View source for Alameda, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See the table at Template:Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of their usage. -->| name               = Alameda, California
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
<!-- Images and maps ------>
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  | image1                 = St. Joseph's Basilica (Alameda, CA) (cropped).JPG
  | alt1                   = Basilica of St. Joseph
  | caption1               = [[Basilica of St. Joseph, Alameda|Basilica of St. Joseph]]
  | image2                 = Alameda City Hall (Alameda, CA) 2.JPG
  | alt2                   = Alameda City Hall
  | caption2               = Alameda City Hall
  | image3                 = Alameda High School (cropped).JPG
  | alt3                   = Alameda High School
  | caption3               = [[Alameda High School]]
  | image4                 = Alameda_Theater_(50842809421).jpg
  | alt4                   = Alameda Theatre
  | caption4               = [[Alameda Theatre (Alameda)|Alameda Theatre]]
  }}
| image_flag         = Flag of Alameda, California.svg
| flag_border        = no
| image_seal         = Seal of Alameda, California.svg
| nickname           = The Island City<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofalamedaca.gov/City-Hall/Administration|title=The Island City|access-date=July 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726174125/http://www.cityofalamedaca.gov/City-Hall/Administration|archive-date=July 26, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| motto              = ''Prosperita terra mari que''<br>("Prosperity from the land and the sea")<ref>{{cite web|url=https://alamedacommunityfund.org/brief-history-of-alameda/|title=A Brief History of Alameda|publisher=Alameda Community Fund|access-date=February 17, 2025}}</ref>{{force singular}}
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<!-- Location ------------->| coordinates        = {{coord|37|45|22|N|122|16|28|W|region:US-CA_type:city(74000)|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[California]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Alameda County, California|Alameda]]
<!-- History -------------->| established_title  = Founded<br />[[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = June 6, 1853<br />April 19, 1854
<!-- Government ----------->| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft<ref>{{Cite web
 |url = https://www.alamedaca.gov/GOVERNMENT/Elected-Officials/Mayor-Ezzy-Ashcraft
 |title = Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft
 |publisher = City of Alameda
 |access-date = February 12, 2019}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = [[California's 7th State Senate district|State senator]]
| leader_name1       = {{Representative|casd|7|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators
 |title=Senators
 |access-date=March 18, 2013
|publisher=State of California}}</ref>
| 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=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 22.98
| area_land_sq_mi    = 10.45
| area_water_sq_mi   = 12.53
| area_water_percent = 53.79
| area_total_km2     = 59.52
| area_land_km2      = 27.06
| area_water_km2     = 32.45
<!-- Elevation ------------>| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|277468|Alameda}}</ref>
| elevation_ft       = 33
<!-- Population ----------->| population_total   = 78280<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web |title=Alameda city, California |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/alamedacitycalifornia/POP010220#POP010220 |access-date=23 February 2025}}</ref>
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_sq_mi = 7491.63
| population_density_km2 = 2892.62
| population_footnotes = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| population_demonym = Alamedan
<!-- Time zones ----------->| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action
 | title = ZIP Code(tm) Lookup
 | publisher = [[United States Postal Service]]
 | access-date = November 24, 2014}}</ref>
| postal_code        = 94501–94502
| area_code          = [[Area codes 510 and 341|510, 341]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| website            = {{URL|alamedaca.gov}}
| leader_title2      = [[California's 18th State Assembly district|Assemblymember]]
| leader_name2       = {{Representative|caad|18|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers
 |title=Members Assembly
 |access-date=March 18, 2013
|publisher=State of California}}</ref>
| leader_title3      = [[California's 12th congressional district|U. S. rep.]]
| leader_name3       = {{Representative|cacd|12|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|12|access-date=March 12, 2013}}</ref>
<!-- Area ----------------->| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
| utc_offset         = −8
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −7
<!-- Codes ---------------->| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|00562}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|277468}}, {{GNIS 4|2409669}}
}}

'''Alameda''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|l|ə|'|m|i:|d|ə|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-Alameda.wav}} {{respell|AL|ə|MEE|də}}; {{IPA|es|alaˈmeða|lang}}; Spanish for "[[Avenue (landscape)|tree-lined path]]") is a city in [[Alameda County, California]], United States, located in the [[East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|East Bay]] region of the [[Bay Area]]. The city is built on an informal archipelago in [[San Francisco Bay]], consisting of [[Alameda (island)|Alameda Island]], [[Bay Farm Island, Alameda, California|Bay Farm Island]] and [[Coast Guard Island]], along with other smaller islands. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city's population was 78,280.<ref name="Census 2020" />

==History==

=== Ohlone era ===
Alameda originally occupied a [[peninsula]] connected to [[Oakland, California|Oakland]].<ref>{{cite web |date=December 18, 2013 |title=Days Gone By: In 1902, 'island city' Alameda celebrates its new tidal canal |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2013/12/18/days-gone-by-in-1902-island-city-alameda-celebrates-its-new-tidal-canal}}</ref> The area was low-lying and marshy, while higher ground was part of one of the largest coastal oak forests in the world. A local band of the [[Ohlone]] tribe inhabited the region for more than 3,000 years. They were present at the time of the arrival of the Spanish in the late 18th century. The Ohlone created numerous oyster shell mounds across the peninsula, some as large as 14 feet tall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=alamedapost |date=2022-02-01 |title=Alameda's First Inhabitants |url=https://alamedapost.com/history/alamedas-first-inhabitants/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Alameda Post |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Spanish and Mexican eras===
[[File:Peralta Family.jpg|thumb|Alameda and much of the [[East Bay]] was part of [[Rancho San Antonio (Peralta)|Rancho San Antonio]], granted to the [[Luís María Peralta|Peralta family]] in 1820.|left]]
Spanish colonists called the area ''Encinal'', meaning "forest of evergreen oak".<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ| title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n118 119]}}</ref> What is now Alameda, and much of the East Bay was included in the vast [[Rancho San Antonio (Peralta)|Rancho San Antonio]] granted to Don [[Luis María Peralta]] by the Spanish king who claimed California. The grant was later confirmed by the [[Mexico|Republic of Mexico]] after its independence in 1821 from Spain. Over time, the place became known as Bolsa de Encinal or Encinal de San Antonio.<ref name="CGN">{{California's Geographic Names|592}}</ref>

===Early California era===
[[File:Joseph Lee painting Alameda Shore (1868).jpg|thumb|left|The ''Alameda Shore'', painted by Joseph Lee {{Circa|1868}}]]
The city of Alameda was founded on June 6, 1853, following the [[Mexican–American War|Mexican–American War of 1848]] and the subsequent acquisition of California by the U.S.

The name ''Alameda'' is Spanish for "grove of poplar trees" or "tree-lined avenue"<ref>{{cite web |title=alameda – Spanish-English Translation and Pronunciation |url=http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dict_en_es/spanish/alameda;_ylt=AmS17PW60RO5ki1NGlCOvxP2s8sF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821203928/https://education.yahoo.com/reference/dict_en_es/spanish/alameda |archive-date=August 21, 2008 |access-date=February 15, 2010 |work=Yahoo! Education |publisher=Yahoo!}}</ref> and was chosen in 1853 as city's official name by popular vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Brief History of Alameda |url=http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/community/history_01.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202202341/http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/community/history_01.html |archive-date=February 2, 2010 |access-date=February 15, 2010 |publisher=City of Alameda, California}}</ref>

At the time, Alameda comprised three small settlements:

* '''Alameda''' — a village at Encinal and High streets
* '''Hibbardsville''' — located at the North Shore ferry and shipping terminal, and
* [[Woodstock, Alameda, California|'''Woodstock''']] — on the west near the ferry piers of the [[South Pacific Coast Railroad|South Pacific Coast]] and the [[Central Pacific Railroad|Central Pacific]] Railroads. Eventually, the Central Pacific's ferry pier became the [[Alameda Mole]].

