Pleasanton

by The Linguist

Pleasanton, California

Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California with a population of 82,314 as of the 2020 census. Pleasanton is located in the San Francisco Bay Area about 25 miles east of Oakland and 6 miles west of Livermore.

History

Pleasanton was originally home to the Muwekma Ohlone Native American tribe. The first European settlers arrived in the 19th century, establishing ranches and farms. In 1894, the town of Pleasanton was incorporated, named after General Alfred Pleasonton who had defeated Confederates in the American Civil War.

Pleasanton grew slowly as an agricultural town known for wheat farming and cattle ranching. In the 1950s, Pleasanton began transitioning to a suburban residential community. Several large suburban neighborhoods and apartment complexes were built. With its proximity to Silicon Valley, many tech workers moved to Pleasanton.

Today, Pleasanton is known for its lively downtown, excellent schools, green spaces, and family-friendly atmosphere. Major employers in Pleasanton include Safeway, Workday, Roche, and Oracle.

Demographics and Population

As of the 2020 census, Pleasanton had a population of 82,314 people. Pleasanton has grown rapidly in recent decades. In 1970, the population was just 18,328. By 1990 it had reached 58,389. Much of this growth came from the development of new housing and the city’s popularity as a family-oriented suburb.

The racial makeup of Pleasanton is predominantly white, with Asian being the next largest group. The median age is 41.3 and the median household income is $139,076, well above the national median.

Economy and Major Employers

Pleasanton has a strong and diversified economy. Historically agriculture and ranching dominated, but today Pleasanton has a mix of retail, technology, healthcare, finance, and professional services. Some of the largest employers in Pleasanton are:

  • Safeway (corporate offices) – 1750 Bernal Ave, Pleasanton, CA 94566, (925) 463-3000
  • Workday (software) – 6110 Stoneridge Mall Rd #150, Pleasanton, CA 94588, (877) 976-3236
  • Roche (biotech) – 5300 Chiron Way, Pleasanton, CA 94588, (925) 734-0300
  • Oracle (software) – 5600 Owens Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588, (925) 494-3000

Other major companies with offices in Pleasanton include BlackRidge Technology, Ellie Mae, Vieira Insurance, and Simpson Manufacturing.

Landmarks and Points of Interest

Some of the most popular landmarks and attractions in Pleasanton include:

Downtown

Historic downtown Pleasanton along Main Street offers excellent restaurants, bars, and shops. Popular spots include:

  • Lion’s Wayside Inn Restaurant (established in 1860s)
  • Tully’s Coffee
  • Noodles & Company
  • Posh Bagel

Alameda County Fairgrounds

Home to the Alameda County Fair, horse racing, and other events throughout the year. 4501 Pleasanton Ave, Pleasanton, CA 94566, (925) 426-7600.

Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park

Over 9,000 acres of open space with trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, Foothill Road, Pleasanton, CA 94588, (510) 544-3030.

Castlewood Country Club

An upscale country club founded in 1957 featuring two 18-hole golf courses. Castlewood Country Club, 707 Country Club Cir, Pleasanton, CA 94566, (925) 426-6666.

Local Government

Pleasanton is governed by a city council-city manager system. There are five city council members who appoint a city manager to oversee day-to-day operations. The current city manager is Nelson Fialho. Pleasanton’s mayor is Karla Brown.

Contact information for Pleasanton’s city government:

City of Pleasanton
P.O. Box 520
Pleasanton, CA 94566
(925) 931-5040

City of Pleasanton website

Public Services

Library

Pleasanton has an excellent public library system with two branches:

  • Pleasanton Public Library – 400 Old Bernal Ave, Pleasanton, CA 94566, (925) 931-3400
  • Pleasanton Library – Community Room – 400 Old Bernal Ave #100, Pleasanton, CA 94566, (925) 931-3405

Police

Police services provided by Pleasanton Police Department – 4833 Bernal Ave, Pleasanton, CA 94566, (925) 931-5100.

Fire

Fire services provided by Pleasanton Fire Department – 1665 Santa Rita Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94588, (925) 4854-2300.

Education

Public schools in Pleasanton are part of the Pleasanton Unified School District. The district has an enrollment of over 15,000 students in 19 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 2 alternative high schools. Some of the top-rated schools include:

There are also several private schools in Pleasanton including Quarry Lane School and The Harker School.

Transportation

Public Transit

Local bus service is provided by Wheels Bus. The buses serve popular destinations around Pleasanton and connect to nearby BART stations.

BART

Pleasanton is served by two Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations:

BART provides direct rail service to much of the Bay Area including downtown San Francisco.

Highways

Major highways serving Pleasanton:

  • Interstate 580
  • Interstate 680
  • State Route 84

Sports and Recreation

Pleasanton offers many opportunities for sports and outdoor recreation.

Sports Teams

The Pleasanton Cavers are a collegiate summer baseball team playing in the West Coast League at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds. Pleasanton also has youth sports including Pleasanton Girls Softball and Pleasanton Youth Soccer.

Parks

Pleasanton has over 40 parks offering playgrounds, sports fields, walking trails, and recreation facilities. Some of the most popular parks include:

Golf Courses

Pleasanton has several excellent golf courses including:

Hiking Trails

Pleasanton has great hiking at parks like Pleasanton Ridge and Augustin Bernal. The East Bay Regional Park District manages over 20 miles of hiking trails.

Map of Pleasanton

Interactive map of Pleasanton, CA from Google Maps.

Notable Locations

Alameda County Fairgrounds

4501 Pleasanton Ave, Pleasanton, CA 94566
(37.681872, -121.884438)

Firehouse Arts Center

4444 Railroad Ave, Pleasanton, CA 94566
(37.663572, -121.877694)

Pleasanton Senior Center

5353 Sunol Blvd, Pleasanton, CA 94566
(37.655756, -121.878821)

County and Regional Info

Pleasanton is located in Alameda County. More information:

Alameda County website

Alameda County
1221 Oak St #536
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 272-6363

The larger Bay Area region includes over 7 million residents. The regional planning agency is the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Additional Local Resources

Other useful resources for locals, visitors, and those relocating to Pleasanton: