Unincorporated Town,
Contra Costa County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 94525
Village at
entrance to Carquinez Strait,
3,194 residents. Also known as Sugar City, after C&H Sugar refinery that
dominates waterfront. www.mccormacks.com
Used to be a
company town. C&H funded almost everything and almost everyone worked for
the refinery but years ago C&H pulled back. When the freeway came, many
workers moved out of Crockett.
Population slipped slightly in 1990s.
C&H is
bewitchingly ugly and much of the town’s housing, especially near the water,
was built over 60-70 years ago. But the views are great and residents love the
burg and work to make it better.
Click for regional or detailed map
Down through
years, many of the homes have been fixed up and remodeled, and some stores
converted into housing. If you want small-town charm on the water in a
blue-collar way Crockett does this very well.
Fairly new
homes located on top of Rolph Park Drive, a steep street. Great views of
Strait. But windy. Most of Crockett is located near the water on gentle hills.
Moving back from the downtown, the hills get steeper.
Freeway
splits town. About 20 minutes to Bay Bridge when traffic moves, longer at peak
hours. www.mccormacks.com
New
suspension bridge, named for Alfred Zampa, Crockett native who helped build
earlier span. Other bridge to be retrofitted. Many improvements to freeway in
recent years. With the new bridge, a beautiful and graceful structure, Crockett
hopes to attract more visitors.
Antique
stores, art galleries, marina, fishing, few restaurants, convenience stores, saloons. Town
clock in a small square. Crockett Historical Museum. Old Homestead, one of
first homes built, is popular for weddings and celebrations. Town swimming pool
next to bocce courts. Usual activities for kids.
Regional park, recently expanded.
Fishing pier, picnic benches on east side. On weekends and evenings, joggers
and bikers take to the trails along the Carquinez Strait and in the hills. For
the unusual: hike the new bridge at dawn or sunset; great views. FBI doesn't track crime of unincorporated
towns but Crockett's falls within the range of suburban average.
Education by John Swett Unified School
District. Elementary kids go to Rodeo Hills school in Rodeo, which shares
district with Crockett. Carquinez Jr. High and John Swett High School are
located in Crockett. Catholic school in Rodeo. Voters in 2002 okayed $10
million construction-improvement bond. See Schools.
Famous Crockett
native: Aldo Ray, movie star. www.mccormacks.com
Crockett was
named after a lawyer who in the 1860s took his fees in land, in this instance a
strip three miles long and one mile wide. In the late 1800s, Crockett was
famous as shipping port for wheat. Dotted along the shore are the rotting piles
that supported the wheat warehouses.
Chamber of
commerce (510) 787-1155.
