El Cerrito, California: Difference between revisions

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Unlike the automatically frequently updating {{maplink}} (see also Wikipedia:Mapframe maps in infoboxes), most of the "Incorporated and Unincorporated areas [CITY] highlighted" static maps were uploaded between 2007 (19 years ago) and 2017 (9 years ago) and do not necessarily reflect the borders now in 2026 (see also Wikipedia talk:WikiProject California/Archive 7#Proposal to deprecate Incorporated and Unincorporated area static maps
 
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{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{About|<!--Not used-->|the community in Riverside County|El Cerrito, Riverside County, California|the neighborhood in San Diego|El Cerrito, San Diego|other uses|Cerrito (disambiguation)}}
{{About||other places|El Cerrito, Riverside County, California|and|El Cerrito, San Diego}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
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  | image_flag              = Flag of El Cerrito, California.gif
  | image_flag              = Flag of El Cerrito, California.gif
  | image_seal              = Seal of El Cerrito, California.png
  | image_seal              = Seal of El Cerrito, California.png
  | image_map                = File:Contra Costa County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas El Cerrito Highlighted 0621796.svg
  | mapframe                = yes
  | map_caption              = Location of El Cerrito in Contra Costa County, California
| mapframe-zoom            = 11
  | pushpin_map              = USA
  | mapframe-point          = none
  | pushpin_map              = USA#California#San Francisco Bay Area
| pushpin_label = El Cerrito
  | pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
  | pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief          = 1
  | subdivision_type        = Country
  | subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
  | subdivision_name        = {{flag|United States}}
  | subdivision_name        = [[United States]]
  | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
  | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
  | subdivision_name1        = [[California]]
  | subdivision_name1        = {{flag|California}}
  | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
  | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
  | subdivision_name2        = [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa]]
  | subdivision_name2        = [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa]]
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  |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s  
  |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s  
  |access-date=March 27, 2013 |url-status=dead  
  |access-date=March 27, 2013
|url-status=dead
  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc  
  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc  
  |archive-date=November 3, 2014 }}</ref>
  |archive-date=November 3, 2014 }}</ref>
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'''El Cerrito''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "The Little Hill") is a city in [[Contra Costa County, California]], United States, and forms part of the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. It has a population of 25,962 according to the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. El Cerrito was founded by refugees from the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake]]. It was [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1917 as a village with 1,500 residents. As of the census in 2022, there were 25,583 people and 10,637 households in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elcerritocitycalifornia/PST045222}}</ref>
'''El Cerrito''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for 'The Little Hill') is a city in [[Contra Costa County, California]], United States, and forms part of the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. It has a population of 25,962 according to the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. El Cerrito was founded by refugees from the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake]]. It was [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1917 as a village with 1,500 residents. As of the census in 2022, there were 25,583 people and 10,637 households in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elcerritocitycalifornia/PST045222}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
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|2020= 25962
|2020= 25962
|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>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
| align = right
| align-fn = center
}}
}}


The [[2020 United States census]] reported that El Cerrito had a population of 25,962. The population density was {{convert|7,070.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of El Cerrito was 46.2% [[White Americans|White]], 5.5% [[African Americans|African American]], 0.5% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 29.8% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.2% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 5.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 12.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] residents of any race were 11.8% of the population.
===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], El Cerrito had a population of 25,962. The population density was {{convert|7,070.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A21796&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 17, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A21796&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 17, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>


The census reported that 99.5% of the population lived in households, 0.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.1% were institutionalized.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL"/>
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| [[White Americans|White]] || 11,982 || 46.2%
|-
| [[African Americans|Black or African American]] || 1,426 || 5.5%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]] || 118 || 0.5%
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] || 7,738 || 29.8%
|-
| [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander|Other Pacific Islander]] || 56 || 0.2%
|-
| Some other race || 1,416 || 5.5%
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]] || 3,226 || 12.4%
|-
| ''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race)'' || 3,075 || 11.8%
|}


There were 10,483 households, out of which 29.0% included children under the age of 18, 50.1% were married-couple households, 6.9% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 26.3% had a female householder with no partner present, and 16.8% had a male householder with no partner present. 25.3% of households were one person, and 13.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47. There were 6,798 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (64.8% of all households).
The census reported that 99.5% of the population lived in households, 0.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.1% were institutionalized. 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A21796&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 17, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020DP"/>


