Presented by Carol S Orth, CPA Division Chief, Tax Analysis Unit Tax Manager’s Subcommittee Meeting February, 2016 Seventh most populous county in California Fourth most racially diverse county in the United States Land area of 739 square miles and population of 2,043 per square mile Water area is 84 square miles Total area is 823 square miles 2015-16 Total assessed value net other exemptions - $237,563 million Total parcel count - 498,559 Total initial tax charge for 2015-16 - $3.4 billion (includes AV and fixed charges) Budget of over $2.7 billion 2015-16 Top Ten Taxpayers by Assessed Value 1. Pacific Gas and Electric 2. Tesla Motors, Inc 3. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals 4. Digital 720, 2nd LLC 5. Russell City Energy Company 6. AT&T 7. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, INC 8. 5616 Bay Street Investors LLC 9. PSB Northern California Industrial Portfolio LLC 10. Bayer Healthcare LLC Borders the San Francisco Bay on the west with San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, crest of the Berkeley Hills forms northeastern border with Contra Costa County, southern border with Santa Clara County, eastern border with San Joaquin County and southeastern border with Stanislaus County Hayward Fault, a major branch of the San Andreas Fault to the west, runs through the most populated areas of Alameda County and the Calaveras Fault runs through the southeastern part of the county.
On March 25, 1853, an Act of Incorporation was created and Alameda County was "born". Created from parts of Contra Costa and Santa Clara Counties, the act was signed into law by Governor Bigler on April 6, 1853.
Alameda is Spanish for ‘a place where poplar trees grow’
Original county seat was Alvarado, later moved to San Leandro where courthouse was destroyed by Hayward fault quake of 1868.
Oakland became the county seat in 1873
By 1860, there were 465 residents in the county. There were salt- makers, laborers, gardeners, master sailors, fowl raisers, doctors, nurses, and even lawyers. Cities Unincorporated • Alameda Areas • Albany • Ashland • Berkeley • Castro Valley • Dublin • Cherryland • Emeryville • Fairview • Fremont • San Lorenzo • Hayward • Sunol • Livermore • Newark • Oakland • Piedmont • Pleasanton • San Leandro • Union City
In which city is Ghiradelli Chocolate manufactured? You can stand in San Francisco while simultaneously standing in this Alameda County city. This city is the only city in the world with a natural saltwater lake wholly contained within its city boundaries. The American snow cone and popsicle were first sold in this city.
A corner of a dump site West of the former runways at Alameda Point (the former navy base) extends far enough into the San Francisco Bay that it is technically a part of the city and county of San Francisco. Alameda was originally a peninsula of Oakland. In 1902, due to the industrial growth of Alameda and the need for a more efficient shipping system, a canal was dredged between Alameda and Oakland officially making it an island city. The city is now comprised of two islands - Alameda island and Bay Farm Island. One of 12 US cities designated as a Coast Guard City Chevy’s Fresh Mex was founded in Alameda in 1981.
Phyllis Diller got her start here.
Peanut butter was invented here.
Terminus of Transcontinental Railroad. Neptune Beach ‘Coney Island of the West’ and home of the snow cone and popsicle.
Bay Farm Island Bicycle Bridge - the only pedestrian/bicycle-only drawbridge in the United States Spirits Alley, part of old Alameda Naval Base and home to award winning wines and spirits. Home to Wind River and VF Corporation
History - In 1908 a group of women protested Berkeley dumping garbage in their community. Met the drivers of the garbage wagon near the now corner of San Pablo and Buchanan. The women told them to go home, which they did! Shortly thereafter, incorporated and named town Ocean View In 1909 changed name to Albany, hometown of the mayor
Albany is the site of Golden Gate Fields, the only horse racing track in the Bay Area The Solano Avenue Stroll - In 2001, The Library of Congress's American Folklife Center in Washington, D.C. designated the festival as a "National Local Legacy
Used UC housing during the war, which reverted back to Cal and became known as Albany Village
Berkeley is a city with a small population and a big reputation. Famous around the globe as a center for academic achievement, scientific exploration, free speech and the arts.
Home of Chez Panisse, known as one of the inspirations for California cuisine
Named after 18th century English philosopher and poet – Bishop Berkeley Home to UC Berkeley, Home of 7 Nobel Prize Laureates Began the Free Speech Movement in 1960’s The element berkelium synthesized here. Named after city and campus Sather Tower, commonly known as “The Campanile” – third tallest bell and clock-tower in the world.