The borders of Alameda were expanded to include the entire island in 1872, incorporating Woodstock into Alameda.<ref name="CGN" />

In his autobiography, writer [[Mark Twain]] described Alameda as "The Garden of California."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Twain|first1=Mark|title=Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1: The Complete and Authoritative Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0tQjH8yzrdcC&pg=PA254|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-94699-6|page=254|date=November 15, 2010}}</ref> 
[[File:FMIB 44591 Shipyards of Alaska Packing Ass'n at Alameda, California.jpeg|thumb|left|Alameda shipyards at the turn of the 20th century]]
The first post office opened in 1854.<ref name=CGN /> The first school, Schermerhorn School, was opened a year later in 1855 (eventually renamed as Lincoln School). The [[San Francisco and Alameda Railroad]] opened the Encinal station in 1864.<ref name=CGN /> The early formation of the [[Park Street Historic Commercial District]] (or downtown) was centered near the train lines.<ref name="nrhpdoc">{{cite web |author= |date= |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Park Street Historic Commercial District |url={{NRHP url|id=82002154}} |accessdate=September 17, 2023 |publisher=[[National Park Service]]}} With {{NRHP url|id=82002154|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}</ref> Encinal's own post office opened in 1876, was renamed West End in 1877, and closed in 1891.<ref name=CGN />

On September 6, 1869, the [[Alameda Terminal]] made history; it was the site of the arrival of the first train via the [[First transcontinental railroad]] to reach the shores of [[San Francisco Bay]],<ref name="daily Alta ca">{{Cite web|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=DAC18690907.2.6&srpos=66&e=01-06-1869-31-12-1869--en--20--61--txt-txIN-western+pacific-------1|title=The first through train on the Western Pacific Road|publisher=Daily Alta California September 7, 1869 – California Digital Newspaper Collection|website=cdnc.ucr.edu|access-date=June 20, 2018}}</ref> marking the first coast to coast transcontinental railroad in North America.

The [[Croll Building]], on the corner of Webster Street and Central Avenue, was the site of Croll's Gardens and Hotel, used as training quarters for some of the most popular fighters in boxing from 1883 to 1914.<ref>{{cite web |title=CROLL BUILDING |url=http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/Detail/954 |website=California State Park Office of Historic Preservation |publisher=State of California |access-date=June 3, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> [[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]] and several other champions all stayed and trained here.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rego |first1=Nilda |title=Days Gone By: John Croll made Alameda a playground for fun lovers |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2011/10/21/days-gone-by-john-croll-made-alameda-a-playground-for-fun-lovers/ |access-date=June 3, 2020 |work=The Mercury News |publisher=[[Bay Area News Group]] |date=October 21, 2011}}</ref>

The need for expanded shipping facilities and increased flow of current through the [[estuary]] led to the dredging of a tidal canal through the marshland between Oakland and Alameda. Construction started in 1874, but it was not completed until 1902, resulting in Alameda becoming an island.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2013/12/18/days-gone-by-in-1902-island-city-alameda-celebrates-its-new-tidal-canal/|title=Days Gone By: In 1902, 'island city' Alameda celebrates its new tidal canal|work=San Jose Mercury News|date=December 18, 2013|last=Rego|first=Nilda}}</ref>

===Modern era===
[[File:Bathing Pavilion, Neptune Beach, Alameda, California (1917).jpg|thumb|left|[[Neptune Beach (California)|Neptune Beach]], established in 1917]]
In 1917, a private entertainment park called [[Neptune Beach, California|Neptune Beach]] was built in the area now known as Crab Cove, which became a major recreation destination in the 1920s and 1930s. It was sometimes referred to as the "Coney Island of the West".<ref>{{cite news|title=Alameda Museum Quarterly Newsletter |url=http://www.alamedamuseum.org/Quarterly/alamedamuseumQ405.pdf |page=8 |access-date=December 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229174221/https://www.alamedamuseum.org/Quarterly/alamedamuseumQ405.pdf |archive-date=February 29, 2008 }}</ref> The [[popsicle (brand)|popsicle]] was first sold to the public at Neptune Beach in 1923.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pope |first=Shelby |date=2015-07-22 |title=How An 11-Year-Old Boy Invented The Popsicle |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/07/22/425294957/how-an-11-year-old-boy-invented-the-popsicle |access-date=2025-05-14 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref> The park closed down in 1939.

The [[Alameda Works Shipyard]] was one of the largest and best-equipped shipyards in the country. Together with other industrial facilities, it became part of the defense industry buildup before and during World War II, which attracted many migrants from other parts of the United States for the high-paying jobs. In the 1950s, Alameda's industrial and shipbuilding industries thrived along the [[Oakland Estuary|Alameda Estuary]].

In the early 21st century, the [[Port of Oakland]], across the estuary, has become one of the largest ports on the West Coast. Its operators use shipping technologies originally experimented within Alameda. As of April 2006,<ref>{{Cite web |title=COAST GUARD CITIES |url=https://www.uscg.mil/Community/cities/}}</ref> Alameda is a "[[Coast Guard City]]", one of six then designated in the country (as of  2025, it is one of 34).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20060322/ai_n16140812|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202181523/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20060322/ai_n16140812/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2010|title=After 80 years, Alameda named 'Coast Guard City'|last=Bender|first=Kristin|date=March 22, 2006|work=Oakland Tribune|publisher=BNET|access-date=February 15, 2010}}</ref>
[[File:Alameda, California 1936 Aerial Photo.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of Alameda, 1936]]
In addition to the regular trains running to the [[Alameda Mole]], Alameda was also served by local steam commuter lines of the Southern Pacific (initially, the Central Pacific). Alameda was the site of the Southern Pacific's West Alameda Shops, where all the electric trains were maintained and repaired. These were later adapted as the [[East Bay Electric Lines]]. The trains ran to both the [[Oakland Long Wharf|Oakland Mole]] and the Alameda Mole.

In the 1930s [[Pan American Airways]] established a [[seaplane]] port along with the fill that led to the Alameda Mole, the original home base for the [[China Clipper]] flying boat. In 1929, the University of California established the San Francisco Airdrome located near the current Webster Street tube as a public airport. The Bay Airdrome had its gala christening party in 1930. The Airdrome was closed in 1941 when its air traffic interfered with the newly built [[Naval Air Station Alameda]] (NAS Alameda).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/CA/Airfields_CA_Oakland.htm#sanfranbay|title=Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Oakland Area|last=Freeman|first=Paul|date=December 27, 2009|work=[[Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields]]: California|publisher=Paul Freeman|access-date=February 15, 2010}}</ref>

In the late 1950s, the Utah Construction Company began a landfill beyond the ''Old Sea Wall'' and created ''[[South Shore, Alameda, California|South Shore]]''.

On February 7, 1973, a USN [[Ling-Temco-Vought|Vought]] [[LTV A-7 Corsair II|A-7E Corsair II]] fighter jet on a routine training mission from [[Lemoore Naval Air Station]] suddenly caught fire {{convert|28,000|ft|m}} above the [[San Francisco Bay]], crashing into the Tahoe Apartments in Alameda. Eleven people including the pilot died in the crash and fire.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Crash of Navy A-7E Corsair II – Alameda, Calif. – February 7, 1973|url=http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/Navy_A-7_CorsairII_crash_site.htm|website=Check-Six.com|access-date=September 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>Kulczyk, David. (2009). Death In California – The Bizarre, Freakish, and Just Curious Ways People Die in the Golden State. Craven Street Books. P117 {{ISBN|978-1-884995-57-6}}</ref>

==Geography==
Alameda's nickname is "The Island". Today, the city consists of three major sections:

* [[Alameda (island)|Alameda Island]] – The main original section created by dredging a channel between Oakland to the north, with the former [[Naval Air Station Alameda]] (NAS Alameda) at the west end of Alameda Island, [[South Shore, Alameda, California|South Shore]] along the southern side of Alameda Island, 
* [[Bay Farm Island]] – Part of the mainland proper, and attached to Oakland.
* [[Coast Guard Island]] – A small island between Alameda Island and Oakland, home of [[Integrated Support Command Alameda]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ISC Alameda Home |url=http://www.uscg.mil/mlcpac/iscalameda/ |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011109232748/http://www.uscg.mil/mlcpac/iscalameda/ |archive-date=November 9, 2001 |access-date=July 13, 2017 |website=Webarchive.loc.gov}}</ref>

[[File:Zeppelin-ride-020100925-222 (5028835633).jpg|thumb|right|[[Fruitvale Bridge]], spanning the [[Oakland Estuary]], connects Alameda in the south to [[Oakland, California|Oakland]] in the north.]]

