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64-481: Orinda is a city in Contra Costa County, California , United States. The city's population as of the 2020 census is estimated at 19,514 residents. Orinda is located within four Mexican land grants: Rancho Laguna de los Palos Colorados , Rancho Acalanes , Rancho El Sobrante and Rancho Boca de la Cañada del Pinole . The area was originally rural, mainly known for ranching and summer cabins. The Moraga Adobe

128-585: A branch in Orinda. Contra Costa County, California Contra Costa County ( / ˌ k ɒ n t r ə ˈ k ɒ s t ə / ; Contra Costa , Spanish for 'Opposite Coast') is a county located in the U.S. state of California , in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area . As of the 2020 United States Census , the population was 1,165,927. The county seat is Martinez . It occupies

192-576: A character actively sought by some housing purchasers. The downside of this is a corresponding lack of affordable housing for those working lower-paying service jobs — a problem endemic throughout the region. There has recently been a housing boom or tract housing in Richmond and also in the Hercules areas. These gentrifying areas are the most diverse in Contra Costa County. POSSLQ After

256-424: A concrete-lined and fenced irrigation canal still makes a loop through central county and provided industrial and agricultural grade water to farms and industry. While no longer used for extensive irrigation, it is still possible for adjoining landowners (now large suburban lot owners) to obtain pumping permits. Most of this water is destined for the heavy industry near Martinez. As with the railroad rights of way there

320-560: A non-Indian population of over 100,000. The number of Indians living in California in 1850 has been estimated to be from 60,000 to 100,000. By 1850 the Mission Indian populations had largely succumbed to disease and abuse and only numbered a few thousand. California's 1852 state Census gives 31,266 Indian residents, but this is an under-count since there was little incentive and much difficulty in getting it more correct. Contra Costa County

384-504: A once substantial integrated steel plant, United States Steel , now reduced to secondary production of strip sheet and wire. The San Joaquin River forms a continuation of the northern boundary turns southward to form the eastern boundary of the county. Some substantial Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta "islands" (actually leveed former marshes) are included in this corner of the county. The West County

448-510: Is a 58.3% registration advantage with 641 Republicans (6.1%) out of 10,550 registered voters compared to 6,793 Democrats (64.4%) and 2,746 voters who have no party preference (26.0%). The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense. The great rancheros of the Spanish period were divided and sold for agricultural uses, with intensively irrigated farming made possible in some areas by

512-475: Is in the cities of Richmond , where there is a 60.3% registration advantage with 3,192 Republicans (6.2%) out of 51,395 registered voters compared to 34,159 Democrats (66.5%) and 12,095 voters who have no party preference (23.5%); El Cerrito , where there is a 59.0% registration advantage with 1,169 Republicans (7.4%) out of 15,877 registered voters compared to 10,543 Democrats (67.6%) and 3,654 voters who have no party preference (23.0%); and San Pablo , where there

576-605: Is land and 88 square miles (230 km ) (11%) is water. Contra Costa County's physical geography is dominated by the bayside alluvial plain, the Oakland Hills – Berkeley Hills , several inland valleys, and Mount Diablo , an isolated 3,849-foot (1,173 m) upthrust peak at the north end of the Diablo Range of hills. The summit of Mount Diablo is the origin of the Mount Diablo Meridian and Base Line , on which

640-430: Is now Concord/Buchanan Field Airport . Additionally, a large Naval Weapons Depot and munitions ship loading facilities at Port Chicago remain active to this day, but with the inland storage facilities recently declared surplus, extensive redevelopment is being planned for this last large central-county tract. The loading docks were the site of a devastating explosion in 1944. Port Chicago was bought out and demolished by

704-446: Is now an extensive public trail system along these canals. The development of commuter railroads proceeded together with the subdivision of farms into parcels. In some cases, such as the development of Saranap , the same developer controlled both the railroad ( Sacramento Northern ) and the development. These early suburbanization developments were an extension of the earlier development of trolley car suburbs in what are now considered

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768-416: Is the area near or on San Francisco and San Pablo bays. The housing stock in the region was extensively developed after the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Much of the housing stock in these areas is becoming quite expensive. As an alternative to moving to either the expensive central county, or the too-distant East County, this area is becoming gentrified , with a mix of races and income levels —

832-665: Is the only middle school. Together, these five schools make up the Orinda Union School District . Orinda's high school, Miramonte High School , is a part of the Acalanes Union High School District . Orinda is home to three private educational establishments: Orinda Academy , Holden High School , and Fountainhead Montessori School. Of these, two (OA & Holden) are private high schools, while Fountainhead Montessori School services kindergarten through fifth grade. The Contra Costa County Library has

896-472: Is water. The area is characterized by a warm-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification : Csb ) with cool, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. Because Orinda is located in a hilly area, microclimates often dominate temperature differences in short distances. The Oakland Hills often block the cool foggy conditions that can be seen in Oakland and the inner Bay. In the summer, fog can spill over

960-545: The 1980 Census , the term gained currency in the wider culture for a time. After demographers observed the increasing frequency of cohabitation over the 1980s, the Census Bureau began directly asking respondents to their major surveys whether they were "unmarried partners", thus making obsolete the old method of counting cohabitors, which involved a series of assumptions about "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters". The category "unmarried partner" first appeared in

1024-529: The 1990 Census , and was incorporated into the monthly Current Population Survey starting in 1995. By the late 1990s, the term POSSLQ had fallen out of general usage (having been replaced by " significant other ") and returned to being a specialized term for demographers. CBS commentator Charles Osgood composed a verse which includes There's nothing that I wouldn't do If you would be my POSSLQ You live with me and I with you, And you will be my POSSLQ. I'll be your friend and so much more; That's what

1088-519: The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, the modernization of Highway 24 , and the addition of a fourth Caldecott Tunnel bore all served to reinforce the demographic and economic trends in the Diablo Valley area, with cities such as Walnut Creek and Concord becoming edge cities . The central county cities have in turn spawned their own suburbs within the county, extending east along

1152-462: The Diablo thrust fault near Danville are all considered capable of significantly destructive earthquakes and many lesser related faults are present in the area that cross critical infrastructure such as water, natural gas, and petroleum product pipelines, roads, highways, railroads, and BART rail transit. Contra Costa County is broadly divided into three sub-areas: The most notable natural landmark in

1216-625: The Mexican War of Independence resulted in the secularization of the missions with the re-distribution of their lands, and a new system of land grants under the Mexican Federal Law of 1824. Mission lands extended throughout the Bay Area, including portions of Contra Costa County. Between 1836 and 1846, during the era when California was a province of independent Mexico, the following 15 land grants were made in Contra Costa County. The smallest unit

1280-597: The San Ramon Valley . Early contact was fleeting and mostly peaceful, however, in the late 1700s, Spanish cattle were grazed the territory of the Saklan and their neighbors. The Saklans were one of the few groups who mounted resistance against the efforts of the Spanish to convert them to Christianity. Christian natives were sent to the Saklans to convince them to give up their culture and come to Mission San Jose; they were killed by

1344-537: The surveys of much of California and western Nevada are based. The Hayward Fault Zone runs through the western portion of the county, from Kensington to Richmond. The Calaveras Fault runs in the south-central portion of the county, from Alamo to San Ramon. The Concord Fault runs through part of Concord and Pacheco, and the Clayton-Marsh Creek-Greenville Fault runs from Clayton at its north end to near Livermore. These strike-slip faults and

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1408-591: The Catholic Church (with 204,070 members) and The Baptist General Conference (with 24,803 members). The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute teaches courses in the county. Since 1932, Contra Costa County has been a Democratic stronghold in presidential elections. It temporarily leaned toward the Republican Party in the 1970s and 1980s, with successive presidential wins by Richard Nixon in 1972, Gerald Ford in 1976, and Ronald Reagan in 1980 and 1984. Reagan

