Our District

A Tradition of Industry

A rich history is embedded within the breathtaking natural beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area’s coastal landscape. Owing to the district’s extensive waterfront on the San Francisco bay, the district has long been a site for heavy industry, making up a vital resource to the greater Bay Area as a key industrial base. During the mid-20th century, the city of Richmond sprung up seemingly overnight in response to Henry Kaiser’s plan to build a shipyard in the deep-water port. Tens of thousands of women and minorities did their part by taking on the greatly need industrial jobs of shipbuilding and tank assembly, making Richmond one of our nation’s most productive and influential war manufacturers. After the ongoing efforts made by Rep. Miller and local political and civic leaders, the Rosie the Riveter Memorial in Richmond, CA is now a national historical park.

This tradition of blue collar industrialism in the district continues today, including in a number of still active oil refineries, particularly Chevron in Richmond, and chemical plants such as Dow Chemical and a substantial integrated steel plant, USS-POSCO Industries located in Pittsburg. This key industrial base provides an invaluable asset to the entire Bay Area region.

Natural Beauty and Preservation of Open Spaces

The 11^th district is home to Mount Diablo State Park , one of the largest and most ecologically diverse parks in California. Since its opening in the 1960s, the park has expanded across over 1100,000 acres of protected land and is the home to over 6,300 native plants and wildlife. With mountainous peaks reaching an altitude of almost 4,000 feet and panoramic views that look out onto the San Francisco Bay and Sierra Nevada, the Mount Diablo region remains a popular destination amongst hikers and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.

The district is also is nestled alongside the East Bay Regional Park District, the largest regional park agency in the United States, with nearly 108,000 acres of parklands spread across 65 regional parks and over 1,100 miles of trails in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Annually, the park’s 14 million visitors from throughout the Bay Area and beyond take advantage of the vast and diverse district parklands and trails.

In an effort to protect this natural beauty, local voters have passed numerous measures to set limits on growth and development. The preservation of these open spaces ensures a viable habitat for wildlife that enhances the region's quality of life and the natural beauty that makes the Bay Area such a desirable place to live.

Demographics

Today the district includes some of the most ethnically diverse towns and cities in the country, with large populations of African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Filipinos, bringing culture and vitality to growing communities.  The district is served by three community colleges Diablo Valley, Los Medanos, and Contra Costa  as well as Saint Mary's College of California, a four year private university in Moraga, CA . Each of these institutions provides students of all backgrounds the opportunity to pursue a higher education at an affordable cost.

Local Links:

• Contra Costa County
• City of Antioch
• City of Clayton
• City of Concord
• Town of Danville
• City of El Cerrito
• City of Lafayette
• City of Martinez
• Town of Moraga
• City of Orinda
• City of Pittsburg
• City of Pleasant Hill
• City of Richmond
• City of San Pablo
• City of San Ramon
• City of Walnut Creek

Rosie the Riveter Memorial
East Bay Park District
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Mt. Diablo State Park