The area of the former NAS is now known as "Alameda Point." The South Shore area is separated from the main part of Alameda Island by a lagoon; the north shore of the lagoon is located approximately where the original south shore of the island was. Alameda Point, Bay Farm Island, and South Shore are largely built on bay fill.
[[File:Coast Guard Island May 2009.jpg|thumb|right|[[Coast Guard Island]]]] [[File:03-bay-farm-island.jpg|thumb|right|View of [[Bay Farm Island]]]]
Not all of Alameda Island is part of the City of Alameda; a small portion of a dump site west of the former runway at Alameda Naval Air Station extends far enough into San Francisco Bay that it is over the county line and therefore part of the [[San Francisco|City and County of San Francisco]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/NASAlameda.html|title=Historic California Posts: Naval Air Station, Alameda|website=Militarymuseum.org|access-date=July 13, 2017}}</ref> Ballena Isle, an even smaller island, is also part of Alameda. <!-- Notice the small grey sliver on Alameda Point; it is part of San Francisco.-->

===Climate===
This region experiences warm (but not hot), dry summers, and cool (but not cold), wet winters. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, Alameda has a [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm-summer Mediterranean climate]], abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=60547&cityname=Alameda,+California,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Alameda, California Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase.com|access-date=July 13, 2017}}</ref> Annual precipitation is about {{cvt|22.|in}}, all rain (snow is extremely rare at sea level in the San Francisco Bay Area).

{{Weather box
|location = Alameda NAS, California
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 
|Feb record high F = 
|Mar record high F = 
|Apr record high F = 
|May record high F = 
|Jun record high F = 
|Jul record high F = 
|Aug record high F = 
|Sep record high F = 
|Oct record high F = 
|Nov record high F = 
|Dec record high F = 
|year record high F = 
|Jan high F = 58.3
|Feb high F = 61.8
|Mar high F = 64.6
|Apr high F = 67.5
|May high F = 69.4
|Jun high F = 71.6
|Jul high F = 72.0
|Aug high F = 73.0
|Sep high F = 74.3
|Oct high F = 72.3
|Nov high F = 65.4
|Dec high F = 58.5
|year high F = 
|Jan mean F = 52.3
|Feb mean F = 55.3
|Mar mean F = 57.7
|Apr mean F = 59.7
|May mean F = 61.8
|Jun mean F = 63.9
|Jul mean F = 64.7
|Aug mean F = 65.7
|Sep mean F = 66.6
|Oct mean F = 64.5
|Nov mean F = 58.7
|Dec mean F = 52.9
|year mean F = 
|Jan low F = 46.4
|Feb low F = 48.9
|Mar low F = 50.8
|Apr low F = 51.9
|May low F = 54.2
|Jun low F = 56.2
|Jul low F = 57.5
|Aug low F = 58.4
|Sep low F = 58.9
|Oct low F = 56.6
|Nov low F = 52.0
|Dec low F = 47.3
|year low F = 
|Jan record low F = 
|Feb record low F = 
|Mar record low F = 
|Apr record low F = 
|May record low F = 
|Jun record low F = 
|Jul record low F = 
|Aug record low F = 
|Sep record low F = 
|Oct record low F = 
|Nov record low F = 
|Dec record low F = 
|year record low F = 
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain inch = 4.21
|Feb rain inch = 4.10
|Mar rain inch = 2.74
|Apr rain inch = 1.18
|May rain inch = 0.72
|Jun rain inch = 0.15
|Jul rain inch = 0.01
|Aug rain inch = 0.04
|Sep rain inch = 0.19
|Oct rain inch = 1.94
|Nov rain inch = 2.50
|Dec rain inch = 4.00
|year rain inch = 
|unit rain days = 0.01 in
|Jan rain days = 10.3
|Feb rain days = 9.5
|Mar rain days = 11.4
|Apr rain days = 5.5
|May rain days = 3.1
|Jun rain days = 1.4
|Jul rain days = 0.4
|Aug rain days = 0.6
|Sep rain days = 1.6
|Oct rain days = 3.6
|Nov rain days = 8.4
|Dec rain days = 10.6
|year rain days = 
|source 1 = NCEI (Data Tools: 1981-2010 Normals)<ref name = NOAA >
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/datatools/normals
|title = ALAMEDA NAS, CA US
|publisher= NCEI
|access-date = June 28, 2019
}}</ref>
}}

=== Hazards ===
The low-lying island has seen sea-level and groundwater level rise threaten its infrastructure and people not just through flooding events, but through the increased [[Soil liquefaction|liquefaction]] risk from more saturated soils. The locations of increasing groundwater-induced risks and flooding risks may be most precise in private insurance company maps.<ref>City of Alameda. "THE RESPONSE OF THE SHALLOW GROUNDWATER LAYER AND CONTAMINANTS TO SEA LEVEL RISE" Silvestrum Climate Associates. September 2020.https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/assets/public/alameda-pio/slr2020.pdf</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|type= USA
|1860| 460
|1870| 1557
|1880| 5708
|1890| 11165
|1900| 16464
|1910| 23383
|1920| 28806
|1930| 35033
|1940| 36256
|1950| 64430
|1960| 63855
|1970| 70968
|1980| 63852
|1990| 76459
|2000| 72259
|2010| 73812
|2020| 78280
|2025| 79029<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2025 |title=E-5 Population and Housing Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State, 2020-2025 |url=https://dof.ca.gov/forecasting/demographics/estimates/e-5-population-and-housing-estimates-for-cities-counties-and-the-state-2020-2025/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515114422/https://dof.ca.gov/forecasting/demographics/estimates/e-5-population-and-housing-estimates-for-cities-counties-and-the-state-2020-2024/ |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |access-date=May 25, 2024 |website=State of California Department of Finance }}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|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>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Alameda, California – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Alameda city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0600562&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Alameda city, California |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0600562&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Alameda city, California |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0600562&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|37,921
|33,468
|style='background: #ffffe6; |32,152
|52.48%
|45.34%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |41.07%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|4,350
|4,516
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,399
|6.02%
|6.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.62%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|365
|247
|style='background: #ffffe6; |173
|0.51%
|0.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|18,757
|22,822
|style='background: #ffffe6; |25,107
|25.96%
|30.92%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |32.07%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|407
|342
|style='background: #ffffe6; |356
|0.56%
|0.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.45%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|235
|278
|style='background: #ffffe6; |556
|0.33%
|0.38%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.71%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|3,499
|4,047
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,102
|4.84%
|5.48%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.80%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|6,725
|8,092
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9,435
|9.31%
|10.96%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12.05%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''72,259'''
|'''73,812'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''78,280'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2020===
[[File:USA-Alameda-First Presbyterian Church-3 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|First Presbyterian Church]]
The [[2020 United States census]] reported that Alameda had a population of 78,280. The population density was {{convert|7,491.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Alameda was 43.6% [[White Americans|White]], 5.9% [[African Americans|African American]], 0.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 32.5% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.5% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 4.1% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 12.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 12.1% of the population.<ref name=DP1>{{cite web |title=Alameda city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0600562 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 22, 2025}}</ref>

The census reported that 98.0% of the population lived in households, 0.8% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1.2% were institutionalized.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 30,980 households, out of which 30.2% included children under the age of 18, 47.7% were married-couple households, 6.6% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 28.7% had a female householder with no partner present, and 17.0% had a male householder with no partner present. 28.3% of households were one person, and 11.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48.<ref name=DP1/> There were 19,640 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (63.4% of all households).<ref>{{cite web |title=Alameda city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0600562 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 22, 2025}}</ref>

The age distribution was 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.7% aged 18 to 24, 28.4% aged 25 to 44, 27.4% aged 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 41.4{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 33,009 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3,159.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 30,980 (93.9%) were occupied. Of these, 48.3% were owner-occupied, and 51.7% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 25.4% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 65.4% spoke only English at home, 6.7% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]], 6.6% spoke other [[Indo-European languages]], 20.1% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 1.2% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 93.4% were high school graduates and 60.3% had a bachelor's degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alameda 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=1600000US0600562 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 22, 2025}}</ref>

The median household income in 2023 was $132,015, and the [[per capita income]] was $72,245. About 4.8% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alameda city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0600562 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 22, 2025}}</ref>

===2010===
[[File:Alameda Twin Towers (1) (9370088388).jpg|thumb|left|Twin Towers Church]]
The [[2010 United States census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0600562|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Alameda city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924040354/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0600562|archive-date=September 24, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> reported that Alameda had a population of 73,812. (2015 census estimates place the population at 78,630)

The population density was {{convert|3,214.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Alameda was 37,460 (50.8%) [[White Americans|White]], 23,058 (31.2%) [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 4,759 (6.4%) [[African Americans|African American]], 426 (0.6%) [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 381 (0.5%) [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 2,463 (3.3%) from other races, and 5,265 (7.1%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 8,092 persons (11.0%).