Home to following well known companies Nolo Press – pioneered DIY law movement Power Bar – founded and originally based Triple Rock Brewery and Ale House – America’s Oldest Original Brewpub (originally known at Roaring Rock) Noah’s Bagels founded by Noah Alper on College Ave. Peet’s Coffee founded – predates Starbucks and served as its model Fantasy Sudio and Zaentz’s film Bayer Healthcare US Biotechnology Center
Jack London Square is located in which city? After whom is it named? This airport was the departure point for the ill-fated round-the- world trip of Amelia Earhart and the take off point for the first flight between North America and Australia and the first civilian flight to Hawaii. The city where the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder was introduced. Home to the world’s longest lasting light bulb.
200 years ago, served as crossroads of two important stage routes – 1) Bay Area to Stockton and 2) Martinez to San Jose 1835 - Original land grant in area to Jose Maria Amador, a Mexican soldier 1850 – Michael Murray and Jeremiah Fallon from Ireland purchased 1000 acres from Amador 1856 – First schoolhouse in Amador-Livermore Valley built - Murray Schoolhouse 1859 –St Raymond Church built – oldest wooden church in California and includes old cemetery where members of the Donner Party Expedition are buried
Site of extensive Native American settlements Residents disposed of their clam and oyster shells in one place, which became known as Shellmound Covers an area of just over one square mile in center of Bay Area urban core Part of original land grant given to Don Luís María Peralta was granted Rancho San Antonio which included present day San Leandro, Oakland, Alameda, Piedmont, Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville Americans bought off parts of Peralta’s land. Eventually Joseph Stickney Emery settled in area and responsible for dredging of channel allowing ferries to cross between San Francisco and Oakland
First true industry was slaughtering in “Butchertown” in 1870s With arrival of railroads, became more industrialized. Incorporated in 1896 From 1920s through 1930s, known at “Rottenest City on the Pacific Coast” Grew in size due to landfill, consistent with Shellmound 95% of city in former redevelopment area Transformed predominant transport and warehouse use to a modern commercial, research and development and residential center
Ironically, due to the skewed location of the city boundary, this bridge is entirely in Oakland although the streets that it connects to at either end are in Emeryville. By arrangement with Oakland, the City of Emeryville built and maintains this bridge.)
After the Loma Prieta earthquake, Amtrak established a station in Emeryville, to become the 5th busiest in California Home to many cutting-edge biotech companies, including Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceutical research Chiron Corporation, a research and development firm specializing in biopharmaceuticals, vaccines and blood testing, was founded in Emeryville in 1981, and purchased by Novartis in 2006. Still has a campus in Emeryville Committed to promoting high-density infill development in the urban core area in order to discourage suburban sprawl on the regional fringes.
1st in the nation to receive "Platinum" status (the highest rating) under the U.S. Green Building Council's "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Neighborhood Development" (LEED-ND) pilot program. Home to First Northern California IKEA LeapFrog Global Headquarters Clif Bar Center for Investigative Reporting Jamba Juice Pixar Peet’s Coffee and Tea Berkeley Research Group
1797 – First settled by Spaniard Father Fermin de Lasuen at Mission San Jose Named after John C Fremont, The Great Pathfinder 1853 - Washington Township was established 1912 to 1916 – Fremont’s Niles district became the earliest home to California's motion picture industry, most famous for Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Tramp’ 1972 - Quarter Pounder created by Al Bernadin Mission Peak is prominent park. At top can see Mount Hamilton, Santa Cruz Mtns, Mt. Tamalpais, Mt. Diablo and the Sierras
Apple’s first Mac computer manufacturing plant was located in Fremont By 1999, approximately 750 high tech companies opened their offices, headquarters or production facilities in Fremont 2010 – Tesla Motors purchased former NUMMI plant. Home to Model S production facility Home to Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. headquarters Major manufacturing and development plant for Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Former Home to Solyndra and NUMMI Believed to be named after William Dutton Hayward, who originally squatted on the land owned by Guillermo Castro. Hayward eventually bought the land from Castro. Some historians think Hayward was named after Alvinza Hayward, a gold rush millionaire. Variations of the name Hayward used over time, before settling on the name Hayward 1868 earthquake on the Hayward fault devastated the city Until 1980s, industry dominated by now defunct food canning and salt production industries By 1990, one of the top 15 most ethnically-diverse communities in the nation
Companies headquartered in Hayward: Berkeley Farms - California's oldest continuous milk processor, owned by Dean Foods, but headquartered in Hayward All Pro Wrestling Training facility located in Hayward Mountain Mike’s Pizza The Gillig Corporation - an American manufacturer of heavy-duty low- floor transit buses. Prior to 1993, Gillig also made school buses.