The age distribution was 17.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% aged 18 to 24, 29.7% aged 25 to 44, 26.3% aged 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 42.6{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males.
There were 10,483 households, out of which 29.0% included children under the age of 18. Of all households, 50.1% were married-couple households, 6.9% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 26.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, and 16.8% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 25.3% of households were one person, and 13.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47. There were 6,798 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (64.8% of all households).<ref name="Census2020DP"/>


There were 10,996 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,994.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 10,483 (95.3%) were occupied. Of these, 58.4% were owner-occupied, and 41.6% were occupied by renters.<ref>{{cite web |title=El Cerrito 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=1600000US0621796 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=El Cerrito city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0621796 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref>
The age distribution was 17.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% aged 18 to 24, 29.7% aged 25 to 44, 26.3% aged 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.8 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>


There were 10,996 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,994.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 10,483 (95.3%) were occupied. Of the occupied units, 58.4% were owner-occupied and 41.6% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.2%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref name="Census2020PL"/>
===Language===
English was the sole home language of 70.47% of the population; other languages spoken by residents were Spanish (6.26%), Chinese (not specified, 5.96%), Japanese (2.70%), Mandarin (1.80%), Cantonese (1.57%), [[Persian language|Persian]] (1.43%), Tagalog (1.30%), Korean (1.08%), French (0.90%), German (0.83%), Formosan (0.73%), Italian (0.66%), Vietnamese (0.57%), Urdu (0.50%), and 3.23% of people spoke other home languages.<ref name="lang">[http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=6&county_id=&mode=&zip=&place_id=21796&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r El Cerrito entry], MLA Data Center, retrieved October 21, 2007</ref>
English was the sole home language of 70.47% of the population; other languages spoken by residents were Spanish (6.26%), Chinese (not specified, 5.96%), Japanese (2.70%), Mandarin (1.80%), Cantonese (1.57%), [[Persian language|Persian]] (1.43%), Tagalog (1.30%), Korean (1.08%), French (0.90%), German (0.83%), Formosan (0.73%), Italian (0.66%), Vietnamese (0.57%), Urdu (0.50%), and 3.23% of people spoke other home languages.<ref name="lang">[http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=6&county_id=&mode=&zip=&place_id=21796&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r El Cerrito entry], MLA Data Center, retrieved October 21, 2007</ref>


===2023 ACS estimates===
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated the median household income was $127,475, and the [[per capita income]] was $72,937. About 4.8% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=El Cerrito city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0621796 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 25, 2025}}</ref>
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated the median household income was $127,475, and the [[per capita income]] was $72,937. About 4.8% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=El Cerrito city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0621796 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 25, 2025}}</ref>
==Economy==
==Economy==
[[File:Shops in El Cerrito (2666038259).jpg|left|thumb|Shops in El Cerrito]]
[[File:Shops in El Cerrito (2666038259).jpg|left|thumb|Shops in El Cerrito]]
[[San Pablo Avenue]] stretches the length of El Cerrito and is the primary commercial and retail corridor of the city, though there is a segment in which the businesses on the west side of the avenue are actually in [[Richmond Annex]] but have an El Cerrito postal address.
[[San Pablo Avenue]] stretches the length of El Cerrito and is the primary commercial and retail corridor of the city, though there is a segment in which the businesses on the west side of the avenue are actually in [[Richmond Annex]] but have an El Cerrito postal address.


El Cerrito is home to [[El Cerrito Plaza (Shopping Center)|El Cerrito Plaza]], a large, [[regional mall]], served by public transit at the adjacent [[El Cerrito Plaza station]]. The shopping center is surrounded by other commercial and retail businesses along San Pablo Avenue and Fairmount Avenue, including the [[Cerrito Theater]], a restored two-screen movie theater.
El Cerrito is home to [[El Cerrito Plaza]], a large, [[regional mall]], served by public transit at the adjacent [[El Cerrito Plaza station]]. The shopping center is surrounded by other commercial and retail businesses along San Pablo Avenue and Fairmount Avenue, including the [[Cerrito Theater]], a restored two-screen movie theater.


