Pinole, California

City of Pinole
City
Downtown Pinole
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  Honoring the past, embracing the future
Location of Pinole within California
City of Pinole Location in the United States
Coordinates: 38°00′16″N122°17′28″W / 38.00444°N 122.29111°W / 38.00444; -122.29111
Country	United States
State	California
County	Contra Costa
Incorporated	June 25, 1903 [1]
Government
• Type	council–manager
•  Mayor	Devin T. Murphy [2]
• Mayor Pro Tem	Maureen Toms [2]
• City council	City Council [2] Cameron Sasai Anthony Tave Norma Martinez-Rubin
•  State Legislature	Sen. Nancy Skinner (D) [3] Asm. Buffy Wicks (D) [4]
•  U. S. Congress	John Garamendi (D) [5]
Area [6]
• Total	11.76 sq mi (30.46 km2)
• Land	5.10 sq mi (13.22 km2)
• Water	6.66 sq mi (17.24 km2)  60.79%
Elevation	23 ft (6.4 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	18,390
• Estimate  (2019) [7]	19,250
• Density	3,771.55/sq mi (1,456.31/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	94564
Area code(s)	510, 341
FIPS code	06-57288
GNIS feature IDs	277576, 2411428
Website	www.ci.pinole.ca.us

Pinole (Spanish for "cornmeal") is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 19,022 ^[8] at the 2020 census.

History

Street scene in Pinole, c. 1909

Bank of Pinole

The name derives from "pinole", a Nāhuatl word for a kind of flour made from the ground seeds of maize, chia, and various other grasses, and annual herbs. An expedition under Pedro Fages was said to have run out of provisions while exploring the area, and to have been fed pinole by a local village. The Spaniards named their camp El Pinole.

In 1823, Ygnacio Martínez, commandant of the Presidio of San Francisco, received a land grant of Rancho El Pinole from the Mexican government. Martinez built a hacienda in Pinole Valley; this is land encompassed by Pinole Valley Park. During the 1850s, Bernardo Fernandez, a Portuguese immigrant, started a trading facility on the shores of San Pablo Bay. He built Fernandez Mansion, a historic building that still stands today at the end of Tennent Avenue. From these early beginnings, a small but thriving community developed into the city of Pinole.

The settlement's growth was stimulated by construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1878 and the establishment of the California Powder Works in nearby Hercules. During this period, this city had an active waterfront and was a regional commercial and banking center. The first post office opened in 1878 when the railroad reached the community. ^[9] The City of Pinole was incorporated in 1903. ^[9]

During the post-World War II boom, Pinole and the surrounding area grew rapidly. Construction of Interstate 80 in 1958 stimulated developers to build new housing to satisfy demand, and the town evolved as a suburban bedroom community within the San Francisco/Oakland commuter belt. Much of its original industry was displaced during this time, and the town became predominantly residential.

Today, the town is locally known for its "big box" shopping store district along Fitzgerald Drive, and Pinole Vista Shopping Center, which is contiguous with Richmond's Hilltop Area. The downtown area still retains much turn-of-the-century building stock. The city's development agency is working to preserve this historic area as a tourist and community destination.

Geography

Capitol Corridor train along Pinole's coastline on San Pablo Bay

Aerial view. Pinole is around the center, and through the partial cloverleaf interchange of Richmond Parkway and Interstate 80 at lower right.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.6 square miles (35 km²). 5.3 square miles (14 km²) of it is land, and 8.3 square miles (21 km²) of it (60.79%) is water.

