Contra Costa County Real Estate

A little About Contra Costa County

A suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area, Contra Costa County is home to a population of more than 1 million. The county's name is Spanish for "opposite coast," and its county seat is Martinez. The town has extensive waterfront areas on the San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun bays. The most popular spot in the county is the 3,849-foot Mount Diablo, at the northern end of the Diablo Range, the most noted spot in Mt. Diablo State Park. Other parks in the county include Borges Ranch, Briones Regional Park, Diablo Foothills, Howe Homestead Park and Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge. Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond is one of the largest dog parks in the country.

A number of notable spots will appeal to history buffs, like the Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, John Muir National Historic Site, Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Don Salvio Pacheco Adobe, Martinez Adobe and San Ramon Valley Museum. There are a few oil refineries and chemical plants still in operation in the county. The county's largest shopping center is Walnut Creek. There are Amtrak railway stations in Richmond, Martinez, and Antioch-Pittsburg. Prewett Family WaterPark and Water World are popular destinations in the summer. The public school system includes 18 school districts and seven community colleges, as well as a number of private schools and the private St. Mary's College of California. Medical services in the county can be provided at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center.