Founded in 1869, Livermore is California's oldest wine region, framed by award-winning wineries, farm lands and ranches that mirror the valley's western heritage. The City of Livermore (pop. 80,723) encompasses twenty-two square miles and is the easternmost city in the San Francisco Bay Area; the gateway to the Central Valley. Protection by the coastal range provides the Livermore Valley with a mild climate that enhances the pursuit of a more relaxed, less congested lifestyle.
As home to renowned science and technology centers, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory, Livermore is a technological hub and an academically engaged community. It has become an integral part of the Bay Area, successfully competing in the global market powered by its wealth of research, technology and innovation.
Livermore's arts, culture, western heritage and vibrant wine industry provide a unique blend to this special community. Historic Downtown Livermore is enjoying a renaissance reestablishing the downtown as the city's preeminent shopping, dining, entertainment and cultural district with a new 10-screen cinema and a 500-seat performing arts center. With the addition of several residential projects, art/live workspaces, and a pedestrian-oriented environment, the City is establishing an active urban living experience in the Valley.
Activities and Tours | Sports & Recreation | Outdoors
Livermore Rivals Napa !! Read all about it...
Tour California's Original Wine Country
Award-winning quality permeates those who come to experience the 26 friendly wineries of the Livermore Valley. The quiet and unrushed community of winemakers and growers who often double as tasting room hosts offers the same friendly hospitality that visitors experienced over a century ago. Winemaking is a way of life as much as it is a vocation to these vintners, and, given the Livermore Valley's ideal climate and soil, it's no wonder that everyone from fourth generation Livermore Valley vintners to the cadre of new, talented winemakers strives to make wines that reflect the character and potential of this region.
Visit the Livermore Valley Wine Growers Association web site for more information.
Altamont Pass Windfarms, located along the old Altamont Pass Road and the I-580 Freeway between Livermore and Tracy. This is the largest power plant fueled by wind in the world. Since 1981, over 7,300 wind turbines have been installed. By 1992, they produced over 6,000 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough energy to meet the needs of about 800,000 California homes for a full year.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Discovery Center
Livermore National Laboratory's Discovery Center is located on Greenville Road at East Gate Drive. The Center is open and free to the public Tuesday through Friday, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. and on Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Prearranged tours of the Laboratory are available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Reservations are required.Historic Tours and Museums
Historic sites and buildings abound. Visit the History Center and Art Gallery and pick up a walking tour map of the downtown area. You just might meet an oldtimer who knew world heavyweight boxer Max Baer or world champion all-around cowboy Johnnie Scheider.Walking Tour of Historic Downtown This self- guided tour starts at the Carnegie Bldg. at 3rd Street between J and K Streets. Obtain a map at the History Center and Art Gallery which is open Wednesday through Sunday. Phone(925) 449-9927.
Sports and Recreation
With more than 41 facilities operated by the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District, there is no shortage of recreational opportunities. There are plenty of sports leagues for youths and adults. Livermore currently has two public and two private golf course. Other entertainment includes bowling, movies, and two family amusement centers.
Altamont Raceway Park, is the place for race fans to enjoy the excitement of auto/stock car racing! located at 17001 Midway Rd., take I-580/205 to the Patterson Pass Rd. exit. Head south and west to Midway Rd. For information call (925)373- RACE .
 | Golf at our beautiful public courses. Las Positas Golf Course is located near the airport at 909 Clubhouse Drive, phone (925)443-3122, or try the Springtown Golf Course located at 939 Larkspur, phone (925)455-5695.
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Bowling, at Granada Bowl & Sports Bar. For those of you who are looking for a great family activity, don't miss an opportunity to bowl that perfect game or shoot a game of billiards. Also available are three giant screens and eight color monitors for sports buffs. Located at 1620 Railroad Ave. Phone(925) 447-5600.