The city of Pinole has habitat areas that support the endangered species Santa Cruz Tarweed on the California coastal prairie ecosystem. A colony of this rare plant was discovered during preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for a proposed shopping center on the east side of I-80 in the late 1980s. Subsequently, a plan was developed by the city to conduct replanting of this tarweed on the slopes within the right-of-way of Interstate Highway 80. Also running through is Pinole Creek.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	340		—
1910	798		—
1920	967		21.2%
1930	781		−19.2%
1940	934		19.6%
1950	1,147		22.8%
1960	6,064		428.7%
1970	13,266		118.8%
1980	14,253		7.4%
1990	17,460		22.5%
2000	19,039		9.0%
2010	18,390		−3.4%
2020	19,022		3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

2010

Bernardo Fernandez House

At the 2010 census Pinole had a population of 18,390. The population density was 1,354.7 inhabitants per square mile (523.1/km²). The racial makeup of Pinole was 8,488 (46.2%) White, 2,458 (13.4%) African American, 147 (0.8%) Native American, 4,220 (22.9%) Asian, 64 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 1,741 (9.5%) from other races, and 1,272 (6.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4,005 persons (21.8%). ^[11]

The census reported that 18,322 people (99.6% of the population) lived in households, 53 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 15 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 6,775 households, 2,202 (32.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,500 (51.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,012 (14.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 363 (5.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 325 (4.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 76 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,529 households (22.6%) were one person and 676 (10.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.70. There were 4,875 families (72.0% of households); the average family size was 3.19.

The age distribution was 3,764 people (20.5%) under the age of 18, 1,674 people (9.1%) aged 18 to 24, 4,325 people (23.5%) aged 25 to 44, 5,779 people (31.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,848 people (15.5%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

There were 7,158 housing units at an average density of 527.3 per square mile (203.6/km²),of which 6,775 were occupied, 4,861 (71.7%) by the owners and 1,914 (28.3%) by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%. 13,210 people (71.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,112 people (27.8%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

Corner of Fernandez Ave. and San Pablo Ave in Downtown Pinole

At the 2000 census there were 19,039 people in 6,743 households, including 5,057 families, in the city. The population density was 1,413.7/km² (3,662.3/mi²). There were 6,828 housing units at an average density of 507.0/km² (1,313.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.39% White, 11.11% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 21.71% Asian, 0.37% Pacific Islander, 5.81% from other races, and 6.03% from two or more races. 13.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[12] Of the 6,743 households 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 20.2% of households were one person and 7.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.

The age distribution was 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median household income was $62,256 and the median family income was $70,172. Males had a median income of $47,335 versus $38,019 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,170. About 3.5% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

The Pinole Community Players have been performing in Pinole since 1986. ^[13]

Government

City Hall

On February 10, 2019, Pinole has 11,347 registered voters. Of those, 6,365 (56.1%) are registered Democrats, 1,525 (13.4%) are registered Republicans, and 2,993 (26.4%) have declined to state a political party. ^[14]

Notable people

• Billie Joe Armstrong (b. 1972) and other members of Green Day attended Pinole Valley High School
• Travis Feeney (b. 1992), professional football player, went to Pinole Valley High School
• Bernardo Fernandez (1828 – 1912), was an early leader in the town's cattle industry
• Gary Holt (b. 1964), member of the thrash metal band Exodus lives in Pinole.
• Ray Kremer (1893–1965), former professional baseball player born in Oakland, California, retired in Pinole. ^[15]
• Brad Lackey (b. 1953), 1982 Motocross World Champion. ^[16]
• Gino Torretta (b. 1970), 1992 Heisman Trophy winner attended Pinole Valley High School. ^[17]

See also

• San Francisco Bay Area portal

• Amtrak California

References

1. "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on February 21, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
2. "City Council". City of Pinole. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
3. "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
4. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
5. "California's 5th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
6. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
8. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Pinole city, California". www.census.gov. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
9. Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 681. ISBN   1-884995-14-4.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Pinole city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. "Pinole Community Players - History: The First Five Years". pinoleplayers.org. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
14. "CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – February 10, 2019" (PDF). ca.gov. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
15. "Ray Kremer at the Society for American Baseball Research". sabr.org. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
16. Remitz, Ed (December 1, 1972). "Profile: Brad Lackey". Cycle World. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
17. "Gino Torretta NFL statistics". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved July 9, 2023.

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

External links

• Official website