Piedmont, California
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Piedmont is a city located in Alameda County, California. It is completely surrounded by the city of Oakland. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 10,952.
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About Piedmont
Piedmont is a small, primarily residential community with fine architecture, tree-lined streets, and competitive city schools and is considered by many to be one of the most desirable residential communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Piedmont is an affluent community with the average land value being markedly above the already high Bay Area real estate costs. Piedmont is notable for its minimal amount of commerce when compared to its statistically similar counterparts.
Piedmont is largly zoned for residential use. It has one small commercial district in the center of town consisting of a gas station, three banks, a realty office, some professional offices and a small convenience store and has several other commercial enterprises along Grand Avenue heading into Oakland. Piedmont is served by two local newspapers, the citizen run weekly newspaper, the Piedmont Post, and a neighborhood newspaper, the Piedmonter, organized under the Contra Costa Times news organization.
Piedmont is primarily known for its excellent school system with three elementary schools, a middle school and two high schools. Piedmont High School matriculates a high percentage (over 90 percent) of students bound for college. Piedmont is one of very few California public school systems to achieve such success. This may be attributed to the dedicated and affluent population paying large amounts of property tax and putting forth large donations frequently to subsidise their public schools, as well as to the demographics of the community. Witter Field, home of the Piedmont Highlanders high school football team, was recently (1998-2000) rebuilt improving it from an aging, undersized sports field to a new facility, the envy of neighboring communities. Similar improvements have recently been made to the fields adjacent to the Linda Beach Elementary School.
The most recent sporting success for Piedmont High School, however, has come thanks to the girls' basketball team, who won consecutive state championships in 2004 and 2005.
Piedmont also has several nice parks and a community center. Recent community efforts have raised funds to improve Dracena Park, which will receive a new play area in 2005 or 2006.
The city itself is entirely surrounded by Oakland's north-eastern section, although it technically borders closer to West Oakland. It is situated almost centrally in regards to the bay area's fuller shape, putting it nearly directly across the bay bridge from San Francisco, California, and very close to Berkeley, California.
Geography
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Location of Piedmont, California
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.4 km² (1.7 mi²). None of the area is covered with water. There is, however, a small pond in the Mountain View Cemetery, within the borders.
The city of Piedmont is entirely surrounded by the city of Oakland, California, of which it was a part until 1907, when it seceded from the larger city.
Piedmont's major streets include Oakland Avenue, which runs from Piedmont's small city center down into Oakland, Highland Avenue, and Moraga Avenue. A nearby shopping center based on Piedmont Avenue comes within blocks of Piedmont, but never actually enters the city's borders.
Piedmont is the home of many magical celebrations including its annual 4th of July parade. The Nova Neighbors, a neighborhood group world renowned for its creative floats, has won the Highland Cup (grand prize) for the past five years.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 10,952 people, 3,804 households, and 3,104 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,502.1/km² (6,488.7/mi²). There are 3,859 housing units at an average density of 881.6/km² (2,286.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 78.59 percent White, 1.24 percent African American, 0.11 percent Native American, 16.02 percent Asian, 0.04 percent Pacific Islander, 0.63 percent from other races, and 3.38 percent from two or more races. 2.97 percent of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 3,804 households out of which 47.3 percent have children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.9 percent are married couples living together, 8.5 percent have a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4 percent are non-families. 14.5 percent of all households are made up of individuals and 7.8 percent have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.88 and the average family size is 3.18.
In the city the population is spread out with 30.3 percent under the age of 18, 3.8 percent from 18 to 24, 18.5 percent from 25 to 44, 34.0 percent from 45 to 64, and 13.5 percent who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 44 years. For every 100 females there are 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $134,270, and the median income for a family is $149,857. Males have a median income of $100,000 versus $58,553 for females. The per capita income for the city is $70,539. 2.0 percent of the population and 1.0 percent of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.6 percent of those under the age of 18 and 1.6 percent of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Recent news
- Parcel tax - On June 6, 2005, Piedmont citizens voted in favor of Measures B and C with an overwhelming majority. Measure B renews the district parcel tax, which pays for 21 percent of the district's budget, and Measure C adds an additional amount that keeps the overall funding at the same level, which is necessary to make up for a drop in money from state and federal funding and other sources. The city parcel tax, which is separate from the district tax, faced trouble passing last November, but eventually succeeded. On the other hand, the district tax, which had it failed, would have led to drastic cuts in staff and classes, passed with both measures receiving over 82 percent of the vote. The Piedmont Unified School District, like other California school districts, faces a budget crisis. Though it is less severe than in other California schools, there been many cuts, and if Measures B and C had failed, students returning in the 2006-2007 school year would have been met with larger class sizes, far fewer course options, and fewer teachers, aides, custodians, and other staff.
- High school principal - In the 2005-2006 school year at the high school, Assistant Principal Randall Booker will take the job of principal, following former principal Pamela Bradford's retirement. A new assistant principal has been found and she will take Mr. Booker's current job next year. Mr. Booker first came to Piedmont High School in 2003. Before coming to Piedmont, Mr. Booker worked at Albany High School.
- 4th of July - Piedmont is the home of many celebrations including their annual 4th of July parade. The Nova Neighbors, a neighborhood group have won the Highland Cup (grand prize) for the past five years. This year's theme is "Bringing Us Together".
See also
External links
- Piedmont Unified School District website [1] (http://piedmont.k12.ca.us)