Boomers, located near the Livermore Airport at 2400 Kitty Hawk Road, is a premier family fun center, offering two challenging miniature golf courses, Raceway Go Karts, Bumper Boats, a giant Games Pavilion with over 200 state-of-the-future video, Redemption & Sports games. Open daily year-round. Phone(925) 447-PARK. slot Car Racing is family fun. No Matter if you are two or one hundred and two, you can enjoy the fast paced excitement these tiney caqrs can offer. Slot racing is a great hobby that brings family members closer together as they enjoy the benefits of healthy competition. It's inexpensive and easy to get started!!!
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Outdoors
Camping: Experience the great outdoors with a camping trip to beautiful Lake Del Valle. For public camping reservations, call 925-562-CAMP. There are 29 reservable areas set aside for group overnight camping for established organizations such as youth and equestrian groups. For group reservations call (925) 636-1684.
Picnics: Planning a family reunion, or other special event for 25 to 500 people? Reserve one of the many picnic areas available at DEL VALLE REGIONAL PARK, located only 9 miles south of town, and enjoy a great day of swimming, hiking, nature programs, picnicking, windsurfing, fishing, and horseback riding. Call (510)636-1684 to reserve that special spot br your upcoming event.
Fishing: Want to catch that big trout that has been escaping you elsewhere? Fishing is prime at Del Valle during the winter months with regular trout plants from October through May. Large and small mouth bass bite well in the spring and summer as do a variety of pan fish. Shadow Cliff Rgional Park also offers great fishing.
Waterslides: Shadow Cliffs Regional Park is a haven for water activities. Waterslides are open daily during the hot summer months and on weekends in the spring and fall. Phone (925)846-4900.
Hiking and Biking: Ride the hiking/biking trail along the Arroyo Mocho and through Robertson Park. Pick up the path behind the Arco Mini-Mart at Stanley and Murrieta Blvd. Stop at Retzlaff winery on South Livermore for a picnic lunch (from 12-2 p.m.) or ride another mile and a half on South Livermore Avenue to Stony Ridge Winery on Tesla and sample their lunch menu.
A Community Begins.
Today San Ramon is a dynamic young city, one of California's outstanding urban villages. It has a variety of homes, parks and stores and a major employment center --- all in a setting of remarkable beauty.
It was once home to the Seunen Indians, Ohlone/Costanoans who lived adjacent to the valley creeks. After 1797 it was Mission San Jose grazing land; later it included Jose Maria Amador's 16,000 plus acre Rancho San Ramon.
San Ramon Creek was named after an Indian vaquero, Ramon, who tended mission sheep here. In an 1855 land title case, Don Amador explained that "San" was added to the creek's name to conform with Spanish custom.
American settlers first came to San Ramon in 1850 when Leo and Mary Jane Norris purchased 4,450 acres of land from Amador. Other early landowners were William Lynch, James Dougherty, and Major Samuel Russell. In 1852 Joel and Minerva Harlan bought land from Norris and built a house on what became the Alameda-Contra Costa County line in 1853.
San Ramon Store and Post Office
Many of San Ramon's founding families are remembered today because their names grace various canyons, hills and streets. Some of these pioneers were Norris, Lynch, Harlan, McCamley, Crow, Bollinger, Meese, Glass, and Wiedemann. Both the Harlan home (1858) at 19251 San Ramon Valley Blvd. and the Wiedemann home (1865) near Norris Canyon still stand in their original locations. The Glass House (1877) has been moved to Forest Home Farms.
A Village Develops. San Ramon had several names in the nineteenth century. It was called Brevensville (for blacksmith Eli Breven), Lynchville (for William Lynch) and Limerick (for the many Irish settlers). The first village developed at the intersection of today's Deerfield Road and San Ramon Valley Blvd. In 1873 when a permanent post office was finally established, it was called San Ramon.
During the 1860s the village became a hub of community activity. In 1864 a stage line established by Brown and Co. ran from San Ramon through the valley to Oakland. A church was dedicated in 1860, the general store was built in 1863 and students left their home-based classrooms to attend the San Ramon Grammar School beginning in 1867. Saloons, a jail, Chinese wash houses and blacksmith shops lined County Road No. 2 (later San Ramon Valley Blvd.).
