindo High School (Moraga).
Rheem, also known as Rheem Valley and Rheem Center, is an unincorporated community in Contra Costa County, California, United States. It is located 7.5 miles (12 km) north-northwest of Danville, at an elevation of 587 feet. It was incorporated into the town of Moraga when that town was incorporated in 1974.
Rancho Laguna de Los Palos Colorados was a 13,316-acre (53.89 km2) Mexican land grant in the Berkeley Hills within present-day Contra Costa County, California.
The Moraga School District is a primary school district in Moraga, California. Schools in the district include Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School, Camino Pablo Elementary School, Donald Rheem Elementary School, and Los Perales Elementary School.
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