The Census reported that 72,316 people (98.0% of the population) lived in households, 857 (1.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 639 (0.9%) were institutionalized.

There were 30,123 households, out of which 9,144 (30.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 13,440 (44.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,623 (12.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,228 (4.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,681 (5.6%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 459 (1.5%) same-sex married couples or same-sex partnerships. 9,347 households (31.0%) were made up of individuals, and 2,874 (9.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40. There were 18,291 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (60.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.06.

The age distribution of the population shows 15,304 people (20.7%) under the age of 18, 5,489 people (7.4%) aged 18 to 24, 21,000 people (28.5%) aged 25 to 44, 22,044 people (29.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 9,975 people (13.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

Per capita annual income (in 2013 dollars) in 2009–2013 was $41,340 per the US Census. Median household income in 2009–2013 was $74,606 per the US Census.

There were 32,351 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,409.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 30,123 were occupied, of which 14,488 (48.1%) were owner-occupied, and 15,635 (51.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%. 37,042 people (50.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 35,274 people (47.8%) lived in rental housing units.

There is a large [[Filipino American|Filipino]] community; and also a major [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] community, from which [[Tom Hanks]]' mother came and where [[Lyndsy Fonseca]] was raised for some time. Alameda also has a historic [[Japanese American]] community and had a small Japanese business district on a portion of Park Street before World War II, when the city's [[Internment of Japanese Americans|Japanese population was interned]]. A Japanese Buddhist church is one of the few remaining buildings left of Alameda's pre-war Japanese American community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.californiajapantowns.org/survey/index.php/component/mtree/sf-bay-area/alameda|title=Alameda|website=Californiajapantowns.org|access-date=July 13, 2017}}</ref>

== Economy ==
[[File:WaterFrontHomesAlameda.jpg|thumb|right|Waterfront homes in Alameda]]
[[File:Croll Building (Alameda, CA).JPG|thumb|right|The [[Croll Building]], built 1879]]
[[File:Masonic Temple and Lodge (Alameda, CA).JPG|thumb|right|The [[Masonic Temple and Lodge (Alameda, California)|Masonic Temple and Lodge]]]]
;Top employers
According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/assets/public/finance/alameda-acfr-fy20-city-fs-reduced-size.pdff |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/assets/public/finance/alameda-acfr-fy20-city-fs-reduced-size.pdff |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=City of Alameda CAFR|access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
|[[Penumbra (medical company)|Penumbra Inc.]]
|1,839
|-
|2
|[[Alameda Unified School District]]
|1,068
|-
|3
|[[Alameda Hospital]]
|750
|-
|4
|[[Abbott Laboratories|Abbott]] Diabetes Care Inc.
|565
|-
|5
|City of Alameda
|543
|-
|6
|[[Kaiser Permanente|Kaiser Foundation Health Plan]]
|450
|-
|7
|[[U.S. Department of Transportation]]
|370
|-
|8
|Alameda Alliance For Health
|366
|-
|9
|Bay Ship & Yacht Co.
|316
|-
|10
|[[College of Alameda]]
|266
|}
[[Naval Air Station Alameda]] (NAS), decommissioned in 1997, was turned over to the City of Alameda for civilian development, today known as [[Alameda Point, Alameda, California|Alameda Point]].

A cluster of artisan distilleries, wineries, breweries and tasting rooms along Monarch Street at Alameda Point is now referred to by the City of Alameda as "Spirits Alley".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spirits Alley |url=https://alamedaca.gov/visitors/spirits-alley |website=Alamedaca.gov}}</ref> Admiral Maltings also sits in this area, supplying craft brewers and whisky producers, and is the first craft malting house in California.<ref name="sfchronicle.com">{{Cite web |date=July 7, 2017 |title=Admiral Maltings germinates California alt malt in Alameda |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/restaurants/article/Admiral-Maltings-germinates-California-alt-malt-11273732.php |website=Sfchronicle.com}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Alameda Theater (50842809421).jpg|thumb|left|[[Alameda Theatre (Alameda)|Alameda Theatre]]]]

=== Arts ===
Photo-realist [[Robert Bechtle]] has painted numerous Alameda subjects, including ''Alameda Gran Torino'', which was acquired by [[SFMOMA]] in 1974 and remains one of Bechtle's most famous works.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfmoma.org/artwork/3509|title=Robert Bechtle, Alameda Gran Torino, 1974|website=SFMOMA|access-date=July 13, 2017|archive-date=May 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503005634/http://www.sfmoma.org/artwork/3509|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Theaters===
[[File:Veterans Memorial Building (Alameda, CA) 2 (cropped).JPG|thumb|right|Veterans Memorial Building]]
The landmark [[Alameda Theatre (Alameda)|Alameda Theatre]] is an [[Art Deco]] [[movie theatre]] designed by architect [[Timothy L. Pflueger]] and opened up in 1932.  The city restored and expand it to include a theater multiplex. The public opening was May 21, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-22 |title=Historic Theatre - Alameda Theatre & Cineplex |url=https://www.alamedatheatres.com/historic-theatre/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Altarena Playhouse, which performs comedies, dramas, and musicals, was founded in 1938 and is the longest continuously operating community theater in the San Francisco Bay Area.<ref>{{cite web |title=Altarena Playhouse |url=https://www.sfstation.com/altarena-playhouse-b1424 |website=SF Station |access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref>

Radium is a planned performing arts complex at the former naval air station and has seasonal shows in an outdoor theater.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Andrew |date=2024-04-08 |title=Entitlement Permits Filed for Radium Theater, Alameda |url=https://sfyimby.com/2024/04/entitlement-permits-filed-for-radium-theater-alameda.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=San Francisco YIMBY |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Festivals ===
The Fourth of July parade is advertised as the longest in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Alameda – Official 4th of July Parade page |url=https://www.alamedaca.gov/RESIDENTS/Alameda-4th-of-July-Parade |access-date=March 13, 2025 |website=alamedaparade.com}}</ref> It features homemade floats, classic cars, motorized living room furniture, fire-breathing dragons, and marching bands.

There are multiple major events when streets in Alameda's historic downtown district are closed to vehicular traffic. Park Street Art and Wine Faire is the biggest and takes place the last weekend of every July with more than 200 artists and vendors. Seasonal events like the spring and winter markets, as well as themed rum, whiskey and hot cocoa strolls are spread out through the year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2025 |title=Events – Downtown Alameda |url=https://downtownalameda.com/events/ |access-date=December 5, 2021 |website=Downtownalameda.com}}</ref>

The annual Sand Castle and Sculpture Contest takes place in June<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sand Castle & Sculpture Contest |url=https://www.alamedaca.gov/Departments/Recreation-Parks/Sand-Castle-Sculpture-Contest |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=www.alamedaca.gov |language=en-US}}</ref> at the Robert Crown Memorial State Beach, attracting hundreds of participants.<ref>{{Cite web |last=alamedapost |date=2024-06-05 |title=Sand Castle and Sculpture Contest |url=https://alamedapost.com/features/alameda-life/sand-castle-sculpture-contest/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Alameda Post |language=en-US}}</ref> The first contest was held in 1967.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2016 |title=Alameda: Sand Castle and Sculpture Contest marks 50th year |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/06/15/alameda-sand-castle-and-sculpture-contest-marks-50th-year/ |website=Mercurynews.com}}</ref>

Alameda Point Antiques Faire is held on the first Sunday of every month at the former Naval Air Station runways. It is the largest antiques and collectibles show in Northern California, attracting upwards of 10,000 visitors and featuring 800 dealer booths. The faire specializes in items 20 years or older, including furniture, decorations, clothing, jewelry, art, pottery, books, and collectibles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Antiques, Collectibles, Shows, Clothing, Food, By the Bay, Alameda Point Antiques Faire and Michaans Auctions |url=https://www.alamedapointantiquesfaire.com/test3-visitor-center-1.php |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.alamedapointantiquesfaire.com}}</ref>

=== Museums ===

* [[Alameda Museum]] – includes exhibits about the history and culture the city with old [[diorama]]s, [[model ship]]s, toys, [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] culture, and [[Neptune Beach]].<ref name="AAA">{{cite book |title=Northern California |publisher=AAA Publishing |year=2012 |location=Heathrow, Florida |page=43}}</ref>
* [[Alameda Naval Air Museum]] – is focused on the history of [[Naval Air Station Alameda]] and aviation.
* [[California Historical Radio Society]] Museum – set in a 125 year old telephone building, the museum covers electronic communication with artifacts from the late 1800s on display.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About California Historical Radio Society – California Historical Radio Society |url=https://californiahistoricalradio.com/about/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=californiahistoricalradio.com}}</ref>
* [[Pacific Pinball Museum]] – an interactive museum/arcade with a chronological and historical selection of rare and early pinball games including a rotating set of more than 100 playable pinball machines ranging in era from the 1940s to present day located on Webster Street.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} Pacific Pinball Museum |url=https://www.pacificpinball.org/aboutus |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=ppmuseum |language=en}}</ref>
* [[USS Hornet Museum]] – a [[museum ship]] of the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Hornet|CV-12|6}}. It has been moored at the former Naval Air Station as since 1998.

