Alameda County, Administrative county in San Francisco Bay Area, United States
Description
Alameda County is an administrative district on San Francisco Bay in California, stretching from the water on the west to the hills on the east. The area includes several cities such as Oakland, Berkeley and Fremont, and borders both the bay and more rural countryside inland.
History
The district was formed in 1853 from parts of two neighboring areas and initially served several smaller towns as an administrative seat. Oakland later became the fixed seat of government and developed into a rail junction and port location during the 19th century.
Culture
The name comes from the Spanish word for poplar grove and refers to the trees that once lined early settler routes through the area. The urban landscape now ranges from university districts in Berkeley to waterfront dock quarters, where residential neighborhoods mix with industry.
Practical
Visitors planning to explore several locations should rely on public transit, as distances between individual cities can be considerable. Coastal areas and hills especially bring different weather conditions, so an extra layer of clothing is advisable.
Did you know?
Two geological fault zones run through the area and have long influenced how buildings are constructed and streets are laid out. These underground structures are visible in some places through offsets in the terrain that can be noticed in parks and along walking trails.
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San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge
42.8 km
Centennial Light
15.4 km
USS Hornet
37.2 km
Mount Diablo
25.8 km
Oakland Coliseum
28 km
Filoli
40.6 km
California Aqueduct
37 km
San Mateo–Hayward Bridge
30.1 km
People's Park
38.8 km
Eastern span replacement of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge
43.1 km
California Memorial Stadium
38.8 km
924 Gilman Street
42.8 km
Naval Air Station Alameda
39.1 km
Mission San José
13.1 km
Lake Merritt
35.2 km
Mission Peak
15.5 km
USS Hornet Museum
37.2 km
Dumbarton Bridge
24.2 km
Carolands
42 km
USS Potomac
36.4 km
Hughes Mining Barge
37.2 km
Marine World/Africa USA
34 km
Altamont Raceway Park
32.1 km
Dunsmuir House
22.8 km
Chabot Space and Science Center
30.3 km
Sather Tower
39.3 km
Tilden Regional Park
39.9 km
Fox Oakland Theatre
36.2 km
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