View source for Sunol, California

{{Distinguish|Sunol-Midtown, California}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Sunol, California
|other_name               = Suñol
|settlement_type          = [[census-designated place]]
|image_skyline            = Sunol_Depot,_Niles_Cañon_Railway,_Sunol,_CA.jpg
|imagesize                = 300px
|image_caption            = Historic Sunol Train Depot, on  the [[Niles Canyon Railway]]
|image_seal               =
|image_map                = Alameda_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Sunol_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Alameda County, California|Alameda County]] and the state of [[California]]
|image_map1               =
|mapsize1                 =
|map_caption1             =
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|California}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Alameda County, California|Alameda]]
|government_type          =
|leader_title1            = [[California's 5th State Senate district|State Senate]]
|leader_name1             = {{Representative|casd|5|fmt=sleader}}<ref name=ccrc>{{Cite web |title=Final Maps {{!}} California Citizens Redistricting Commission |url=https://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/final-maps/ |access-date=October 18, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
|leader_title2            = [[California's 24th State Assembly district|State&nbsp;Assembly]]
|leader_name2             = {{Representative|caad|24|fmt=sleader}}<ref name=ccrc/>
|leader_title3            = [[California's 14th congressional district|U.S. Congress]]
|leader_name3             = {{Representative|cacd|14|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|14}}</ref>
|established_date         =
<!-- Area------------------>
|area_magnitude           =
| unit_pref               = US
| 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=August 30, 2023}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 28.59
| area_land_sq_mi         = 28.26
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.334
| area_water_percent      = 1.2
| area_note               = 
|elevation_ft             = 266
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1670341|Sunol}}</ref>
|population_as_of         = 2020
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census">{{Cite web|title=Sunol CDP, California|publisher=United States Census Bureau|url=https://data.census.gov/profile?g=160XX00US0677042|access-date=August 30, 2023}}</ref>
|population_total         = 922
|population_metro         =
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|35|40|N|121|53|19|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 94586
|area_codes                = [[Area code 925|925]], [[Area codes 510 and 341|510, 341]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 06-77042
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
|blank1_info              = {{GNIS4|1670341}}, {{GNIS4|2410033}}
|footnotes                =
|website                  =
}}

'''Sunol''' ({{langx|es|Suñol}}) is an [[unincorporated area]] and [[census-designated place]] in [[Alameda County, California|Alameda County]], [[California]]. Located in the [[Sunol Valley]] of the [[East Bay]], the population was 922 at the 2020 census. It is best known as the location of the [[Sunol Water Temple]] and for its historic tourist railroad system, the [[Niles Canyon Railway]].

==Etymology==
[[File:Antonio_Suñol.jpg|thumb|left|Don [[Antonio Suñol]], founder and namesake of Sunol, founded on his [[Rancho Valle de San José]].]]
Sunol, formerly '''Sunolglen''', is named for Don [[Antonio Suñol]]. His adobe ranch house from the 1840s was located where the San Francisco water system's works are now located.<ref>Capace, Nancy (1999). ''Encyclopedia of California''. North American Book Dist LLC. Page 447. {{ISBN|9780403093182}}.</ref>

==History==
The first Sunol post office opened in 1871 and the name was changed to Sunolglen the same year.<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|710}}</ref> The name reverted to Sunol in 1920.<ref name=CGN /> The town's name is in honor of Antonio Suñol, first postmaster in nearby San Jose and part owner of the historical [[Rancho Valle de San Jose (Bernal)|Rancho Valle de San Jose]] land grant that once contained the site of the town.<ref name=CGN /> [[Thomas Foxwell Bachelder]] had large farm in Sunol and sold land in 1884 that founded much of the town.<ref>[https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/39955e7b-666b-4bdd-bd34-bf2bd28d3c31 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Thomas Foxwell Bachelder Barn, ''npgallery.nps.gov'']</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marieantoinetteinteriors.com/blog-clone-1674966682156/2022/3/help-here-comes-the-sun-do-do-do|title=Help! Here Comes the Sun!|website=Marie Antoinette Interiors}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2006/02/23/recognized-on-historic-register/|title=Recognized on Historic Register|date=February 23, 2006}}</ref>

==Geography==
Sunol is located adjacent to two railroads and lies near the crossroads of [[Interstate 680 (California)|Interstate 680]] and [[California State Route 84|State Route 84]].  These connect Sunol with Fremont to the south and west, Pleasanton to the north, and Livermore to the northeast.  Sunol sits {{convert|17|mi|km}} north of the center of San Jose and {{convert|32|mi|km}} southeast of [[San Francisco]].

The town lies near [[Alameda Creek]] at the northwest edge of the [[Sunol Valley]].  The [[San Antonio Reservoir (Alameda County)|San Antonio Reservoir]] lies {{convert|3|mi|km}} to Sunol's east, and the [[Calaveras Reservoir]] lies {{convert|8|mi|km}} south of the town.

