San Pablo

About San Pablo

San Pablo is a popular tourist destination in the Oakland metropolitan area, part of California's Contra Costa County. It's largely surrounded by the city of Richmond, located just a short drive north of Downtown Oakland. The city is very small, at less than 3square miles, but home to several local attractions including, Alvaro Adobe, Blume House and a well-known local art gallery.

The History of San Pablo

San Pablo's original inhabitants were the Cuchiyun band of Ohlone people. They were eventually joined in the area by Spanish explorers who claimed it for their king in the late 1700s. Former soldier Francisco Castro was granted Rancho San Pablo, which occupied a significant amount of the land in modern-day San Pablo. It was this historic ranch that inspired the city's modern-day name.

San Pablo has remained a fairly small city since its incorporation in 1948, experiencing minor population booms in the 1950s, '80s and '90s.

Finding a Job in San Pablo

San Pablo's convenient location makes it an attractive choice for businesses. You'll find a number of jobs provided by local health care and educational institutions, like Contra Costa College, Vale Healthcare Center and San Pablo Healthcare & Wellness Center. Casino San Pablo is also a major employer in the area, as are local retailers Raley's and FoodMaxx. Much of the local economy relies on local retail establishments, which also provide a variety of sales and service jobs for San Pablo locals.

San Pablo has recently experienced excellent job growth, bouncing back from the nationwide recession that affected many cities. Its unemployment rate is fairly even with the national average. If you can't find a good career fit within city limits, you can easily commute to the surrounding city of Richmond for work.

San Pablo Schools

Public schools in San Pablo belong to the West Contra Costa Unified School District, based in nearby Richmond. The district's special services include an early intervention program, an early college high school program, an adult education center and a program to help recently-graduated special education students transition into the community. If you're looking for a private education for your child, there are several private schools in the city, both faith-based and secular.

Higher education in San Pablo is provided by Contra Costa College, the western campus of the Contra Costa Community College District.

Resources for Moving to San Pablo

Here are a few handy resources for planning your move to San Pablo:

• Utilities: Your power and gas services will be managed by Pacific Gas and Electric, while the East Bay Municipal Water District provides water services.
• Garbage and Recycling: Republic Services is responsible for curbside collection of trash and recyclables throughout the residential areas of San Pablo.
• Transportation: AC Transit facilitates a network of bus routes throughout San Pablo. It also provides connections to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), which connects you to the Greater Bay Area and major cities like San Francisco.

San Pablo Housing

San Pablo has a variety of housing options to suit all tastes and budgets, from older bungalows to modern dwellings. Hillside homes with water views are some of the city's most in-demand properties and generally its most expensive. The median home price in San Pablo is higher than the national average but more affordable than in many surrounding cities.