1472-840: The Federal Government to form a safety zone near the Naval Weapons Station loading docks. At one time the Atlas Powder Company (subsequently closed) produced gunpowder and dynamite. The site of the former Atlas Powder Company is located at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline , part of the East Bay Regional Parks District . With the postwar baby boom and the desire for suburban living, large tract housing developers would purchase large central county farmsteads and develop them with roads, utilities and housing. Once mostly rural walnut orchards and cattle ranches,

1536-402: The Oakland hills, cooling off the area. Heatwaves from the inland areas can be felt much more in Orinda than in Oakland and the inner Bay during the summer. In the winter, Orinda often sees more precipitation than surrounding areas because of its higher elevation. Snowfall is rare but not unheard of. A dusting of snow may occur in any given year because of the elevation. During stable conditions in

1600-438: The Saklans who wanted nothing to do with the Spanish way of life. A punitive expedition was sent to the area in 1797 to repress the Saklans, and a battle was fought in modern-day Lafayette. In the early 1800s, many Saklan fled to the mission as a result of societal collapse from disease. By the 1810s the Saklan's tribal range was essentially devoid of inhabitants. Early interaction of these Native Americans with Europeans came with

1664-602: The Spanish colonization via the establishment of missions in this area, with the missions in San Jose, Sonoma, and San Francisco and particularly the establishment of a Presidio (a military establishment) in 1776. Although there were no missions established within this county, Spanish influence here was direct and extensive, through the establishment of land grants from the King of Spain to favored settlers. In 1821 Mexico gained independence from Spain. While little changed in ranchero life,

1728-611: The area (then marshy and grassy savanna ) were populated by a wide range of now extinct mammals , known in modern times by the fossil remains excavated in the southern part of the county. In the northern part of the county, significant coal and sand deposits were formed in even earlier geologic eras . Other areas of the county have ridges exposing ancient but intact (not fossilized) seashells, embedded in sandstone layers alternating with limestone . Layers of volcanic ash ejected from geologically recent but now extinct volcanoes , compacted and now tilted by compressive forces, may be seen at

1792-409: The area was first developed as low-cost, large-lot suburbs, with a typical low-cost home being placed on a "quarter-acre" (1,000 m ) lot — actually a little less at 10,000 square feet (930 square metres). Some of the expansion of these suburban areas was clearly attributable to white flight from decaying areas of Alameda County and the consolidated city-county of San Francisco , but much

1856-474: The bayside portions opposite San Francisco and northern portions of Santa Clara County , were given up to form Alameda County effective March 25, 1853. The land titles in Contra Costa County may be traced to multiple subdivisions of a few original land grants. The grantee's family names live on in a few city and town names such as Martinez , Pacheco and Moraga and in the names of streets, residential subdivisions, and business parks. A few mansions from

1920-580: The city of Orinda was incorporated on July 1, 1985. Its first mayor was Richard G. Heggie. The city is served by Orinda station on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Yellow Line and Route 6 of the County Connection . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 12.7 sq mi (33 km), of which 12.7 sq mi (33 km) of it is land and 0.015 sq mi (0.039 km) of it (0.12%)

1984-577: The construction of a house within a year. Fences were not required and were forbidden where they might interfere with roads or trails. Locally a large family required roughly 2000 head of cattle and two square leagues of land (fourteen square miles) to live comfortably. Foreign entrepreneurs came to the area to provide goods that Mexico could not, and trading ships were taxed. The exclusive land ownership in California by Hispanics in California would soon end. John Marsh , owner of Rancho Los Meganos in Contra Costa County, sent letters to influential people in

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2048-476: The county is the 3,849-foot (1,173 m) Mount Diablo , at the northerly end of the Diablo Range . Mount Diablo and its neighboring North Peak are the centerpiece of Mt. Diablo State Park (MDSP), created legislatively in 1921 and rededicated in 1931 after land acquisitions had been completed. At the time this park comprised a very small portion of the mountain. In the 1960s, suburban development expanding from

2112-459: The county's estuarine north shore; with the older development areas of Bay Point and Pittsburg being augmented by extensive development in Antioch , Oakley , and Brentwood . The effects of the housing value crash (2008–2011) varied widely throughout the county. Values of houses in prosperous areas with good schools declined only modestly in value, while houses recently built in outlying suburbs in