Locomotive turnaround and engine house, 1913
With the arrival of the San Ramon Branch Line of the Southern Pacific in 1891, other changes took place. The name "San Ramon" permanently replaced references to "Limerick." Crops and passengers could travel in and out of the area, no matter what the weather. Until 1909 San Ramon was the terminus for the line and boasted a two-story depot, the engine house and a turnaround for the locomotive.
 Label from the original Bishop Ranch Orchards | In 1895 attorney Thomas Bishop acquired 3,000 acres of Norris land (after a divorce case in which Bishop's law firm represented Margaret Norris). The Bishop Ranch raised cattle and sheep and was planted to hay, grain, diversified fruit crops and walnuts. Bishop Shropshire purebred sheep earned numerous awards. The Ranch was partially irrigated from an underground aquifer and at one point possessed the world's largest single orchard of Bartlett pears. |
The San Ramon Community Hall became the community's center early in 1911, drawing farm and ranch families to dances, school programs and plays. It was still standing in 1960. Residents belonged to several community groups over the years, including the Danville Grange No. 85, Odd Fellows, SRV Farm Bureau Women, Rebeccas, Ramona Club, and Mother's Club.
Modern San Ramon.
As with the entire Tri-Valley, agriculture was the basis for San Ramon economy until suburban development began. In 1966 the new Interstate 680 freeway was completed through San Ramon to Dublin. For years a sign "San Ramon Population 100" accurately reflected the number of people in the area, with the whole San Ramon Valley having just over 2000 people for many decades.
The designation "San Ramon Village" first appeared in the 1970 census with a count of 4,084 people, part of a San Ramon Valley population of 25,899. Developers Ken Volk and Bob McClain built the first San Ramon suburban homes close to the county line. A special district, the Valley Community Services district (VCSD) provided the water, parks, sewer, fire protection and garbage collection for the new homes.
In 1970 Western Electric purchased 1,733 acres of the Bishop Ranch and proposed a "new town" complete with a variety of housing, green belts, stores and light industry, placed in the center of San Ramon. Eventually part of the land became new homes and, in 1978, 585 acres became today's Bishop Ranch Business Park, a premier modern office development.
Before San Ramon incorporated, homeowners groups such as the South San Ramon Homeowners and the Homeowners Association of Twin Creeks represented residents' interests before the county. They joined service clubs and others in providing a local voice as developments replaced orchards.
In 1983 San Ramon voters decided overwhelmingly to incorporate as a separate city and took control over development, police, parks and other services. A new library, community center, parks and hospital testify to the energy which the new city displayed. No longer a quiet outskirt of the Bay Area, San Ramon looks to the future and values its past.
Written by Beverly Lane with thanks to Thelma Smith, Virgie V. Jones. Bill Fereira and Roxanne Wiedemann Lindsay. Underwritten by the City of San Ramon
 The City of Pleasanton Department of Parks & Community Services coordinates many recreation programs, sports activities and entertainment options for Pleasanton. This department also manages community facilities, senior services and activities, and the Pleasanton park system. Click here for a complete list of available activities and services offered by Parks & Community Services. | ||
 Alameda County Fairgrounds is home to the annual mid-summer Alameda County Fair. The Fairgrounds also features many shows and attractions throughout the year, including Satellite Horse Race Wagering as well as live races. Visit the Fairgrounds website at http://www.alamedacountyfair.com/ for a list of current and coming attractions. | ||
 Downtown Pleasanton offers many fun and exciting events throughout the year, sponsored by the Pleasanton Downtown Association. Events include First Wednesday Street Parties, Heritage Days, Wine Stroll, Antique Fair and more. Visit http://www.pleasantondowntown.net/for a complete calendar. | ||
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| Wineries | ||
| Battaion Cellars | 21 S. Livermore Ave #109 , Livermore | (925) 245-9242 |
| Wente Vineyards | 5565 Tesla Road, Livermore | (925) 456-2300 |
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| Golf Courses | ||