The city is nominally home to [[Arhoolie Records]] (actually located in [[Richmond Annex]]), part of the [[Smithsonian Institution]]. Also located in the city was [[Playland-Not-At-The-Beach]], a now-closed popular amusement park museum.
The city is nominally home to [[Arhoolie Records]] (actually located in [[Richmond Annex]]), part of the [[Smithsonian Institution]]. Also located in the city was [[Playland-Not-At-The-Beach]], a now-closed popular amusement park museum.
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==Education==
==Education==
El Cerrito is in the [[West Contra Costa Unified School District]], a multi-city district that operates three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school in the city:
El Cerrito is in the [[West Contra Costa Unified School District]], a multi-city district that operates three elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools in the city:
*Fairmont Elementary School
*Fairmont Elementary School
*Harding Elementary School
*Harding Elementary School
*Madera Elementary School
*Madera Elementary School
*Fred T. Korematsu Middle School (opened in 2015 at the site of the former Castro Elementary School, replacing Portola Middle School which was deemed seismically unsafe)
*Fred T. Korematsu Middle School (opened in 2015 at the site of the former Castro Elementary School, replacing Portola Middle School, which was deemed seismically unsafe)
*[[El Cerrito High School]]
*[[El Cerrito High School]]
 
*Summit K2 (which is both a middle school and a high school)
===Libraries===
===Libraries===
There is a branch of the [[Contra Costa County Library]] system in El Cerrito.<ref>"[http://ccclib.org/locations/elcerrito.html El Cerrito Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719201351/http://ccclib.org/locations/elcerrito.html |date=2011-07-19 }}." [[Contra Costa County Library]]. Retrieved on April 1, 2010.</ref>
There is a branch of the [[Contra Costa County Library]] system in El Cerrito.<ref>"[http://ccclib.org/locations/elcerrito.html El Cerrito Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719201351/http://ccclib.org/locations/elcerrito.html |date=2011-07-19 }}." [[Contra Costa County Library]]. Retrieved on April 1, 2010.</ref>
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The [[Ohlone Greenway]] is part of a regional north–south active transportation route, and is a popular path for bike commuters and recreational cyclists and pedestrians.
The [[Ohlone Greenway]] is part of a regional north–south active transportation route, and is a popular path for bike commuters and recreational cyclists and pedestrians.


== In popular culture ==
==In popular culture==
* El Cerrito is mentioned in the book ''[[ttfn (book)|ttfn]]'' by [[Lauren Myracle]]. Character Angela finds out the family is moving to El Cerrito.<ref name="Myracle2007">{{cite book|author=Lauren Myracle|title=TTFN (Ta-Ta for Now)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UZDCAQAACAAJ|date=February 1, 2007|publisher=Harry N. Abrams|isbn=978-0-8109-9279-5}}</ref>
* El Cerrito is mentioned in the book ''[[ttfn (book)|ttfn]]'' by [[Lauren Myracle]]. Character Angela finds out the family is moving to El Cerrito.<ref name="Myracle2007">{{cite book|author=Lauren Myracle|title=TTFN (Ta-Ta for Now)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UZDCAQAACAAJ|date=February 1, 2007|publisher=Harry N. Abrams|isbn=978-0-8109-9279-5}}</ref>
* El Cerrito, referred to as "Old El Cerrito", is mentioned in the book ''Star Trek: The Kobayashi Maru'' by author Julia Ecklar. While attending Star Fleet Academy in San Francisco, Cadet James T. Kirk, on failing the ''Kobayashi Maru'' test for the second time, travels to the World Library annex in Old El Cerrito in hopes of finding a solution to the test.
* El Cerrito, referred to as "Old El Cerrito", is mentioned in the book ''Star Trek: The Kobayashi Maru'' by author Julia Ecklar. While attending Star Fleet Academy in San Francisco, Cadet James T. Kirk, on failing the ''Kobayashi Maru'' test for the second time, travels to the World Library annex in Old El Cerrito in hopes of finding a solution to the test.
* El Cerrito is mentioned in the song "Golden Gate Fields" by [[Rancid (band)|Rancid]].
* El Cerrito is mentioned in the song "Golden Gate Fields" by [[Rancid (band)|Rancid]].
*[[Metallica]] wrote ''Ride the Lightning'' and ''Master of Puppets'' in a small house in El Cerrito where the band lived for a while. Cliff Burton joined the band only if Metallica would agree to move to El Cerrito.
*[[Metallica]] wrote ''Ride the Lightning'' and ''Master of Puppets'' in a small house in El Cerrito where the band lived for a while. Cliff Burton joined the band only if Metallica would agree to move to El Cerrito.
* [[Creedence Clearwater Revival]] was formed in El Cerrito in 1959.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cavanagh |first=David |url= http://www.uncut.co.uk/features/creedence-clearwater-revival-the-full-story-by-john-fogerty-stu-cook-and-doug-clifford-6563 |title=Creedence Clearwater Revival – the full story, by John Fogerty, Stu Cook and Doug Clifford |work=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |date=July 18, 2014 |access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Game Theory (band)|Game Theory]]'s 1988 song "You Drive" mentions El Cerrito in the first line.
* [[Game Theory (band)|Game Theory]]'s 1988 song "You Drive" mentions El Cerrito in the first line.
* [[Cracker (band)|Cracker]] recorded a song titled "El Cerrito" released on their 2014 album ''[[Berkeley to Bakersfield]]''.
* [[Cracker (band)|Cracker]] recorded a song titled "El Cerrito" released on their 2014 album ''[[Berkeley to Bakersfield]]''.
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[[Category:El Cerrito, California| ]]
[[Category:El Cerrito, California| ]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1906]]
[[Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1906]]
[[Category:Cities in Contra Costa County, California]]
[[Category:Cities in Contra Costa County, California]]
[[Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in California]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in California]]

