Pleasant Hill, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pleasant Hill is a city in Contra Costa County, California, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 32,837 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated in 1961. Pleasant Hill is the home of College Park High School, Diablo Valley College, John F Kennedy University, the central branch of the Contra Costa County Library system, and Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Schools 3 Demographics 4 Planning and environmental factors 5 Sister Cities 6 Recreation 7 External links

[edit] Geography

Pleasant Hill is located at 37°57′6″N, 122°4′20″W (37.951672, -122.072324)^GR1. It borders on Martinez, Concord, Lafayette and Walnut Creek.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.4 km² (7.1 mi²), all land.

[edit] Schools

The elementary schools in Pleasant Hill are Gregory Gardens Elementary, Strandwood Elementary, Sequoia Elementary, Valhalla Elementary, Christ the King Catholic School, and Pleasant Hill Elementary. The middle schools are Pleasant Hill, Sequoia, Christ the King, and Valley View. The only high school in Pleasant Hill is College Park.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 32,837 people, 13,753 households, and 8,403 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,788.2/km² (4,633.6/mi²). There were 14,034 housing units at an average density of 764.3/km² (1,980.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.77% White, 1.53% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 9.43% Asian, 0.27% Pacific Islander, 2.32% from other races, and 4.19% from two or more races. 8.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,753 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $67,489, and the median income for a family was $79,001. Males had a median income of $57,278 versus $42,013 for females. The per capita income for the city was $33,076. About 2.7% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Planning and environmental factors

Pleasant Hill utilized a system of environmental planning at a relatively early stage of its modern growth. Notably the city authorized a study of hillside development in the 1980s that included detailed mapping of biota, geotechnical hazards, sound levels and other environmental constraints. These studies were used to establish appropriate zoning and development densities for all the principal undeveloped hillside areas within the city.

[edit] Sister Cities

Pleasant Hill has two sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):

• Chilpancingo, Mexico
• Merzifon, Turkey

[edit] Recreation

Recreation services and parks are provided by the Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District, which is ten years older than the City of Pleasant Hill and twenty percent larger. You may contact the award winning Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District at www.pleasanthillrec.com.

Pleasant Hill is home to many parks, including:

1. Pleasant Hill Park - Gregory Lane. Sports fields, lighted surfaced court & softball field, sand volleyball courts, swimming pool, children's play areas, picnic/barbecue areas, restrooms, 16.5 acres (67,000 m²).
2. Rodgers-Smith Park - Grayson Road. Sports field, sand volleyball court, children's play area, surfaced courts, picnic/barbecue area, lighted bocce courts, restrooms, 4.5 acres (18,000 m²).
3. Paso Nogal Park - Paso Nogal Road. Open space, turfed meadow, hiking trails, 63 acres (255,000 m²).
4. Pleasant Oaks Park - near P.H. Adult Center. Sports fields, children's play area, 11 acres (45,000 m²).
5. Brookwood Park - Northwest corner of Taylor and Withers. Turf area, exercise course, surfaced court, picnic/barbecue areas, children's play area, 6.3 acres (25,000 m²).
6. Dinosaur Hill Park - off Taylor Blvd. Open space, hiking, scenic views, 13 acres (53,000 m²).
7. Frank Salfingere Park - Community Center. Passive turf area, 1.5 acres (6,000 m²).
8. Pinewood Park - near Strandwood Elementary. Children's play area, 0.3 acres (1,200 m²).
9. Chilpancingo Park - Golf Club Road. Passive turf area, 2.5 acres (10,000 m²).
10. Shadowood Park - Spar Court, off Camelback Road. Turf, picnic/ barbecue, children's play area, 2.6 acres (11,000 m²).
11. Contra Costa Canal Trail - (broken line) 11.5 miles: Willow Pass Road in Concord south into Walnut Creek; north through Pleasant Hill to the city limits. Connects with the California Riding/Hiking Trial. For hikers, joggers, bicyclists, and equestrians.
12. Shannon Hills Park - Devon Avenue. Turf, children's play area, natural creek, 2.5 acres (10,000 m²).
13. Ridgeview Open Space Area - Paso Nogal Road. Hiking, scenic views, 56 acres (227,000 m²).
14. Las Juntas - Open space on Contra Costa Canal Trail, west of Lucille, 7 acres (28,000 m²).

[edit] External links

• City of Pleasant Hill website
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 37.951672° -122.072324°
  • 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