San Ramon, California

San Ramon (Spanish: San Ramón;^[10] meaning Saint Raymond) is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. It is a suburban city of the San Francisco Bay Area, and lies in the San Ramon Valley. San Ramon's population was 72,148 as of the 2010 U.S. Census, with an estimated population of 74,378 in 2012,^[11] making it 4th largest city in Contra Costa County, behind Richmond, Concord and Antioch.

San Ramon is home to the headquarters of the Chevron Corporation, 24-Hour Fitness, the West Coast headquarters of AT&T Inc., The Global Software Center of GE, as well as the San Ramon Medical Center. Major annual events include the Art and Wind Festival on Memorial Day weekend and the Primo's Run for Education in October.

On April 24, 2001, San Ramon received the title Tree City USA.^[12]

Geography

A view of Mount Diablo from San Ramon

San Ramon is located at 37°46′48″N 121°58′41″W / 37.78000°N 121.97806°W / 37.78000; -121.97806.^[13] It is adjacent to Danville, California, to the north and Dublin, California, to the south. Unincorporated county lands border San Ramon to the east and west. It is located around 500 feet (150 m) above sea level. Mount Diablo flanks the city to the northeast and is prominently visible from almost all parts of the city. The Las Trampas Regional Wilderness borders San Ramon's extreme northwest, at the northern end of Bollinger Canyon. The smaller Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve straddles San Ramon's western border, located approximately between Interstate 680 and the Alameda County line.

The topography of San Ramon is varied, featuring a mix of the rolling hills of the Diablo Range and the flatter basin of the San Ramon Valley. The city is predominantly urban and residential; however much of the land around the city’s perimeter regions remains undeveloped, and is covered by grasslands and oak tree orchards. During the drier months the grasses are golden; with the precipitation of winter and spring, the grasses turn green, in the late fall and beginning of winter, some trees with all the leaves all fall off and die, and in the late winter and beginning of spring the leaves start growing.

Climate

San Ramon’s weather typifies Mediterranean climate, seasonal, and moderate. Summers are warm and dry, while winters are mild, damp and rather short. Its weather is similar to the adjacent cities of Danville, Dublin and Pleasanton. Fog can be infrequent but occurs normally in the western reaches of the city, at the eastern mouth of Crow Canyon, through which marine weather patterns funnel in from the San Francisco Bay via Castro Valley. It usually burns off by mid-to-late morning.

Average January temperatures are a maximum of 58 °F (14 °C) and a minimum of 32 °F (0 °C). Average July temperatures are a maximum of 89 °F (32 °C) and a minimum of 56 °F (13 °C). January is normally the wettest month, averaging 5.20 inches (132 mm) of precipitation. July is usually the driest month, with an average of only 0.06 inches (1.5 mm) of precipitation. Snow is very rare, but Hail occurs sometimes in the winter.

Climate data for San Ramon, California
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	75 (24)	80 (27)	88 (31)	96 (36)	104 (40)	103 (39)	107 (42)	105 (41)	103 (39)	95 (35)	90 (32)	79 (26)	107 (42)
Average high °F (°C)	58 (14)	61 (16)	66 (19)	70 (21)	77 (25)	84 (29)	89 (32)	89 (32)	87 (31)	78 (26)	66 (19)	59 (15)	67 (19)
Average low °F (°C)	36 (2)	40 (4)	43 (6)	45 (7)	49 (9)	53 (12)	56 (13)	56 (13)	54 (12)	49 (9)	42 (6)	38 (3)	46 (8)
Record low °F (°C)	18 (−8)	19 (−7)	22 (−6)	28 (−2)	32 (0)	38 (3)	36 (2)	40 (4)	35 (2)	29 (−2)	23 (−5)	18 (−8)	18 (−8)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	5.20 (132.1)	4.64 (117.9)	4.27 (108.5)	1.72 (43.7)	0.71 (18)	0.15 (3.8)	0.06 (1.5)	0.11 (2.8)	0.36 (9.1)	1.15 (29.2)	3.69 (93.7)	3.84 (97.5)	25.90 (657.9)
Source #1: The Weather Channel ^[14]
Source #2: MSN Weather ^[15]

