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Alameda (California)
Mall. City in Alameda County, California, United States. It is a city on an island little of the same name to the side of Oakland, the Bay of San Francisco. An additional part of the city is Farm Island Bay, which is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport.
The city has a small town feel with its Victorian homes and tree-lined neighborhoods. Alameda is a city of charter, rather than a general city of law, meaning that the city can provide for any form of government. Alameda became a charter town in 1916, and then adopted a council-manager government, which it retains to the present.
History
Origins
The island Alameda occupies was originally a peninsula connected to Oakland. Much of the peninsula was low-lying and marshy, but in the higher ground, the peninsula and the adjacent part of what is now downtown Oakland were home to one of the largest coastal oak forests in the world and the area so both were called encinal, Spanish for Oakland. Alameda is Spanish for the grove of trees in the poplar or the tree-lined avenue. This name was chosen in 1853 by popular vote.
The residents at the time of the arrival of Spanish explorers in the late 1700s were a local band from the Ohlone tribe. The peninsula became part of the vast San Antonio Ranch granted to Luis Peralta by the Spanish king who claimed California. The award was later confirmed by the New Republic of Mexico upon its independence from Spain.
Development
Early European settlers in the early gold rush into the 1850s included French lumberjacks supplying lumber to the rapidly expanding San Francisco and Chipman and Auginbaugh, major landowners who founded the village of Alameda near the corner of Encinal Avenue and Main Street in Alameda. The city was founded on June 6, 1853. Originally three small establishments grew up in the city. “Old Alameda” referred to the village in Encinal and High, Hibbardsville was at the North Shore Ferry and Shipping Terminal, and Woodstock was in the Midwest the Pacific Coast South Railroad ferry piers. and the central Pacific.
Eventually, the Central Pacific Ferry Pier became the “Alameda Mole” while the Central Pacific itself became the South Pacific. The Alameda Pier was the site of the first train across the transcontinental railroad in the San Francisco Bay area. The term was moved to Oakland a few years later. In 1917, an attraction called Neptune Beach was built in the area now known as Crab Cove. Often compared to Coney Island, the park was a major attraction in the 1920s and 1930s. The facilty’s original owners, the Strehlow family, partnered with a local confectioner to create the unique taste to Neptune Beach.. Although many do not know it, the snow cone and the popsicle were invented on Neptune’s beach.
The Kewpie doll, hand painted and dressed in unique hand-stitched dresses, became the original prize for winning games on the beach – another Neptune Beach invention. The Strehlows owned and operated the beach on their own, even filling in a section of the bay to add an additional Olympic-size pool and an exceptional roller coaster that must have given riders a tremendous view of the bay.. Neputune Beach’s two lush outdoor pools hosted swimming races and exhibitions by famous swimmers like Johnny Olympian Weismuller, who later starred as the original Tarzan, and Jack LaLane, who started a chain of clubs. Of the health. Unfortunately, the park closed down in 1939 Due to the Great Depression, the completion of the Bay Bridge, people avoiding paying the price of admission and generally the rise in car culture.
Once the Bay Bridge was complete, the rail lines, which ran right past the entrance to Neptune Beach on the way to Alameda Mole and the ferry, the riders lost in droves. People began using their cars to escape the city and the immediate suburbs like Alameda and to travel further afield in California.
Alameda lost its resort status as more distant locations became more attractive to San Francisco’s cash-rich tourists. Young people in town became aware of ways to avoid paying the dime for admission to the park. Strong swimmers or even waders could sneak in on the bay side, just swimming around the fence. While some of the Neptune Beach resort homes still exist and can be seen near Crab Cove, the vast majority of the structures – the world-famous Dentzel Company’s hand-carved carousel, the ferris wheel, the handy of Roller Coast, and other rides – they were auctioned off in 1940 for mere pennies on the dollar from their original cost.
Local newspapers
Alameda’s first newspaper, the Encinal, appeared in the early 1850s and the editor of the paper was instrumental in the movement to enter the city. After Encinal, several other papers appeared along geographic lines, and the daily Argus would eventually rise to prominence.
Around 1900 the daily Argus began to fade into roles of importance and the East and West times and the star combined to take the lead role as the Alameda Weather-Star in the 1930s. Under the ownership of the family of Kofman, the Weather-Star prospered until sale to the Alameda Newspaper Group (an out-of-town news corporation) in the 1970s.
In response to the lack of a local news source, Alameda realtors John Crittenden and John McNulty decided to combine their two publishing efforts in a new East End Voice, Alameda Journal, in 1987. Crittenden had published a real estate listing from homes to real estate agents, while McNulty was known for the island newspaper, which focused on local news, history, humor and advertising. The new publication found the hometown paper of choice. Sold to the Hills newspaper chain owned by Chip and Mary Brown.
The Browns, residents of Oakland, had assembled a chain of five East Bay weeklies and biweeklies: biweekly the Alameda daily, biweekly the Montclarion (serving Oakland’s Montclair district), the Piedmonter (Piedmont), the voice Berkeley, and the Albany / EL Cerrito newspaper.
