Alameda is a city located in Alameda County, California. It is a city on a small island of the same name next to Oakland, California in the San Francisco Bay. An additional part of the city is on Bay Farm Island, which it shares with the Oakland International Airport. The city has a small town feel with its Victorian homes and tree lined neighborhoods. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 72,259.
Vehicle access to the island is via three bridges to Oakland, a bridge to Bay Farm Island, and two one-way tunnels to Oakland's Chinatown. The bridges at Fruitvale Ave, High Street and Park Street and the tunnels at Webster Street and Harrison Street (the latter called the "Posey tube") connect Alameda and Oakland. Public transportation includes the AC Transit buses, including express buses to San Francisco, and two ferry services-- the Alameda-Oakland Ferry and the Harbor Bay Ferry. The island is also close to the BART train service.
Even though the island is just minutes off Interstate 880, the speed limit on the island is 25 mph (40 km/h) on almost every road. Many unaware drivers fail to slow down after exiting the highway. Groups like Pedestrian Friendly Alameda and BikeAlameda advocate stronger enforcement of speeding laws.
Due to its proximity to the Bay, wind surfers and kite surfers can often be seen along Crown Memorial State Beach. From the beach you also have views of the San Francisco skyline and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
One of the recent attractions is the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, a museum ship at the former Naval Air Station. The disused base and the streets of nearby Oakland were used to film the underground city, and motorcycle chase sequences in The Matrix Reloaded (2003). The Posey tube was used, with other Bay Area tunnels, in the filming of the 1970 version of THX-1138
One of Alameda's most famous residents is General James Doolittle who won the medal of honor for his bombing of Japan during WWII. Alameda is also the hometown of baseball greats Willie Stargell and Dontrelle Willis. Because of its active naval base, many people in naval families, such as Tom Hanks and Jim Morrison lived in Alameda briefly during their lives. The current President of the California State Senate Don Perata lives in Alameda.
Web Sites and Links
• Alameda City Guide
Guide to lodging, shopping, events, local weather, TV listings, pet care, health care, real estate, and rentals. Includes a virtual historical tour of Alameda through a collection of antique post cards.
• Alameda High School reunion siteA place for alumni from Alameda to come reminisce and have fun and find out about an upcoming reunion.
• Alameda HousingCurrent information and news regarding Alameda housing issues and programs. Workshops on social services, rent review, Alameda Point. Affordable housing projects.
• Alameda Point [ex Naval Air Station Alameda]Short history of NAS, concentrating on events after its closing.
• Estuary Policy Plan | Oakland, CaliforniaThere's the bay side, and the estuary side; the estuary is what separates Alameda from Oakland. Upcoming meetings, hearings, issues, related to the estuary, the Port of Oakland, and planning.
• Mystic Cottage, Journeys for NonviolenceWorks for the advancement of a nonviolent society through compassionate activism, seeking peace in action, mind and soul. Features articles, stories, and subscription information to its journal.
• The Best of Alamedathebestofalameda.com provides information about businesses, real estate, restaurants, and other links relating to the city of Alameda, California.
• The City of Alameda, California: The Island CityOfficial website of the City of Alameda: The Island City. Located in the heart of San Francisco Bay, this island community offers a unique combination of Victorian heritage and modern technology. Alameda is the ideal place to live, work and enjoy life.
• The Great California Land Grab - Alameda PointMaybe your company should relocate to the former Naval Air Station, now Alameda Point. Some basic information to consider.