History

The lands now occupied by the City of San Ramon were formerly inhabited by Seunen people, a Ohlone/Costanoan group who built their homes near creeks. Sometime around 1797 they were taken by Mission San José for use as grazing land. In 1834, they were part of the Rancho San Ramon land grant to José María Amador.^[16]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	75		—
1970	4,084		—
1980	22,356		447.4%
1990	35,303		57.9%
2000	44,722		26.7%
2010	72,148		61.3%
Est. 2014	75,332	^[17]	4.4%
U.S. Decennial Census^[18]

2010 census

The 2010 United States Census^[19] reported that San Ramon had a population of 72,148. The population density was 3,991.1 people per square mile (1,541.0/km²). The racial makeup of San Ramon was 38,639 (53.6%) White, 2,043 (2.8%) African American, 205 (0.3%) Native American, 25,713 (35.6%) Asian, 156 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 1,536 (2.1%) from other races, and 3,856 (5.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6,250 persons (8.7%).

The Census reported that 72,073 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 52 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 23 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 25,284 households, out of which 11,988 (47.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 16,318 (64.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,997 (7.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 850 (3.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,067 (4.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 187 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 4,682 households (18.5%) were made up of individuals and 1,105 (4.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85. There were 19,165 families (75.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.30.

The population was spread out with 21,351 people (29.6%) under the age of 18, 3,557 people (4.9%) aged 18 to 24, 22,798 people (31.6%) aged 25 to 44, 18,815 people (26.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 5,627 people (7.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

There were 26,222 housing units at an average density of 1,450.6 per square mile (560.1/km²), of which 18,056 (71.4%) were owner-occupied, and 7,228 (28.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.0%. 54,705 people (75.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 17,368 people (24.1%) lived in rental housing units.

The median income for a household in the city was $119,297, and the median income for a family was $132,339. Males had a median income of $97,475 versus $70,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $50,736. About 2.0% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Demographic profile^[20]^[21]	2010
Total Population	72,148 - 100.0%
One Race	68,292 - 94.7%
Not Hispanic or Latino	65,898 - 91.3%
White alone	34,956 - 48.5%
Black or African American alone	1,946 - 2.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone	128 - 0.2%
Asian alone	25,531 - 35.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone	141 - 0.2%
Some other race alone	146 - 0.2%
Two or more races alone	3,050 - 4.2%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	6,250 - 8.7%

2000 census

As of the census^[22] of 2000, there were 44,722 people, 16,944 households, and 12,148 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,491.1/km² (3,862.0/mi²). There were 17,552 housing units at an average density of 585.2/km² (1,515.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.82% White, 1.93% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 14.94% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 2.16% from other races, and 3.58% from two or more races. 7.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,944 households out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $95,856, and the median income for a family was $106,321. Males had a median income of $73,502 versus $50,107 for females. The per capita income for the city was $42,336. About 1.4% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

San Ramon is governed by a four-body City Council composed of individuals elected to four-year overlapping terms in coordination with a two-year elected mayor. On June 30, 2007, police services were provided under contract by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department until July 1, 2007, the city officially took over providing police services.

As of 2014, the elected representatives are Bill Clarkson (Mayor), Harry Sachs (Vice Mayor), Scott Perkins, Phil O'Loane and David Hudson (Council members).^[23]

The city of San Ramon is in Contra Costa County.

In the United States House of Representatives, the city is split between California's 11th congressional district, represented by Democrat Mark DeSaulnier and California's 15th congressional district, represented by Democrat Eric Swalwell.^[6]

Economy

Bishop Ranch #3

The sign marking the Chevron Corporation headquarters

The headquarters of 24-Hour Fitness

Bishop Ranch, a master-planned office park development, with some retail elements, began major construction in the early 1980s, and provides a healthy tax base for the city. Bishop Ranch is situated on 585 acres once owned by Western Electric, and was farmland before that. Current tenants include the corporate headquarters of Chevron Corporation (formerly ChevronTexaco), as well the West Coast headquarters of AT&T Inc. (which had been the headquarters of Pacific Bell from about 1983, when it relocated from downtown San Francisco, until the merger with SBC Communications that created the current AT&T). United Parcel Service has a regional distribution center in Bishop Ranch. Toyota ^[24] has a regional office and parts distribution center located there. GE Global Research started its Global Software Center in Bishop Ranch in 2011. Bishop Ranch covers the vast majority of "Central San Ramon", which is the large square formed by Freeway 680 on the west, Crow Canyon Road on the north, Iron Horse trail on the east, and Bollinger Canyon Road on the south (though several complexes are south of Bollinger).

