Pleasanton, California is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, about 30 miles east of San Francisco. The city has a population of approximately 75,000 people and is known for its high quality of life, its abundance of parks and green spaces, and its strong sense of community.
There are many pros to living in Pleasanton:
- High quality of life: Pleasanton consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the United States. The city has a strong economy, a low crime rate, and excellent schools. The city’s economy is driven by a variety of industries, including technology, healthcare, and education. Pleasanton is home to a number of Fortune 500 companies, including Chevron, Kaiser Permanente, and Oracle. The city also has a strong educational system, with several public and private schools that are consistently ranked among the best in the state.
- Abundance of parks and green spaces: Pleasanton is home to over 50 parks and green spaces, including the Don Castro Regional Recreation Area, the Arroyo del Valle Regional Park, and the Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. These parks offer a variety of activities for residents, including hiking, biking, fishing, and camping. The Don Castro Regional Recreation Area is a 1,000-acre park that features a lake, a golf course, and a variety of hiking and biking trails. The Arroyo del Valle Regional Park is a 1,200-acre park that features a creek, a meadow, and a variety of hiking and biking trails. The Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park is a 2,000-acre park that features a ridgeline, a canyon, and a variety of hiking and biking trails.
- Strong sense of community: Pleasanton is a very community-oriented city. There are many opportunities for residents to get involved in local organizations and events. The city has a variety of community organizations, including the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce, the Pleasanton Rotary Club, and the Pleasanton Community Foundation. The city also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the annual Fourth of July Parade, the Pleasanton Art Festival, and the Pleasanton Farmers Market.
- Easy access to the Bay Area: Pleasanton is located just a short drive from San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. This makes it easy for residents to enjoy all that the Bay Area has to offer, including job opportunities, cultural attractions, and nightlife. San Francisco is located about 30 miles west of Pleasanton. The city is home to a variety of job opportunities, cultural attractions, and nightlife. Oakland is located about 20 miles north of Pleasanton. The city is home to a variety of job opportunities, cultural attractions, and nightlife. Berkeley is located about 15 miles east of Pleasanton. The city is home to a variety of job opportunities, cultural attractions, and nightlife.
If you are looking for a city with a high quality of life, a strong sense of community, and easy access to the Bay Area, then Pleasanton is the perfect place for you.
Schools
The Pleasanton Unified School District has been named a National District of Character and 12 out of our 14 schools have received the California Distinguished School designation. Together, the City and School District are committed to building a Community of Character.
Neighborhoods
Our Downtown is the heart of our community — the setting for festivals, street parties, parades, weekly summer concerts, Saturday farmer’s market and other special events. Downtown also offers some of the finest dining and shopping in the Tri-Valley. Pleasanton is also home to the Alameda County Fairgrounds which hosts statewide and regional events, as well as the annual Alameda County Fair.
Pleasanton is home to a variety of neighborhoods, each with its own unique character. Some of the most popular neighborhoods include:
Amador Valley is a large neighborhood located in the northwestern part of Pleasanton. It is home to a mix of single-family homes and apartments, as well as a variety of businesses and shopping centers. The neighborhood is also home to Amador Valley High School, one of the top-ranked high schools in the state.
Blackhawk is a gated community located in the southeastern part of Pleasanton. It is known for its luxurious homes, its golf courses, and its proximity to the Blackhawk Shopping Center. The neighborhood is also home to a number of restaurants and shops.
Donlon Way is a small neighborhood located in the central part of Pleasanton. It is home to a mix of single-family homes and apartments, as well as a number of businesses and shopping centers. The neighborhood is also home to Donlon Way Elementary School.
Foothill is a large neighborhood located in the northeastern part of Pleasanton. It is home to a mix of single-family homes and apartments, as well as a variety of businesses and shopping centers. The neighborhood is also home to Foothill High School, one of the top-ranked high schools in the state.
Pleasanton Ridge is a small neighborhood located in the western part of Pleasanton. It is home to a mix of single-family homes and apartments, as well as a number of businesses and shopping centers. The neighborhood is also home to Pleasanton Ridge Elementary School.
Stoneridge is a large neighborhood located in the central part of Pleasanton. It is home to a mix of single-family homes and apartments, as well as a variety of businesses and shopping centers. The neighborhood is also home to Stoneridge Shopping Center, one of the largest shopping centers in the Bay Area.
Each of these neighborhoods has its own unique character and charm, and there is something for everyone in Pleasanton. Whether you are looking for a quiet neighborhood with large homes or a more urban setting with easy access to shopping and dining, you are sure to find the perfect place to call home in Pleasanton.
In addition to its many neighborhoods, Pleasanton is also home to a variety of parks and green spaces. Some of the most popular parks include:
- Don Castro Regional Recreation Area: This park is located in the northwestern part of Pleasanton and offers a variety of activities, including hiking, biking, fishing, and camping.
- Arroyo del Valle Regional Park: This park is located in the southeastern part of Pleasanton and offers stunning views of the San Ramon Valley.
- Las Trampas Regional Wilderness: This wilderness area is located in the southwestern part of Pleasanton and offers a variety of hiking trails, camping opportunities, and stunning views of the Diablo Range.
- San Ramon Creek Regional Trail: This trail runs through the heart of Pleasanton and offers a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors.
These are just a few of the many things that make Pleasanton a great place to live. If you are looking for a city with a high quality of life, a strong sense of community, and a variety of amenities, then Pleasanton is the perfect place for you.
Economy
Pleasanton experienced a major economic boom starting in the early 1980s, largely associated with the development of a number of business parks, the largest of which is the Hacienda Business Park. These host a number of campus-like clusters of low-rise and medium-rise office buildings. Pleasanton has been successful in attracting a number of corporate headquarters, such as those of Safeway, Blackhawk Network Holdings, Workday, Simpson Manufacturing, The Cooper Companies and Shaklee. Despite an increase in office space vacancy rates in 2000–2004, economic development has remained strong through the middle of the decade.
Pleasanton was also the headquarters of the former PeopleSoft, Inc. (which was acquired by Oracle Corporation), Documentum (which was acquired by EMC Corporation), Thoratec (now part of Abbott), E-Loan (which was acquired by Popular), Spreckels Sugar Company (which was acquired by Imperial Holly), Ross Stores (which moved to nearby Dublin in 2014), Patelco Credit Union (also moved to Dublin) and the home loan operation of Providian (which was acquired by Washington Mutual, itself later acquired by JPMorgan Chase). Oracle occupies two buildings of the former PeopleSoft campus, and is the fourth-largest employer in Pleasanton, behind Workday, Safeway and Kaiser Permanente. In addition, Pleasanton is the site of a large AT&T campus.
Other companies with major operations in Pleasanton include Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc., Cisco Systems, QASource, Sage Software (Accpac, etc.), CooperVision, Clorox, Fireside Bank (closed in 2012), Roche, BMC Software, Zoho Corporation, Applied Biosystems, EMC Corporation, Portrait Displays, Inc. and Broadcom Inc.
In retail operations, Pleasanton has one major regional mall (Stoneridge Shopping Center) and a number of other shopping centers. Besides the anchor tenants Macy’s and JC Penney at Stoneridge, notable large stores elsewhere in the city include Home Depot, Wal-Mart, and Kohl’s.
In addition to the business parks and retail centers, Pleasanton is known for its lively downtown, which is home to a number of fine-dining, casual, and ethnic restaurants, specialty retailers, and service businesses. A redesign of Main Street in the 1990s emphasized pedestrian traffic and outdoor dining.
In 2005, the median household income in Pleasanton was $101,022, the highest income for any city with a population between 65,000 and 249,999 people.[9] Similarly, for 2007, the median household income rose to $113,345, also the highest in the category.[10] According to City-Data.com, the median household income had risen to $121,622 by 2013, compared to a statewide median of $60,190.
According to the Bay East Association of Realtors, the median price of a detached single family home was $1,795,000 as of August 2021.[26] According to Zillow.com, the median home value in Pleasanton was $1,500,415 as of September 2021.