North of downtown is the neighborhood of [[Kilkare Woods, California|Kilkare Woods]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maps {{!}} Alameda County |url=https://www.acgov.org/government/maps.htm |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=www.acgov.org}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the Sunol CDP has a total area of {{convert|28.6|sqmi|km2}}, of which 98.8% is land and 1.2% is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2000= 1332
|2010= 913
|2020= 922
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br>1850–1870<ref name=1870CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><ref name=1870CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County  |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1880-1890<ref name=1890CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1900<ref name=1900CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1930<ref name=1930CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1960<ref name=1960CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1990<ref name=1990CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
2000<ref name=2000CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
}}

Sunol first appeared as a [[census designated place]] in the [[2000 U.S. census]].<ref name=2000CensusCA/>

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Sunol CDP, 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 – Sunol CDP, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0677042&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</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) – Sunol CDP, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0677042&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |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) – Sunol CDP, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0677042&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|1,077
|719
|style='background: #ffffe6; |618
|80.86%
|78.75%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |67.03%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|0
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4
|0.00%
|0.11%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.43%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|13
|3
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.98%
|0.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.11%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|64
|48
|style='background: #ffffe6; |105
|4.80%
|5.26%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11.39%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|3
|5
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5
|0.23%
|0.55%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.54%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|0
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7
|0.00%
|0.11%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.76%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|59
|45
|style='background: #ffffe6; |39
|4.43%
|4.93%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.23%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|116
|91
|style='background: #ffffe6; |143
|8.71%
|9.97%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15.51%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''1,332'''
|'''913'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''922 '''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|} 

The [[2020 United States Census]] reported that Sunol had a population of 922. The population density was {{convert|32.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Sunol was 71.0% [[White Americans|White]], 0.4% [[African Americans|African American]], 0.1% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 11.4% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.5% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 4.1% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 12.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 15.5% of the population.

The Census reported that 99.3% of the population lived in households, 0.7% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and none were institutionalized.

There were 359 households, out of which 22.3% included children under the age of 18, 59.6% were married-couple households, 4.7% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 14.8% had a female householder with no partner present, and 20.9% had a male householder with no partner present. 24.0% of households were one person, and 14.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.55. There were 259 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (72.1% of all households).

The age distribution was 14.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% aged 18 to 24, 21.3% aged 25 to 44, 30.0% aged 45 to 64, and 26.8% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 51.7{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males.

There were 398 housing units at an average density of {{convert|14.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 359 (90.2%) were occupied. Of these, 76.9% were owner-occupied, and 23.1% were occupied by renters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sunol CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=160XX00US0677042 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sunol CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=160XX00US0677042 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref>

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $182,250, and the [[per capita income]] was $94,218. Of those aged 16 and over, 58.4% were employed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sunol CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=160XX00US0677042  |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref>

==Area attractions==
[[Image:Sunol water temple.JPG|alt=Open air round, marble structure resting on a layered base with twelve columns supporting the round, marble roof. There are leafless trees in the background.|thumb|The Sunol Water Temple]]
*The [[Sunol Water Temple]] is an unusual Roman-inspired structure that marks the confluence of three sources of water that flow into the Sunol Valley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfwater.org/index.aspx?page=94|title = San Francisco Water Power Sewer &#124; SFPUC| date=December 14, 2023 }}</ref>
*[[Sunol Regional Wilderness]] is part of the East Bay Regional Parks District, and has hiking trails, naturalist events, and a visitor center.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-08 |title=Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve {{!}} East Bay Parks |url=https://www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.ebparks.org |language=en}}</ref>
*The [[Niles Canyon Railway]] Sunol Depot was built in 1884, and is the last surviving example of a [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific]] standard design known as a "One-Story Combination Depot #7."  The building has been restored and is operated by the [[Pacific Locomotive Association]].
*Niles Canyon Road runs westward from Sunol and is a scenic {{convert|7|mi|km|adj=on}} drive to Fremont.
* A statue of [[Bosco the dog|Bosco]], the dog elected mayor,<ref>{{cite web  |url = http://www.alamedacreek.org/Media_Articles/Pleasanton%20Weekly%2011-29-02.pdf
  |title = Welcome to Sunol
  |access-date = 2008-06-20
  |author = Teresa Brown
  |date = November 29, 2002
  |work = [[Pleasanton Weekly]]
}}</ref> sits in front of the Post Office.<ref name=kntv1>
{{cite news
| date = 17 December 2008
| title = Bay Area's First Canine Mayor Memorialized
| url = http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/weird/The-Bosco-Ramos-Story-to-be-Immortalized.html
| newspaper = [[NBC Bay Area]]
| location = [[San Jose, California]]
| publisher = [[NBCUniversal]]
| access-date = 27 October 2013
}}</ref> Bosco achieved a degree of international notoriety in 1990 when the Chinese newspaper ''[[People's Daily]]'' reported on his tenure as an alleged example of the failings of the American electoral process.<ref>{{cite web
  |url = http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/program.pl?ID=573498
  |title = Sunol, California / Dogmocracy / Bosco The Dog
  |access-date = 2008-06-20
  |author = George Lewis
  |author-link = George Lewis (journalist)
  |date =  February 26, 1990
  |work = NBC Evening News
}}</ref>
*In 2007, songwriter [[Will Stratton]] released a song named after the town on his first album.<ref>{{cite web
  |url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1041249|pure_url=yes}}
  |title = What the Night Said
  |access-date = 2009-07-20
  |author = Erik Hage
  |author-link = Erik Hage (journalist)
  |date =  May 1, 2007
  |work = Allmusic.com}}</ref>

==School district==
The majority of Sunol is in the [[Sunol Glen Unified School District]]. [[Castro Valley Unified School District]] and [[Pleasanton Unified School District]] have small portions of Sunol.<ref name=AlamedaCountymap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06001_alameda/DC20SD_C06001.pdf|title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Alameda County, CA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-12-15}}</ref>

The Sunol Glen School, a K–8 public school, is the sole school of Sunol Glen USD.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sunol.k12.ca.us/our-history|title=Our History|publisher=[[Sunol Glen Unified School District]]|accessdate=2022-12-15}}</ref> High school students are served by other local high schools, including [[Foothill High School (Pleasanton, California)|Foothill High School]] in nearby Pleasanton.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{Cite GNIS|1670341|Sunol}}

==External links==
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area}}

* {{Official website|https://sunol.net/}}
{{Commons category}}

{{SF Bay Area}}
{{Alameda County, California}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Alameda County, California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1871]]
[[Category:1871 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in California]]