Editing Brentwood, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{For|the Los Angeles neighborhood|Brentwood, Los Angeles}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = City of Brentwood
| settlement_type                 = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| image_skyline                   = Downtown Brentwood California.jpg
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = Gateway to downtown Brentwood
| image_flag                      = Flag of Brentwood, California.gif
| image_seal                      = 
| image_blank_emblem              = Brentwood California Logo.svg
| blank_emblem_type               = Logo^
| image_map                       = File:Contra Costa County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Brentwood Highlighted 0608142.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of Brentwood in Contra Costa County, California.
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = 
| pushpin_map                     = USA
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief                  = 1
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[California]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa]]
| established_title               = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date                = January 21, 1948<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date 
 |format=Word 
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
 |access-date=March 27, 2013 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |archive-date=November 3, 2014 }}</ref>
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name                     = [[Susannah Meyer]]
<ref name="auto1">{{cite web | url=https://www.brentwoodca.gov/government/city-council | title=City Council &#124; Brentwood, CA }}</ref>
| leader_title1                   = [[California's 7th State Senate district|State Senator]]
| leader_name1                    = {{Representative|casd|7|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators 
 |title=Senators 
 |access-date=March 21, 2013
|publisher=State of California}}</ref>
| leader_title2                   = [[California's 11th State Assembly district|State&nbsp;Assembly]]
| leader_name2                    = {{Representative|caad|15|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers
 |title= Assembly Members
 |access-date=March 21, 2013
|publisher=State of California}}</ref>
| leader_title3                   = [[California's 9th congressional district|U. S. Congress]]
| leader_name3                    = {{Representative|cacd|9|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|9|access-date=March 9, 2013}}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>
| area_magnitude                  = 
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi                = 14.87
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 14.87
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.00
| area_total_km2                  = 38.50
| area_land_km2                   = 38.50
| area_water_km2                  = 0.00
| area_water_percent              = 0.13
| area_note                       = 
| elevation_ft                    = 79
| population_as_of                = 
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 
| population_metro                = 
| population_density_sq_mi        = 4394.75
| timezone                        = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
| utc_offset                      = -8
| coordinates                     = {{coord|37|55|55|N|121|41|45|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| timezone_DST                    = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST                  = -7
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code                     = 94513
| area_code                       = [[Area code 925|925]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 06-08142
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info                     = {{GNIS4|277479}}, {{GNIS4|2409902}}
| footnotes                       = 
| website                         = [http://www.brentwoodca.gov brentwoodca.gov]
| pop_est_as_of                   = 2024
| pop_est_footnotes               = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/california/brentwood|title=Brentwood, California Population 2024|website=worldpopulationreview.com}}</ref>
| population_est                  = 65350
| population_density_km2          = 1696.67
| named_for                       = [[Brentwood, Essex|Brentwood]], [[Essex]], [[England]]
}}

'''Brentwood''' is a city in [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa County]], [[California]], United States. It is located in the [[East Bay]] region of the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. The population is 66,854 as of 2022, an increase of 287% from 23,302 at the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/brentwood-ca-population|title=Brentwood, California Population 2022|access-date=December 2, 2022}}</ref>

Brentwood was settled by Euro-Americans in the late 19th century. The community is still known throughout the Bay Area for its agricultural products - primarily its [[Cherry|cherries]], [[Maize|corn]] and [[peach]]es. Due to [[urban sprawl]], many of the old farms and orchards have been replaced by [[suburban]] properties and developments since 1990. Brentwood is increasingly residential, with the rate of population growth in the triple digits during the [[1990 United States census| 1990s]], and 69% from [[2000 United States census| 2000]] through [[2010 United States census| 2010]]. As of currently, estimates put the population at around 65,350; a 26.5% increase from [[2010 United States census| 2010]].

==History==
[[File:José_Noriega_(Mayor_of_San_Jose).jpg|thumb|left|Don [[José Noriega]], a wealthy [[Californio]] ranchero, was granted [[Rancho Los Méganos]] in 1835, covering all of modern Brentwood.]]
Brentwood was originally laid out on land donated from property owned by [[John Marsh (pioneer)|John Marsh]], an East Contra Costa County pioneer who acquired [[Rancho Los Méganos]], the land grant that Brentwood is built upon, in 1837 from [[Jose Noriega]]. Marsh was one of the wealthiest men in California and was instrumental in its becoming independent from Mexico and part of the United States.  His letters extolling the potential for agriculture in California were published in newspapers throughout the East.  They resulted in the first wagon trains to California.  Marsh encouraged this, and allowed new arrivals to stay on his ranch until they could get settled.  [[Rancho Los Méganos]] became the terminus of the California Trail.<ref>Lyman, George D.  ''John Marsh, Pioneer: The Life Story of a Trail-blazer on Six Frontiers,'' pp. ix, 237–49, The Chautauqua Press, Chautauqua, New York, 1931.</ref>  Brentwood was named after Marsh's ancestral home, the town of [[Brentwood, Essex|Brentwood]] in the [[Historic counties of England|County]] of [[Essex]], England.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gudde |first=Erwin |author2=revised by William Bright |title=California Place Names |edition=4th |year=1998 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Berkeley, CA |isbn=978-0-520-21316-6 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/californiaplacen00gudd |page=46}}
</ref>

