Walnut Creek, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Walnut Creek, California
settlement_type = City
nickname = The Creek, Dub C

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Walnut Creek within California
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Contra Costa
government_type = General Lawcite book
last = Rovanpera
first = Brad
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = State of the City, 2005–2006
publisher = City of Walnut Creek
date = 2006
location = Walnut Creek, CA
url = http://www.ci.walnut-creek.ca.us/pdf/State%20of%20City.2005-06.final.pdf]
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Gwen Regalia [http://www.walnut-creek.org/header.asp?genericId=2&catId=8&subCatId=48 Council Members] , "walnut-creek.org", retrieved on 2008-03-10]
leader_title1 = Mayor pro tem
leader_name1 = Gary Skrel
leader_title2 = Councilmembers
leader_name2 = Charlie Abrams
Susan Rainey
Cindy Silva
leader_title3 = State Leg.
leader_name3 = Sen. Tom Torlakson (D)
Asm. Guy Houston (R)
leader_title4 = U. S. Congress
leader_name4 = Ellen Tauscher (D)
established_title = First settled
established_date = 1849 [http://www.walnut-creek.org/header.asp?genericId=1&catId=3 About Walnut Creek — History] , "walnut-creek.org", retrieved on 2007-10-08]
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = October 21, 1914
area_total_sq_mi = 19.5
area_land_sq_mi = 19.5
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
population_as_of = 2007
population_total = 63986
area_code = 925
population_density_km2 = 1276.2
population_density_sq_mi = 3305.7
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 37 |latm = 54 |lats = 36 |latNS = N
longd = 122 |longm = 2 |longs = 51 |longEW = W
elevation_ft = 131
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 94595–94598
website = [http://www.walnut-creek.org/ www.walnut-creek.org]
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-83346
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=115:3:17322406943953509491 1660120]
footnotes =

Walnut Creek is a suburban community located 16 miles east of the city of Oakland in Contra Costa County, California, United States. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa County, due in part to its location at the junction of the highways from Sacramento and San Jose (I-680) and San Francisco/Oakland (SR-24). As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 64,296.

History

There are three bands of Bay Miwok Indians associated with early Walnut Creek: Forester, 2006.] Milliken, 1995] the Saclan, whose territory extended through the hills east of present day Oakland, Rossmoor, Lafayette, Moraga, and Walnut Creek; the Volvon (also spelled Bolban,Wolwon, and Zuicun) at Mt. Diablo; and the Tactan at Danville and Walnut Creek, on San Ramon Creek.

What is now Walnut Creek was later the site of four Mexican land grants. One of those land grants – measuring convert|18000|acre|km2 – went to Doña Juana Sanchez de Pacheco, who deeded it to her two grandsons. Ygnacio Sibrian, one of the grandsons, created the first roofed home in the valley in about 1850.

In those early days, Walnut Creek was known as "The Corners," after the place where roads from Pacheco and Lafayette met. This Corner is now known as the Mt. Diablo Boulevard and North Main Street intersection. The first town settler was William Slusher, who built a dwelling on the bank of Walnut Creek, which was then known as “Nuts Creek” in 1849. In the year 1855, Milo Hough of Lafayette built the hotel named “Walnut Creek House” in the corners. A blacksmith shop and a store soon joined the hotel, and a year later, Hiram Penniman (who built Shadelands Ranch) laid out the town site and realigned the Main Street of today. Two decades later, the community changed its name from The Corners to Walnut Creek.

In December 1862 a U.S. Post Office was established, and the community was named “Walnut Creek.” The downtown street patterns laid out by pioneer Homer Shuey on a portion of one of his family’s large cattle ranches in 1871-1872 are still present today.

Walnut Creek began to grow with the arrival of Southern Pacific Railroad service in 1891. On October 21, 1914, the town and the surrounding area of 500 acres (2 km²), were incorporated as the 8th city in Contra Costa County.

A branch line of the Southern Pacific railroad ran through Walnut Creek until the early 1960s. The mainline of the Sacramento Northern Railway also passed through Walnut Creek. Both railroads had stations here. Today, the Pittsburg/Bay Point – SFO Line line of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) serves Walnut Creek with a station adjacent to Highway 680.

With the opening of the Broadway Shopping Center, Contra Costa County's first major retail center, in 1951, the city took off in a new direction, and its population more than tripled from 2,460 in 1950 to 9,903 in 1960.

Today, Walnut Creek has been routed underneath downtown through a series of tunnels starting at the southwest end of Macy’s and ending just southwest of Maria Maria Restaurant and bar. Slusher’s dwelling was built in the area of modern-day Liberty Bell Plaza.

Walnut Creek has undergone major development in its downtown area, which growing cities throughout the nation have looked to as a modelFact|date=February 2007. The city government has successfully attracted upscale retailers while maintaining a degree of economic diversity, though older residents sometimes decry the shift in demographics and the steep increase in real estate prices. In the summer of 2008, Neiman Marcus announced that it would be the next luxury store to open in Walnut Creek.

Geography and climate

Walnut Creek is located at coor dms|37|54|36|N|122|2|51|W|city (37.909956, -122.047373)GR|1. Portions lie in both the San Ramon Valley and the Ygnacio Valley below the western slopes of Mount Diablo.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 51.6 km² (19.9 mi²). 51.6 km² (19.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.05% is water.

The area is characterized by a mediterranean climate with cool, moist winters and warm to hot dry summers. Average annual rainfall approximates convert|20|in|mm, with slight variations occurring in microclimates based on elevation and topography. Winter daytime temperatures average in the mid 50s with little daily variation, while summer daytime temperatures average in the high 80s. 100 degree weather occurs numerous times during summer heatwaves, while occasional light frosts may occur during clear, calm winter nights. The climate allows for the successful cultivation of many plants and crops, being warm enough for citrus yet cold enough for apples. The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a renowned botanical garden that showcases the diversity of plants that can be successfully grown.

