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Castro Valley, CA

Frequently asked questions

Castro Valley, CA

Castro Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Alameda County, California, United States. At the 2010 census, it was the fifth most populous unincorporated area in California and the twenty-third most populous in the United States. The population was 66,441 at the 2020 census.

Castro Valley is named after Don Guillermo Castro, a noted 19th-century Californio ranchero who owned the land where the community is located.

Lake Chabot lies in the northwest part of Castro Valley. Directly to the west is San Leandro. Hayward is to the south. Dublin, Pleasanton, and San Ramon are to the east.

The eastern hills of Castro Valley constitute the headwaters of the San Lorenzo Creek watershed and the origin of several creeks that flow into San Lorenzo Creek: Bolinas, Castro Valley, Chabot, Crow, Cull, Eden, Hollis, Kelly Canyon, Norris, and Palomares Creeks.

Before the arrival of European settlers the area was settled by the Chocheño (also spelled Chochenyo or Chocenyo) subdivision of the Ohlone Native Americans.

With the arrival of Europeans, they established Mission San Jose in 1797. The area Castro Valley now occupies was part of the extensive colony of New Spain in what was the province of Alta California.

Castro Valley was part of the original 28,000 acre (110 km2) land grant given to Castro in 1840, called Rancho San Lorenzo. This land grant included Hayward, San Lorenzo, and Castro Valley, including Crow Canyon, Cull Canyon, and Palomares Canyons. Castro had a gambling habit and had to sell off portions of his land to pay gambling debts. The last of his holdings was sold in a sheriff's sale in 1864 to Faxon Atherton for $400,000.

Atherton (after whom the city of Atherton is named) in turn began selling off his portion in smaller parcels. Two men named Cull (the namesake of Cull Canyon) and Luce bought some 2,400 acres (10 km2) and began running a steam-operated saw mill in Redwood Canyon. The Jensen brothers also bought land from Atherton in 1867.

Castro Valley focuses on health and wellness. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs offered by the Castro Valley’s Recreation and Community Services Department. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include D's Fitness, Orangetheory, and Body Mechanix. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Castro Valley, such as the Lake Chabot Regional Park and the Proctor Trail. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

The top sites in Castro Valley, CA are East Bay Regional Park District - Public Safety, Golden Tee Golfland, and Don Castro Regional Recreation Area. 

Population: 66,441 (2020). ZIP Code: 94546. Area code(s): 510, 341. Elevation: 161 ft. Area: 17.07 sq mi (44.21 km2).
 

FAQs

Is Castro Valley, CA a good place to live?

Castro Valley is in Alameda County and is one of the best places to live in California. Living in Castro Valley offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Castro Valley, there are a lot of coffee shops and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Castro Valley and residents tend to lean liberal.

Is Castro Valley, CA expensive to live in?

Castro Valley is part of the Oakland-Berkeley-Livermore Metro Div. metro area, which is ranked 12 out of 273 cities across the US in terms of cost of living. According to C2ER (the Council for Community and Economic Research), the cost of living in Castro Valley is estimated to be 140% of the national average making it one of the more expensive cities in the US. The total monthly expenditure you can expect to incur depends on the cost of housing, food, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and other miscellaneous goods and services.

What is Castro Valley, CA famous for?

Castro Valley is one of the sites where Joseph Eichler built some of the 10,000 or so homes he built in the Bay Area. Castro Valley has a one-screen movie theater, the Chabot Cinema. The Castro Village complex on Castro Valley Boulevard is widely considered the commercial center of town.
 

Sources

Wikipedia

Alameda County

Castro Valley’s Recreation and Community Services Department

D's Fitness

Orangetheory 

Body Mechanix

Lake Chabot Regional Park

Proctor Trail

East Bay Regional Park District - Public Safety

Golden Tee Golfland

Don Castro Regional Recreation Area

Niche

Zero Down

Kidskiddle.co

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