Brentwood's first post office was established in 1878.<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|606}}</ref> The city [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1948.<ref name=CGN />

Balfour, Guthrie & Co., a British investment company, purchased the John Marsh ranch in 1910. The company invested heavily in other California agricultural properties as well. In 1910, it built the Brentwood Hotel at Oak Street and Brentwood Boulevard, across from the railroad station. This replaced an earlier hotel on the same site that had burned down in 1903. The hotel was razed in 1967, and replaced by a service station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.brentwood.ca.us/service/history/history2.cfm|title=City of Brentwood Web site, "History and Timeline"|website=brentwood.ca.us|access-date=March 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930100350/http://www.ci.brentwood.ca.us/service/history/history2.cfm|archive-date=September 30, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:BrentwoodWaterTower.jpg|thumb|Original Brentwood water tower]] The Brentwood water tower perhaps symbolizes the city's transition from a rural farm community to a modern bedroom community. This landmark on Walnut Boulevard, across the street from the Brentwood Park and Ride lot, is the tallest structure in the city. It is no longer used for its original purpose, but now serves as a [[cell phone tower]]. City water is stored in large tanks atop hills outside the city.

The city is bordered on three sides by the Contra Costa County Agricultural Core which consists of 11,000 acres of preserved and still actively productive farm land.

During the 1990s, many retail stores were built along the Brentwood/[[Antioch, California|Antioch]] border on Lone Tree Way, on both sides of [[California State Route 4|SR 4]], about {{convert|3.5|mi|km}} from downtown Brentwood. The Streets of Brentwood, an outdoor lifestyle retail center, along Sand Creek Rd opened in 2008.

The city broke ground for a new civic center in November 2009. The Mission-style architectural inspiration for City Hall, the main building, was the 1910 Brentwood Hotel. The $60 million project, completed in May 2012, includes the 58,000-square-foot City Hall and state-of-the-art City Council Chambers, a 32,000-square-foot community center, 280-space parking garage and redevelopment of the {{frac|1|2}}-acre City Park. The community center also includes arts and crafts rooms as well as studios for dance classes and community exercise programs. The center received a [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design]] silver certification for amenities such as green roofs, biosales, permeable paving and infiltration planters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.brentwood.ca.us/brentwoodCivicCenter/index.cfm|title=City of Brentwood Web site|website=brentwood.ca.us|access-date=March 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730013639/http://www.ci.brentwood.ca.us/BrentwoodCivicCenter/index.cfm|archive-date=July 30, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> City departments began moving into the new facility in October 2011, and the former city hall was demolished during November 2011.

==Indigenous history==
Brentwood was home to the Julpuns who settled mainly in the upper corner of the East Bay. The Julpun were Native Americans who were a part of the [[Bay Miwok]] tribes who spoke the same language in an area, which is a branch of the Eastern Miwok Language. The Bay Miwok tribes would generally include 50–200 people in each village, where they would build their villages along the creeks since they were filled with fish. The Julpun believed that everything in the world had a life or spirit and were very in tune with the nature around them. They set things as sacred where they would pray at as part of their religious beliefs, they ended up coining [[Mount Diablo|Mt. Diablo]], or as they call it Supremenenu, as the birthplace of the world. Due to this, they would hold the top points of Mt. Diablo to be used for sacred gatherings or religious purposes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Callaghan |first=Catherine A. |date=1996 |title=Julpun: My Home Town Language |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1m48x2sj |language=en}}</ref>

