Pinole, California

Pinole, California
City
Downtown Pinole
Downtown Pinole
Flag of Pinole, California
Flag
Official seal of Pinole, California
Seal
Motto: 
Honoring the past, embracing the future
Interactive map of Pinole, California
Pinole, California is located in the United States
Pinole, California
Pinole, California
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 38°00′16″N 122°17′28″W / 38.00444°N 122.29111°W / 38.00444; -122.29111
Country United States
State California
CountyContra Costa
IncorporatedJune 25, 1903
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • MayorCameron Sasai
 • Mayor Pro TemAnthony Tave
 • City council
City Council
  • Norma Martinez-Rubin
  • Devin T. Murphy
  • Maureen Toms
 • State LegislatureSen. Jesse Arreguín (D)
Asm. Buffy Wicks (D)
 • U. S. CongressJohn Garamendi (D)
Area
 • Total
11.76 sq mi (30.46 km2)
 • Land5.10 sq mi (13.22 km2)
 • Water6.66 sq mi (17.24 km2)  56.6%
Elevation
21 ft (6.4 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
19,022
 • Density3,771.8/sq mi (1,456.31/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
94564
Area codes510, 341
FIPS code06-57288
GNIS feature IDs277576, 2411428
Websitewww.ci.pinole.ca.us

Pinole (Spanish for "cornmeal") is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. Its population was 19,022 at the 2020 census.

History

Street scene in Pinole, c. 1909

The Huchiun tribe lived in the region. In 1823, Ygnacio Martínez, commandant of the Presidio of San Francisco, received a land grant of Rancho El Pinole from the Mexican government. Martinez built a hacienda in Pinole Valley; this is land encompassed by Pinole Valley Park. During the 1850s, Bernardo Fernandez, a Portuguese immigrant, started a trading facility on the shores of San Pablo Bay. He built Fernandez Mansion, a historic building that still stands today at the end of Tennent Avenue. From these early beginnings, a small but thriving community developed into the city of Pinole.

The settlement's growth was stimulated by construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1878 and the establishment of the California Powder Works in nearby Hercules. During this period, the city had an active waterfront and was a regional hub of commerce and banking. The first post office opened in 1878 when the railroad reached the community. The City of Pinole was incorporated in 1903.

During the post-World War II boom, Pinole and the surrounding area grew rapidly. Construction of Interstate 80 in 1958 stimulated developers to build new housing to satisfy demand, and the town evolved as a suburban bedroom community within the San Francisco/Oakland commuter belt. Much of its original industry was displaced during this time, and the town became predominantly residential.

Today, the town is locally known for its "big-box store" shopping district along Fitzgerald Drive, and Pinole Vista Shopping Center, which is contiguous with Richmond's Hilltop area. The downtown area still retains much of its turn-of-the-century building stock. The city's development agency is working to preserve this historic area as a tourist and community destination.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.8 square miles (31 km2), of which 6.7 sq mi (17 km2) (56.6%) are covered by water. The city of Pinole has habitat areas that support the endangered species Santa Cruz tarweed on the California coastal prairie ecosystem. A colony of this rare plant was discovered during preparation of an environmental impact report for a proposed shopping center on the east side of I-80 in the late 1980s. Subsequently, a plan was developed by the city to conduct replanting of this tarweed on the slopes within the right-of-way of the interstate. Also running through the city is Pinole Creek.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890340—
1910798—
192096721.2%
1930781−19.2%
194093419.6%
19501,14722.8%
19606,064428.7%
197013,266118.8%
198014,2537.4%
199017,46022.5%
200019,0399.0%
201018,390−3.4%
202019,0223.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
Capitol Corridor train along Pinole's coastline on San Pablo Bay
Bernardo Fernandez House

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Pinole had a population of 19,022. The population density was 3,726.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,439.0/km2). The median age was 43.8 years. The age distribution was 17.9% under 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 88.6 males 18 and over.

The census reported that 99.2% of the population lived in households, 0.3% lived in noninstitutionalized group quarters and 0.5% were institutionalized. In addition, all residents lived in urban areas, while none lived in rural areas.

Of the 6,860 households in Pinole, 29.6% had children under 18 living in them, 50.2% were married-couple households, 6.2% were cohabiting couple households, 15.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.75. There were 4,879 families (71.1% of all households).

The 7,106 housing units had an average density of 1,392.2 units per square mile (537.5 units/km2), of which 96.5% were occupied. Of occupied housing units, 71.0% were owner-occupied and 29.0% were renter-occupied. Of all housing units, 3.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%.

Racial composition as of the 2020 census
RaceNumberPercentage
White6,26732.9%
Black or African American2,09911.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native2161.1%
Asian4,88725.7%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander830.4%
Some other race2,85715.0%
Two or more races2,61313.7%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)5,09326.8%

2023 American Community Survey estimates

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 29.8% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 63.4% spoke only English at home, 14.8% spoke Spanish, 4.0% spoke other Indo-European languages, 16.2% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 1.6% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 89.8% were high school graduates and 38.7% had a bachelor's degree.

The median household income was $120,833, and the per capita income was $52,589. About 4.0% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line.

Arts and culture

The Pinole Community Players have been performing in Pinole since 1986.

Government

On February 10, 2019, Pinole has 11,347 registered voters. Of those, 56.1% are registered Democrats, 13.4% are registered Republicans, and 26.4% have declined to state a political party.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on February 21, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "City Council". City of Pinole. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  5. ↑ "California's 8th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Pinole city, California". www.census.gov. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  8. ↑ History of Pinole - Pinole Historical Society
  9. 1 2 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 681. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  12. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Pinole city, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Pinole city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Pinole Community Players - History: The First Five Years". pinoleplayers.org. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  17. ↑ "CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – February 10, 2019" (PDF). ca.gov. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Ray Kremer at the Society for American Baseball Research". sabr.org. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  19. ↑ Remitz, Ed (December 1, 1972). "Profile: Brad Lackey". Cycle World. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Gino Torretta NFL statistics". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved July 9, 2023.