OAKLEY, CALIFORNIA

'Oakley' is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 25,619 at the 2000 census. However, there have been significant population increases since the census was taken. Oakley is part of the East Contra Costa Bicycle Plan, which has existing facilities in Oakley as well as plans for further expansion.^[1]

Contents

Geography and environment

Demographics

History

Education

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

"Oakley Orphans"

References

External links

Geography and environment

The Oakley areas offers access to the Delta de Anza Regional Trail.^[2]
Sound levels in Oakley are dominated by roadway noise, especially from vehicle traffic on California State Route 4. While sound levels in much of Oakley are in the generally acceptable range of 55 to 60 CNEL, levels within 300 feet of Route 4 are as high as 70 to 74 CNEL.^[3]

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,619 people, 7,832 households, and 6,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 796.4/km² (2,063.2/mi²). There were 7,946 housing units at an average density of 247.0/km² (639.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.50% White, 3.42% Black or African American, 0.89% Native American, 2.86% Asian, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 10.58% from other races, and 6.46% from two or more races. 24.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,832 households out of which 52.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. 13.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.26 and the average family size was 3.56.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $65,589, and the median income for a family was $68,888. Males had a median income of $49,883 versus $34,659 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,895. About 2.8% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

History

The City of Oakley, incorporated in 1999, came into being through an expression of community spirit-a spirit that has been a part of Oakley since its mid-nineteenth century origins. When Samuel and Sarah Sellers arrived in 1860, the land that would become Oakley was said to be hospitable only to jackrabbits and sagebrush, though today there is archeological evidence that indigenous people were the first inhabitants of the area. The sandy soil and lack of obvious natural resources did not dampen the determination of early settlers. They set up housekeeping in the midst of the chaparral and live oak, planted orchards, and went about building a town that boasted its first school in 1862, thanks to the work of Sarah Sellers. Within twenty-five years people like James O'Hara, Randolph Marsh, and Alden Norcross were dedicating their energies to creating a full-fledged town, buying and donating land on which businesses, schools, and churches were constructed. Marsh's original purchase of twelve sandy acres became Oakley Township and the streets, Main, Acme, Ruby, Star, and Home, so christened by Marsh, recall his name today. As the nineteenth century was about to become the twentieth, Oakley had deeded right of way to the Santa Fe railroad in exchange for the establishment of a depot and a sidetrack, dedicated its post office, and planted its first cash crop: almonds.
The twentieth century brought more visionary and public-spirited people to Oakley-families who built businesses and provided services to the growing community. Oakley's first hotel, library, hardware and feed store, women's club, and vineyards all came into being between 1910 and 1915. The Roaring Twenties saw Oakley's first bank open for business, the installation of streetlights, a fire that destroyed most of the town, and north of town a breech in the levee that claimed 2? acres of farmland. The land was never reclaimed from the river and was then called, as it is now, Big Break. The Oakley spirit during the thirties and forties expressed itself in the unification of schools in the area, the building of a new Oakley School, the formation of a citizen's committee for better streets, natural gas, dial telephones, street signs, and the formation of a sewer district. As the 1950's loomed, Oakley residents could read their hometown news in the Oakley Observer, had authorized the Oakley Sanitary District to borrow $30,000 for sewer line construction, and soon had its own Chamber of Commerce. The spirit of determination and generosity that marked Oakley origins is present today as this young city plans and works for the betterment of its community, just as its earliest settlers did.

Education

The city is mainly served by Oakley Unified Elementary School District (K-8) and the Liberty Union High School District.
Note: Since 1999, those students living in Oakley previously attending Liberty High School in Brentwood, would be enrolled in Freedom High School.

Elementary Schools

:
★ Oakley Elementary School
:
★ Gehringer Elementary School
:
★ Laurel Elementary School
:
★ Vintage Parkway Elementary School
:
★ Iron House Elementary School
:
★ Almond Grove Elementary School is being constructed on Carpenter Road between Brown and Empire. It is scheduled to open for the 2007-2008 school year.

Middle Schools

:
★ O'Hara Park Middle School
:
★ Delta Vista Middle School
:
★ A third middle school is proposed for the area along the south side of Brownstone Road. If the project ensues, it is proposed to be named R.C. Marsh Middle School.

High Schools

:
★ Freedom High School

"Oakley Orphans"

A small group of Oakley citizens living west of Empire Avenue, are served by the Antioch Unified School District and forced to attend school in Antioch, California. They are colloquially known as "Oakley Orphans." Following the incorporation of the city in 1999, steps were taken to ensure that Oakley residents would no longer be forced to attend Antioch schools. However, an agreement was never met and the Antioch Unified School District has begun construction on Orchard Park School, a K-8 school run by the Antioch Unified School District, but located in Oakley. This school will open in September 2007 to serve K-4 "Oakley Orphans", and will eventually reach it's full capacity of K-8.

References

1. East Contra Costa County Bicycle Facilitees
2. Delta de Anza Regional Trail reference
3. ''Contra Costa County Noise Element of the General Plan, Earth Metrics Inc. in association with Contra Costa County (1975)

External links

★ City of Oakley website

★ Oakley Local News (Oakley Press)