Back then the Julpun were never reached out to by ethnographers or linguists when the Julpun still retained their language, the Bay Miwok. They weren't mainly concentrated but spread out from the [[San Joaquin River]] to the bottom part of [[Marsh Creek (California)|Marsh Creek]] which is now the southern part of Brentwood. Between 1806 and 1808 few of the Julpun migrated over to [[Mission San José (California)|Mission San Jose]] with about 100 or so went by 1813. Later on Milliken listed down that about 141 Julpun members were baptized by 1819 from Mission San Jose. As time went on, Mission San Jose converted from religious beliefs and values to secular institutions where the Julpun members ended up leaving in 1836 back to their original territory. John Marsh ended up acquiring Rancho Los Meganos from Jose Noriega in 1837 which would cover modern Brentwood and back then cover the Julpuns territory. However, due to Mission San Jose revoking the spiritual possession it once had, the Julpuns may have gone back to their territory and ended up working under John Marsh on the land where their home once was.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Bay Miwok Language and Land – Museum of the San Ramon Valley |url=https://museumsrv.org/the-bay-miwok-language-and-land/ |access-date=May 19, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In present time the Julpun tribe have more or less settled around the Bay Area. Some are living in specific groups, while others are living in society where they are preserving their native culture even though they may be away from their tribes. They (the Julpun) are working with the National Park Service, where they united under one federally recognized tribe called the [[Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria]].<ref>{{Cite web |place=Golden Gate National Recreation Area |title=Ohlones and Coast Miwoks |url=https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/ohlones-and-coast-miwoks.htm |access-date=May 19, 2022 |website=www.nps.gov/goga |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Northpeak.jpg|thumb|Photo of Mount Diablo, showing Brentwood behind the mountain and to the right.]]

As is common with many [[East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|East Bay]] towns in Contra Costa County, [[Mount Diablo]] is clearly seen from Brentwood.  Brentwood is located on the alluvial plain of the [[Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta]]. In the picture shown at right, Brentwood lies center right and the city of [[Antioch, California]] lies center left. North Peak appears in the foreground between the two cities and largely hides the city of Oakley.

The [[East Bay Regional Park District]] is a special San Francisco Bay Area district operating in the East Bay counties of [[Alameda County]] and Contra Costa County. [[East Bay Regional Park District]] trails and parks are found in Brentwood.

Brentwood has a total area of {{convert|14.81|sqmi|km2|1|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|14.79|sqmi|km2|1|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|km2|2|abbr=on}} or 0.13% is water. The landscape on the west is marked by rolling hills, non-native grasses, oak trees, fruit orchards, and vineyards, with a number of public [[golf]] courses.

===Climate===
Brentwood borders on the [[Mediterranean]] (''Csa'') and [[Semi-arid climate]]s (''Bsh''). Like most of East Contra Costa County, Brentwood lies in the rain shadow of [[Mt. Diablo]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/cd/water/hcp/archive/downloads/wetland_report/Ch03_Hydrogeomorphic_Setting_10_14_04.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114124040/http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/cd/water/hcp/archive/downloads/wetland_report/Ch03_Hydrogeomorphic_Setting_10_14_04.pdf |archive-date=Nov 14, 2008 |title=Draft Aquatic Resources Inventory, Classification, and Function for East Contra Costa County HCP/NCCP Inventory Area (Partial) |id=J&S 01-478 |date=Oct 2004}}</ref> and receives less rainfall than many of its neighbors. The wet season is generally October through April, though there may be a day or two of light rainfall in June or September.  Summer heat is often moderated by the Delta breeze, especially in the late afternoon, causing temperatures to cool rapidly.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=USbNknthNW0C&pg=PA32|title=Walking the Flatlands: The Rural Landscape of the Lower Sacramento Valley|first=Mike|last=Madison|date=January 17, 2017|publisher=Heyday|access-date=January 17, 2017|via=Google Books|isbn=9781890771843}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Brentwood, California
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F =  77
|Feb record high F =  80
|Mar record high F =  90
|Apr record high F =  96
|May record high F = 103
|Jun record high F = 117
|Jul record high F = 114
|Aug record high F = 110
|Sep record high F = 115
|Oct record high F = 103
|Nov record high F =  88
|Dec record high F =  75
|year record high F =117
|Jan high F = 54
|Feb high F = 60
|Mar high F = 66
|Apr high F = 71
|May high F = 79
|Jun high F = 86
|Jul high F = 92
|Aug high F = 90
|Sep high F = 86
|Oct high F = 77
|Nov high F = 64
|Dec high F = 55

|Jan low F = 39
|Feb low F = 43
|Mar low F = 45
|Apr low F = 48
|May low F = 54
|Jun low F = 58
|Jul low F = 59
|Aug low F = 59
|Sep low F = 57
|Oct low F = 52
|Nov low F = 45
|Dec low F = 39

|Jan record low F = 20
|Feb record low F = 22
|Mar record low F = 27
|Apr record low F = 28
|May record low F = 37
|Jun record low F = 38
|Jul record low F = 43
|Aug record low F = 45
|Sep record low F = 42
|Oct record low F = 28
|Nov record low F = 24
|Dec record low F = 18
|year record low F =18
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.66
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.43 
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.08
|Apr precipitation inch =  .78
|May precipitation inch =  .43
|Jun precipitation inch =  .09
|Jul precipitation inch =    0
|Aug precipitation inch =  .02
|Sep precipitation inch =  .18
|Oct precipitation inch =  .62 
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.60
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.41
|source 1 = <ref>{{cite web
|url= http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/94513
|title=Monthly Averages for Brentwood, CA (94513) |publisher=Weather.com |access-date=May 17, 2012}}</ref>
|date=May 2012
}}