Open space

Walnut Creek owns more open space per capita than any other community in the state of California. In 1974, Walnut Creek voters approved a $6.7 million bond measure that allowed the city to purchase 1,800 acres (7 km²) of undeveloped hillsides, ridge lines, and park sites. Walnut Creek owns parts of Lime Ridge Open Space, Shell Ridge Open Space, Acalanes Ridge Open Space, and Sugarloaf Openspace. There is also open space in the retirement community, Rossmoor.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 64,296 people, 30,301 households, and 16,544 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,246.9/km² (3,229.6/mi²). There were 31,425 housing units at an average density of 609.4/km² (1,578.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.89% White,9.36% Asian, 5.99% Hispanic or Latino,3.25% were multiracial. 1.96% from other races1.07% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.15% Pacific Islander,

11.8% were of English, 11.4% German, 10.2% Irish and 6.9% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 81.8% spoke English, 4.4% Spanish, 2.7% Chinese or Mandarin, 1.5% Tagalog, 1.3% Persian and 1.3% Russian as their first language.

There were 30,301 households out of which 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.4% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the city the population was spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 25.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $63,238, and the median income for a family was $83,794. Males had a median income of $66,482 versus $45,220 for females. The per capita income for the city was $39,875. About 1.7% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

California Symphony
The California Symphony (notable for its commitment to the performance of music by American composers) has been based in Walnut Creek since its inception in 1986.

Civic Arts Program
The city organizes education in graphic arts, sculpture, pottery, and performance arts such as dancing for various age groups is actively supported and encouraged by the [http://www.arts-ed.org/ Civic Arts Program] .

Clay Arts Guild
[http://www.clayartsguild.com/ Clay Arts Guild (CAG)] is a non-profit volunteer organization supporting ceramics arts education under the Civic Arts Program of Walnut Creek.The organization is notable for its long history in the region (established in 1964) and the numerous sculptors and potters who have practiced, taught classes, and/or given masters seminars through its offices.

Activities supported by CAG include:
*Open studio monitoring for students enrolled in Civic Arts Classes
*Purchase of equipment for studio use
*Fundraising via direct sales of donated crafted goods and commission on sales of artist's goods
*Direct support of students through merit scholarships to Civic Arts Program classes
*Organization of master level seminars presented by innovative and famous artisans.
*All work produced using Civic Arts equipment can only be sold through CAG sales.

The [http://www.lesherartscenter.org/ Lesher Center for the Arts]
Several performance spaces (The Knight Stage 3, The Hoffman, and The Margaret Lesher theatres) and the [http://www.bedfordgallery.org/ Bedford Gallery] are included in this modern building.

Public transit

A free shuttle operates between the central district and the Walnut Creek BART station. BART provides regional access in and out of Walnut Creek to most of the Bay Area. Other areas of Walnut Creek may be accessed at modest cost by using the buses of the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority.

Points of interest

* Castle Rock Park
* Gardens at Heather Farm
* Mount Diablo
* Lesher Center for the Arts [http://www.lesherartscenter.org]
* Ruth Bancroft Garden
* Shadelands Ranch Museum [http://www.ci.walnut-creek.ca.us/header.asp?genericId=1&CatID=3&SubCatID=159]
* Borges Ranch [http://www.ci.walnut-creek.ca.us/header.asp?genericId=1&catId=4&subCatId=246]
* Broadway Plaza
* Diablo Valley Lines (Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society) [http://www.wcmrs.org/]
* Lindsay Wildlife Museum

Notable citizens

* Matt Anger, former tennis player
* Corey Duffel, professional skateboarder, was born in Walnut Creek, and still lives there.
*Tom Garfinkel, Exec. VP & COO of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Co-owner of "Hall of Fame Racing" NASCAR team - graduated from Las Lomas High School.
* Kyle Gass, guitar player in Jack Black's band Tenacious D, grew up in Walnut Creek and attended Las Lomas High School.
* Alice Greczyn, actress, was born in Walnut Creek.
* Dan Haren, professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks currently lives in Walnut Creek.cite news
first = Josh
last = Suchon
title = Haren's home is in the East Bay
url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20060721/ai_n16671517
publisher = Oakland Tribune
page =
date = 2006-07-21
accessdate = 2007-03-08]
* Bessilyn Johnson, daughter of Hiram Penniman and resident of Scotty's Castle.
* Randy Johnson, professional baseball player, was born in Walnut Creek.
* John A. Nejedly (1914-2006), former state senator, lived in Walnut Creek for most of his life.
* Jason Newsted, former bassist for the heavy metal bands: Voivod, Metallica and Flotsam & Jetsam, currently lives in Walnut Creek.
* Markie Post, actress, grew up in Walnut Creek.
* Jeff Richards, writer and featured performer on NBC's Saturday Night Live, 2001 - 2004.
* Lester Rodney, journalist who played a role in breaking down baseball’s color barrier.
* Katharine Ross, actress, graduated from Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek (1957).
* Justin Speier, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim relief pitcher was born in Walnut Creek.
* Christy Turlington, model, was born in Walnut Creek.
*Terrence Wheatley American football player for the New England Patriots.
* Emily Wu, Chinese-American author.

Notes

References

* [http://www.mdia.org/chnamd.htm The Miwok - Mount Diablo's Earliest Inhabitants ] , [http://www.mdia.org/mdia.htm#WHO%20ARE%20WE? Mount Diablo Interpretive Association] (MDIA) website

External links

* [http://www.ci.walnut-creek.ca.us/ City of Walnut Creek web page]
* [http://www.walnut-creek.com/ Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce]
*