2176-412: The development of canals that brought water from the eastern riverside portions of the county to the central portion. Other areas could use the more limited water available from local creeks and from wells. Orchards dominated where such water was available, while other, seasonally dry areas were used for cattle ranching. In central parts of the county walnuts were an especially attractive orchard crop, using

2240-513: The eastern United States extolling the climate, soil, and potential for agriculture in California, with the purpose of encouraging Americans to immigrate to California and lead to its becoming part of the United States. His letters were published in newspapers throughout the East which started the first wagon trains to California. He invited the settlers to stay on his ranch , and Rancho Los Meganos became

2304-467: The eastern part of the county experienced severe reductions in value, accelerated by high unemployment and consequent mortgage foreclosures, owner strategic walk-aways , and the too-rapid conversion of neighborhoods from owner-occupancy to rentals. Home values rebounded as the economy recovered from the recession. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 804 square miles (2,080 km ), of which 716 square miles (1,850 km )

2368-578: The highly urban environments of the near East Bay. Owing to its extensive waterfront on San Francisco , San Pablo , and Suisun bays the northwestern and northern segments have long been sites for heavy industry, including a number of still active oil refineries (particularly Chevron in Richmond, Phillips 66 in Rodeo , Shell Oil (now PBF) and Tesoro (now Marathon)- in Martinez), chemical plants ( Dow Chemical ) and

2432-399: The more prosperous farms have been preserved as museums and cultural centers and one of the more rustic examples has been preserved as a working demonstration ranch, Borges Ranch . In the 1860 United States Census, Contra Costa County had a population of 4,381. During World War II, Richmond hosted one of the two Bay Area sites of Kaiser Shipyards and wartime pilots were trained at what

2496-628: The name of the mountain, one in 2005 and another in 2011, but these were not successful. The 2010 United States Census reported that Contra Costa County had a population of 1,049,025. The racial makeup of Contra Costa County was 614,512 (58.6%) White ; 97,161 (9.3%) African American ; 6,122 (0.6%) Native American ; 151,469 (14.4%) Asian (4.6% Filipino, 3.8% Chinese, 2.1% Indian); 4,845 (0.5%) Pacific Islander ; 112,691 (10.7%) from other races ; and 62,225 (5.9%) from two or more races. There were 255,560 people (24.4%) of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, of any race; 17.1% of Contra Costa County's population

2560-520: 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 . In prehistoric times, particularly the Miocene epoch , portions of the landforms now in

2624-512: The open spaces that stretch to the north. The open spaces controlled by cities, the East Bay Regional Park District, Mount Diablo State Park, and various regional preserves now adjoin and protect most of the elevated regions of the mountain. The name Mount Diablo is said to originate from an incident involving Spanish soldiers who christened a thicket as Monte del Diablo when natives they were pursuing apparently disappeared into

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2688-959: The park. MDSP was the first of twenty-nine Diablo-area parks and preserves that have been created around the peaks; today these preserves protect more than 89,000 acres (360 km ). These Diablo public lands stretch southeast and include the Concord Naval Weapons Station , Shell Ridge Open Space and Lime Ridge Open Spaces near Walnut Creek, to the State Park, and east to the Los Vaqueros Reservoir watershed and four surrounding East Bay Regional Park District preserves, including Morgan Territory Regional Preserve , Brushy Peak Regional Preserve , Vasco Caves Regional Preserve , and Round Valley Regional Preserve . The new Marsh Creek State Park , formerly known as Cowell Ranch State Park, and Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve , are among

2752-643: The population) lived in households, 6 (>0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 37 (0.2%) were institutionalized. There were 6,553 households, out of which 2,361 (36.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 4,673 (71.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 370 (5.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 159 (2.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 138 (2.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 58 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships , 1,127 households (17.2%) were made up of individuals, and 695 (10.6%) had someone living alone who

2816-470: The population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,590 people (9.0%) lived in rental housing units. As of February 10, 2019, Orinda has 14,020 registered voters, with 6,692 (47.7%) registered as Democrats, 3,176 (22.7%) registered as Republicans, and 3,662 (26.1%) decline to state voters. Orinda has four public elementary schools: Sleepy Hollow Elementary, Wagner Ranch Elementary, Glorietta Elementary and Del Rey Elementary. Orinda Intermediate School

2880-594: The population, while ethnic Asians constituted 13.1%. Latinos, representing people of Spanish, Portuguese, indigenous and mestizo populations of the Western hemisphere, comprised 21.1% of the county population. In 2000, there were 344,129 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.00% had someone living alone who

2944-613: The product of undersea volcanic eruptions. The Bay Miwok , Yokut and Ohlone people lived in the area now known as Contra Costa County before the arrival of Spanish colonists. The Volvon triblet of the Miwok lived on Tuyshtak ( Mount Diablo near present day Walnut Creek ) until they were forcibly moved from their land into the Spanish missions in the early 1800s. The Saklan tribe lived between Moraga , along San Leandro Creek , to Lafayette . Beginning in 1772, expeditions of Spanish missionaries and soldiers from Mission San José entered

3008-656: The site of some road excavations. This county is an agglomeration of several distinct geologic terranes , as is most of the greater San Francisco Bay Area , which is one of the most geologically complex regions in the world. The great local mountain Mount Diablo has been formed and continues to be elevated by compressive forces resulting from the action of plate tectonics and at its upper reaches presents ancient seabed rocks scraped from distant oceanic sedimentation locations and accumulated and lifted by these great forces. Younger deposits at middle altitudes include pillow lavas ,

3072-411: The surrounding valleys began to threaten the open space of the mountain. In 1971, MDSP consisted of 6,788 acres (27.5 km ). That year, concerned residents formed the non-profit organization Save Mount Diablo to raise funds and awareness to protect more open space. In addition to encouraging acquisition by the state and local authorities, SMD started fundraising and acquiring properties to transfer to

3136-686: The terminus of the California trail. This led to the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846 when about 30 settlers originally from the United States declared a republic in June 1846 and were enlisted and fighting under the U.S. flag by July 1846. Following the Mexican–American War of 1846–48, California was controlled by U.S. settlers organized under the California Battalion and the U.S. Navy 's Pacific Squadron . After some minor skirmishes, California

3200-510: The thicket. Anglo settlers later misunderstood the use of the word 'monte' (which can mean 'mountain', or 'thicket'), and applied the name to the most obvious local landmark. According to the Contra Costa Times , in 2011, there were rumors that Contra Costa County was going to rename the mountain as "Mt. Ronald Reagan" or "Mt. Reagan", after the former US president and California governor. Residents have generated multiple petitions to change

3264-477: The thin-shelled English Walnut branches grafted to the hardy and disease-resistant American Walnut root stock. In the Moraga region, pears dominated, and many old (but untended) roadside trees are still picked seasonally by passers-by. In eastern county, stone fruit, especially cherries, is still grown commercially, with seasonal opportunities for people to pick their own fruit for a modest fee. The Contra Costa Canal ,

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3328-691: The winter, mornings can be cold and frosty in downtown and lower-lying areas, while the higher hills surrounding the area may be several degrees warmer. The 2010 United States Census reported that Orinda had a population of 17,643, The population density was 1,389.5 inhabitants per square mile (536.5/km), The racial makeup of Orinda was 14,533 (82.4%) White-American , 149 (0.8%) African American , 22 (0.1%) Native American , 2,016 (11.4%) Asian-American , 24 (0.1%) Pacific Islander , 122 (0.7%) from other races, and 777 (4.4%) from two or more races. There were 807 people (4.6%) of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race. The Census reported that 17,600 people (99.8% of

3392-545: Was $ 73,039 (these figures had risen to $ 75,483 and $ 87,435 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $ 52,670 versus $ 38,630 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 30,615. About 5.4% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over. In 2000, the largest denominational groups were Catholics (with 204,070 adherents) and Evangelical Protestants (with 74,449 adherents). The largest religious bodies were