==Government==
The City of Brentwood operates under the City Manager form of government. Under policy direction of the City Council, the City Manager serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of the city; assumes full responsibility for planning, administering, directing, overseeing, and evaluating the activities and operations of all City departments. The following city departments report directly to the manager:
*[[City Attorney]]
*[[City Manager]]
*[[Community Development]]
*[[Engineering]]
*[[Finance]] and [[Information Systems]]
*[[Human Resources |Human Resources (HR)]]
*Parks and Recreation
*[[Brentwood Police Department |Brentwood Police Department (BFD)]]
*[[Public Works]]<ref name="Brentwood Web">[http://www.brentwoodca.gov City of Brentwood official website] Official City of Brentwood Website</ref>

===Brentwood City Council Seats===

The [[Mayor]] of Brentwood is [[Susannah Meyer]], the former [[Vice-Mayor]]; the current [[Vice-Mayor]] is [[Pa'tanisha Pierson]](D2)*. The rest of the Brentwood [[City Council]] seats are fill by [[Faye Maloney]](D1)*, [[Jovita Mendoza]](D3)*, and [[Tony Oerlemans]](D4)*.
<ref name="auto1"/>

===Brentwood Police Department (BPD)===
Brentwood established its own City Police Department in 1948, when it was primarily a small [[agricultural]] community. The first police vehicles was the Ford cars, purchased from Brentwood Motors (now Bill Brandt Ford). Today, It now serves an area of {{convert|14|sqmi|km2}}, divided into 4 geographic areas.<ref name="BPD-About">[http://www.brentwoodca.gov/gov/police/  "City of Brentwood: Police."] Accessed March 9, 2017</ref> The police department's current fleet included the [[Ford Police Interceptor Utility]] vehicles, motorcycles, and a Emergency Rescue Vehicle.

The Brentwood Police Department was located at 9100 Brentwood Blvd since 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eastbaytimes.newsbank.com/doc/news/10BF22944072BF00|date=August 5, 2005|title=Police settled in new offices|newspaper=Brentwood News|publisher=[[Knight-Ridder]]|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref> Tim Herbert is the current police chief, appointed in Sept 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Press Release: City of Brentwood Appoints New Police Chief |url=https://www.brentwoodca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/125/550?arch=1 |access-date=9 April 2025}}</ref>

===Fire Protection===
Fire protection is provided by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (CCCFPD), who annexed [[East Contra Costa Fire Protection District]] (ECCFPD) in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-07-01|title=Con Fire officially merges with East Contra Costa Fire Protection District|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/con-fire-officially-merges-with-east-contra-costa-fire-protection-district/|access-date=2024-11-24|website=[[CBS News Bay Area]]}}</ref> This district reports to the [[Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors]]. Resources are shared with the communities of [[Oakley, California|Oakley]], [[Bethel Island, California|Bethel Island]], [[Knightsen, California|Knightsen]], [[Byron, California|Byron]] and [[Discovery Bay, California|Discovery Bay]]. It also covers certain un[[municipal corporation|incorporated]] areas of the county. The fire district is headquartered in the Brentwood City Hall building.

The fire district had to close two fire stations in 2015 because of funding issues. This has left only three stations to cover an area of 249 square miles. One station remains open in Brentwood, Oakley, and Discovery Bay.<ref name="BANG">{{cite news|date=May 5, 2015|title=East Contra Costa Fire Protection District closes 2 fire stations|url=http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2015/05/05/east-contra-costa-fire-protection-district-closes-2-fire-stations/|newspaper=[[East Bay Times|Contra Costa Times]]|publisher=[[Bay Area News Group]]|access-date=May 3, 2025}}</ref>

===Delta Patrol Station===
The Delta Patrol Station, a unit of the Contra Costa County Sheriff's office has signed an agreement with the City of Brentwood to move its existing office from Oakley to a larger space in Brentwood. The Delta Patrol Station has occupied a 1920s era building for over four decades, and has been looking for a larger facility in East County to serve the growing population for faster response in unincorporated Contra Costa County areas (e.g., Byron, Discovery Bay and Knightsen). Response time for Bethel Island is expected to remain the same.<ref name= "Prieve">Prieve, Judith. "Sheriff's Office Delta Station to be relocated to Brentwood." ''Brentwood News''. December 14, 2018. Accessed December 15, 2018.</ref>

