City, Contra Costa County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 94806
Bedroom
community in West Contra Costa.
Small, straddles the freeway, good commute, nice city hall, site of community
college, crime troublesome, school scores low. www.mccormacks.com
Some new
tracts are gated. Even with its problems, San Pablo continues to attract
residents. Population 32,131.
Many small business, one big business that is making a huge difference in San Pablo life. An Indian casino with Las Vegas games. Many jobs. In some years, place pumps over $9 million into the city's treasury (and into amenities: parks, recreation, etc.) Locals love the casino.
When
Richmond moved north after World War II, San Pablo, a village, incorporated as
a city to avoid Richmond’s grasp.
Click for regional or detailed map
San Pablo
boomed after the war because it built a lot of housing for veterans. But as
Richmond surrounds San Pablo, the city was destined to remain small.
The
population hit 21,500 about 1970, then slipped to 19,500. The 1980s saw a
revival. In 1990, the census counted 25,158 residents. Since then, the city has
filled in lots with modern, middle-class homes and apartments — about 600 new units between 2000 and 2009. www.mccormacks.com
The 2000
census placed 32 percent of the city under age 18. Many young families, many
kids. San Pablo embraced redevelopment, a tax approach that spruces up streets
and neighborhoods to make them more presentable to businesses and developers.
Striking murals in downtown.
Interstate
80 congestion is infuriating but San Pablo, because it is close to urban
centers, is a much better commute than many other towns. Many improvements to
freeway.
Seven homicides in 2008. Counts for previous years: 6, 7, 3, 3, 6, 1, 3, 3, 2, 4,
6, 10, 8, 12, 8, 7, 8, 5, 4, 2. See Crime.
Home to
Doctors Medical Center. Voters in 2004 approved a $6 million parcel tax to keep
Doctors running.
Also home to Contra Costa Community
College, enrollment 7,400, part timers and full timers. www.mccormacks.com
K-12
education by the West Contra Costa Unified School District. Many schools are
scoring below the 20th percentile. See Schools.
Both
college district and school district have passed bonds to renovate their
facilities and add buildings. In 2004, voters said yes to measure to retain
sports and electives, and in 2005 voted for another bond, $400 million, that
will yield enough money to renovate or rebuild just about every school. State
may put up more money. In 2008, voters approved another tax to maintain programs endangered by cutbacks from the state.
State
count in 2010 showed 9,968 residences — 4,248 single homes, 852 single
attached, 4,050 multiples, 818 mobiles. Home prices vary by age of units. New
homes get up in price but not as high as other towns.
Good place
to buy first home.
Chamber of
commerce (510) 234-2067.
•
Community college needs to rebuild but not sure it wants to stay at present
site. The Hayward Fault, large and dangerous, runs through the campus.
• Contra
Costa College and the school district run a “high school” on the college. The
belief is that if high school students are exposed to college, they will study
harder and go on to college.
• San
Pablo is buying up some mobile home parks and converting them to regular
housing with more units per acre.
• Thanks
to casino taxes, the city has paid its debts, strengthened its pension fund,
hired more cops and cut its utility tax. With the new money, the city also
hopes to build a sports park and a community center. The casino employs 540
union workers and draws about 155,000 customers a month.
• Big Fear. Richmond wants to open a bigger casino, which might force the closure of San Pablo's casino. Many arguments over Richmond's plans. San Pablo hopes Richmond rolls craps on this one.
City web
site: www.ci.san-pablo.ca.us
March 9, 2010