| The Bridges Golf Club | 9000 S. Gale Ridge Road, San Ramon | (925) 735-4253 |
| Callippe Preserve Golf Course | 8500 Clubhouse Drive, Pleasanton | (925) 426-6666 |
| Pleasanton Golf Center | P.O. Box 123, Pleasanton | (925) 462-4653 |
| Poppy Ridge Golf Course | 4280 Greenville Road, Livermore | (925) 456-8207 |
| Ruby Hill Golf Club | 3400 W. Ruby Hill Drive, Pleasanton | (925) 417-5840 |
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| Spas/Fitness Clubs | ||
| A Touch of Health | 377 St. Mary Street, Pleasanton | (925) 484-1726 |
| ClubSport of Pleasanton | 7090 Johnson Drive | (925) 463-2822 |
| Essence Medespa | 234 Main Street, Pleasanton | (925) 426-1008 |
| Express Fitness | 3903 Santa Rita Road, Pleasanton | (925) 416-1100 |
| Ladies Workout Express | 5424-4 Sunol Blvd., Pleasanton | (925) 462-2228 |
| Luminary Spa | 3059 Hopyard Rd., Suite K | (925) 461-8472 |
| Jue's Taekwon-do | 5460 Sunol Blvd. | (925) 484-0308 |
| Purple Orchid Resort & Spa | 4549 Cross Road, Livermore | (925) 606-8855 |
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| Camping/RV Parks | ||
| East Bay Regional Park District | 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Dublin | (510) 562-PARK |
| Alameda County Fairgrounds - RV Parking | (925) 426-7600 | |
| Shopping | ||
| Restaurants | ||
| Entertainment | ||
| Fitness, Sports & Recreation | ||
| Travel & Tourism | ||
| Community Calendar |
Pleasanton History |
The Amador-Livermore Valley was first sighted by a Spanish soldier, Captain Pedro Fages, in 1772 while on an expedition searching for new mission sites. It was a half-century after this discovery that Jose Amador, in 1826, brought the first settlement to the valley, which still bears his name. Spanish families were awarded huge tracts of land as a result of the abandonment of the California Mission System. |
| Alisal, as Pleasanton was known at the time, was located on one of the main routes to the gold fields and quickly became a mercantile stopover for miners seeking their fortune in the Mother Lode. The first white settler in the immediate area of Pleasanton was Augustine Bernal in 1850. The adobe house he built on Foothill Road is still standing today. He lived there for most of his life and played a part in building aspects of the community familiar to residents today, including the racetrack that eventually brought the Alameda County Fairgrounds to Pleasanton. |
| John W. Kottinger, who arrived in 1851, was responsible for the naming of Pleasanton after a distinguished Civil War general, Alfred Pleasonton. However, a spelling error by a recording clerk in Washington D.C. resulted in a much more appropriate name. When the transcontinental railroads rolled into Pleasanton in 1869, the town was assured of a future. The population then was only 500, but it soon began to grow. |
| Ranchers and thoroughbred horse breeders were attracted to the favorable climate and abundance of water, and were soon followed by dairy farms, hop fields and vineyards. Blessed with rich soil, Pleasanton soon became the agricultural center for the Amador Valley and home to the oldest horseracing track in the nation. The hops grown here were sought by many of the largest beer producers in the United States and Europe, making Pleasanton internationally famous. |
| Pleasanton was incorporated in 1894 and by 1900 was a thriving community complete with the Bank of Pleasanton, the Pleasanton Hop Company, the Ruby Hill vineyard, and three fancy hotels. Main Street became a center for business and community activity and, although agriculture didn't completely disappear, Pleasanton was on the road to becoming a modern community. |
| By 1930, enterprising men such as Henry J. Kaiser determined the great potential of sand and gravel below the Valley's surface. The gravel industry has been one of the Valley's most enduring and profitable industries throughout the last half-century. The 1960's and 1970's were decades of rapid population growth in the city, and by 1979, much of the land in Pleasanton was supporting homes, schools, and businesses, instead of tomatoes, cucumbers and grapes. |
| It was 1982 that brought one of the most dramatic turning points in the city's history. That year, ground was broken on the first building in the 850-acre Hacienda Business Park. The park was built on swampland that had previously been considered as a site for a large mobile home park. Instead, Pleasanton became home to corporate giants and the face of the city was forever changed. |
| In 1994 Pleasanton celebrated its 100th anniversary as a city. Residents and visitors alike looked back on a century of extraordinary progress. A community that began as a simple home to Ohlone Indians, Pleasanton has passed through seasons as an adobe homestead for Spanish soldiers, an agricultural center, a small bedroom community, and finally, what it is today - a thriving city with excellent schools, a strong economic base and well-planned neighborhoods. |
| The Museum on Main Street |
| For an up-close look at interesting Pleasanton artifacts, visit The Museum on Main Street, 603 Main Street in downtown Pleasanton. The museum also offers a Downtown Walking Tour Guide, available for a donation of $2. This guide provides a mapped out route and a wealth of historic facts to make a jaunt down Main Street one of discovery. It was published in 2001 under the guidance of Pleasanton historian Charles Huff. |
Information from the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce
Ohlone
The Ohlone lived in Castro Valley for thousands of years. Spanish explorers called them "Costanoans" (Coast people).San Lorenzo Creek was a perfect location for a village. A variety of plants grew in the area that could be used for food, medicine and shelter. The creek attracted animals such as deer, elk, rabbits, squirrels, and birds.
Homes were made of Tule reeds. Tule grows along marshes and creeks. The homes were not large because people only used them for sleeping. Ohlones spent most of their day together in the center of the village. Life in the village was not all work - there was plenty of time for games and relaxation. Illustration from "Indians of California", U.S. Department of the Interior.
Acorns were the main food for Ohlone people. Acorns have to be cracked open, pounded into flour, and washed to remove acids before they can be eaten. In most hunter-gatherer societies, 80% of the calories were provided by grains, fruits and vegetables which were gathered and prepared by the women. Illustration from "Indians of California", U.S. Department of the Interior.
Men hunted animals in the hills around the village. A successful hunt takes a great deal of skill, so if the men returned with a large animal such as a deer, there was a celebration in the village. Illustration by Michael Harney from "The Ohlone Way."
Castro's Rancho San Lorenzo 1841-1850
When Mexico won independence from Spain, the new government gave the vast mission lands to individuals. One of those individuals was Guillermo Castro, who had been a soldier in the Mexican army. Although Castro's home was in what is now downtown Hayward, Castro Valley was an important part of the Rancho San Lorenzo. This lovely valley is sheltered from wind and fog, and so made a perfect place to graze cattle over the winter. Cattle were the main source of income for the California ranchos. Hides, called "California dollars," and tallow were sold to ships in the bay and taken to Mexico and Fort Ross.
After the California Gold Rush, Guillermo Castro had problems with squatters taking over portions of his land. Lawsuits were often necessary to maintain title to the land, and law fees quickly added up. In addition, he had a fondness for gambling and was not always lucky. This combination of events led to Guillermo Castro loosing all of his 26,722 acres. The once great Don of Rancho San Lorenzo finished his life penniless in South America.
"Of the Spanish Californians that I have known, Guillermo Castro was the best. He was a sparse, wiry man with brown eyes and hair and was physically active and tough. He was a splendid horseman and he was very extravagant and spent his money freely." - Jacob Harlan
Castro's home ("Casas del Ranchero") in what is now downtown Hayward. The "Camino Royal de San Jose" marks the road to Mission San Jose. Today it is still called Mission Blvd. Castro Valley is directly above the area marked "Lomerias de San Lorenzo."
Early Settlers 1850-1899
Guillermo Castro was the owner of the vast Mexican land grant Rancho San Lorenzo. He grazed his cattle in the land we now call Castro Valley. After California became part of the United States, Castro began to sell off his land to pay gambling debts.By the end of the 19th century, large tracts had been divided into smaller plots used for dairies and fruit orchards. Some of these early residents are honored by streets that sill bear their names: Strobridge, Stanton, Jamison, Jensen, Cull.