==Education==

===Public schools===
Almost all of the city is in the [[Brentwood Union School District]] (BUSD),<!--ELM 05910--> while a small portion is in [[Knightsen Elementary School District]].<!--ELM 20040--> All of it is in [[Liberty Union High School District]] (LUHSD).<!--SEC 21600--><ref name=SDMap2020>{{cite map|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06013_contra_costa/DC20SD_C06013.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Contra Costa County, CA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|place=[[Suitland, Maryland]]|access-date=2025-01-24}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06013_contra_costa/DC20SD_C06013_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

BUSD and LUHSD combined have 9 elementary(+1 digital academy), 3 middle(Bristow Middle School, Edna Hill Middle School, and Adams Middle School), and 4 high schools([[Independence High School (Brentwood, California)|Independence High School]], [[Liberty High School (Brentwood, California)|Liberty High School]], [[La Paloma High School (Brentwood, California)|La Paloma High School]], and [[Heritage High School (Brentwood, California)|Heritage High School]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=BRENTWOOD UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT |url=https://www.brentwood.k12.ca.us/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.brentwood.k12.ca.us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Liberty Union High School District / Overview |url=https://ca01001129.schoolwires.net/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=ca01001129.schoolwires.net |language=en}}</ref>

The Brentwood Union School District runs on a modified traditional school calendar. The Brentwood Union School District has many schools designated as a [[California Distinguished School]]. Approximately five percent of California schools are awarded this honor.

Heritage High School includes a full range of [[Advanced Placement]] courses and the highest [[Academic Performance Index (California public schools)]](API) score in the area, stellar performing arts programs, and championship athletic teams. Heritage is also a solar school. The 2.38&nbsp;kW photovoltaic project installed at Heritage High School is designed to demonstrate the benefits and opportunities created by [[renewable energy]] technology and provide a powerful learning tool for both students and the community.

===Community college===
[[Los Medanos College]] began operating a satellite facility (Brentwood Center) at 101 Sand Creek Road in the city.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eastbaytimes.newsbank.com/doc/news/1064A01898187C2B|date=September 14, 2001|title=Los Meadows College opens in former store|newspaper=Brentwood News|publisher=[[Knight Ridder]]|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref> The existing center has outgrown its limited space in a former [[Lucky Stores|Lucky]] grocery store, where it has no room for expansion.<ref>[http://www.losmedanos.edu/brentwood/default.asp Losmedanos.edu: Los Medanos College—Brentwood Center website]; accessed August 4, 2010.</ref> The Brentwood Center acquired property in the southwest part of the city, where it plans built a new {{convert|18|acre|ha}} campus that opened in 2021.<ref>[http://www.losmedanos.edu/news/brentwood.asp Enos, Brenna. "Expanded Los Medanos Brentwood Campus a Go." Los Medanos College. November 4, 2016.] Accessed March 11, 2017.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.losmedanos.edu/brentwood/map.aspx#:~:text=The%20Los%20Medanos%20College%20Brentwood,and%20over%2055%2C000%20square%20feet | title=Brentwood Center - map }}</ref>

===Public library===
The temporary Brentwood branch of the [[Contra Costa County Library]], located at 104 Oak Street, across from the Civic Center and City Park, was razed early in 2017, along with two other city-owned buildings at 118 and 120 Oak Street to be replaced by the long-awaited new Brentwood branch library. The Brentwood City Council approved the design for the new {{convert|20000|sqft|m2}} facility in September 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brentwoodca.gov/residents/library_expansion_project/default.asp|title=City of Brentwood, CA - Library Expansion Project|access-date=January 14, 2021|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922054700/http://www.brentwoodca.gov/residents/library_expansion_project/default.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> The facility was completed in 2018, and serves a population of more than 50,000. The library collection includes materials in both Spanish and English. It also offers a wide variety of media, including DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks, as well as a large print collection. The library offers a number of programs for all ages, including storytimes for babies and toddlers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ccclib.org/about-brentwood-library|title = About Brentwood Library}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1950= 1729
|1960= 2186
|1970= 2649
|1980= 4434
|1990= 7563
|2000= 23302
|2010= 51481
|2020= 64292
|estimate= 65350
|estyear=2024
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020===
The [[2020 United States census]] reported that Brentwood had a population of 64,292. The population density was {{convert|4,325.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Brentwood was 51.4% [[White Americans|White]], 6.9% [[African Americans|African American]], 1.0% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 13.4% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.5% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 10.8% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 15.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 26.6% of the population.<ref name=2020-DP1>{{cite web |title=Brentwood city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0608142 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 26, 2025}}</ref>