In which city are Red Vines manufactured? During the Roaring Twenties, this city was known as the “City of Millionaires” because there were more millionaires per square mile than in any city in the United States. Disney incorporated ideas from this storybook theme park into Disneyland.
Probably oldest wine region in California City founded in 1869 Pre-Prohibition, around 70 wineries. Current wineries include: Concannon - California Historical Landmark #641 Cresta Blanca Winery (Sparkling Cellars) - California Historical Landmark #586 Wente -California Historical Landmark #957 Home to Lawrence Livermore National Lab and Sandia National Lab Has an element on the periodic table Discovery Toys headquarters Home to Little League World Series, Intermediate Division
Location of San Francisco Premium Outlets
Livermore Rodeo – second weekend in June
In effort to avoid becoming part of Fremont metropolis, Newark Chamber of Commerce began own movement. Incorporated in September, 1955 Named after Newark Castle, Port Glasgow in Scotland by J. Barr Robertson. Neato Robotics headquarters Cargill Salt operates a large salt refinery, cleans solar salt produced in salt evaporation ponds in San Francisco Bay
Events that helped Alameda County grow. Which ice cream shop in Oakland was featured in a Pixar movie? Hint: Movie is Up
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Originally the home to the Huchiun tribe, part of Ohlones Claimed for King of Spain in 1772 Land grant to Luis María Peralta for his Rancho San Antonio. Originally named Encinal (oak grove). Squatters and land speculators came in during the Gold Rush in area initially called Contra Costa (opposite shore) Incorporated as a town in 1852 and changed name to Oakland Re-Incorporated as a city in 1854 Railroads and the port helped the city to grow rapidly Grew substantially after San Francisco earthquake
Due to numerous automotive manufacturing plants, became known as the Detroit of the West (1920s) First experimental transcontinental airmail through-flight finished its journey in Oakland on August 9, 1920 In 1926, Dr Watts opened a 22 bed hospital for in-patient care for residents of African descent. Also trained African-American nurses. East Bay area had many war-based industries during WWII The medical system devised for shipyard workers became the basis for the giant Kaiser Permanente HMO
During the 1960s, home to an innovative funk music scene. Larry Graham, is credited with the creation of the influential slap and pop sound, still widely used by bassists in many musical idioms today Home to radical movement of 1960s and 70s. Late 1980s birthplace or home at one time of several rap acts During mid-1990s, experienced an improved economy compared to previous decades Two disasters with negative impact on Oakland – Berkeley Hills firestorm of 1991 – worst in urban American history and the Loma Prieta earthquake Largest city in County of Alameda and County seat. Ranked No. 8 on Lonely Planet's roster of Top Ten U.S. Travel Destinations for 2015. Only California city with 3 major league sports teams. Rocky Road ice cream created in Oakland in 1929 Famous notables Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Holdings founded in 1928 Bruce Lee got his start fighting and teaching in Oakland Tom Hanks graduated from Skyline High School Clint Eastwood graduated from Oakland Tech High School in 1949
Oakland’s Fentons Creamery made a cameo in the Pixar movie “Up”. Both its director and producer are Oakland residents and Fentons fans Home to Clorox Ask.com Cost Plus World Market Haagen Dazs (owned by Nestle) Kaiser Permanente Pandora Radio Pet Food Express
Home of the very first Mai Tai The Wave was invented at the Oakland Coliseum The AT-ATs in “The Empire Strikes Back” were inspired by the huge four-legged cranes at the Port of Oakland.