== Government ==
[[File:Alameda City Hall, exterior (March 2024) 01.jpg|thumb|Alameda City Hall]]
Alameda is a charter city governed by a five-member City Council, including the Mayor, who are all elected at large. The city operates under a council-manager system defined by the City Charter,<ref name="Key Documents">{{Cite web |title=Key Documents |url=https://www.alamedaca.gov/GOVERNMENT/Key-City-Documents#section-3 |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=www.alamedaca.gov |language=en-US}}</ref> with a professional City Manager overseeing daily administration.  The City Manager is responsible for city operations, budget administration, and implementing council policies, distinguishing Alameda from strong-mayor systems often in bigger cities. The City Attorney and City Clerk report directly to the council.

The budget for the city is greater than $310 million a year as of the 2023-25 biannual budgets planning cycle.<ref>{{Cite web |last=alamedapost |date=2023-06-23 |title=Council Approves Strong Budget |url=https://alamedapost.com/news/council-approves-strong-budget/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Alameda Post |language=en-US}}</ref> The City Treasurer and City Auditor are independently elected.<ref name="Key Documents"/> Residents appointed by the Mayor and City Council serve on a range of boards and commissions overseeing major components of the city (for example recreation and parks, library, transportation and planning).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boards & Commissions |url=https://www.alamedaca.gov/GOVERNMENT/Boards-Commissions |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=www.alamedaca.gov |language=en-US}}</ref>

Alameda's government is responsible for a range of municipal services, including public safety, transportation, parks, and land use planning. Rare to a city of its size, it operates its own city-wide electricity utility, [[Alameda Municipal Power]], which has 100% clean electricity<ref>{{Cite web |title=Power Content Label {{!}} Alameda Municipal Power, CA |url=https://alamedamp.com/336/Power-Content-Label |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=alamedamp.com}}</ref> and as much as a 48% savings over comparable PG&E rates.<ref>{{Cite web |last=alamedapost |date=2024-06-05 |title=Alameda Electric Rates Will Increase 3% on July 1 |url=https://alamedapost.com/news/alameda-electric-rates-will-increase-3-on-july-1/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Alameda Post |language=en-US}}</ref>[[File:Alameda Free Library (Alameda, CA).JPG|thumb|right|Alameda Free Library]]

===Alameda Free Library===
There are three library locations: the Main Library in downtown Alameda, the Bay Farm Island Library and the West End Library. Beyond books, services at the library include events and author talks, computer labs, home delivery of books,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Patron Services |url=https://www.alamedafree.org/SERVICES/Patron-Services |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.alamedafree.org |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as e-book, streaming digital media, and audio book catalogs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BOOKS & MORE |url=https://www.alamedafree.org/BOOKS-MORE |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.alamedafree.org |language=en-US}}</ref> Historical resources of Alameda's past include local newspaper and magazine archives, high school yearbooks, books by local authors and maps.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local History Resources Available at the Alameda Free Library |url=https://www.alamedafree.org/Local-History-Resources-Available-at-the-Alameda-Free-Library |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.alamedafree.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2000 voters authorized a [[bond measure]] to construct a new main library to replace the city's [[Carnegie Library]], damaged during the [[1989 Loma Prieta earthquake]]. The city also received state funds for the new main library and opened the doors to the new facility in November 2006.

== Education ==
[[File:AlamedaHighSchool 2023 Amarasiriwardena.jpg|thumb|[[Alameda High School]]]]

Public primary and secondary education in Alameda is the responsibility of the [[Alameda Unified School District]] (AUSD), which is legally separate from the City of Alameda government (as is common throughout California). More than 9,000 students are enrolled in the AUSD system across nine elementary, four middle, four high schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About AUSD - Alameda Unified School District |url=https://www.alamedaunified.org/about/about-ausd |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=www.alamedaunified.org |language=en-US}}</ref> The California Department of Education School Dashboard reports student performance is "green" and above state standards for English, math and college/career preparation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=California School Dashboard (CA Dept of Education) |url=https://www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/01611190000000/2024 |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=www.caschooldashboard.org}}</ref>

The [[College of Alameda]], a two-year [[community college]] is part of the [[Peralta Community College District]]. The city has numerous private primary schools, and one private high school, [[St. Joseph Notre Dame High School]], a Catholic school.

==Media==
The community is currently served by a non-profit online news outlet called the [http://www.alamedapost.com Alameda Post].<ref>{{cite news |title=About |url=https://alamedapost.com/about/ |access-date=23 February 2025 |work=Alameda Post}}</ref> Additionally, a weekly newspaper section of the [[East Bay Times]], the [[Alameda Journal]], is published by the [[Bay Area News Group]], based in [[Walnut Creek, California|Walnut Creek, CA]].

Alameda's first newspaper, the ''Encinal'', appeared in the 1860s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alameda Encinal — Browse by title — California Digital Newspaper Collection |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=cl&cl=CL1&sp=AE&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-------- |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=cdnc.ucr.edu}}</ref> Following the ''Encinal'', several other papers appeared along geographic lines, and the ''Daily Argus'' eventually rose to prominence.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Humanities |first=National Endowment for the |title=Alameda daily Argus. |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92068890/ |access-date=2025-03-24}}</ref> Around 1900, the ''Daily Argus'' began to fade in importance and east and west papers ''The Times'' and ''The Star'' combined to take the leading role as the ''[[Alameda Times-Star]]'' in the 1930s. The ''Times-Star'' was sold to the [[Alameda Newspaper Group]] in the 1970s. In 1997, the Hills Newspaper chain was bought by [[Knight Ridder]]. Between 2001 and 2023, the ''Alameda Sun'' ran a local weekly print newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-25 |title=Alameda Sun to Cease Publication Nov. 30 {{!}} Alameda Sun |url=https://alamedasun.com/news/alameda-sun-cease-publication-nov-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125080005/https://alamedasun.com/news/alameda-sun-cease-publication-nov-30 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2023-11-25 |access-date=2025-03-24 }}</ref>

== Transportation ==
[[File:Alameda Portal (15724808601).jpg|thumb|Alameda Portal of the [[Posey and Webster Street Tubes]]]]
[[File:Snapshot 2022-06-23-22h38m35s259.png|thumb|High Street Bridge]]
{{OSM Location map
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 |float=right
 |zoom=12
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 |mark-coord1={{coord|37.787535|N|122.276628|W}}<!--Posey/Webster-->
 |mark-coord2={{coord|37.7717|N|122.237|W}}<!--Park-->
 |mark-coord3={{coord|37.768889|N|122.230278|W}}<!--Fruitvale-->
 |mark-coord4={{coord|37.7645|N|122.225|W}}<!--High-->
 |mark-coord5={{coord|37.748924|N|122.236383|W}}<!--Bay Farm-->
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 |caption=[[Alameda Island]] and connections:
# [[Posey and Webster Street tubes]]
# [[Park Street Bridge]]
# [[Fruitvale Bridge]]
# [[High Street Bridge]]
# [[Bay Farm Island Bridge]]
}}
Alameda is well connected to the region via road, ferries and nearby rail and air connections.

