Hercules, California
Coordinates: 38°01′02″N 122°17′19″W / 38.01722°N 122.28861°W
| City of Hercules | |||
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| — City — | |||
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| Nickname(s): The Dynamic City | |||
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| Coordinates: 38°01′02″N 122°17′19″W / 38.01722°N 122.28861°W | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | California | ||
| County | Contra Costa | ||
| Incorporated | 1900 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Joanne Ward | ||
| - Vice mayor | Joe Eddy McDonald | ||
| - City Council | Charleen Raines Ed Balico Kris Valstad |
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| - State Leg. | Sen. Tom Torlakson (D) Asm. Mark DeSaulnier (D) |
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| - U. S. Congress | George Miller (D) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 18.3 sq mi (47.4 km2) | ||
| - Land | 6.5 sq mi (16.8 km2) | ||
| - Water | 11.8 sq mi (30.6 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 79 ft (24 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Total | 19,488 | ||
| - Density | 3,007.5/sq mi (1,161.2/km2) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP code | 94547 | ||
| Area code(s) | 510 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-33308 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1658738 | ||
| Website | http://www.ci.hercules.ca.us/ | ||
Hercules is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 19,488 at the 2000 census, but has since grown significantly; the Census Bureau estimated that its population was 24,776 in 2006.[1] Formerly just one of many small bedroom-communities along the I-80 corridor in Western Contra Costa County, the city is undergoing a metamorphosis into a transit-oriented, mixed-use town. It is located about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of San Francisco, and approximately a half-hour drive (without traffic) from either Oakland or San Francisco[2]. Neighboring towns are Pinole to the southwest, Rodeo to the north, as well as Martinez to the east via CA-4.
The city's ethnically diverse population generally ranges from middle class to affluent. Hercules is home to a small amount of light manufacturing and high-tech industry (most notably Bio-Rad Laboratories, a Fortune 1000 company) as well as various commercial and retail activities. Most of the housing and other building stock is from the 1970s or newer. Attempts to develop mixed-use new development have begun in the waterfront district and around the intersection of I-80 and CA-4. The waterfront redevelopment includes the historic preservation and integration of a handful of buildings, some dating to Hercules's founding as a company town (see history below).
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[edit] History
The town was established as company housing by the California Powder Works in 1881 when it relocated its operations from San Francisco. Hercules was named after the company's leading brand of explosive, in turn named after the mythical hero. Powder manufacturing was an extremely dangerous endeavor at the time, and uncontrolled explosions were frequent (indeed 59 workers died in the first 40 years of operation at this site). Hercules's isolated location at the time, plus its proximity to rail and water transportation along San Pablo Bay, made it an ideal choice. The explosives manufactured at Hercules played a significant and decisive role in the Army's efforts to contain the fires started by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, as recounted by General Funston.[3]
Considerable study has been made of the heavy metal lead accumulated as upper layer soil contamination from prior air pollution stack emissions from the California Powder Works operations from this era.[4]
Hercules contributed significantly to the production of explosives during both World Wars. By the Second World War, the plant had diversified to produce fertilizers and other chemical products. Eventually the facility was out-competed by foreign manufacturers, and the plant was closed in 1976. However, by this time the surrounding area was experiencing rapid growth as the commuter belt moved further outward from San Francisco. By the mid-1970s Centex Homes and other developers began to build new subdivisions and changed Hercules into the residential suburb as it was known up until the late 1990s. Back in the 1970s, Hercules was one of the first cities in the United States to develop a comprehensive Noise Element of the General Plan. This work included the production of noise contour maps for all major highways and arterials, as well as a city wide mitigation plan.
Hercules incorporated in 1900.[5] The first post office was established in 1914.[5] By the 1940s Hercules organized its own law enforcement department and longtime Hercules Powder Company employee William Darke was named sheriff, becoming its first officer.[citation needed]
[edit] Transformation to Transit-Oriented, New Urbanism Town
In the year 2000, the City of Hercules faced many challenges and chartered an urban-design-based land use planning effort. This plan attempted to balance the preservation of the city's undeveloped land against continued sprawl and to redevelop the city's formerly industrial waterfront.
The resulting Plan for Central Hercules aspires to transform the sprawling, suburban, San Francisco Bay Area bedroom-community into a transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use town. At present, however, Hercules remains a bedroom community. It scores "32 out of 100--Car Dependent" according to Walkabilitiy.com.
If the Plan for Central Hercules eventually succeeds, the results would trump two main criticisms of New Urbanism:
- The new development in Hercules is built on brownfields not on greenfields
- The new development in Hercules will be well served by public transit
Much of the new construction is on formerly blighted reclaimed land, in contrast to the previously undeveloped land on which the most famous examples of New Urbanism have been built. Transformed from a past of heavy industry, the land has been remediated. A key component of the redevelopment will be a proposed all-in-one transit center that combines bus service by WestCAT, a new rail stop for the Amtrak Capitol Corridor train, and a new ferry terminal to provide direct service to San Francisco.
If the transit center gets built as planned, Hercules will succeed where the other two major New Urbanism towns in California (Laguna West and Mountain House) have failed. Hercules will be a New Urbanism town well served by public transit and not built on a greenfield.
On May 23, 2006, the Hercules city council voted unanimously to use its power of eminent domain to prevent Wal-Mart from building a store on an undeveloped 17-acre (69,000 m2) property overlooking San Pablo Bay which it deemed incompatible with the industrial waterfront redevelopment project.[6] In 2009 the city purchased the land back from Wal-Mart and Hercules became another American city to block Wal-Mart from building there.
[edit] Geography
Hercules is located at 38°01′02″N 122°17′19″W / 38.01722°N 122.28861°W,[7] at the southeast shore of the San Pablo Bay. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.3 square miles (47.4 km²), of which, 6.5 square miles (16.8 km²) of it is land and 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²) of it (64.59%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 19,488 people, 6,423 households, and 4,997 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,008.2 people per square mile (1,161.2/km²). There were 6,546 housing units at an average density of 1,010.5/sq mi (390.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 27.98% White, 18.78% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 42.73% Asian, 0.46% Pacific Islander, 4.47% from other races, and 5.33% from two or more races. 10.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,423 households out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.2% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.46.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $88,966, and the median income for a family was $93,294.[9] Males had a median income of $50,672 versus $40,433 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,699. About 1.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
[edit] Public libraries
The Hercules Library of the Contra Costa County Library is located in Hercules.[10]
[edit] Public schools
Hercules is within the West Contra Costa Unified School District.
- Hercules Middle/High School serves as the main middle and high school in the city.
- Hannah Ranch Elementary serves the Trees and Mandalay area.
- Ohlone Elementary serves the Gems and Hercules Avenue area.
- Lupine Elementary serves the Trees area.
[edit] Sister city
Hercules's sister city is 
Tsushima, Japan.
[edit] References
- ^ "Subcounty population estimates: Kentucky 2000-2006" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2007-06-28. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2006_6.csv. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
- ^ Twenty and 24 miles, respectively, at the speed limits of 50-65mph on the freeways makes for about 25 to 35 minutes of driving time for Oakland and San Francisco, respectively.
- ^ "How the Army Worked to Save San Francisco, by Brigadier General Frederick Funston (U.S.A.)". Cosmoplotian Magazine, July 1906. http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/24204/files/funston_report_earthquake_cosmopolitan_july_1906.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
- ^ M. Papineau and C. Michael Hogan, Air quality analysis of stationary sources, Hercules, Ca., Earth Metrics inc. (1976)
- ^ a b Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 642. ISBN 9781884995149.
- ^ San Francisco Chronicle (May 24, 2006). "Vote goes against Wal-Mart". San Francisco Chronicle (Knight Ridder). http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/24/BAGM8J15531.DTL. Retrieved 2006-05-24.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hercules, California
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Census Bureau official city fact sheet for Hercules, CA
- ^ "Hercules Library." Contra Costa County Library. Retrieved on April 1, 2010.
[edit] External links
- Official City Website
- Waterfront Watch, a development news blog
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Vallejo Rodeo |
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