Named after the region of Piedmont in Italy, and literally means foothill Surrounded by the City of Oakland – in fact, many homes are half in Piedmont and half in Oakland In the 1880s there were only seven houses where the City of Piedmont is now located The biggest house was painted yellow and could be seen from San Francisco Bay First and only factory was the Ladies Silk Culture Society. Closed in 1895. Many well known people did or currently live in Piedmont
Originally home to the Ohlone Like other cities, influenced by the Spanish and the gold rush In the 1850s, the town was called "The Most Desperate Town in the West" and was ruled by bandits and desperados, including Joaquin Murrieta, who was the inspiration behind Zorro. Pleasanton Fairgrounds Racetrack at the Alameda County Fairgrounds is the oldest horse racing track of its kind in the United States. Pleasanton ranked #31 on Money’s annual list of the Best Places to Live, and #9 on the publication’s list of the Top Earning Towns in the nation.
Some of the key companies located in Pleasanton Safeway Goodguys Rod & Custom Association - the World's largest member based Hot Rod Association Shaklee Corporation - an American manufacturer and distributor of natural nutrition supplements, weight-management products, beauty products, and household products. Thoratec Corporation is an United States-based company that develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary medical devices used for mechanical circulatory support for the treatment of heart-failure patients worldwide. It is a global leader in mechanical circulatory support devices, particularly in ventricular assist devices(VADs).[ Former headquarters for E-Loan, PeopleSoft (bought by Oracle)
Like the rest of Alameda County, history influenced by Ohlone, missions and Spanish inhabitants Jose Joaquin Estudillo was first Spanish settler and considered the founder of San Leandro With the gold rush, came squatters. Parts of Rancho San Leandro were sold to these squatters. San Leandro known for agriculture, but best know for cherries and dubbed “The Cherry City”. Elected county seat for Alameda County in 1854. In 1872 incorporated as a city Caterpillar Tractor Company was formed in 1925, the combination of two competing tractor companies – Best originating in San Leandro and Holt of Stockton Other companies located in San Leandro include Ghirardelli Chocolate Company moved to San Leandro in 1967 OSIsoft - manufacturer of application software for real-time data infrastructure solutions, TriNet – cloud-based professional employer organization Drake’s Brewing Company Former headquarters of Otis Spunkmeyer Incorporated in 1959 to avoid being annexed into Newark, Hayward or Fremont. Was the combination of the towns of Alvarado and Decoto and named it Union City, the original name of Alvarado The first sugar beet factory in the United States was located in Union City, called the California Beet Sugar Company Home to Red Vines Licorice EntirelyPets.com, an online pet supply store Ariat International – horse riding boots manufacturer and related apparel Governed by the County of Alameda and policed by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and California Highway Patrol Named after the Oregon Ash Tree Formerly San Leandro South Developed in the 1940s Fifth most populous unincorporated area in California and 23rd in the United States Named after Don Guillermo Castro, a soldier in the Mexican army and a rancher. First known for chicken ranches Historically, Castro Valley Boulevard was part of the first transcontinental highway system, the Lincoln Highway, aka “The Main Street Across America” Governed by the County of Alameda and policed by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and California Highway Patrol
Formerly Hayward North Originally an area covered in cherry trees Area originally owned by William Meek, often called the first called the first farmer of Alameda County Descendants subdivided. Original subdivision included homes with small orchards or chicken farms Small orchards and chicken farms gave way to homes Governed by the County of Alameda and policed by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and California Highway Patrol
Serviced by Fairview Fire District since 1938 Lone Tree Cemetary located in the District, and is the burial site of William Dutton Hayward, the namesake of Hayward
Governed by the County of Alameda and policed by the Alameda the Alameda County Sheriff's Office Originally part of land grant to Castro and Estudillo As in other areas, the Gold Rush brought squatters and came to be known as ‘Squatterville” Formerly farmland, production of fruit and flowers One of the nation's first planned communities –In 1944, under contract to the U.S. Navy, David D. Bohannon's Greenwood Company began construction of San Lorenzo Village, a tract of two- and three-bedroom homes for workers in the East Bay's war industries. Small, rural town, located along Niles Canyon and well known for its historic railroad system, Niles Canyon Railway Excursions with both steam and diesel locomotives along a well- preserved portion of the First Transcontinental Railroad Named in honor of Antonio Suñol, part owner of the historical Rancho Valle de San Jose that included Sunol 1981 - Bosco the dog elected as mayor.