Vehicle access to Alameda Island is via three bridges from Oakland ([[Park Street Bridge|Park Street]], [[Fruitvale Bridge|Fruitvale Avenue]], and [[High Street Bridge]]s), as well as the two one-way [[Posey and Webster Street Tubes]] leading into [[Chinatown, Oakland|Oakland's Chinatown]]. Alameda and Bay Farm Islands are connected via the [[Bay Farm Island Bridge]], and the [[Bay Farm Island Bridge|Bay Farm Island Bicycle Bridge]] (the only pedestrian/bicycle-only drawbridge in the United States<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acgov.org/pwa/dept_maintenance_operation_bay_farm_island_bicycle_bridge.shtml|title=Maintenance and Operations Department|publisher=Alameda County Public Works Agency|access-date=February 15, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100209022257/http://www.acgov.org/pwa/dept_maintenance_operation_bay_farm_island_bicycle_bridge.shtml| archive-date= February 9, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>).<ref>[http://www.acgov.org/pwa/dept_maintenance_operation_bay_farm_island_bicycle_bridge.shtml Maintenance and Operations Department] Alameda County Government website</ref>

[[California State Route 61]] runs down city streets from the Posey and Webster Street Tubes, across the Bay Farm Island Bridge, and south to the Oakland Airport. The island is just minutes off [[Interstate 880 (California)|Interstate 880]] in Oakland. The speed limit for the city is 25&nbsp;mph (40&nbsp;km/h) on almost every road.

Transportation options include:
* '''Bus –''' [[AC Transit]] connects the island to Oakland and Berkeley, and express service to downtown San Francisco's [[Salesforce Transit Center]].
* '''Ferry –''' [[San Francisco Bay Ferry]] connects Alameda with San Francisco across four routes; three on the main island's west end [[Alameda/Oakland Ferry|Alameda Main St./Oakland Ferry]], [[San Francisco Bay Ferry|Alameda Seaplane Lagoon Ferry]], [[San Francisco Bay Ferry|Alameda/South San Francisco]] and from Bay Farm Island via the [[Alameda Harbor Bay Ferry]] routes. 
* '''Water Shuttle –''' The Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle is pedestrian/bike boat that connects Alameda Landing and Oakland's Jack London Square runs five days a week for free.
* '''BART and Rail –''' The closest [[Bay Area Rapid Transit|BART]] stations are [[Lake Merritt station|Lake Merritt]] and [[12th Street Oakland City Center station|12th Street]], near the exit to the Posey Tube, and [[Fruitvale station|Fruitvale]], near the Fruitvale Bridge. BART's long-term plans for a [[Transbay Tube|second tunnel]] include Alameda as a candidate for the first stop on a new East Bay line.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/BART-gets-serious-about-a-2nd-East-Bay-S-F-12628607.php|title=BART gets serious about a 2nd East Bay-S.F. Transbay Tube|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=March 6, 2018}}</ref> The closest Amtrak rail station is [[Oakland–Jack London Square station|Oakland-Jack London Square]].
* '''Air –''' [[Oakland International Airport]] abuts the eastern border of Alameda's Bay Farm Island, and includes passenger, freight and private aircraft flights.

== Notable buildings ==

* [[Alameda City Hall]]; NRHP-listed<ref name="nrhpdoc2">{{cite web |author= |date= |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Alameda City Hall |url={{NRHP url|id=80000791}} |accessdate=September 19, 2023 |publisher=[[National Park Service]]}} With {{NRHP url|id=80000791|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}</ref>
* [[Alameda High School]]; NRHP-listed<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alameda High School |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail/86bed180-d28e-4a6d-a8c4-fd563ad58a8e |website=National Register of Historic Places, Digital Archive on NPGallery}}</ref> 
* [[Croll Building]]; NRHP-listed and a California Historical Landmark<ref name="chl">{{cite ohp|id=954|name=Croll Building|accessdate=}}</ref>
* [[Masonic Temple and Lodge (Alameda, California)|Masonic Temple and Lodge]]; NRHP-listed, and part of the Park Street Historic Commercial District<ref name="nrhpdoc" /> 
* [[Park Street Historic Commercial District]]; NRHP-listed and a California Historical Landmark<ref name="nrhpdoc" />

