Pinole, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Pinole, California | native_name =  | settlement_type = City | nickname = | motto = {{force singular}} Honoring the past, embracing the future | image_skyline = DowntownPinole (cropped).jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Downtown Pinole | image_flag = Flag of Pinole, California.gif | image_seal = Seal of Pinole, California.png | seal_size = 135px | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 11 | mapframe-point = none | pushpin_map = USA | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States | pushpin_relief = 1 | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|California}} | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Contra Costa | government_type = Council–manager | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Cameron Sasai<ref name="COP">{{cite web | title = City Council | publisher = City of Pinole | url = https://www.pinole.gov/city-government/city-council/city-council-members/ | access-date = May 5, 2025}}</ref> | leader_title1 = Mayor Pro Tem | leader_name1 = Anthony Tave<ref name="COP"/> | leader_title2 = City council | leader_name2 = {{Collapsible list | title = City Council<ref name="COP"/> | title_style = | frame_style = border:none; padding: 0; | list_style = text-align:left; | 1 = Norma Martinez-Rubin | 2 = Devin T. Murphy | 3 = Maureen Toms }} | leader_title3 = State Legislature | leader_name3 = Sen. {{Representative|casd|7|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://senate.ca.gov/senators | title = Senators | access-date = October 11, 2025| publisher=State of California}}</ref><br/> Asm. {{Representative|caad|14|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers | title = Members Assembly | access-date = October 11, 2025 | publisher = State of California}}</ref> | leader_title4 = U. S. Congress | leader_name4 = {{Representative|cacd|8|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|8|access-date=October 11, 2025}}</ref> | established_title = Incorporated | established_date = June 25, 1903<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc |title = California Cities by Incorporation Date |format = Word |publisher = California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions |access-date = March 24, 2013 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130221091414/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc |archive-date = February 21, 2013 }}</ref>  | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 4, 2025}}</ref> | area_total_sq_mi = 11.76 | area_land_sq_mi = 5.10 | area_water_sq_mi = 6.66 | area_total_km2 = 30.46 | area_land_km2 = 13.22 | area_water_km2 = 17.24 | area_water_percent = 56.6 | area_note = | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | population_as_of = 2020 | population_note = | population_total = 19022 | population_density_sq_mi = | population_density_km2 = 1456.31 | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_urban = | pop_est_as_of = | pop_est_footnotes = | population_est = | timezone = PST | utc_offset = -8 | timezone_DST = PDT | utc_offset_DST = -7 | coordinates = {{coord|38|00|16|N|122|17|28|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}} | elevation_m = 6.4 | elevation_ft = 23 | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 94564 | website = {{URL|www.ci.pinole.ca.us}} | area_codes = 510, 341 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 06-57288 | blank1_name = GNIS feature IDs | blank1_info = {{GNIS4|277576}}, {{GNIS4|2411428}} | footnotes = | name = }}

'''Pinole''' (Spanish for "cornmeal") is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. Its population was 19,022<ref name=census_quickfacts>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Pinole city, California |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/pinolecitycalifornia/PST045222 |access-date=July 27, 2023 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref> at the 2020 census.

==History== thumb|left|Street scene in Pinole, {{Circa|1909}}

The Huchiun tribe lived in the region.<ref>[http://www.pinolehistoricalsociety.org/historyofpinole.htm#:~:text=The%20Pinole%20region%20was%20the,an%20exploration%20through%20Contra%20Costa. History of Pinole - Pinole Historical Society]</ref> In 1823, Ygnacio Martínez, commandant of the Presidio of San Francisco, received a land grant of Rancho El Pinole from the Mexican government. Martinez built a ''hacienda'' in Pinole Valley; this is land encompassed by Pinole Valley Park. During the 1850s, Bernardo Fernandez, a Portuguese immigrant, started a trading facility on the shores of San Pablo Bay. He built Fernandez Mansion, a historic building that still stands today at the end of Tennent Avenue. From these early beginnings, a small but thriving community developed into the city of Pinole.

The settlement's growth was stimulated by construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1878 and the establishment of the California Powder Works in nearby Hercules. During this period, the city had an active waterfront and was a regional hub of commerce and banking. The first post office opened in 1878 when the railroad reached the community.<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|681}}</ref> The City of Pinole was incorporated in 1903.<ref name=CGN />

During the post-World War II boom, Pinole and the surrounding area grew rapidly. Construction of Interstate 80 in 1958 stimulated developers to build new housing to satisfy demand, and the town evolved as a suburban bedroom community within the San Francisco/Oakland commuter belt. Much of its original industry was displaced during this time, and the town became predominantly residential.

Today, the town is locally known for its "big-box store" shopping district along Fitzgerald Drive, and Pinole Vista Shopping Center, which is contiguous with Richmond's Hilltop area. The downtown area still retains much of its turn-of-the-century building stock. The city's development agency is working to preserve this historic area as a tourist and community destination.