The Castro Valley Exchange was the first business in Castro Valley. In the 1880s it provided a road stop along Redwood Road at what is now Grove Way.
Redwood trees were cut for lumber and shipped down Redwood Road to Castro Valley Road to Robert's Landing in San Lorenzo. The crests of the hills surrounding the valley were covered with redwoods and oaks. Starting in the 1850s, lumbering was a major industry for residents of Castro Valley.
The "Stanton House" was built by the Mattox family in 1860. Michael Stanton bought it in 1868. He owned 500 acres of land along Castro Valley Boulevard. Streets in Castro Valley named for the Stanton family include Anita Avenue, John Street, and Stanton Avenue. Originally on Lake Chabot Road, the house was moved to prevent demolition in 1975. It is now on a busy corner of Strobridge Avenue by the freeway.
Chickens! 1900-1929
The former Castro land continued to be broken into smaller plots. In the early 1900s Castro Valley was home to many small chicken farms of three and four acres. By 1925 the valley was ranked 2nd in the world in egg and hatchling production. It is estimated that the population of Castro Valley was 800,000 hens and 5,000 people.A little downtown area developed to support the needs of Castro Valley's 5,000 residents. Many of the businesses provided supplies for the poultry industry in the valley.
Incubators greatly increased the number of chicks that could be raised.
Pete's Hardware opened in 1926 and is still run by the same family. The Paul Rhodes Winery was located in Castro Valley before alcohol prohibition closed it down.
Depression Years 1930-1941
The Depression hit hard here, as it did everywhere else across the U.S. But Castro Valley people stuck together and pulled through. Castro Valley Garage during the Great Depression.The building now housing Adobe Arts Center was built as a government W.P.A. project during the Depression. The Works Project Administration created work for many young men who constructed buildings all over the U.S. The adobe was built as headquarters for the Castro Valley Elementary School District in 1938.
Post-War Boom 1945-1960
After World War II the population of Castro Valley jumped 400%. Because of the G.I. Bill, there was a great demand for new homes. Most of the chicken farms and ranches were divided into smaller lots and developed for housing. The business district on Castro Valley Boulevard grew to meet the needs of the new population. Clubs and civic organizations also flourished.Eden Hospital under construction 1954. Castro Valley around 1960 shows how much the valley had been developed. Downtown Castro Valley was full of shops serving the new residents who moved to the valley after the war. Gone are the hatchery supply businesses. Hayward Area Historical Museum collection. Castro Village Shopping Center opening
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Serving the East Bay~San Francisco Bay Area since 1978; Communities of Alamo, Castro Valley, Danville, Dublin, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Lorenzo & Walnut Creek
Pam has been selling real estate in East Bay communities since 1978. She recently was presented with the 2006 REALTOR® of the Year award from the Bay East Association of Realtors.
As an East Bay Native she has first hand knowledge of the communities and neighborhoods she services and their uniqueness. Pam's work ethic, integrity, and concern about her clients are the most important factors of her businesss. In her eyes success is not recognition or awards. True success is helping other people achieve their dreams and goals.
She is an experienced negotiator, an effective comunicator, provides superior service and positive results whether you are moving across town or across the country.
In her spare time she enjoys travel, playing golf, music, theatre and playing with her puppy, Murphy Brown. 
Pam received her sales license in 1978 and continued her education in Real Estate in acquiring many designations to enhance her professionalism. She earned her Brokers license in 1990 and is a Broker Associate with Windermere Welcome Home. She is active with her local and state Association of Realtors currently serving as the 2009 President Elect of Bay East Associaton of REALTORS® and member of the Equal Opportunity-Cultural Diversity and California EXPO Advisory Committee's at the California Association of REALTORS® and serving on many different committies on both levels.
She has acquired the following designations to better serve her clients needs
She specializes in the East Bay (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties)
State and Local Organizations
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