Editing Martinez, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{External links|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2016}}

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See the table at Template:Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of their usage. -->
| name                            = Martinez
| settlement_type                 = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
<!-- Images and maps ---- -->
| image_skyline           = {{multiple image
  | border                   = infobox
  | total_width              = 290
  | perrow                   = 1/2/1
  | caption_align            = center
  | image1                   = Contra Costa County Courthouse (Martinez, CA).jpg
  | alt1                     = Contra Costa County Courthouse
  | caption1                 = Contra Costa County Courthouse
  | image2                   = Carquinez Regional Shoreline (cropped).jpg
  | alt2                     = Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline
  | caption2                 = [[Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline|Carquinez Strait]]
  | image3                   = Martinez, CA USA - Vicente Martinez Adobe, built in 1849 by the son of Ygnacio Martinez (John Muir National Historic Site) - panoramio (1) (cropped).jpg
  | alt3                     = Vicente Martínez Adobe
  | caption3                 = [[Vicente Martínez Adobe]]
  | image4                   = Contra Costa County Hall of Records (Martinez, CA).jpg
  | alt4                     = Contra Costa Hall of Records
  | caption4                 = Contra Costa Hall of Records
}}
| image_flag                      = Flag of Martinez, California.gif
| image_seal                      = 
| image_map                       = Contra Costa County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Martinez Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location in [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa County]] and the state of [[California]]
| pushpin_map                     = San Francisco Bay Area#California#USA
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in the United States
| pushpin_label                   = Martinez
| coordinates                     = {{coord|38|01|10|N|122|08|03|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| nickname = The Bay Area's Hidden Gem (official)
| 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                = April 1, 1876<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>
| leader_title                    = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name                     = [[Brianne Zorn]]<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.cityofmartinez.org/government/mayor-and-city-council
 |title=Mayor and City Council
 |publisher=City of Martinez
 |access-date=December 12, 2022}}</ref>
| leader_title1                   = [[California's 3rd State Senate district|State senator]]
| leader_name1                    = {{Representative|casd|3|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 14th State Assembly district|Assemblymember]]
| leader_name2                    = {{Representative|caad|14|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers
 |title=Members Assembly
 |access-date=August 28, 2023
|publisher=State of California}}</ref>
| leader_title3                   = [[United States House of Representatives|United States representatives]]
| leader_name3                    = {{Representative|cacd|8|fmt=usleader}} and {{Representative|cacd|10|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|10|access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref>
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi                = 13.63
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 12.63
| area_water_sq_mi                = 1.00
| area_total_km2                  = 35.31
| area_land_km2                   = 32.71
| area_water_km2                  = 2.60
| area_water_percent              = 7.64
| elevation_footnotes             = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|277553|Martinez|access-date=January 21, 2015}}</ref>
| elevation_ft                    = 23
| elevation_m                     = 7
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes            = <ref name="2020MartinezCensus">{{cite web|url= |title=Martinez city, California |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] }}</ref>
| population_total                = 37287
| population_density_sq_mi        = su
| timezone                        = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
| utc_offset                      = -8
| timezone_DST                    = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST                  = -7
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code                     = 94553
| area_code_type                  = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area]] code
| area_code                       = [[Area code 925|925]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = {{FIPS|06|46114}}
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info                     = {{GNIS4|277553}}, {{GNIS4|2411045}}
| website                         = {{official website}}
| population_density_km2          = auto
}}

'''Martinez''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Martínez'')<ref>[https://www.telemundoareadelabahia.com/videos/videos-noticias/voraz-incendio-arrasa-con-una-vivienda-y-varios-autos-en-martinez/2154900/ Voraz incendio arrasa con una vivienda y varios autos en Martínez], telemundoareadelabahia.com. Accessed December 21, 2022. (in Spanish)</ref><ref>[https://www.telemundoareadelabahia.com/noticias/local/condado-contra-costa-podria-contratar-personal-para-centro-de-detencion-de-martinez/2099367/ Condado Contra Costa podría contratar personal para centro de detención de Martínez], telemundoareadelabahia.com. Accessed December 21, 2022. (in Spanish)</ref> is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Contra Costa County, California]], United States, in the [[East Bay]] region of the [[San Francisco Bay Area]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> Located on the southern shore of the [[Carquinez Strait]], the city's population was 37,287 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. The city is named after [[Californio]] ranchero [[Ygnacio Martínez]], having been founded on his [[Rancho El Pinole]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Burt|first1=Harriett|last2=Perry|first2=Charlene|date=January 4, 2012|title=The Founder of the City of Martinez: Col. William Smith|url=https://cocohistory.org/|access-date=March 12, 2021|website=Contra Costa County Historical Society}}</ref> Martinez is known for its historic center and its waterfront.