Latest revision as of 20:21, 24 May 2026

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Settlement short description".Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Expression error: Unexpected < operator

El Cerrito (Spanish for 'The Little Hill') is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States, and forms part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It has a population of 25,962 according to the 2020 census. El Cerrito was founded by refugees from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. It was incorporated in 1917 as a village with 1,500 residents. As of the census in 2022, there were 25,583 people and 10,637 households in the city.[1]

History

File:Don Víctor Castro (cropped).jpg
Don Víctor Castro, a Californio ranchero who helped found El Cerrito on his Rancho El Sobrante

El Cerrito was founded by refugees from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. They settled in what was then Don Víctor Castro's Rancho San Pablo, adjacent to the ranch owned by the family of Luís María Peralta, the Rancho San Antonio.[2] A post office opened at the settlement in 1909 and the refugee camp became known as Rust, after Wilhelm F. Rust, its first postmaster.[3]277504-4|[4] The village's residents did not care for the name and changed it to El Cerrito (meaning "little hill" or "knoll") in 1916, in reference to nearby Albany Hill.[3][5][6] A year later, El Cerrito was incorporated as a village with 1,500 residents.[2]

El Cerrito was incorporated in August 1917. The communities of Stege Junction, Rust, Schmidtville, and Schindler were all included in the new city.[7][8][9][10] The 1920 census shows that the Schmidtville community had many Italian immigrants.[11] A post office operated at Schmidtville from 1900 to 1901.[3]

Geography

File:Albany Hill.jpg
Albany Hill in neighboring Albany, California, named by Luis María Peralta as "El Cerrito de San Antonio" ("The Little Hill of St. Anthony"), is the namesake of the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Script error: No such module "convert"., all of it land. The city ranges in elevation from 20 to 934 feet, with an average elevation of Script error: No such module "convert"..277504-4|[4]

El Cerrito is located on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in the extreme southwest corner of Contra Costa County. The hilly areas of El Cerrito provide views of San Francisco and of the Golden Gate Bridge. El Cerrito is located along Interstate 80 and is near Interstate 580. It is bordered by Albany and Kensington to the south, the Richmond annex to the west, East Richmond Heights to the north, and Wildcat Canyon Regional Park to the east.

The namesake of El Cerrito ("the little hill" in Spanish), local landmark Albany Hill, is not located in El Cerrito itself but just across the border in the municipality of Albany.[5][6] The Hayward Fault runs through El Cerrito. El Cerrito is within Script error: No such module "convert". of Berkeley to the southeast, and is approximately Script error: No such module "convert". from the University of California Berkeley campus.