In 1997, the Hills newspaper chain was bought by Knight Ridder, at the time, the second-largest newspaper chain in the US. Following the buy-in, former employees of Hillsides newspapers recognized the lack of a local community voice in Alameda, and again formed a new local-based newspaper, Alameda Sunshine, in 2001. In 2006 Gentleman Ridder announced his impending sale to McClatchy Corp., a Sacramento-based publishing firm.
McClatchy Corp. has put Against the Coast Times, which under Knight Ridder’s reorganization included all five of the original Hills newspapers, up for sale. The current owners of the Alameda Tiempo-Estrella, MediaNews, Inc., based in Colorado, have announced a strong interest in purchasing the Contra Costa Times chain and the San Jose Mercury News, consolidating the daily newspaper market of the east bay, effectively under one owner.
The California State Attorney General, as of June 2006, has been investigating the sale of previous Knight Ridder properties to MediaNews in the event of a potential breach of competition laws. The upshot of the sale to MediaNews would be the original victor of the Alameda newspaper wars losing in the end, being bought out by the newspaper company once deemed overdue.
Trains
In addition to the regular trains running to the Alameda Mole, Alameda was also served by local steam commuter lines from the Southern Pacific (initially, the Central Pacific) which were later transformed into East Bay power lines. The electrified trains from Souther Pacific were not streetcars, but full-size railroad cars that connected to the mainland by bridges at Webster Street and Fruitvale (only the last bridge survives today). The trains ran to the Oakland Mole and the Alameda Mole. In fact, a line that ran between the two moles was dubbed the “horseshoe line” for the shape of the route on a map.
Soon after the completion of the Bay Bridge, trains from Alameda ran directly to San Francisco on the lower deck of the bridge, ferries being made unnecessary.
Air ways
In the 1930s American Pan Airways established a seaplane port along the embankment that led to the Alameda mole. This was the original base for the famous China Clipper. From the advent of World War II, a vast stretch of the marshy southwest of the Alameda Mole area was filled and the Naval Air Station Alameda established. This major naval facility included a large airfield as well as docks for several aircraft carriers. It closed in 1997.
Present
Today, an Alameda resident looks to preserve some of the historic artifacts from the Neptune Beach era in a museum dedicated specifically to the resort and all of the “amusement machines.” While the existing and more general Alameda museum has quite a few Neptune artifacts beach in its collection, this new museum would focus more on the games, rides and other machines that brought fun to the shore of Alameda Bay.
As Park Street became the city’s main highway and from the location of Alameda’s main train station, residents of Old Alameda raised stakes and moved through town to downtown New. The location of the street was chosen by two landowners who wanted to attract tenants and development to their land. As a result they designated their mutual border as Park Street. The need for expanded shipping facilities led to the dredging of a canal through the marshland between Oakland and Alameda in 1902, turning Alameda into an island. Most of the canal soil was used to fill in the nearby marshland. The area of the island called Alameda de Bay Farm is no longer an island, but is linked by the causeway to Oakland.
In his youth, author Jack London was known to take part in oyster pirating in the highly productive oyster beds near Bay Farm Island, wish gone today. In the 1950s, the Alameda industrial and ship construction industries flourished along the estuary, where the world’s first, land-based, containerized shipping crane was used. Today, the Port of Oakland across the estuary serves as one of the largest ports on the West Coast, using shipping technologies originally experimented with in Alameda. On day 21 of March of 2006, Alameda is a “city of the Coast Guard,” one in seven in the country.
Geography
Alameda is located at 37 ° 46 ‘ North, 122 ° 15’ West.GR1 According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 59.5 km² (23.0 miles). 28.0 km² (10.8 miles) of it is land and 31.5 km² of 12.2 miles (52.98%) is water.
Today the city consists of the main original section, with the former naval air station at the west end of Alameda Island, “Southshore” along the southern side of Alameda Island, and Farm Island. from the bay, which is part of the proper continent. The area of the former NAS is now known as “Alameda Point.” The Southshore area is separated from the main part of Alameda Island by a lagoon; the north shore of the lagoon is located approximately where the original south shore of the island was. Alameda Point and Southshore are built on man-made landfill.
Economic development
The Alameda Naval Air Station was decommissioned and is being turned over to the City of Alameda for civil development. The area of the former NAS is now known as Alameda Point. Portions of this area are now in commercial use, but the transfer process has been delayed by disputes between the navy and the city regarding payment for the environmental cleanup of the land.
In July 2006, the City of Alameda announced a deal with the Navy that would turn land over to the city for $ 108M. The preliminary development concept calls for 1700 housing units to be converted at Alameda Point. In September 2006, the developer, Alameda Point Community Partners, withdrew from the Alameda Point development.
After two previous failures, voters in the city spent a ballot measure in 2000 authorizing a bond measure to build a new library replacing the Carnegie Library of the city, damaged during the earthquake of Loma Prieta. Funds also received from the state of the city for the new library and opened the doors at the new facility in November 2006.