==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|11.8|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|6.7|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} (56.6%) are covered by water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/> The city of Pinole has habitat areas that support the endangered species Santa Cruz tarweed on the California coastal prairie ecosystem. A colony of this rare plant was discovered during preparation of an environmental impact report for a proposed shopping center on the east side of I-80 in the late 1980s. Subsequently, a plan was developed by the city to conduct replanting of this tarweed on the slopes within the right-of-way of the interstate. Also running through the city is Pinole Creek.

==Demographics== {{US Census population | align = right | 1890 = 340 | 1910 = 798 | 1920 = 967 | 1930 = 781 | 1940 = 934 | 1950 = 1147 | 1960 = 6064 | 1970 = 13266 | 1980 = 14253 | 1990 = 17460 | 2000 = 19039 | 2010 = 18390 | 2020 = 19022 | estyear = | estimate = | estref = | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref> | align-fn = center }}

===2020 census===

As of the 2020 census, Pinole had a population of 19,022. The population density was {{convert|3,726.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The median age was 43.8 years. The age distribution was 17.9% under the age of 18, 7.5% aged 18 to 24, 26.0% aged 25 to 44, 27.3% aged 45 to 64, and 21.4% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.6 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A57288&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 18, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

The census reported that 99.2% of the population lived in households, 0.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.5% were institutionalized. In addition, 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A57288&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 18, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 6,860 households in Pinole, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.2% were married-couple households, 6.2% were cohabiting couple households, 15.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75. There were 4,879 families (71.1% of all households).<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref name="Census2020PL"/>

There were 7,106 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,392.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 6,860 (96.5%) were occupied. Of occupied housing units, 71.0% were owner-occupied and 29.0% were renter-occupied. Of all housing units, 3.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref name="Census2020PL"/>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A57288&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 18, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 6,267 || 32.9% |- | Black or African American || 2,099 || 11.0% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 216 || 1.1% |- | Asian || 4,887 || 25.7% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 83 || 0.4% |- | Some other race || 2,857 || 15.0% |- | Two or more races || 2,613 || 13.7% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 5,093 || 26.8% |}

===2023 American Community Survey estimates===

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 29.8% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 63.4% spoke only English at home, 14.8% spoke Spanish, 4.0% spoke other Indo-European languages, 16.2% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 1.6% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 89.8% were high school graduates and 38.7% had a bachelor's degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pinole city, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSCP5Y2023.CP02?g=1600000US0657288 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref>

The median household income was $120,833, and the per capita income was $52,589. About 4.0% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pinole city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0657288 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref> ==Arts and culture== The Pinole Community Players have been performing in Pinole since 1986.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pinole Community Players - History: The First Five Years|url=http://pinoleplayers.org/Info/ourHistory-index.shtml|website=pinoleplayers.org|access-date=July 9, 2017}}</ref>

==Government== On February 10, 2019, Pinole has 11,347 registered voters. Of those, 56.1% are registered Democrats, 13.4% are registered Republicans, and 26.4% have declined to state a political party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/ror-odd-year-2019/politicalsub.pdf|title=CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – February 10, 2019|website=ca.gov|access-date=March 12, 2019}}</ref>

==Notable people== * Billie Joe Armstrong (b. 1972) and Mike Dirnt of Green Day attended Pinole Valley High School. * Luke Dennison (b. 1996), professional soccer player and FAI Cup winner with Irish club Drogheda United, is from Pinole and graduated from Pinole Valley High School. * Travis Feeney (b. 1992), professional football player, went to Pinole Valley High School. * Bernardo Fernandez (1828 – 1912), was an early leader in the town's cattle industry. * Gary Holt (b. 1964), member of the thrash metal band Exodus, lives in Pinole. * Ray Kremer (1893–1965), former professional baseball player, was born in Oakland, California, and retired in Pinole.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ray-kremer/ |title=Ray Kremer at the Society for American Baseball Research |work=sabr.org |access-date=July 9, 2023 }}</ref> * Brad Lackey (b. 1953) was the 1982 Motocross World Champion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1972/12/1/profile-brad-lackey |title=Profile: Brad Lackey |work=Cycle World |access-date=June 27, 2023 |last1=Remitz |first1=Ed |date=December 1, 1972 }}</ref> * Gino Torretta (b. 1970), the 1992 Heisman Trophy winner, attended Pinole Valley High School.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ToreGi00.htm |title=Gino Torretta NFL statistics |work=pro-football-reference.com |access-date=July 9, 2023 }}</ref> * Don Kulick (b.1960) anthropologist and linguist notable for documenting the tayap language attended Pinole Valley High School.

==See also== {{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area}} * Amtrak California

==References== {{reflist}} *{{gnis|277576}}

==External links== {{Wikivoyage|Pinole}} * {{Official website}}

{{Geographic Location |Center = Pinole |North = |Northeast = Hercules |East = Martinez |Southeast = |South = El Sobrante |Southwest = Richmond |West = Tara Hills |Northwest = San Pablo Bay }}

Category:Pinole, California Category:Cities in Contra Costa County, California Category:San Pablo Bay Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1903 Category:1903 establishments in California Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Populated coastal places in California