Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California. Located in the Amador Valley, it is a suburb in the East Bay region of the Bay Area. The population was 70,285 at the 2010 Census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in the United States by the Census Bureau.
It was ranked number 4 in USA Today’s list of “America’s 50 best cities to live in” number 63 in Money’s list of “The Best Places to Live” in 2010 and was named one of “Americans’ Top Hometown Spots” in the United States in 2009 by Forbes.
Pleasanton was named the third wealthiest city in terms of earnings in the United States. It’s a common misconception that Pleasanton got its name from the pleasant climate. It was named after General Amasa Mason “Amasa” Pleasonton who fought in the Mexican-American War.
Pleasanton’s first European settlers were originally employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad as chain men and “shotgun” messengers. Will Collins, an engineer from Indiana came to be one of the town’s first merchants and became its first postmaster in 1869. Collins would later become the mayor of Pleasanton, serving from 1909 to 1919, which is when he laid out and named the town.
Originally a farming community, Pleasanton is located on the eastern edge of California’s San Francisco Bay Area. The zip code 94566, which corresponds to the city proper, has the distinction of being the “most exclusive zip code in America, Its location provides for a cooler climate than most of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pleasanton is a real haven of natural beauty in the Amador Valley. The region has long been home to a variety of wild animals. Salmon, bears, elk, reptiles, and other animals are among the many species that call this area home. Furthermore, there are several floral presents, including sycamore trees, oak trees, California grass, and water teeming with aquatic life.
Native Americans originally called this special place home. The Ohlone lived here about 4,000 years ago. The Ohlone referred to themselves as simply “The People.” This tribe lived near Pleasanton Ridge and the lagoon. Modern people have found many traces of the Ohlone’s rich past in the area now known as Pleasanton.
Pleasanton was ranked as one of the state’s safest cities in 2021, according to SafeWise’s seventh annual Safest Cities report. Pleasanton ranked #49 on the list of 229 cities that SafeWise analyzed.
How did Pleasanton California get its name?
1) The town was meant to be named after Union army cavalry Major General Alfred Pleasonton, with two O’s, but a U.S. Postal Service employee made a typo, and Pleasanton was born.
2) Pleasanton was preceded by a town called Alisal, known as “The Most Desperate Town in the West.” In 1894, it became part of Pleasanton.
Climate
Pleasanton features a Mediterranean climate featuring hot, dry summers and mild to cool winters with occasional rainfall. The highest recorded temperature was 115 °F (46 °C) in 1950. The lowest recorded temperature was 17 °F (−8 °C) in 1990.
Events and festivals
Pleasanton maintains regular events for the community. Every Saturday morning a farmer’s market on Angela, off Main Street. There are several parades during the year, commemorating Christmas, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day, as well as kicking off the beginning of the Alameda County Fair and soccer season.
In Pleasanton, you’ll find that “The City of Planned Progress” is an apt description. Home to tech firms and major corporations alike in Alameda County’sCounty town- it was nothing more than an idea a century ago when someone first came up with the idea for this idealized city they imagined on paper – but there wasn’t any place worth calling home until developers got their hands dirty transforming old ranches into bustling developments filled With life.
A thorough insight into how our county has evolved from open land used mostly by Native Americans before Spanish colonization, through formal integration within Ohlone society while also remaining isolated due to its proximity.
Pleasanton, California is blessed to be home to many amazing parks that delight both residents and visitors alike. Check out these amazing parks on your next visit:
- Mission Hills Park
- Val Vista Park
- Bernal Community Park
- Muirwood Community Park
- Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park
- Moller Park
- Amador Valley Community Park
- Orloff Park
- Creekside Park
All of these wonderful parks are located just a short distance from our location at Wright Brothers Avenue in Livermore! Stop by for a visit anytime!