City officials continue to seek ways to stimulate economic development on the island, including rebuilding the city shopping mall and restoring the historic Alameda Theater of Art Deco City Landmark. The theater restoration project is currently underway, along with the development of the multiplex and the parking structure that were joined together to make the overall project profitable.
Transport
Vehicle access to the island is via three bridges to Oakland, a bridge to Bay Farm Island, and two one-way tunnels leading into Oakland’s Chinatown. Bridges at Fruitvale Avenue, Main Street, and Park Street, and tunnels at Webster Street and Harrison Street (the latter called the Posey Tube) connect Alameda and Oakland.
Public transportation includes AC Transit buses (which include express buses to San Francisco, California) and two ferry services – the Alameda-Oakland Ferry and the Harbor Bay Ferry. Both ferry services may soon be transferred to the Water Transit Authority. The island is also close to BART train service, with the closest stations being Lake Merritt, near the exit to Posey Tube, and Fruitvale, near the Fruitvale Bridge.
Even though the island is just Interstate 880 minutes, the speed limit for the city is 25 mph (40 km / h) on almost every road. Many unconscious drivers are unable to slow down after leaving the road. Groups like Pedestrian Friendly Alameda and BikeAlameda advocate stronger enforcement of speeding laws. Alameda has a reputation for vigorous enforcement of the 25 mph speed limit.
Social development
Culture
The Alameda Arts Council (AAC) serves as the local arts council for the City of Alameda.
Alameda Civic Classical Ballet
Civic Ballet and its affiliate school, the Alameda Academy of Alameda Ballet, were founded in 2003 by former Oakland Ballet principal dancer Abra Rudisill. Since its founding, the academy and school have grown steadily, offering a full schedule of classes for dancers of all ages in downtown Alameda. Since 2005, ACB has produced a full-length “Nutcracker” run every holiday season. The performance features over 100 dancers from professionals to three-year-olds.
Alameda Civic Light Opera
In 2006 the Alameda Civic Light Opera, which brings Broadway-style Musical Productions to the East Bay, celebrated its 10th anniversary season.
Art in the park
Art in the Park is an annual event that takes place in Jackson Park (Encinal & Park Ave.) and is produced by the management and staff of the Alameda Recreation & Park Department. This event is held in late summer and features over 100 local artists, two music areas, a children’s activity area, food, poetry readings, and art shows. It is free to the public.
Theater Co. del Virago
The Virago Theater Co. www.viragotheatre.org is one of the Bay Area’s newest small professional theaters, featuring unconventional, inventive staging of classic and contemporary works, and a collaborative rehearsal process for performers, designers and directors. The Virago supports new jobs and new game development, selecting jobs that address issues of social turbulence and injustice that have a unique perspective on our everyday existence.
Shining stars in the arts
Held in May, Shine the Stars in the Arts is an evening event that celebrates members of the Community who have made an exceptional contribution to the arts in the city. Features a silent fundraising art auction, food, and music, and concludes in an award ceremony for shining star honorees.
Attractions
Due to its proximity to the Bay, Wind Surfers and Kite Surfers it can often be seen along Memorial Crown State Beach and Shoreline Drive. From the beach there are also views of the San Francisco, California skyline and the San Francisco- Oakland Bay Bridge.
One of the recent attractions is the USS Hornet, a museum ship now moored at the former naval air station. This ship was originally named the USS Kearsarge, but renamed in honor of the earlier Hornet CV-8 (famous for the Doolittle raid), which was lost in October 1942. Alameda is also known for its large stock of Victorian houses; 9% of all single-family homes (1,500) in Alameda are Victorians, and many more have been divided into two to four-unit dwellings. Alameda is said to have more pre- 1906 earthquake- era homes than any other city in the Bay Area.
Education
Schools
- Alameda University, a part of the Peralta universities
- 9 private schools.
- Public schools
Energy and telecommunication
Of the surrounding communities alike, Alameda has a municipal energy and telecommunications service (Alameda Energy and Telecommunications) that delivers services directly to consumers.
There have been offers by the power producer to produce garbage power, but not within the city of Alameda. Instead, this energy would be produced at a waste transfer station located in neighboring San Leandro, California (and downwind) San Leandro, California. Due to the planned release of toxic emissions which is essentially from a garbage incinerator, the San Leandro Mayor and City Council rejected the offer. The mayor vowed to fight this proposal, suggesting that Alameda could instead place it near its municipal golf course.
Also, of the like of the three major power producers in California, as a municipal utility, Alameda is not required to establish net metering for home photovoltaic power producers, so the city currently lags far behind other communities in producing power. ” green ”, even though they have a potentially productive site for supplemental wind power on the western edge of the former naval air station.
Cities that sister
Alameda participates in a twin city with Wuxi, China. Established in 2004 by workgroup organizer Stewart Chen, the goal is to foster economic and cultural ties between the two cities.
Another sister city is Lidingö, Sweden. The initiatve came from Alameda in 1959 and was part of President Eisenhower’s people-to-people-movement, whose purpose was to develop a better understanding among the people of different countries after World War II. Alameda and Lidingö are islands with a bridge that connects them to a large city.