The Census reported that 99.8% of the population lived in households, 0.2% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.0% were institutionalized.<ref name=2020-DP1/>

There were 20,793 households, out of which 42.6% included children under the age of 18, 63.4% were married-couple households, 5.0% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 21.0% had a female householder with no partner present, and 10.6% had a male householder with no partner present. 15.9% of households were one person, and 9.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.09.<ref name=2020-DP1/> There were 16,731 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (80.5% of all households).<ref name=P16>{{cite web |title=Brentwood city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0608142 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=April 4, 2025}}</ref>

The age distribution was 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.7% aged 18 to 24, 23.1% aged 25 to 44, 25.8% aged 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 39.3{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males.<ref name=2020-DP1/>

There were 21,228 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,428.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 20,793 (98.0%) were occupied. Of these, 76.2% were owner-occupied, and 23.8% were occupied by renters.<ref name=2020-DP1/>

===2023 estimates===
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 18.8% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 70.8% spoke only English at home, 13.0% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]], 5.8% spoke other [[Indo-European languages]], 9.0% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 1.4% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 92.1% were high school graduates and 38.8% had a bachelor's degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brentwood city, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSCP5Y2023.CP02?g=1600000US0608142 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 26, 2025}}</ref>

The median household income was $139,567, and the [[per capita income]] was $55,927. About 6.1% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brentwood city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0608142 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 26, 2025}}</ref>

===Voter Demographics===
According to the [[Secretary of State of California|California Secretary of State]], as of February 20, 2024, Brentwood has 42,146 registered voters. Of those, 18,726 (44.4%) are registered [[California Democratic Party|Democrats]], 11,590 (27.5%) are registered [[California Republican Party|Republicans]], and 9,598 (22.8%) have [[Decline to State|declined to state]] their political affiliation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/15day-presprim-2024/politicalsub.pdf|title=Report of Registration as of February 20, 2024 - Registration by Political Subdivision by County|website=ca.gov|access-date=May 31, 2024|page=9}}</ref>
==Economy==
Agriculture remains important to the local economy, but has declined in relative importance as the city has become more suburban. Local wineries including Bloomfield, Tamayo, and Hannah Nicole have gained in sales and prestige after winning numerous medals in recent years at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the California State Fair. There is no heavy industry and only a small light industrial area in the northeastern part of the city. Brentwood underwent a strong [[economic boom]] from 2000 through 2008.  Population expanded from 23,302 in 2000 to about 48,000 in 2006, a higher growth rate than other communities in the Bay Area. Some of the new neighborhoods were centered around two new golf courses, the Shadow Lakes Golf Club and the Deer Valley Golf Club,  that were constructed to take advantage of the views of Mt. Diablo. The boom stalled in 2009, paralleling the economic crisis that affected all of California, but successful new home subdivisions, including a gated community (Carmel Estates), appeared again in 2010. Within an active adult community (Trilogy at the Vineyards),  Club Los Meganos opened in 2010 with {{convert|34000|sqft|m2}} of athletic club, pool and cabanas, gourmet studio, spa, tennis courts, and events center. In 2013, Brentwood's economy displayed renewed economic vigor with substantial new activity in residential and commercial/retail construction. Sales offices of new home subdivisions commonly advertise new houses beginning in the $500Ks with the largest homes with many upgrades nearing $1M. The overall improvement in the Bay Area economy and anticipation for the 2015 completion of eBart and highway improvements in East Contra Costa County are playing a part in the revival of strong economic growth in Brentwood. One of the most exciting development opportunities in Brentwood is linked to the two Federal research facilities – [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] and [[Sandia National Laboratories]] – that are located 25 minutes south of Brentwood. Brentwood has established close relations with the national labs and is a member of i-GATE, which is a regional partnership designed to promote tech-oriented business growth connected with the labs.