== History ==
[[File:Martinez, CA USA - Vicente Martinez Adobe, built in 1849 by the son of Ygnacio Martinez (John Muir National Historic Site) - panoramio (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|The [[Vicente Martínez Adobe]], built in 1849 by a son of [[Ygnacio Martínez]], is the oldest building in Martinez.]]
[[File:Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (3).jpg|thumb|left|The [[John Muir National Historic Site]], home of famed naturalist [[John Muir]] from 1880 until his death in 1914]]
The beautiful, lush Alhambra Valley was probably a seasonal foraging “pantry” for the stable population of the Karkines Indians. The Karkines are a part of the Ohlone (Costanoan) Indian group.

In 1824, the western side of Martinez, [[Alhambra Creek|Alhambra Valley]] was included in the [[Rancho El Pinole]] Mexican land grant to [[Ygnacio Martínez]].<ref name="Martinez Historical Society">{{cite web|url=http://www.martinezhistory.org/html/martinez_history.html |title=Martinez Historical Society |publisher=Martinezhistory.org |access-date=July 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613232418/http://www.martinezhistory.org/html/martinez_history.html|archive-date=June 13, 2013}}</ref>  East of these lands was the [[Rancho Las Juntas]], a grant made to Irish born William Welch in 1844; his land lay between the lands of Martinez and Pacheco.

In 1847, [[Robert B. Semple|Dr. Robert Semple]] contracted to provide ferry service from Martinez to [[Benicia, California|Benicia]], which for many years was the only crossing on the Carquinez Strait.<ref name="Martinez Historical Society" /> By 1849, Martínez served as a way station for the [[California Gold Rush]].  The town was laid out in 1849 by Col. William M. Smith and named for Martinez.<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|660}}</ref> It became the county seat in 1850, but could not incorporate at the time because it lacked the 200 registered voters required, and would not become a city until 1876.<ref name="Martinez, CA, City History">[http://www.cityofmartinez.org/our_city/history.asp Martinez, CA, City History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802234248/http://www.cityofmartinez.org/our_city/history.asp |date=August 2, 2015 }}</ref>

Martinez was the home of naturalist [[John Muir]] from 1880 until his death in 1914. He was buried about a mile south of the building that is now the [[John Muir National Historic Site]]. Also nearby is the Vicente Martinez Adobe, built in 1849 by the son of Ygnacio Martinez.<ref name="Martinez, CA, City History" />

The first post office opened in 1851.<ref name=CGN />

In 1860, Martinez played a role in the [[Pony Express]], where riders would take the ferry from Benicia (particularly if they missed the steamer in Sacramento).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.martinezhistory.org/html/pony_express.html |title=Martinez History and the Pony Express |publisher=Martinezhistory.org |access-date=July 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613224005/http://www.martinezhistory.org/html/pony_express.html|archive-date=June 13, 2013}}</ref>

The first [[oil refinery]] in the Martinez area was built in 1904 at Bull's Head Point, a then-unincorporated waterfront area two miles east of the downtown district. That area soon became known as Mococo, following the 1905 arrival of a smelting works, operated by the Mountain Copper Company (Mo Co Co).
[[File:06903-Martinez-1906-Courthouse of Contra Costa Co.-Brück & Sohn Kunstverlag (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|The historic [[Contra Costa County]] Courthouse was built in 1901.]]
That first facility, operated by the Bull's Head Oil Company, was followed in 1908 by a test refinery built by the Pacific Coast Oil Company. Shortly thereafter, Pacific Coast became part of Standard Oil (now Chevron), and consolidated their oil refining operations in the Point Richmond, Hercules, Rodeo waterfront corridor some {{Convert|12|mi|km}} to the west of Martinez.