Demographics

<templatestyles src="US Census population/styles.css"/>

Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly%±
19201,505—
19303,870Script error: No such module "String".%
19406,137Script error: No such module "String".%
195018,011Script error: No such module "String".%
196025,437Script error: No such module "String".%
197025,190Script error: No such module "String".%
198022,731Script error: No such module "String".%
199022,869Script error: No such module "String".%
200023,171Script error: No such module "String".%
201023,549Script error: No such module "String".%
202025,962Script error: No such module "String".%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, El Cerrito had a population of 25,962. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert"..[13][14]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[14]
Race Number Percent
White 11,982 46.2%
Black or African American 1,426 5.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native 118 0.5%
Asian 7,738 29.8%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 56 0.2%
Some other race 1,416 5.5%
Two or more races 3,226 12.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 3,075 11.8%

The census reported that 99.5% of the population lived in households, 0.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.1% were institutionalized. 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.[15][13]

There were 10,483 households, out of which 29.0% included children under the age of 18. Of all households, 50.1% were married-couple households, 6.9% were cohabiting couple households, 26.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, and 16.8% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 25.3% of households were one person, and 13.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47. There were 6,798 families (64.8% of all households).[13]

The age distribution was 17.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% aged 18 to 24, 29.7% aged 25 to 44, 26.3% aged 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65Script error: No such module "String".years of age or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.8 males age 18 and over.[13]

There were 10,996 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert"., of which 10,483 (95.3%) were occupied. Of the occupied units, 58.4% were owner-occupied and 41.6% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.2%.[13][14]

Language

English was the sole home language of 70.47% of the population; other languages spoken by residents were Spanish (6.26%), Chinese (not specified, 5.96%), Japanese (2.70%), Mandarin (1.80%), Cantonese (1.57%), Persian (1.43%), Tagalog (1.30%), Korean (1.08%), French (0.90%), German (0.83%), Formosan (0.73%), Italian (0.66%), Vietnamese (0.57%), Urdu (0.50%), and 3.23% of people spoke other home languages.[16]

2023 ACS estimates

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated the median household income was $127,475, and the per capita income was $72,937. About 4.8% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line.[17]

Economy

File:Shops in El Cerrito (2666038259).jpg
Shops in El Cerrito

San Pablo Avenue stretches the length of El Cerrito and is the primary commercial and retail corridor of the city, though there is a segment in which the businesses on the west side of the avenue are actually in Richmond Annex but have an El Cerrito postal address.

El Cerrito is home to El Cerrito Plaza, a large, regional mall, served by public transit at the adjacent El Cerrito Plaza station. The shopping center is surrounded by other commercial and retail businesses along San Pablo Avenue and Fairmount Avenue, including the Cerrito Theater, a restored two-screen movie theater.

The city is nominally home to Arhoolie Records (actually located in Richmond Annex), part of the Smithsonian Institution. Also located in the city was Playland-Not-At-The-Beach, a now-closed popular amusement park museum.

As of the last quarter of 2023, the top 25 sales tax producers in El Cerrito are: Barnes & Noble, Chevron, CVS Pharmacy, El Cerrito Honda, Exxon, Harbor Freight Tools, Ifshin Violins, Jack in the Box, JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts, Lucky Supermarket, Marshalls, McDonald’s, Nug, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Pastime Hardware, Pet Food Express, Petco, Petvet Petfood, Ross, Safeway, STIIIZY El Cerrito, T Mobile, Trader Joe’s, Verizon Wireless, and Walgreens.[18]

Parks and recreation

El Cerrito city parks include both recreation/sports parks as well as undeveloped nature areas. Most notable are the Script error: No such module "convert". Hillside Natural Area open space, Huber Park (Terrace Drive), Cerrito Vista Park (Moeser Lane and Pomona Avenue), Arlington Park (Arlington Boulevard), Tassajara Park (Tassajara Avenue and Barrett Avenue), Poinsett Park (Poinsett Avenue), and the Canyon Trail Park and Art Center (Gatto Avenue).

The city is home to a Script error: No such module "convert". segment of the Ohlone Greenway (named after the Native American Ohlone people), a trail that runs the length of the City along a former railroad grade underneath the BART right-of-way that is popular with walkers, runners, and bicyclists, as well as the blind, deaf, and mute population.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "labelled list hatnote".

Government

File:El Cerrito Plaza station from Albany Hill, May 2018.JPG
El Cerrito Plaza station, served by Bay Area Rapid Transit

The City of El Cerrito is a Charter City that incorporated as a General Law City on August 23, 1917, and just over one hundred years later became a Charter City. The city is organized as a Council-Manager form of local municipal government, and its City Charter was adopted by the voters in November 2018. The City Council consists of five members elected at large for four-year, overlapping terms. The Council selects the Mayor for a one-year term from among its members. The Mayor and City Council provide community leadership, develop policies to guide the City in delivering services and achieving community goals, and encourage citizen understanding and involvement. The Council Members also serve as the governing body of the El Cerrito Employees’ Pension Board and the El Cerrito Public Financing Authority.

