Contra Costa County, County in San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States
Description
Contra Costa County is a county situated on the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay, stretching toward the San Joaquin Valley. The landscape is dominated by Mount Diablo, a peak about 3,800 feet (1,160 meters) high, rising from the surrounding plain.
History
The region was founded in 1850 as one of the first 27 counties during California's statehood. It had previously been part of Spanish colonial land and passed to the United States after the Mexican-American War.
Culture
The area is known for its technology industry, and many people commute from here to major companies in Silicon Valley or San Francisco. In neighborhoods like Concord or Walnut Creek, residential areas mix with smaller commercial centers where shops and restaurants serve daily needs.
Practical
Access is often through the BART and regional transit systems, which also connect to other parts of the bay area. Hiking routes and viewpoints at Mount Diablo are popular, but the weather can become very hot and dry in summer.
Did you know?
The name was given by Spanish colonists who described the opposite coast from their main settlement area in San Francisco. Wild animals such as mountain lions live in the hills around Mount Diablo and are sometimes spotted by hikers.
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Alcatraz Island
43.1 km
Lombard Street
43.6 km
San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge
37 km
Salesforce Tower
42.3 km
Oracle Park
42.2 km
USS Hornet
35.6 km
Transamerica Pyramid
42.5 km
Painted Ladies
45.8 km
Millennium Tower
42.2 km
San Francisco Armory
45.2 km
Coit Tower
42.5 km
Angel Island
42.9 km
San Francisco cable car system
42.9 km
Chinatown
42.9 km
Pier 39 Sea Lions
42.7 km
Mount Diablo
6.2 km
Oakland Coliseum
29.7 km
Mission San Francisco de Asís
45.8 km
The Fillmore
45.5 km
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
42.8 km
Union Square
43.2 km
Angel Island Immigration Station
42.3 km
American Conservatory Theater
43.5 km
California Aqueduct
36.3 km
People's Park
27.9 km
National Defense Reserve Fleet
20.4 km
Eastern span replacement of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge
37.5 km
Embarcadero
41.7 km
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