== Notable people ==
* [[Norman Allinger]], an American organic and computational chemist and Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus was born in Alameda.
* [[Albert Arents]], a mining engineer who helped develop mineral resources of the Rocky Mountains.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/miningscien108unse |title=Mining and Scientific Press (Jan.-June 1914) |others=California State Library|date=December 31, 2023 }}</ref>
* [[John Baker (baseball)|John Baker]], MLB catcher for [[San Diego Padres]] and [[Chicago Cubs]], was born in Alameda.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Baker Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/john-baker-434633 |access-date=December 25, 2023 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Clinton Ballou]] (1923–2021), biochemist, died in Alameda.<ref>[https://mcb.berkeley.edu/news-and-events/department-news/memoriam-clinton-edward-ballou-1923–2021 In Memoriam: Clinton Edward Ballou (1923–2021)]</ref>
* [[Hester A. Benedict]] (1838–1921), president, [[Pacific Coast Women's Press Association]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alameda Daily Argus 20 May 1897, page 4 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/607012185/ |access-date=December 25, 2023 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[John W. Bones]] (1818–1901), architect, State Senator and first elected official of the [[Workingmen's Party of California]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Parkinson |first1=R. R. |title=Pen Portraits; Autobiographies of State Officers, Legislators, Prominent Business and Professional Men of the Capital of the State of California; Also of Newspaper Proprietors, Editors, and Members of the Corps Reportorial |date=1878 |publisher=[[The Daily Alta California|Alta California Print]] |location=San Francisco |page=16 |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89072936792&seq=20 |access-date=2 November 2025}}</ref>
* [[Mike Brisiel]], an offensive guard for [[Oakland Raiders]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raiders release G Mike Brisiel |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/04/01/raiders-release-g-mike-brisiel/7176767/ |access-date=December 25, 2023 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Virginia Lee Burton]], Caldecott-winning children's author and illustrator.<ref name="houghtonmifflinbooks.com">{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2011 |title=Biography of Virginia Lee Burton - Early Years |url=http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/mike_mulligan/earlyyears.shtml |access-date=December 25, 2023 |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605063737/http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/mike_mulligan/earlyyears.shtml |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
* [[Harold Camping]], television and radio personality, president and general manager of [[Family Stations, Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 17, 2013 |title=East Bay 'Doomsday Minister' Harold Camping Dies |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/120983/east-bay-doomsday-minister-harold-camping-dies |access-date=December 25, 2023 |website=KQED |language=en-us}}</ref>
* [[Phyllis Diller]], television comedian, attended Sunday school at First Presbyterian, married and lived in Alameda at the start of her comedy career in San Francisco in the 1950s.<ref name="houghtonmifflinbooks.com"/>
* [[Jimmy Doolittle|General James Doolittle]], who received the Medal of Honor for his bombing of Japan during World War II; Doolittle was born in Alameda in 1896.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2014 |title=Alameda: City recognizes World War II aviator Jimmy Doolittle |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/12/18/alameda-city-recognizes-world-war-ii-aviator-jimmy-doolittle-2/ |access-date=December 25, 2023 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Garrett Eckbo]], landscape architect who lived in Alameda as a child, later forming the Bay Area firm of Eckbo, Royston, Williams with [[Robert Royston]] and Edward Williams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Garrett Eckbo {{!}} TCLF |url=https://www.tclf.org/pioneer/garrett-eckbo |access-date=December 25, 2023 |website=www.tclf.org}}</ref>
* [[Leif Erickson (actor)|Leif Erickson]], actor, born in Alameda in 1911.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Upi |date=January 31, 1986 |title=Leif Erickson Is Dead; A Movie and TV Actor |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/31/obituaries/leif-erickson-is-dead-a-movie-and-tv-actor.html |access-date=December 25, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* [[Larry Eustachy]], college basketball coach, born in Alameda.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Larry Eustachy - Men's Basketball Coach |url=https://csurams.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/larry-eustachy/1 |access-date=December 25, 2023 |website=Colorado State Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Debbi Fields]], founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies, attended Alameda High School, where she was a cheerleader.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2021 |title=Debbi Fields |url=https://paulcollege.unh.edu/rosenberg/franchise-pioneers-world/debbi-fields |access-date=December 25, 2023 |website=Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Albert Ghiorso]], nuclear scientist, co-discoverer of 12 chemical elements on the periodic table; in [[Guinness Book of World Records]] for Most Elements Discovered.<ref>{{Cite web |last=paulpreuss |date=January 3, 2011 |title=In Memorian, Albert Ghiorso, 1915-2010 - Berkeley Lab |url=https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2011/01/03/ghiorso-obit/ |access-date=December 25, 2023 |website=Berkeley Lab News Center |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Brad Gillis]], guitarist with Night Ranger, a San Francisco rock band formed in the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Derrough |first=Leslie Michele |date=October 29, 2012 |title=Brad Gillis |url=https://glidemagazine.com/21984/brad-gillis/ |access-date=December 25, 2023 |website=Glide Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Katharine Graham]], the late publisher of ''[[The Washington Post]]'', lived in Alameda as a child, according to ''Personal History'', her autobiography.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Old Town Alameda |url=https://www.theharrisonteam.com/neighborhood/1949 |access-date=December 25, 2023 |website=www.theharrisonteam.com}}</ref>
* [[Tim Hardaway Jr.]], a professional basketball player, was born in Alameda.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tim Hardaway Jr. {{!}} Dallas Mavericks |url=https://www.nba.com/player/203501/tim-hardaway-jr/ |access-date=December 26, 2023 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Horace Heidt]], bandleader and radio personality, born in Alameda on May 21, 1901.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Folkart |first=Burt a |date=December 3, 1986 |title=Horace Heidt, 85, Dies; Led Big Band of Musical Knights |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-03-mn-482-story.html |access-date=December 26, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Emily Heller]], comedian<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2021 |title=Annie & Emily Heller {{!}} Rhythmix Cultural Works ® |url=https://www.rhythmix.org/mother-tree/annie-and-emily-heller/ |access-date=December 26, 2023 |language=en-us}}</ref>
* [[Marielle Heller]], actress and director<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2018 |title=Alameda's Marielle Heller Is One Hot Hollywood Director |url=https://www.oaklandmagazine.com/October-2018/Alamedas-Marielle-Heller-Is-One-Hot-Hollywood-Director/ |access-date=December 26, 2023 |archive-date=November 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101013144/https://www.oaklandmagazine.com/October-2018/Alamedas-Marielle-Heller-Is-One-Hot-Hollywood-Director/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
* [[Bruce Henderson (author)|Bruce Henderson]], author, grew up in Alameda, according to his book ''Hero Found: The Greatest POW Escape of the Vietnam War''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hero Found {{!}} Bruce Henderson |url=https://brucehendersonbooks.com/books/hero-found/ |access-date=December 26, 2023 |website=Bruce Henderson Books |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Benjamin Jealous]], former President of the NAACP, lived in Alameda.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodall|first=Angela   |date=May 19, 2008 |title=After tense vote, Alameda man named to lead NAACP |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2008/05/19/after-tense-vote-alameda-man-named-to-lead-naacp-2/ |access-date=December 26, 2023 |website=[[East Bay Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Joseph R. Knowland]], congressman and Alameda native, was editor and publisher of the ''Oakland Tribune''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Baker |first=Joseph Eugene |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxgVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA13 |title=Past and Present of Alameda County, California |date=1914 |publisher=S.J. Clarke |language=en}}</ref>
* [[William Fife Knowland]], U.S. Senator, was student body president at Alameda High School.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: Senate Leaders |url=https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/parties-leadership/knowland-william.htm |access-date=December 26, 2023 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>
* [[Robert L. Lippert]], theater chain owner and film producer, was an Alameda native.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obituary of Robert L Lippert {{!}} Mission Mortuary |url=https://missionmortuary.com/tribute/details/100653/Robert-Lippert/obituary.html |access-date=December 26, 2023 |website=missionmortuary.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Paul Mantz]], air racer and Hollywood stunt pilot, was born in Alameda in 1903.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mantz, Paul, 1903-1965 {{!}} Archives and Special Collections |url=https://archives.lib.purdue.edu/agents/people/1213 |access-date=December 27, 2023 |website=archives.lib.purdue.edu}}</ref>
* [[Louis A. McCall Sr.]], drummer and musician known as the co-founder of [[Con Funk Shun]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=WBSS Media-Michael Cooper |url=https://wbssmedia.com/artists/detail/2856 |access-date=December 27, 2023 |website=wbssmedia.com}}</ref>
* [[Margaret McNamara]], founder of [[Reading is Fundamental]], and wife of [[Robert McNamara]], grew up in Alameda.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hailey |first=Jean R. |date=February 4, 1981 |title=Margaret McNamara Dies |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1981/02/04/margaret-mcnamara-dies/1f68a9fb-c6ef-421e-9451-25da6a35fb06/ |access-date=December 27, 2023 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
* [[Jerry Miley]], film actor, who played as the murdered heir Allen Colby in the film ''[[Charlie Chan's Secret]]'', born in Alameda.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://moviewiser.com/cast/120475|title=Jerry Miley|work=MovieWiser|access-date=July 22, 2025}}</ref>
* [[George P. Miller]], a congressman from 1945 to 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |title=For Immediate Release |url=https://archives.calstate.edu/downloads/02870x218 |access-date=December 26, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Jack Mingo]], author<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.salon.com/writer/jack_mingo|title=Jack Mingo's Articles at Salon.com|website=Salon.com|access-date=December 5, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Hugo Wilhelm Arthur Nahl]], designer of the [[Seal of California]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hugo Nahl - Biography |url=https://www.askart.com/artist/Hugo_Wilhelm_Arthur_Nahl/83735/Hugo_Wilhelm_Arthur_Nahl.aspx#:~:text=from%201855-60.-,After%20his%20marriage%20in%201865%20to%20Annie%20Sweeney,%20Arthur%20moved,home%20on%20April%201,%201889. |access-date=December 27, 2023 |website=www.askart.com}}</ref>
* [[Don Perata]], former President Pro Tempore of California State Senate, lives in Alameda; once taught at Saint Joseph Notre Dame High, Encinal High, and Alameda High, among other Alameda schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JoinCalifornia - Don Perata |url=http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/5388 |access-date=December 27, 2023 |website=www.joincalifornia.com}}</ref>
* [[Emily Browne Powell]] (1847–1938), writer; president, [[Pacific Coast Women's Press Association]]<ref name="AlamedaTimes1938">{{cite news |title=Obituary for Emily Browne Powell |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/alameda-times-star-obituary-for-emily-br/164791744/ |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=Alameda Times Star |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=26 September 1938 |page=2}}</ref>
* [[Carl Ravazza]], bandleader, born in Alameda, 1910.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carl Ravazza Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/carl-ravazza-mn0001553338 |access-date=December 27, 2023 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Bill Rigney]], Major League Baseball player and manager, was born in Alameda.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=Bill Rigney – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bill-rigney/ |access-date=December 28, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Dutch Ruether]], pitcher for 1927 [[New York Yankees]], was born in Alameda.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=Dutch Ruether – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/dutch-ruether/ |access-date=December 28, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Jane Sibbett]], actress and comedian, grew up in Alameda.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2023 |title=Jane Sibbett parents: Meet Gaines Sibbett, William Ryan Sibbett IV |url=https://ghanafuo.com/jane-sibbett-parents-meet-gaines-sibbett-william-ryan-sibbett-iv/ |access-date=December 28, 2023 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[Opera]]tic [[mezzo-soprano]] [[Frederica Von Stade]] has lived in Alameda since 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celebrating Flicka, Bright Star, on Her 75th Revolution Around the Sun |url=https://www.sfcv.org/articles/music-news/celebrating-flicka-bright-star-her-75th-revolution-around-sun |access-date=December 28, 2023 |website=www.sfcv.org |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Sharon Tate]], actress, resident in early to late-1960s.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001790/ | title=Sharon Tate| website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref>
* [[Charles Lee Tilden]], for whom [[Tilden Regional Park]] is named, was a longtime resident of Alameda; Tilden Way at the southeast end of the city is named for him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Columnist |first=Steven Finacom {{!}} |date=July 14, 2011 |title=Parkit: Tilden Park got its name in 1936 |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2011/07/14/parkit-tilden-park-got-its-name-in-1936/ |access-date=December 28, 2023 |website=East Bay Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Famer]] [[Willie Stargell]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGreehan |first=Mike |date=July 29, 2015 |title=Monument dedicated to Alameda legend Willie Stargell |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/07/29/monument-dedicated-to-alameda-legend-willie-stargell/ |access-date=December 29, 2023 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] player [[Tommy Harper]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=Tommy Harper – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/tommy-harper/ |access-date=December 29, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> MLB player [[Curtell Howard Motton]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2010 |title=Headed For Home: Curt Motton 1940-2010 |url=https://playball94501.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/safe-at-home-curt-motton/ |access-date=December 29, 2023 |website=Playball! - Alameda's Sandlot Blog |language=en}}</ref> 2003 [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[MLB Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] [[Dontrelle Willis]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dontrelle Willis |url=https://www.baberuthleague.org/media/223113/Dontrelle%20Willis.pdf |access-date=December 28, 2023}}</ref> 2007 [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[Most Valuable Player]] [[Jimmy Rollins]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hartlaub |first=Peter |date=August 3, 2001 |title=PROFILE / JIMMY ROLLINS / Mom taught NL all-star from Alameda |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/PROFILE-JIMMY-ROLLINS-Mom-taught-NL-all-star-2893819.php |access-date=December 29, 2023 |work=[[SFGATE]] |language=en}}</ref> [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player [[J.R. Rider]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wallack |first=Todd |date=January 27, 2006 |title=MARIN COUNTY / Ex-NBA player Rider accused of kidnapping |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/MARIN-COUNTY-Ex-NBA-player-Rider-accused-of-2542823.php |access-date=December 29, 2023 |work=[[SFGATE]] |language=en}}</ref> and [[National Football League|NFL]] players [[Melvin Carver]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CarvMe00.htm|title=Mel Carver Stats {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref> and [[Junior Tautalatasi]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Hall of Famers|url=http://www.alamedasportsproject.com/halloffamers.htm|website=Alameda Sports Project|access-date=August 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=McGreehan|first=Mike|title=Spotlight on Encinal's Hall of Fame athletes|url=http://www.eastbaytimes.com/timesstar/localnews/ci_13772775|access-date=August 9, 2016|publisher=East Buy Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=McGreehan |first1=Mike |last2=Love|first2=William|date=November 12, 2009 |title=Spotlight on Encinal's Hall of Fame athletes |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2009/11/12/spotlight-on-encinals-hall-of-fame-athletes/ |access-date=December 31, 2023 |work=[[East Bay Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> all attended [[Encinal High School]].
* [[Jason Kidd]] (NBA player and coach)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kroner |first=Steve |date=May 21, 2011 |title=Past teammates recall Jason Kidd's greatness |url=https://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/past-teammates-recall-jason-kidd-s-greatness-2370901.php |access-date=December 31, 2023 |work=[[SFGATE]] |language=en}}</ref> and [[Joe Nelson]] (MLB pitcher)<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=Joe Nelson – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/joe-nelson/ |access-date=December 31, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> attended [[St. Joseph Notre Dame High School]] in Alameda.
* [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] players [[Ray French (baseball)|Ray French]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ray-French - Pinstripes Nation |url=https://pinstripesnation.com/player/ray-french/ |access-date=December 31, 2023 |language=es-ES}}</ref> [[Johnny Vergez]],<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=July 14, 2008 |title=Johnny Vergez, former Alameda High star, went on to long pro career |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2008/07/14/johnny-vergez-former-alameda-high-star-went-on-to-long-pro-career/ |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=East Bay Times |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Andy Carey]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 15, 2023 |title=Andy Carey, Third Baseman for 1950s Yankees, Dies at 80 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/sports/baseball/andy-carey-third-baseman-for-1950s-yankees-dies-at-80.html |access-date=December 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215114848/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/sports/baseball/andy-carey-third-baseman-for-1950s-yankees-dies-at-80.html |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |last1=Weber |first1=Bruce }}</ref> [[Bill Serena]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill Serena Minor Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=serena001wil |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Erik Schullstrom]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Steward |first=Carl Steward |date=January 27, 2012 |title='In Our Backyard': Scouting a 'dream gig' for former pitcher Erik Schullstrom |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2012/01/27/in-our-backyard-scouting-a-dream-gig-for-former-pitcher-erik-schullstrom/ |access-date=December 31, 2023 |work=[[The Mercury News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Dick Bartell]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=Dick Bartell – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/dick-bartell/ |access-date=December 31, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dick Bartell – AHS Athletic Boosters |url=https://ahsathleticboosters.com/team-member/dick-bartell/ |access-date=December 31, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Duffy Lewis]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 27, 1915 |title=Duffy Lewis Got His First Real Baseball Job At Age Of Seven |pages=5 |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-duffy-lewis-got-his-fir/80699222/ |access-date=December 31, 2023}}</ref> [[Chris Speier]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shea |first=John |date=October 11, 2012 |title=Reds' Speier bonds with Giants' Crawford |url=https://www.sfgate.com/giants/shea/article/Reds-Speier-bonds-with-Giants-Crawford-3937721.php |access-date=December 31, 2023 |work=[[SFGATE]] |language=en}}</ref> and [[Bryan Woo]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kroner |first=Steve |date=September 20, 2023 |title=Mariners' Bryan Woo, an Alameda alum, shows promise with 'unique fastball' |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/athletics/article/mariners-bryan-woo-alameda-alum-shows-18369797.php |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> all attended [[Alameda High School]].
* Many people from naval families, including celebrities such as [[Ann Curry]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ann Curry |url=https://prezi.com/m4thgokp7ogk/ann-curry/ |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=prezi.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Brigette Lundy-Paine]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brigette Lundy-Paine |url=https://www.flaunt.com/blog/brigette-lundy-paine |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=www.flaunt.com}}</ref> [[Tom Hanks]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tom Hanks explains how his love of movies began as a boy in Alameda |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/tom-hanks-alameda-bay-area-movies-tcm-18111193 |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=Datebook {{!}} San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Jim Morrison]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Things You Don't Understand About Alameda - Thrillist |url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/san-francisco/things-you-don-t-understand-about-alameda |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=www.thrillist.com}}</ref> of [[The Doors]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gawker.com/the-lizard-king-next-door-1328787329|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923001155/http://gawker.com/the-lizard-king-next-door-1328787329|url-status=dead|title=The Lizard King Next Door|first=Ken|last=Layne|archive-date=September 23, 2013|access-date=December 5, 2021}}</ref> have lived in Alameda.

