San Leandro is a city located in Alameda County, California, situated right between Oakland to the north and Hayward to the south. As of the 2020 census, San Leandro had a population of 90,465 residents, making it one of the larger cities in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Population and Demographics
San Leandro has seen its population grow steadily over the past few decades. Back in 1970, the population was just over 61,000. By 1980 it had grown to over 65,000 residents and by 1990 it topped 68,000. The biggest growth spurt came between 1990 and 2000 when the population jumped to 79,452, an increase of over 16% in just ten years. The population growth slowed after 2000 but has continued to climb to the current level of just over 90,000 as of 2020.
San Leandro has always been an ethnically diverse city. Historically it had large Italian, Portuguese and Spanish-speaking populations. According to recent demographic data, the racial makeup of San Leandro today is:
- White – 40.8%
- Asian – 27.1%
- Hispanic or Latino – 27.0%
- Black or African American – 11.2%
- Two or more races – 5.0%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander – 1.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native – 0.7%
San Leandro’s diversity is one of its strengths and key aspects of the city’s culture and identity. The city celebrates its multicultural heritage with various cultural events, festivals, and public art installations.
Economy and Major Employers
Historically, San Leandro had an industrial-based economy with several large factories and manufacturing facilities. Some of these included the Caterpillar Tractor Company, the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. While some manufacturing still exists, the economy today is more diversified into sectors like healthcare, education, technology, retail, and services.
According to the City of San Leandro’s economic development department, some of the top employers today include:
- Kaiser Permanente Medical Center – 2,955 employees
- San Leandro Unified School District – 1,500 employees
- Ghiradelli Chocolate Company – 925 employees
- Paramount Petroleum Corporation – 575 employees
- Macy’s Fulfillment Center – 500 employees
- AC Transit – 493 employees
- City of San Leandro – 474 employees
In addition to these major employers, San Leandro has large shopping centers and auto sales centers that employ thousands of retail and service workers. The city also aims to attract new businesses, especially in renewable energy, engineering, and high tech manufacturing.
Points of Interest
For recreation and entertainment, San Leandro offers many interesting attractions and landmarks. Here are some of the most popular:
San Leandro Marina
This scenic marina on San Francisco Bay offers great views, walking trails, shoreline fishing, windsurfing, kayaking, and boating. There is also a golf course, beach, dog park, and facilities for parties and events. The annual Shoreline Festival takes place here.
Casa Peralta
This 19th century Victorian house was once home to the Peralta family, descendants of Spanish settlers who were granted the Rancho San Leandro land grant. The beautifully restored house is now a museum showing what life was like for early Spanish and Mexican families in the area.
Cherry Festival
San Leandro’s annual cherry festival takes place each May in one of the few remaining cherry orchards in the city. The festival has live music, food vendors, crafts, carnival rides, and activities like cherry pit spitting contests.
San Leandro History Museum
Located in the historic Casa Peralta house, this small but informative museum illustrates San Leandro’s journey from early native cultures to Spanish settlers to today’s diverse city through historical artifacts and exhibits.
Ballpark at Harbor Bay
Home field for the San Leandro High School Pirates baseball team, this park overlooking San Francisco Bay is also great for picnicking and softball games.
Marina Park
For great views of the San Leandro shoreline, walking paths, and public art, check out this scenic park along San Leandro Creek. It hosts many community events and is adjacent to the San Leandro Burrell Field baseball stadium.
For more things to do, restaurants, and upcoming events be sure to visit the City of San Leandro’s Facebook page. And for info on rooting for local sports teams, visit the San Leandro High School Pirates website.
Tourism
For visitor and tourism information, the best resource is the Visit San Leandro website run by the city’s Conference and Visitors Bureau. It has extensive listings on hotels, restaurants, attractions, and things to do in San Leandro.
Some of the annual events that attract visitors from beyond the city include:
- Cherry Festival
- Shoreline Festival at the Marina
- Hometown Holidays Parade & Tree Lighting
- Cinco de Mayo Festival
- Union Plaza Farmers Market
In addition, San Leandro’s location right between Oakland and Hayward makes it easy to access all that the entire East Bay region has to offer.