3456-427: Was 47.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males. There were 6,804 housing units, at an average density of 535.8 per square mile (206.9/km), of which 6,553 were occupied, of which 5,876 (89.7%) were owner-occupied, and 677 (10.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.2%. 16,010 people (90.7% of

3520-413: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69. There were 5,202 families (79.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.03. The population was spread out, with 4,512 people (25.6%) under the age of 18, 729 people (4.1%) aged 18 to 24, 2,741 people (15.5%) aged 25 to 44, 6,111 people (34.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,550 people (20.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

3584-403: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.23. In the county, the population was spread out, with: The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 63,675, and the median income for a family

3648-464: Was built in 1841, and is the oldest building in the East Bay. In the late 19th century, the land was named by Alice Marsh Cameron, probably in honor of the poet Katherine Philips , who was also known as the "Matchless Orinda". In the 1880s, United States Surveyor General for California Theodore Wagner built an estate he named Orinda Park. The Orinda Park post office opened in 1888. The post office's name

3712-526: Was changed to Orinda in 1895. Orinda was also the site of Bryant Station, a stop on the failed California and Nevada Railroad around the turn of the 20th century. Later, the area around Bryant Station was known as Orinda Crossroads. Orinda's popularity as a year-round residence grew after the 1937 completion of the Caldecott Tunnel , which provided easier access to the west. Bisected by California State Route 24 and framed by its rolling oak-covered hills,

3776-576: Was due to the postwar baby boom of the era creating demand for three- and four-bedroom houses with large yards that were unaffordable or unavailable in the established bayside cities. A number of large companies followed their employees to the suburbs, filling large business parks. The establishment of a large, prosperous population in turn fostered the development of large shopping centers and created demand for an extensive supporting infrastructure including roads, schools, libraries, police, firefighting, water, sewage, and flood control. The establishment of

3840-693: Was of Mexican ancestry, while 1.9% was of Salvadoran heritage. As of the census of 2000, there were 948,816 people, 344,129 households, and 242,266 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,318 inhabitants per square mile (509/km ). There were 354,577 housing units at an average density of 492 units per square mile (190 units/km ). Of residents who identified with European ethnicities, 9.0% were German, 7.7% Irish, 7.3% English, and 6.5% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000 . 74.1% spoke English, 13.1% Spanish, and 2.6% Tagalog . By 2005, 53.2% of Contra Costa County's population were non-Hispanic whites. African Americans made up 9.6% of

3904-433: Was one of the original 27 counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. The county was originally to be called Mt. Diablo County, but the name was changed prior to incorporation as a county. The county's Spanish language name means opposite coast , because of its location opposite San Francisco, in an easterly direction, on San Francisco Bay . Southern portions of the county's territory, including all of

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3968-506: Was one square league, or about seven square miles, or 4,400 acres (17.8 square kilometers), maximum to one individual was eleven leagues, or 48,400 acres (195.9 km ), including no more than 4,428 acres (17.9 km ) of irrigable land. Rough surveying was based on a map, or diseño , measured by streams, shorelines, and/or horseman who marked it with rope and stakes. Lands outside rancho grants were designated el sobrante , as in surplus or excess, and considered common lands. The law required

4032-734: Was the last Republican presidential candidate to win the county. In the United States House of Representatives , Contra Costa County is split among three congressional districts: In the State Assembly , Contra Costa County is split among four districts: In the State Senate , the county is split among three districts: Democrats hold wide advantages in voter registration numbers in all political subdivisions in Contra Costa County. The Democrats' largest registration advantage in Contra Costa

4096-530: Was under U.S. control by January 1847 and formally annexed and paid for by the U.S. in 1848. By 1850, California's population of over 100,000 was rapidly growing due to the gold rush and the large amount of gold being exported east, which gave California enough clout to choose its own boundaries, write its own constitution, and be admitted to the Union as a free state in 1850 without going through territorial status as required for most other states. In 1850 California had

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