===Top employers===
According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Brentwood CAFR 2018 |url=https://www.brentwoodca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/4532/637834486257630000 |access-date=April 14, 2019 |website=brentwoodca.gov}}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
! % of Total City Employment
|-
|1
|[[Brentwood Union School District]]
|697
|4.63%
|-
|2
|City of Brentwood
|448
|2.97%
|-
|3
|[[Liberty Union High School District]]
|431
|2.86%
|-
|4
|[[The Home Depot]]
|150
|1.00%
|-
|5
|[[Safeway Inc.|Safeway]]
|141
|0.94%
|-
|6
|[[John Muir Health|John Muir]]
|132
|0.88%
|-
|7
|Precision Cabinets
|130
|0.86%
|-
|8
|Ellison Framing Inc.
|125
|0.83%
|-
|9
|[[Kohl's]]
|123
|0.82%
|-
|10
|[[WinCo Foods]]
|102
|0.68%
|-
|11
|[[Raley's Supermarkets|Raley's]]
|101
|0.67%
|-
|12
|[[BJ's Restaurants|BJ's Brewhouse]]
|100
|0.66%
|-
|13
|[[Walgreens|Walgreen Co.]]
|85
|0.56%
|-
|14
|Town & Country Roofing
|75
|0.50%
|-
|15
|Delta Valley Athletic Club
|14
|0.09%
|-
|16
|[[Best Buy]]
|8
|0.05%
|}

==Media==
Brentwood is served by the ''[[Brentwood Press]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usnewspapers.com/|title=Newspaper Advertising &#124; Nationwide Classified or Display Ads Cheap|website=www.usnewspapers.com}}</ref> published by Brentwood Press & Publishing Corporation. ''Brentwood Press'' is a weekly newspaper that is published every Friday. The city is also served by the ''[[Brentwood News (Brentwood, California)|Brentwood News]]'', an weekly community supplement ''[[East Bay Times]]''.

In 1904, the ''Brentwood News'' published its first issue. The ''Brentwood Press'' was founded by Greg Robinson in 1999, direct mailing newspapers to all homes and businesses in the city weekly. Since 2020, the newspaper was known as ''The Press''. However, in July, 2020, ''Brentwood Press'' moved to a 100% paid-delivery model.

==Transportation==

===Highway===
Public transportation is very limited, so the principal roads leading into the city are very congested with commuter traffic. No freeways served Brentwood directly until February 2008, when the John Marsh Heritage Highway (also known as the California State Route 4 Bypass or Bypass Road, now [[California State Route 4]]) was built to connect the western side of Brentwood directly with Antioch. State Route 4 passes by the western edge of Brentwood. The freeway portion of SR 4 ends just south of the Balfour Road exit. SR 4 continues as a two-lane highway to its intersection with Marsh Creek Road and the end of [[Vasco Road]], an unnumbered highway that is the principal route to [[Livermore, California|Livermore]], [[Interstate 580 (California)|Interstate 580]], and the Silicon Valley. To the southeast of Brentwood, [[County Route J4 (California)|County Route J4]], known as the Byron Highway, connects to [[Tracy, California|Tracy]] and the San Joaquin Valley.

===Bus service===
Local bus service is provided by [[Tri Delta Transit]], a special purpose district providing public transportation for Eastern Contra Costa County. 

Tri Delta Transit Route 300X operates roughly 30-minute express bus service between Brentwood Park & Ride and [[Antioch station (BART)|Antioch BART station]] Monday through Friday, several times per day.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2024 |title=Timetables |url=http://rta.trideltatransit.com/RTT/Public/Schedule.aspx |access-date=March 12, 2024 |website=Tri Delta Transit}}</ref> 

Tri Delta Transit Route 391 provides weekday and weekend local service between Brentwood Park & Ride and [[Pittsburg Center station|Pittsburgh Center Station]], with stops at Antioch BART and [[Los Medanos College]].<ref name="auto"/>

The Brentwood Park & Ride is a terminal for Tri Delta Transit routes 202X, 300X, 384, 385, and 391. Tri Delta Transit routes 380, 383, and 395 also serve parts of Brentwood.<ref>{{Cite web |title=System Map |url=https://trideltatransit.com/local_bus.aspx |access-date=March 12, 2024 |website=Tri Delta Transit}}</ref>

===Rail===
A light rail [[Bay Area Rapid Transit expansion]] from Bay Point to Hillcrest Avenue, serving East Contra Costa County, known as eBart, was put into regular service in August 2018.

There is no passenger rail service to Brentwood. The nearest [[Altamont Corridor Express]] train station is in Livermore. The nearest [[Amtrak]] station is in [[Antioch, California|Antioch]].

There is a freight-only rail line that passes through Brentwood, which is owned by [[Union Pacific Railroad]].  However, the line has been inactive since the early 1990s. [[Union Pacific Railroad]] does have plans to reactivate this line sometime in the future.