The City provides police and fire services as well as recreation, streets and roads, recycling, economic development, public improvements, building, planning and zoning, and general administrative services. Residents are provided water by East Bay Municipal Utility District and sewer services through Stege Sanitary District. PG&E provides gas and electricity services, and in addition the city is a member of MCE, a public, not-for-profit electricity provider that gives all PG&E electric customers the choice of having 60% to 100% of their electricity supplied from clean, renewable sources. Library services are provided by the County of Contra Costa. The City contracts with East Bay Sanitary for garbage and green waste collection service through a franchise agreement. Comcast, AT&T, and a host of smaller companies provide telecommunication services.

Education

El Cerrito is in the West Contra Costa Unified School District, a multi-city district that operates three elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools in the city:

  • Fairmont Elementary School
  • Harding Elementary School
  • Madera Elementary School
  • Fred T. Korematsu Middle School (opened in 2015 at the site of the former Castro Elementary School, replacing Portola Middle School, which was deemed seismically unsafe)
  • El Cerrito High School
  • Summit K2 (which is both a middle school and a high school)

Libraries

There is a branch of the Contra Costa County Library system in El Cerrito.[19]

Transportation

File:New faregates at El Cerrito del Norte station, March 2021.jpg
El Cerrito del Norte station, served by Bay Area Rapid Transit

Interstate 80 runs north–south through El Cerrito, with San Pablo Avenue serving as the primary surface artery. Bay Area Rapid Transit serves two stations in the city – Template:Bart and Template:Bart – while AC Transit operates local bus service. El Cerrito del Norte station is a major hub for AC Transit, as well as North Bay regional bus operators including FAST, Golden Gate Transit, Vallejo Transit, Napa VINE, and WestCat.

The Ohlone Greenway is part of a regional north–south active transportation route, and is a popular path for bike commuters and recreational cyclists and pedestrians.

In popular culture

  • El Cerrito is mentioned in the book ttfn by Lauren Myracle. Character Angela finds out the family is moving to El Cerrito.[20]
  • El Cerrito, referred to as "Old El Cerrito", is mentioned in the book Star Trek: The Kobayashi Maru by author Julia Ecklar. While attending Star Fleet Academy in San Francisco, Cadet James T. Kirk, on failing the Kobayashi Maru test for the second time, travels to the World Library annex in Old El Cerrito in hopes of finding a solution to the test.
  • El Cerrito is mentioned in the song "Golden Gate Fields" by Rancid.
  • Metallica wrote Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets in a small house in El Cerrito where the band lived for a while. Cliff Burton joined the band only if Metallica would agree to move to El Cerrito.
  • Creedence Clearwater Revival was formed in El Cerrito in 1959.[21]
  • Game Theory's 1988 song "You Drive" mentions El Cerrito in the first line.
  • Cracker recorded a song titled "El Cerrito" released on their 2014 album Berkeley to Bakersfield.

Notable people

Notes

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b Contra Costa/Alameda County LineScript error: No such module "Category handler".[<span title="Script error: No such module "string".">usurped]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., Mervin Belfils/El Cerrito Historical Society, October 1975/June 2006, retrieved August 1, 2007
  3. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ 277504_4-0|a 277504_4-1|b Template:Cite GNIS
  5. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Town Memo (February 2, 2016)
  8. ↑ (December 7, 1910). Campaign for Incorporation, Newcastle News
  9. ↑ Radin, Rick and William Love (February 3, 2016). "El Cerrito begins planning for its centennial", East Bay Times
  10. ↑ (December 14, 1904). Tramp Frightens School Girl, Evening Statesman
  11. ↑ Historic Resource Evaluation: 1715 Elm Street, El Cerrito, California, Ver Planck Historic Preservation Consulting (December 2013)
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ El Cerrito entry, MLA Data Center, retrieved October 21, 2007
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ "El Cerrito Library Script error: No such module "webarchive".." Contra Costa County Library. Retrieved on April 1, 2010.
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

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