Castro Valley, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Castro Valley, California

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imagesize =
image_caption = Castro Valley Boulevard
settlement_type = CDP
nickname =


image_



image_

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Castro Valley within Alameda County, California.


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_name2 = Alameda
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = N/A (Alameda County Board of Supervisors)
leader_title1 = Senate
leader_name1 = Don Perata (D)
Ellen Corbett (D)
leader_title2 = Assembly
leader_name2 = Mary Hayashi (D)
Alberto Torrico (D)
leader_title3 = U. S. Congress
leader_name3 = Barbara Lee (D) (CA-09)
established_date =
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 38.2
area_total_sq_mi = 14.8
area_land_km2 = 37.4
area_land_sq_mi = 14.4
area_water_km2 = 0.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.3
elevation_ft = 164
elevation_m = 50
population_as_of = 2000 Census
population_note =
population_total = 57,262
population_urban =
population_metro =
population_density_sq_mi = 3869
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 37 |latm = 42 |lats = 14 |latNS = N
longd = 122 |longm = 4 |longs = 46 |longEW = W
latitude = 37°42'14" N
longitude = 122°4'46" W
website =
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 94546, 94552
area_code = 510
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-11964
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1658237
footnotes =

Castro Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Alameda County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, it is the fifth most populous unincorporated area in California, and the twenty-third in the United States.

Castro Valley has a number of Eichler houses.

History

Before the arrival of European settlers the area was settled by the "Chocheño" (also "Chochenyo" or "Chocenyo") subdivision of the Ohlone Native Americans.

With the arrival of Europeans, Castro Valley was part of the land granted to Mission San Jose in 1797. The area Castro Valley now occupies was part of the extensive colony of New Spain in what was the state of Alta California.

Castro Valley is named after Don Guillermo Castro, who was a soldier in the Mexican army and a rancher. Castro Valley was part of the original 28,000 acre (110 km²) land grant given to Castro, called Rancho San Lorenzo. This land grant included Hayward, San Lorenzo, and Castro Valley, including Crow Canyon, Cull Canyon, and Palomares Canyons. Castro had a gambling habit and had to sell off portions of his land to pay gambling debts. The last of his holding was sold in a sheriff's sale in 1864 to Faxon Dean Atherton for $400,000.Gudde, Erwin Gustav. "California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names" University of California Press 2004. 495 pp.]

Atherton (after whom the city of Atherton is named) in turn began selling off his portion in smaller parcels. Two gentlemen named Cull (the namesake of Cull Canyon) and Luce bought some 2,400 acres (10 km²) and began running a steam-operated saw mill in Redwood Canyon. The Jensen brothers also bought land from Atherton in 1867.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Castro Valley was known for its chicken ranches. Later it developed into a bedroom community, where workers live and commute to their jobs in the surrounding communities.Lorge, L, Phelps, R, Weston, D. "Castro Valley" Arcadia Publishing, 2005. 128 pp.]

Geography

Castro Valley is located at coor dms|37|42|14|N|122|4|46|W|city (37.703796, -122.079384)GR|1. Lake Chabot lies at the north of Castro Valley. Directly to the west is San Leandro. Hayward is to the south. To the east, the closest cities are San Ramon, Dublin and Pleasanton. The San Leandro Hills extend along the northeastern edge of the community.

Transportation

Interstate 580, which approaches from the east, makes a turn northward at Castro Valley. Interstate 238, which originates in Castro Valley, connects I-580 to Interstate 880. In addition to being served by those two freeways, Castro Valley is served with public transportation by bus system AC Transit, and rapid transit system BART with a station.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 57,292 people, 21,606 households, and 15,016 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,971.6 people per square mile (1,533.0/km²). There were 22,003 housing units at an average density of 1,525.3/sq mi (588.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 70.84% White, 5.14% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 13.54% Asian, 0.44% Pacific Islander, 4.11% from other races, and 5.34% from two or more races. 12.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 21,606 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $64,874, and the median income for a family was $73,060. Males had a median income of $51,068 versus $38,907 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $30,454. About 2.7% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Being unincorporated, it is governed by the county and does not have any city services. To date, all efforts to incorporate Castro Valley have been voted down by its residents.

Crimes

On May 1st 2003, the body of a young girl was found in a large green bag near the dumpster of a Carrows restaurant. After years of research, it is revealed that the girl is 16-year-old Yesenia Nungaray.cite web|url=http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=33287|title=AMW FUGITIVE DATA FILE FOR Miguel Angel Nunez-Castaneda |last=Brown|first=Robert|date=10 November 2007|work=Americas Most Wanted|publisher=FOX Broadcasting Company|language=English|accessdate=2008-08-11]

Famous residents

* Val Diamond of Beach Blanket Babyloncite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/eguide/profile/arc98/val-diamond.shtml|title=Profile: Val Diamond|last=Klatte|first=Arline|work=E-Guide Entertainment on the Gate|publisher=Hearst Communications Inc.|language=English|accessdate=2008-08-11]
* Cliff Burton, bassist of Metallica, attended Castro Valley High SchoolFact|date=September 2008
* Sebastian Janikowski- place kicker for the Oakland RaidersFact|date=September 2008
* Unlikely Hero - platinum record selling pop punk band originally from Castro ValleyFact|date=September 2008
* Dina Eastwood, Castro Valley native, wife of Clint EastwoodFact|date=September 2008
* Ed Sprague Jr., native of Castro Valley, former MLB player Fact|date=September 2008
* Michael Strelo-Smith, Castro Valley native, 1992 CVHS graduate. Semi-Finalist on Season 3 of America's Got Talent and Quarter-Finalist on Season 2Fact|date=September 2008
* Tony Gemingani owns a pizza parlor in Castro Valley (Pyzano's Pizza), world's most famous pizza tosser, appeared on Late Show with David Letterman, Tonight Show with Jay Leno and various shows on the Food NetworkFact|date=September 2008
* Rachel Maddow, anchor and political analyst on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show (TV)". Also, radio host of "The Rachel Maddow Show" on Air_America_Radio.Fact|date=September 2008

Education

Castro Valley is served by the [http://www.cv.k12.ca.us/ Castro Valley Unified School District] . The district has one main high school, called Castro Valley High School with 2840 students, [cite web |url=http://www.cvhs.cv.k12.ca.us/School_Profile_2007_2008.pdf |title=2007-2008 School Profile - Castro Valley High School |accessdate=2008-09-02 |format=pdf ] and an alternative high school with approximately 193 students in 2005. [cite web |url=http://www.cv.k12.ca.us/our-schools/high-schools-9-12/redwood-alternative-high-school-redwood-continuation-high-school |title=Redwood Alternative High School/Redwood Continuation High School |accessdate=2008-09-02 ] It also has two middle schools (Canyon and Creekside) and nine elementary schools (Proctor, Marshall, Palomares, Vannoy, Jensen Ranch, Independent, Stanton, Castro Valley Elementary, and Chabot), as well as an adult school. [cite web |url=http://www.cv.k12.ca.us/our-schools |title=Our Schools — Castro Valley Unified School District |accessdate=2008-09-02 ] There is also a Catholic school called Our Lady of Grace (K-8), which is part of the Oakland Diocese. Overall, the district contains almost 9,000 students.

References

See also

* [http://www.mycastrovalley.com/history/ Castro Valley history]