ChevronTexaco's headquarters moved from San Francisco to San Ramon in 2001 ^[25] but 12 years later, 800 jobs are moving to Houston, a quarter of the San Ramon workforce due to high corporate costs and to consolidate existing units in Houston.^[26]

Largest employers

According to the City's 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,^[27] the top employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of Employees	% of Total City Employment
1	Chevron	3,500	12.28%
2	AT&T Inc.	1,753	6.15%
3	Bank of the West	1,600	5.61%
4	Robert Half International	1,100	3.86%
5	Accenture	750	2.63%
6	Pacific Gas & Electric	604	2.12%
7	San Ramon Regional Medical Center	500	1.75%
8	GE Software	1000	1.75%
9	Primed Management Consulting	413	1.45%
10	IBM	408	1.45%

Future Downtown

The city of San Ramon is planning a new downtown district. In 2014, the city approved the project’s latest design that calls for an animated civic space featuring 350,000 square feet of quality shops, restaurants and a multiscreen movie theater. At the heart of this development would be a one-acre piazza—open to the sky and lined with trees—for outdoor concerts, art exhibits and other public festivities. A grand opening is eyed for spring 2017. ^[28]

Education

San Ramon's public schools are part of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD), serving approximately 30,300 students. The city has 11 elementary schools and 4 middle schools. The high schools are California and Dougherty Valley. An alternative K–12 school is operated by the SRVUSD to support home-schooled students: Venture Independent Study School.

California High School was founded in 1973 and ranked 250th best high school in the United States by Newsweek.^[29]

Higher education

Diablo Valley College - San Ramon branch campus
University of San Francisco - San Ramon regional campus
UC Davis Graduate School of Management - the Bay Area working professional program

Public libraries

There are two public libraries. The San Ramon Library and Dougherty Station Library of the Contra Costa County Library are located in San Ramon.^[30]

Memorial Park

The Memorial Park

Aerial View of Memorial Park, including play area, ball field and BMX track

Originally, this city park, located on a hill overlooking Bollinger Canyon Road and San Ramon Valley Blvd., was to be named Alta Mesa Park.^[31] During the construction of the park, the City Council voted to change the name to Memorial Park to honor Tom Burnett, a San Ramon resident, and other victims from Flight 93 killed in the September 11 attacks of 2001. A plaque was installed at the base of a lighted flagpole dedicated to those victims and the surrounding meadow is part of the city’s memorial tree program dedicated to local residents who have perished. The park was dedicated on September 11, 2002.^[32]

This 16 acre park includes a play area, a BMX course, a picnic area, a bocce ball court, horseshoe courts, a ball field, a dog park, rest rooms and water fountains (including a doggy water fountain). The play area has two big play structures, one for ages 2–5 and another for ages 5–12.^[33]^[34]

Points of interest

Museums and historic sites

Forest Home Farms, National Register of Historic Places

Parks

Athen Downs
Bellingham Square Park
Bollinger Canyon School Park
Boone Acres Park
Centennial Park
Compass Point Park
Country Club School Park
Country Fair Park
Coyote Creek School Park
Coyote Crossing Park
Crow Canyon Gardens
East Branch Park
Golden View School Park
Hidden Crest Park
Hidden Hills School Park
Memorial Park
Mill Creek Hollow
Monarch
Montevideo School Park
Neil Armstrong School Park
Old Ranch Park
Picadilly
Pine Valley School Park
Ramona Park
Rancho San Ramon Community Park
Red Willow Park
San Ramon Central Park
Senior Center Park
Souyen Park
Valley View
Village Green Park
Walt Disney School Park

Transportation

Local bus service in the San Ramon Valley is provided primarily by County Connection (Central Contra Costa Transit Authority, or CCCTA).

The major freeway in the area is Interstate 680.

Notable people

David Bingham, Major League Soccer player for San Jose Earthquakes^[35]^[36]
Tom Burnett, passenger on United Airlines Flight 93
Marv Hubbard, retired professional American football player
Steve Physioc, American sportscaster, once coached a San Ramon Valley girls athletic league team sponsored by Kelsey Construction.
Tiffany Roberts, U.S. soccer player
Tony Stewart, former professional American football player
John S. Watson, current CEO of Chevron
Andrew Wiedeman, Major League Soccer player for Toronto FC^[37]

Danville

Danville, Blackhawk

Las Trampas Regional Wilderness