Editing Pinole, California (section)

== History ==
[[Image:PostcardPinoleCAcirca1909 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Street scene in Pinole, {{Circa|1909}}]]
[[File:Bank of Pinole (Pinole, CA).JPG|left|thumb|Bank of Pinole]]
The [[Ohlone|Huchiun]] tribe lived in the region.<ref>[http://www.pinolehistoricalsociety.org/historyofpinole.htm#:~:text=The%20Pinole%20region%20was%20the,an%20exploration%20through%20Contra%20Costa. History of Pinole - Pinole Historical Society]</ref>  In 1823, [[Ygnacio Martínez]], commandant of the [[Presidio of San Francisco]], received a land grant of [[Rancho El Pinole]] from the Mexican government. Martinez built a ''[[hacienda]]'' in Pinole Valley; this is land encompassed by Pinole Valley Park. During the 1850s, Bernardo Fernandez, a Portuguese immigrant, started a trading facility on the shores of [[San Pablo Bay]]. He built [[Fernandez Mansion]], a historic building that still stands today at the end of Tennent Avenue. From these early beginnings, a small but thriving community developed into the city of Pinole.

The settlement's growth was stimulated by construction of the [[Southern Pacific Railroad]] in 1878 and the establishment of the [[California Powder Works]] in nearby [[Hercules, California|Hercules]]. During this period, the city had an active waterfront and was a regional hub of commerce and banking. The first post office opened in 1878 when the railroad reached the community.<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|681}}</ref> The City of Pinole was [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1903.<ref name=CGN />

During the post-World War II boom, Pinole and the surrounding area grew rapidly. Construction of [[Interstate 80]] in 1958 stimulated developers to build new housing to satisfy demand, and the town evolved as a suburban [[bedroom community]] within the San Francisco/Oakland commuter belt. Much of its original industry was displaced during this time, and the town became predominantly residential.

Today, the town is locally known for its "big-box store" shopping district along Fitzgerald Drive, and [[Pinole Vista Shopping Center]], which is contiguous with [[Richmond, California|Richmond's]] [[Hilltop, Richmond, California|Hilltop area]]. The downtown area still retains much of its turn-of-the-century building stock. The city's development agency is working to preserve this historic area as a tourist and community destination.