In 1913, the Golden Eagle facility became the third oil refinery to be built in the area. It was located in the newly created company town of Avon, immediately to the East of Martinez. A fourth refinery, built by the [[Shell Oil]] Company on land adjacent to the Martinez City limits, went online in January 1916. The Shell Oil refining facility is still operational today (Currently owned by PBF Energy), maintaining the city's position as a significant petroleum processing center. The Golden Eagle Refinery (currently owned by Marathon Petroleum Company) was idled in April 2020 as a response to lower petroleum demand during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/carefinery/carefinery.htm |title=California Refinery |publisher=Arb.ca.gov |access-date=July 14, 2013 |archive-date=August 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809092041/http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/carefinery/carefinery.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url        =http://www.shell.us/aboutshell/projects-locations/martinez.html
 |title      =Welcome to Shell Martinez Refinery
 |website    =shell.us
 |publisher  =Shell Oil Company
 |access-date =July 14, 2013
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |author1=City of Martinez
 |title=Historic Resources of Martinez
 |url=http://martinez.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=7&clip_id=1129&meta_id=85037
 |website=Application to the National Register of Historic Places
 |publisher=Martinez City Council
 |access-date=March 8, 2018
|page=14 of 72
 |date=March 12, 2015
}}</ref>

Folk etymology in Martinez claims the invention of the [[Martini (cocktail)|Martini cocktail]] and that it is named for the city.<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.cityofmartinez.org/our_city/martini.asp
 |title        = The Martini Story
 |website      = cityofmartinez.org
 |publisher    = City of Martinez
 |access-date  = July 14, 2013
|archive-date = July 31, 2013
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130731100348/http://www.cityofmartinez.org/our_city/martini.asp
 |url-status   = dead
}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:BeniciaMartinezbridge.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Benicia-Martinez Bridge]], which crosses the [[Carquinez Strait]], connects Martinez in the south to [[Benicia, California|Benicia]] in the north (top).]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|13.1|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|1.0|sqmi|km2}} (7.64 percent) is covered by water.

The city is largely surrounded by water and regional open-space preserves.  The [[Martinez–Benicia Bridge]] carries Highway 680 across the eastern end of the [[Carquinez Strait]] to [[Solano County]]. The city is a densely built downtown valley threaded by [[Alhambra Creek]] and north of Highway 4. Suburban areas stretch south of Highway 4 to join the neighboring city of [[Pleasant Hill, California|Pleasant Hill]].  Unincorporated areas include the rural [[Alhambra Valley]] and the Franklin Canyon area.

The [[Martinez Regional Shoreline]] bounds the city to the north along the Carquinez Strait.  [[Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline]] includes the Franklin Hills west of downtown, stretching west to the unincorporated community of [[Port Costa]] and the town of [[Crockett, California|Crockett]].  [[Briones Regional Park]] borders the Alhambra Valley to the south.  [[Waterbird Regional Preserve]] and the [[McNabney Marsh]] border the city and Highway 680 to the east.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 18, 2021|title=The dirty business of wetlands restoration|url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/the-dirty-business-of-wetlands-restoration|access-date=December 19, 2021|website=Bay City News Foundation|language=en-US}}</ref> Martinez's location at the east end of the Carquinez Strait as it widens to Suisun Bay includes dramatic water views stretching to the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra]] range. From surrounding ridge tops views stretch to nearby [[Mount Diablo]], [[Mount Saint Helena]], [[Mount Tamalpais]], and others.
[[File:Martinez-aerial-view-1 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|280px|Aerial view of Martinez (bottom); [[Benicia, California|Benicia]] is located across the [[Carquinez Strait]] (top).]]
Martinez is one of the only two places in the Bay Area, the other being [[Golden Gate Bridge]], where the [[Bay Area Ridge Trail]] and the [[San Francisco Bay Trail]] converge. The Bay Trail is a planned recreational corridor that, when complete, will encircle [[San Francisco Bay|San Francisco]] and [[San Pablo Bay|San Pablo]] bays with a continuous {{convert|400|mi|km|adj=on}} network of bicycling and hiking trails. It will connect the shoreline of all nine Bay Area counties, link 47 cities, and cross the major toll bridges in the region, including the [[Benicia–Martinez Bridge]]. To date, approximately {{convert|240|mi|km}} of the alignment—over half the Bay Trail's ultimate length—have been completed. The Bay Area Ridge Trail ultimately will be a 500+ mile trail encircling the [[San Francisco Bay]] along the ridge tops, open to hikers, equestrians, mountain bicyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts of all types. So far, over {{convert|300|mi|km}} of trail have been dedicated for use. [[East Bay Regional Park District]]'s [[Iron Horse Regional Trail]] will join the Bay Trail along the waterfront, and the [[Contra Costa Canal Trail]] threads through the city from Pleasant Hill to the south.