===Airport===
Commercial airports serving this area are:
*[[Oakland International Airport]]
*[[San Francisco International Airport]]
*[[San Jose International Airport]]
*[[Sacramento International Airport]]
*[[Stockton Metropolitan Airport]]

Other nearby airports serving private aircraft are:
*[[Byron Airport]]
*[[Livermore Municipal Airport]]
*[[Buchanan Field Airport|Concord (Buchanan Field)]]

==Attractions and lifestyle==
Brentwood was one of 212 cities designated by KaBOOM! as a Playful City USA for 2010 - one of only 23 such cities in California and only three in Northern California.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://kaboom.org/take_action/playful_city_usa/2013_playful_city_usa_communities | title=List of 2013 Playful City USA communities | access-date=February 26, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407114843/http://kaboom.org/take_action/playful_city_usa/2013_playful_city_usa_communities | archive-date=April 7, 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> This is the seventh consecutive year that Brentwood has been listed. Each community selected demonstrated creative commitments to the cause of play and fitness. Brentwood was selected for a variety of reasons, including the fact that it offers the community its Wellness Policy, a community-wide aspirational goal which promotes physical activity and education as the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. Brentwood has many parks and miles of jogging trails, to support healthy lifestyles.<ref>Mitchell, Eve, "Brentwood Again a 'Playful City.'" ''East County Times''. May 23, 2014.</ref>

The visual and performing arts are well represented in Brentwood. The city is home to the Brentwood Art Society, which sponsors events such as the annual Art, Wine, and Jazz Festival, the Artists Open Studio Tour, open mic nights, and other gatherings and shows. The Art Society is also a supporter of the Brentwood Theater Company, which since 2010 has been producing Broadway musicals and musical reviews in venues around the city. In spring 2014, a major art gallery was opened in the Streets of Brentwood shopping center.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.contracostatimes.com/east-county-times/ci_25174674/new-art-gallery-will-bring-visual-performing-and | date=February 18, 2014 | last=King | first=Paula | title=New art gallery will bring visual, performing and literary arts together at Streets of Brentwood | publisher=Contra Costa Times | access-date=February 26, 2014}}</ref>

The Brentwood Parks and Recreation Department reports that it is responsible for 72 city parks. Only four of these exceed 10 acres in size, while 23 parks cover less than one acre each.<ref>''Welcome! your guide to east county 2017''. pp. 57–58.</ref>

===Points of interest===
*East Contra Costa Historical Society and Museum - east of Brentwood on Sellers Ave.
*[[Los Vaqueros Reservoir]] 
*[[Marsh Creek (California)#Marsh Creek Regional Trail|Marsh Creek Regional Trail]] 
*[[Marsh Creek State Park (California)|Marsh Creek State Park]] - currently not open to the public
*[[Round Valley Regional Preserve]] 
*[[Vasco Caves Regional Preserve]] 
*[[Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta]]
*Brentwood Civic Center
*Streets of Brentwood shopping center
*[[John Marsh (pioneer)#John Marsh House|John Marsh House]] - historic home, currently not open to the public; managed by the John Marsh Historic Trust.
*[[Delta Theater]] - historic movie theater located in Downtown Brentwood

===Agriculture-related attractions===
*The Art, Wine, and Jazz Festival is held each year in late August. A host of local vintners, wineries, and brewers participate, including: Hannah Nicole Vineyards, Bloomfield Vineyards, Tamayo Family Vineyards, J Doran Vineyards, Cline Cellars, and Black Diamond Brewery.
*Numerous local farms operate produce stands or offer "U-Pick" opportunities throughout Brentwood on the "Harvest Time" farm tour route.
*A [[farmers' market]] is held on First Street in downtown Brentwood on Saturday mornings year-round.

==Notes==
    ^ Whilst the background is black in the Brentwood City logo, the actual logo's background is white.
    * The "D_" is representing "District_".
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Brentwood, California}}
{{wikivoyage|Brentwood (California)|Brentwood, California}}
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area}}
*[http://www.ci.brentwood.ca.us City of Brentwood official website]
*[http://www.brentwoodchamber.com/ Brentwood Chamber of Commerce]

{{Geographic location
|Center    = Brentwood
|North     = [[Oakley, California|Oakley]]
|Northeast = [[Bethel Island, California|Bethel Island]]<br />[[Knightsen, California|Knightsen]]
|East      = [[Discovery Bay, California|Discovery Bay]]
|Southeast = [[Byron, California|Byron]]
|South     = ''[[Los Vaqueros Reservoir]]'', [[Livermore, California|Livermore]]
|Southwest = ''[[Mount Diablo]]''
|West      = [[Clayton, California|Clayton]], [[Walnut Creek, California|Walnut Creek]]
|Northwest = [[Antioch, California|Antioch]]
}}

{{Contra Costa County, California}}
{{SF Bay Area}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Brentwood, California| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Contra Costa County, California]]
[[Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1948]]
[[Category:1948 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]