Livermore

Livermore is a city in Alameda County, California, located about 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of San Francisco Bay in the Tri-Valley region. The urban area extends from flat plains to gentle hills covered with vineyards and grazing land.

Rancher Robert Livermore settled the area in the 1830s and gave it his name, while the official town incorporation took place in 1869 following the arrival of the transcontinental railroad. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory facilities began operations in 1952, transforming the agricultural town into a center for science and technology.

The Wente family has grown grapes on the hills south of town since 1883, operating what remains the oldest family-run winery in the United States. Viticulture still shapes the rural surroundings with large vineyards that turn golden brown in summer and green during harvest season.

The city sits along Highway 580, offering direct connections to San Francisco in the west and the Central Valley to the east. Visitors will find downtown along First Street with shops, restaurants, and the theater, while wineries to the south are accessible via winding country roads.

A single light bulb has burned continuously since 1901 at Fire Station Number 6, making it the oldest operating electric light source in the world. A webcam broadcasts the dim glow of the handmade carbon-filament lamp around the clock on the internet.

Location: Alameda County

Inception: 1869

Founders: William Martin Mendenhall

Website: http://cityoflivermore.net

GPS coordinates: 37.68556,-121.76417

Latest update: December 16, 2025 07:32