Concord

by The Linguist

Concord is a city located in Contra Costa County in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in California. With a population of 129,295 as of 2020, it is the largest city in Contra Costa County and the eighth largest in the Bay Area.

Population and Demographics

According to the 2020 census, Concord had a population of 129,295 people. The racial makeup of Concord was 62.6% White, 8.6% African American, 0.8% Native American, 17.2% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 5.0% from other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race made up 17.5% of the population.

The median age in Concord was 39.2 years old. 24.2% of the population was under 18 years old, 61.5% was between 18 and 64 years old, and 14.3% was 65 years or older.

There were 44,630 households and 32,453 families living in Concord. The average household size was 2.76 people and the average family size was 3.27 people.

Concord saw rapid population growth in the decades after World War II. The city’s population tripled between 1940 and 1960 as people were drawn to Concord for jobs and affordable housing. Growth slowed in the 1970s but picked up again in the 1980s and 1990s.

Economy and Major Employers

Historically Concord’s economy was primarily industrial, focused on heavy manufacturing. While the manufacturing sector remains important today, the city has diversified into other industries as well. According to the City of Concord, major employment sectors now include biotech and pharmaceuticals, healthcare, construction, and retail.

Some of the largest employers in Concord include:

The major shopping and entertainment destination is Concord Pavilion. Tourism is also an important industry, with attractions like Six Flags Hurricane Harbor water park.

The unemployment rate in Concord was 5.0% as of June 2022 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This compares to a national unemployment rate of 3.6%. The median household income in Concord was $99,568.

Landmarks

Some notable landmarks and points of interest in Concord include:

Sports

Concord’s local professional sports team is the Concord Heat basketball team. The Heat joined the American Basketball Association in 2020 and play home games at Diablo Valley College.

Concord does not have any major league professional franchises. Nearby Oakland is home to several pro teams like the Oakland A’s, Raiders, and Warriors that many residents follow.

At the youth and amateur level, Concord offers many opportunities to play sports through associations like AYSO soccer, Little League baseball, Pop Warner football, and more. Popular sports for high school athletes are football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, swimming, and volleyball.

Concord hosts an annual 4th of July swim meet at the Concord Community Pool and a Thanksgiving Day run through downtown and around Todos Santos Plaza.

Local Connections

To learn more about Concord, check out these local resources: