The Spanish settlers called these nativesCosteños, or 'coast people,' and the English-speaking settlers called themCostanoans. San Leandro was first visited by Europeans on March 20, 1772, by Spanish soldier CaptainPedro Fages and the Spanish Catholic priest Father Crespi.
The smaller land grant, Rancho San Leandro, of approximately 9,000 acres (3,600 ha), was given toJosé Joaquín Estudillo in 1842. The larger, Rancho San Antonio, of approximately 44,000 acres (18,000 ha), was given to another Spanish soldier, Don Luis Maria Peralta, in 1820. Beginning in 1855, two of Estudillo's sons-in-law, John B. Ward andWilliam Heath Davis, laid out the townsite that would become San Leandro, bounded by the San Leandro Creek on the north, Watkins Street on the east, Castro Street on the south, and on the west by the longitude lying a block west of Alvarado Street.[16][17] The city has a historicalPortuguese American population dating from the 1880s, whenPortuguese laborers from Hawaii or from theAzores began settling in the city and established farms and businesses. By the 1910 census, they had accounted for nearly two-thirds of San Leandro's population.[18]
In 1856, San Leandro became thecounty seat ofAlameda County, but the county courthouse was destroyed there by the devastating1868 quake on theHayward Fault. The county seat was then re-established in the town ofBrooklyn (now part of Oakland) in 1872.
San Leandro was one of a number of suburban cities built in the post–World War II era ofCalifornia to haverestrictive covenants, which barred property owners in the city from selling properties toAfrican Americans and other minorities. As a result of the covenant, In 1960, the city was almost entirely white (99.3%), while its neighbor city of Oakland had a large African American population.[19] TheUnited States Supreme Court, inShelley v. Kraemer, later declared such covenants unenforceable by the state. San Leandro was an 86.4% white-non-Hispanic community according in the 1970 census.[19] The city's demographics began to diversify in the 1980s.[20] By 2010,Asian Americans had become a plurality population in San Leandro, with approximately one-third of the population, with non-Hispanic Whites accounting for 27.1% of the population.[21]
TheSan Leandro Hills run above the city to the northeast. In the lower elevations of the city, an upper regionally containedaquifer is located 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 m) below the surface. At least one deeperaquifer exists approximately 250 feet (75 m) below the surface. Somesalt water intrusion has taken place in the San Leandro Cone. Shallowgroundwater generally flows to the west, from the foothills toward San Francisco Bay. Shallow groundwater is contaminated in many of the locales of the lower elevation of the city. Contamination bygasoline, volatile organic compounds and someheavy metals has been recorded in a number of these lower-elevation areas.[22][23]
The trace of theHayward Fault passes under Foothill Boulevard in San Leandro. Follow the link in the reference to see a series of photos of the fault cutting the asphalt between 1979 and 1987.[24]
San Leandro, California – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
The census reported that 98.9% of the population lived in households, 0.7% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.4% were institutionalized.[45]
There were 31,799 households, out of which 31.4% included children under the age of 18, 46.4% were married-couple households, 6.5% werecohabiting couple households, 29.3% had a female householder with no partner present, and 17.8% had a male householder with no partner present. 24.0% of households were one person, and 10.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.83.[45] There were 21,915families (68.9% of all households).[46]
The age distribution was 19.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% aged 18 to 24, 28.2% aged 25 to 44, 27.7% aged 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 40.7years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males.[45]
There were 32,898 housing units at an average density of 2,469.3 units per square mile (953.4 units/km2), of which 31,799 (96.7%) were occupied. Of these, 54.5% were owner-occupied, and 45.5% were occupied by renters.[45]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 37.8% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 46.3% spoke only English at home, 20.5% spokeSpanish, 3.2% spoke otherIndo-European languages, 28.0% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 2.0% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 83.7% were high school graduates and 33.7% had a bachelor's degree.[47]
The median household income in 2023 was $98,063, and theper capita income was $46,387. About 4.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line.[48]
The Census reported that 84,300 people (99.2% of the population) lived in households, 282 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 368 (0.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 30,717 households, out of which 10,503 (34.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 14,142 (46.0%) were married couples, 4,509 (14.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,863 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,706 (5.6%) unmarried couples, and 326 (1.1%) same-sex couples. 8,228 households (26.8%) were made up of individuals, and 3,128 (10.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74. There were 20,514families (66.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.36.
The population was spread out, with 18,975 people (22.3%) under the age of 18, 7,044 people (8.3%) aged 18 to 24, 23,469 people (27.6%) aged 25 to 44, 23,779 people (28.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 11,683 people (13.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
There were 32,419 housing units at an average density of 2,069.9 per square mile (799.2/km2), of which 30,717 were occupied, of which 17,667 (57.5%) were owner-occupied, and 13,050 (42.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. 50,669 people (59.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 33,631 people (39.6%) lived in rental housing units.
San Leandro has long been home to many food-processing operations, and is home to many corporate businesses, such asGhirardelli,OSIsoft,21st Amendment Brewery, and aCoca-Cola plant.Maxwell House operated a coffee roasting plant, where the Yuban brand was produced from 1949 until 2015, when it was closed as part of a cost-cutting plan instituted by parent companyKraft Foods.[50] The city has five major shopping centers: theBayfair Center, Westgate Center, Greenhouse Shopping Center,[51] Marina Square Center,[52] and Pelton Plaza.[53]Lucky's flagship store opened in San Leandro.
Under San Leandro MayorStephen H. Cassidy, the city set the goal in 2012 of "becoming a new center of innovation in the San Francisco Bay Area."[54] San Leandro came "out of the downturn like few places around, attracting tech startups, artists and brewers to a onetime traditional industrial hub."[55]
In January 2011, Cassidy and Dr. J. Patrick Kennedy, a San Leandro resident and the president and founder ofOSIsoft, one of the city's largest employers, "began developing the public-private partnership that would become Lit San Leandro,"[56] a high speed, fiber opticbroadband network. In October 2011, the city approved the license agreement that allowed the installation of the fiber-optic cables in the existing conduits under San Leandro streets.[57] In 2012, San Leandro was awarded a $2.1 million grant from the U.S.Economic Development Administration to add 7.5 miles to the network.[58] By 2014, the network expansion was completed, bringing the total length of fiber in the city to over 18 miles.[59] The network is capable of transmitting at up to 10 Gbit/s and is currently only available to business users.[60]
The San Leandro Marina, which contains group picnic areas and trails, as well as docking facilities, is part of the San Leandro Shoreline Recreation Area.[65]In addition to Marina Park, the City of San Leandro maintains and services 16 other parks throughout the city, all of which are available for use by residents and visitors alike. The Department of Recreation and Parks for the City of San Leandro also staffs and maintains the Marina Community Center, the San Leandro Senior Community Center and the San Leandro Family Aquatic Center. AdjacentLake Chabot Regional Park is popular for its scenic hiking trails, camping, and fishing. Although located inCastro Valley,[66] the Fairmont Ridge Staging Area is the location of the Children's Memorial Grove, which consists of an Oak grove and a stone circle, with annual plaques listing the names of all children who have died as a result of violence in Alameda County.[67]
San Leandro is a charter city with a Mayor-Council-Manager form of government.[68] The City Manager is Janelle Cameron. San Leandro city hall was built in 1939.
Mayor Juan González III was elected in November 2022, and serves on the City Council with six Council members. Council members are elected by all voters in the city usinginstant-runoff voting. Council members must reside within the district they represent.[10]
In 2017, San Leandro had 45,257 registered voters with 26,421 (58.4%) registered as Democrats, 5,271 (11.6%) registered as Republicans, and 11,723 (25.9%) weredecline to state voters.[69]
San Leandro is home to two school districts: The San Lorenzo Unified School District includes parts of Washington Manor and the San Leandro Unified School District includes most of San Leandro, plus a small part ofOakland.[70]
A number of students residing in San Leandro attendSan Lorenzo Unified School District schools, includingArroyo High School, Washington Manor Middle School and Corvallis Elementary School, due to proximity to the San Leandro/San Lorenzo border.
San Leandro is served by theInterstate 880,580 and238 freeways connecting to other parts of the Bay Area.East 14th Street (SR-185) is a major thoroughfare in downtown and continues towardsEast Oakland and Hayward.Davis Street is also another major street that intersects East 14th Street in downtown before heading towards the San Francisco Bay. Public transportation is provided by theBay Area Rapid TransitBART District with theSan Leandro andBayfair stations serving the city.San Leandro LINKS provides free bus shuttle service for the western part of the city to the San Leandro BART station andAC Transit is the local bus provider for the city. A senior-oriented local bus service, Flex Shuttle, also operates within the city, as does East Bay Paratransit, which provides shuttle type transportation to residents with disabilities.
TheAlameda County Medical Center's psychiatric hospital, theJohn George Psychiatric Pavilion, is located nearby in San Leandro.[66] Fairmont Hospital, also located close by, is an Acute Rehabilitation, Neuro-Respiratoy and HIV care center.[71] San Leandro Hospital is the city's full service hospital.[72]
Daniel Best, manufacturer and pioneer in the development of farming equipment
Lloyd Bridges, actor, film and television star, born in San Leandro on January 15, 1913[76]
Brian Copeland, comedian, writer, moved to San Leandro in 1972; author of "Not a Genuine Black Man," about growing up black in then all-white San Leandro
Leonard Haze, professional drummer and co-founding member of rock and roll bandY&T, was a longtime San Leandro resident andSan Leandro High School graduate
Pat Hurst, professional golfer and NCAA women's champion, born in San Leandro on May 23, 1969
Art Larsen, professional tennis player, graduated from San Leandro High School, top-ranked in U.S. in 1950; lived in San Leandro until his death on December 7, 2012
Tony Lema, professional golfer, moved to San Leandro in 1940 at age six; in June 1983, Tony Lema Golf Course was dedicated in San Leandro
Dave McCloughan, NFL defensive back; born in San Leandro on November 20, 1966
Andrew McGuire, consumer advocate, led 30-year campaign to mandate fire-safe cigarettes worldwide,MacArthur Fellow, attended Pacific High class of 1963, John Muir Junior High, Monroe and Cleveland Elementary Schools
David Silveria, musician (drummer forKorn), born in San Leandro on September 21, 1972
Jim Sorensen, track and field athlete, primarily middle-distance races; Masters M40 world record holder at 800 meters and former Masters M40 world record holder at 1500
Amen Thompson Ameiz XLNC "Amen" Thompson is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. Amen was raised in San Leandro until he moved to Florida in the eight grade.
^abSuburban Wall, documentary, 1971;Invisible Wall, documentary, 1981; "Not a Genuine Black Man: Or How I Claimed My Piece of Ground in the Lily-White Suburbs" Brian Copeland, 2006
^CH2M Hill, California Department of Health Services, Toxic Substances Control Division,Phase I Remedial Investigation Rpt, 1465 Factor Avenue, San Leandro, California (1987).
^C. Michael Hogan, Andy Kratter, Mark Weisman and Jill Buxton,Environmental Initial Study, Aladdin Avenue/Fairway Drive Overcrossing ofI-880, Earth Metrics, Caltrans and city of San Leandro Rpt 9551, 1990
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