Walnut Creek, California

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Walnut Creek, California
Nickname: The Creek
Location of Walnut Creek within California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Contra Costa
Area
- City	19.9 sq mi (51.6 km²)
Population (2000)
- City	64,296
Website: http://www.ci.walnut-creek.ca.us/

Walnut Creek is a suburb of San Francisco and Oakland located in Contra Costa County, California, USA, in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 64,296. It serves as the commercial and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa County.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Open space 4 Demographics 5 Culture 6 Points of interest 7 Notable citizens 8 Notes 9 External links

[edit] History

Walnut Creek was first known as “The Corners,” where two roads leading from Pacheco and Lafayette met. This Corner is now known as the Mt. Diablo Boulevard and North Main Street intersection. The first settler of the area was William Slusher, who built a dwelling on the bank of Walnut Creek, which was then known as “Nuts Creek” in 1849. 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 The Cantina Restaurant. Slusher’s dwelling was built in the area of modern-day Liberty Bell Plaza.

Milo Hough of Lafayette built the hotel named “Walnut Creek House” in the corners in 1855. A blacksmith shop and a store sprouted up, and a year later, Hiram Penniman (who built Shadelands Ranch) laid out the town site and realigned today’s Main Street.

In December 1862 a U.S. Post Office was established, around which 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.

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, California. Politically, Walnut Creek used to be a Republican stronghold, but is increasingly leaning Democratic.

Walnut Creek has recently undergone major development in its downtown area, which growing cities throughout the nation have looked to as a model^{[citation needed]}. Its city government remains in the black, and it has successfully attracted luxury retailers while maintaining a degree of economic diversity.

[edit] Geography

Walnut Creek is located at 37°54′36″N, 122°2′51″W (37.909956, -122.047373)^GR1. It is located in a large valley (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.

[edit] Open space

Walnut Creek owns more open space per capita than any other community in the state of California, except Palo Alto. 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.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 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, 1.07% African American, 0.33% Native American, 9.36% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.96% from other races, and 3.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.99% of the population.

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.

[edit] 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 organises education in graphic arts, sculpture, pottery, and performance arts such as dancing for various age groups is activly supported and encouraged by the Civic Arts Program.

Clay Arts Guild
Clay Arts Guild (CAG) is a non-profit volunteer organization supporting ceramics arts education under the Civic Arts Program of Walnut Creek, California. 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 comission 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 inovative and famous artisans.
• All work produced using Civic Arts equipment can only be sold through CAG sales.

Dean Lesher Center
Several performance spaces (The Knight, Hoffman, and Lesher theatres) and the Bedford Gallery are included in this modern building.

[edit] Points of interest

• Castle Rock Park
• Gardens at Heather Farm
• Mount Diablo
• Civic Park
• Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts [1]
• Ruth Bancroft Garden
• Shadelands Museum
• Old Borges Ranch
• Broadway Plaza and Walnut Creek Downtown
• Diablo Valley Lines (Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society) [2]
• Lindsay Wildlife Museum
• Walnut Creek Farmers' Market, Sundays Year Round [3]

[edit] Notable citizens

• Matt Anger, former tennis player
• Alice Greczyn, actress, was born in Walnut Creek.
• Randy Johnson, professional baseball player, was born in Walnut Creek.
• Mark Madsen, professional basketball player, was born in Walnut Creek.
• Jason Newsted, former bassist of the heavy metal band Metallica, currently lives in Walnut Creek.
• Lester Rodney, journalist who played a role in breaking down baseball’s color barrier.
• Markie Post, actress, grew up in Walnut Creek.
• Christy Turlington, model, was born in Walnut Creek.
• Dan Haren, professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics currently lives in Walnut Creek.^[1]
• Kyle Gass, guitar player in Jack Black's band Tenacious D, grew up in Walnut Creek and attended Las Lomas High School.
• Jeff Richards, writer and featured performer on NBC's Saturday Night Live, 2001 - 2004.
• Brad Gillis, former Guitarist for the 80's rock band Night Ranger lives in Walnut Creek.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Suchon, Josh. "Haren's home is in the East Bay", Oakland Tribune, 2006-07-21. Retrieved on March 8, 2007.

[edit] External links

• City of Walnut Creek web page
• Walnut Creek travel guide from Wikitravel
• Wiki Travel page for Walnut Creek

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 37.909956° -122.047373°
  • Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA