Find Grocery Store Tours Serving
San Lorenzo, CA

Frequently asked questions

San Lorenzo, CA

San Lorenzo is a census-designated place (CDP) located in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area in Alameda County, California, United States. The population was 29,581 at the 2020 census. It is an unincorporated community, located at the banks of San Lorenzo Creek. It was originally named Squattersville in 1851 but later renamed to San Lorenzo.

In 1944, under contract to the U.S. Navy, The David D. Bohannon Company began construction of San Lorenzo Village, which was one of the nation's first planned communities, with parcels designated for schools, churches, parks, and several retail centers. Bohannon's pioneering pre-cutting techniques, referred to as the "California method," were used in later developments, such as the more famous Levittown, Pennsylvania.

San Lorenzo is located on the route of El Camino Viejo on the land of the former Rancho San Lorenzo, a Mexican land grant given to Guillermo Castro in 1841, and the former Rancho San Leandro, granted to José Joaquin Estudillo in 1842. Early residents during the California Gold Rush era lived here as squatters along the border between Rancho San Lorenzo and Rancho San Leandro. The informal name given to the area was Squatterville. The first post office opened in San Lorenzo in 1854.

Many of the early inhabitants are buried in San Lorenzo Pioneer Cemetery, including Moses Wicks, who brought oysters to San Leandro Bay from Patchogue, Long Island. The cemetery is maintained by the county and the Hayward Area Historical Society. San Lorenzo was mostly farmland, a significant center of production of fruit and flowers, from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. In 1944, under contract to the U.S. Navy, The David D. Bohannon Company began construction of San Lorenzo Village, a tract of two- and three-bedroom homes for workers in the East Bay's war industries. San Lorenzo Village was one of the nation's first planned communities, with parcels designated for schools, churches, parks, and several retail centers. Bohannon's pioneering pre-cutting techniques, referred to as the "California method," were used in later developments, such as the more famous Levittown, Pennsylvania. Home construction continued into the 1950s to accommodate the region's booming population.

San Lorenzo Village housing project launched as the largest privately financed housing project on the West Coast during WWII. San Lorenzo Shopping Center became one of the country's first planned community shopping centers and was home to the first Mervyn's Department Store.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) island and 0.24% is water. San Lorenzo Creek runs partly through the town. It is located between the incorporated cities of San Leandro to the north and Hayward to the south.

San Lorenzo gives importance to health and wellness. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the San Lorenzo Recreation and Community Services Department offers. 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. Massage Therapy Center facilitates deep, long-lasting results in a wide range of modalities, peeling away layers of stress, restoring mobility to injured muscle tissue, and easing stiffened joints and hot spots of pain. Healing Corner incorporates the healing properties of plants, herbs, cremes, oils, and minerals from around the world into a variety of unmatched spa services designed to reduce stress and enhance balance. A popular option is Crunch Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around San Lorenzo, such as the San Lorenzo Trail and the San Lorenzo Park. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

The top sites in San Lorenzo, CA are Oakland Zoo, Hayward Regional Shoreline, and Lake Chabot Regional Park. 

Population: 29,581 (2020). Area code: 510. Elevation: 36 ft (11 m). Area: 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2). ZIP Code: 94580.

FAQs

Is San Lorenzo, CA a good place to live?

Living in San Lorenzo offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In San Lorenzo, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in San Lorenzo and residents tend to be liberal.

Is San Lorenzo, CA expensive to live in?

San Lorenzo 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 San Lorenzo 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 the crime rate in San Lorenzo, CA?

The crime rate in San Lorenzo is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 28 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in San Lorenzo is 1 in 36. Based on FBI crime data, San Lorenzo is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to California, San Lorenzo has a crime rate that is higher than 77% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia

Alameda County

San Lorenzo Recreation and Community Services Department

Crunch Fitness

Massage Therapy Center

Healing Corner

San Lorenzo Trail 

San Lorenzo Park

Oakland Zoo

Hayward Regional Shoreline

Lake Chabot Regional Park

Niche

Zero Down

Neighborhoodscout

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.