=== Climate ===

Martinez has a mild [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Csa/b'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=273540&cityname=Martinez+-+Paso+Nogal+Park%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units=us|title=Martinez, California Climate Summary|publisher=Weatherbase|access-date=March 6, 2015}}</ref> Summers are warm and dry, with some morning fog during sea breezes. The maritime influence is much less significant than in other parts of the Bay Area that are closer to the Pacific, which causes very high daytime averages compared to [[San Francisco]] and [[Oakland]] in summer. However, nights normally cool off significantly, which results in daytime highs  around {{convert|87|F|C}} and nighttime lows of {{convert|55|F|C}} during July and August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=273540&cityname=Martinez—Paso-Nogal-Park-California-United-States-of-America&units=us|title=Martinez, California Temperature Averages|publisher=Weatherbase|access-date=March 6, 2015}}</ref> Winters are wet and cool with occasional frost. The majority of the city is within a USDA [[hardiness zone]] of 9b.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|single line=y 
|location = Martinez, California
|Jan record high F = 74
|Feb record high F = 80
|Mar record high F = 88
|Apr record high F = 98
|May record high F = 104
|Jun record high F = 110
|Jul record high F = 115
|Aug record high F = 107
|Sep record high F = 108
|Oct record high F = 103
|Nov record high F = 82
|Dec record high F = 74
|Jan record low F = 20
|Feb record low F = 25
|Mar record low F = 29
|Apr record low F = 29
|May record low F = 34
|Jun record low F = 31
|Jul record low F = 41
|Aug record low F = 42
|Sep record low F = 40
|Oct record low F = 34
|Nov record low F = 25
|Dec record low F = 19
|Jan high F = 55.2
|Feb high F = 60.9
|Mar high F = 66.0
|Apr high F = 71.7
|May high F = 78.9
|Jun high F = 85.3
|Jul high F = 89.0
|Aug high F = 88.1
|Sep high F = 84.9
|Oct high F = 76.4
|Nov high F = 64.0
|Dec high F = 55.6
| year high F = 
|Jan mean F = 46.9
|Feb mean F = 51.2
|Mar mean F = 55.1
|Apr mean F = 58.7
|May mean F = 64.2
|Jun mean F = 69.3
|Jul mean F = 71.7
|Aug mean F = 71.2
|Sep mean F = 69.1
|Oct mean F = 62.6
|Nov mean F = 53.6
|Dec mean F = 47.1
| year mean F = 
|Jan low F = 38.6
|Feb low F = 41.4
|Mar low F = 44.1
|Apr low F = 45.7
|May low F = 49.5
|Jun low F = 53.2
|Jul low F = 54.5
|Aug low F = 54.3
|Sep low F = 53.3
|Oct low F = 48.9
|Nov low F = 43.2
|Dec low F = 38.5
| year low F = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.93
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.61
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.92
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.20
|May precipitation inch = 0.47
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.10
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.02
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.05
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.18
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.95
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.52
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.44
|year precipitation inch = 
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 11
| Feb precipitation days = 10
| Mar precipitation days = 9
| Apr precipitation days = 6
| May precipitation days = 3
| Jun precipitation days = 1
| Jul precipitation days = 0
| Aug precipitation days = 0
| Sep precipitation days = 1
| Oct precipitation days = 3
| Nov precipitation days = 8
| Dec precipitation days = 10
| year precipitation days =
|source 1 = Western Regional Climate Center<ref name = WRCC>
{{cite web
|url = https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca5378
|title = General Climate Summary Tables - MARTINEZ WTP, CALIFORNIA
|publisher= Western Regional Climate Center
|access-date = 31 May 2024}}</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
[[File:Boats, tanker and and Benicia-Martinez Bridge viewed from Martinez Marina, California.JPG|thumb|left|View from the Martinez Marina]]
{{US Census population
|1870= 560
|1890= 1609
|1900= 1380
|1910= 2115
|1920= 3858
|1930= 6569
|1940= 7381
|1950= 8268
|1960= 9604
|1970= 16506
|1980= 22582
|1990= 31808
|2000= 35866
|2010= 35824
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="2020MartinezCensus" />
|2020=38290}}