==Sister cities==
The city has four active and formal sister city relations<ref>{{cite web |title=Sister Cities |url=https://www.alamedaca.gov/GOVERNMENT/Sister-Cities |access-date=November 12, 2023 |website=www.alamedaca.gov}}</ref> as well as inactive ones.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inactive |url=https://alamedasistercity.weebly.com/inactive.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=ASCA - Inactive Cities |language=en}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|Philippines}} [[Dumaguete]], Philippines (2015)
* {{Flagicon|China}} [[Jiangyin]], China (2008)
* {{Flagicon|Italy}} [[Varazze]], Italy (2019)
* {{Flagicon|South Korea}} [[Yeongdong-gun]], South Korea (2017)

===Friendship city===
* {{Flagicon|China}} [[Wuxi]], China
** A [[Friendship city]] since 2004, because the diplomacy organization [[Sister Cities International]] does not recognize the relationship.<ref name="Alameda Sun">{{cite web |title=Alameda Forges Ties With Jiangyin, China |url=http://www.alamedasun.com/local-and-hometown/4020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130929163126/http://www.alamedasun.com/local-and-hometown/4020 |archive-date=September 29, 2013 |access-date=October 1, 2013 |publisher=Alameda Sun}}</ref>

=== Inactive cities ===

* {{Flagicon|Japan}} [[Arita, Saga|Arita]], Japan
* {{Flagicon|Sweden}} [[Lidingö Municipality|Lidingö]], Sweden
** Initiated in 1959 as part of [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|President Eisenhower's]] [[People to People International|people-to-people-movement]], whose purpose was to develop better understanding among people from different countries after World War II. Both Alameda and Lidingö are islands with a bridge connecting them to a big city.

== See also ==
* [[Alameda Island]]
* [[Bay Farm Island]] 
* [[Coast Guard Island]]
* [[List of islands of California]]
* [[List of ships built in Alameda, California]]

==References==
{{reflist|25em}}

==Further reading==
* Merlin, Imelda. [https://alamedamuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Imelda_smallpics_4printing.pdf ''Alameda: a Geographical History'']. Illus. with photos. Alameda: Friends of the Alameda Free Library, (1977).

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{wikivoyage inline}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Alameda|volume=1|pages=468–469|short=x}}
* {{GNIS|277468}}

{{Alameda, California}}
{{Alameda County, California}}
{{San Francisco Bay watershed}}
{{SF Bay Area}}
{{California}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Alameda, California| ]]
[[Category:1854 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Cities in Alameda County, California]]
[[Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1854]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in California]]