The [[2020 United States census|2020 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0646114|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715035225/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0646114|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Martinez city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Martinez had a population of 38,290. The population density was {{convert|2,727.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Martinez was 27,603 (77.1%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1,303 (3.6%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 255 (0.7%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2,876 (8.0%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 121 (0.3%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1,425 (4.0%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2,241 (6.3%) from two or more races.  [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5,258 persons (14.7 percent).

The Census reported that 34,528 people (96.4 percent of the population) lived in households, 235 (0.7 percent) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1,061 (3.0 percent) were institutionalized.

There were 14,287 households, out of which 4,273 (29.9 percent) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 6,782 (47.5 percent) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,751 (12.3 percent) had a female householder with no husband present, 640 (4.5 percent) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were 928 (6.5 percent) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 137 (1.0 percent) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,920 households (27.4 percent) were made up of individuals, and 1,078 (7.5 percent) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42.  There were 9,173 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (64.2 percent of all households); the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution of the population showed 7,329 people (20.5 percent) under the age of 18, 2,842 people (7.9 percent) aged 18 to 24, 9,193 people (25.7 percent) aged 25 to 44, 12,121 people (33.8 percent) aged 45 to 64, and 4,339 people (12.1 percent) who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 42.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

There were 14,976 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,140.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 14,287 were occupied, of which 9,619 (67.3 percent) were owner-occupied, and 4,668 (32.7 percent) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4 percent; the rental vacancy rate was 4.9 percent.  23,876 people (66.6 percent of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 10,652 people (29.7 percent) lived in rental housing units.

== Economy ==
[[File:Martinez, CA USA - panoramio (4).jpg|thumb|right|Downtown Martinez]]

=== Top employers ===

According to the city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cityofmartinez.org/home/showpublisheddocument/2260/637854598073254685|title=City of Martinez CAFR |access-date=August 7, 2022}}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable" 
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| 1
| [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa County]]
| 10,065
|-
| 2
| [[Veterans Health Administration]]
| 962
|-
| 3
| [[Kaiser Permanente]]
| 730
|-
| 4
| [[Shell Oil Company|Equilon Enterprises]]
| 702
|-
| 5
| [[Martinez Unified School District]]
| 672
|-
| 6
| [[Wal-Mart]]
| 275
|-
| 7
| [[Safeway Inc.|Safeway]]
| 190
|-
| 8
| City of Martinez
| 136
|-
| 9
| [[The Home Depot]]
| 125
|-
| 10
| Brand Energy & Infrastructure Service
| 120
|}

== Education ==
[[File:Martinez Library Building Front (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|The historic [[Art Deco]]–style [[Martinez Library]] was built in 1941.]]
Covering most of Martinez,<ref name=ContraCostaSDmap>{{cite web|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]]|accessdate=December 25, 2022}}</ref> the [[Martinez Unified School District]] encompasses four elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and two alternative/independent study schools.  Students in K-5 attend John Swett, John Muir, Las Juntas, or Morello Park Elementary School.  Martinez Junior High School serves students in grades 6 through 8. St. Catherine of Siena is a private Catholic school that serves grades K-8. [[Alhambra High School (Martinez, California)|Alhambra High School]] serves as the district's comprehensive high school.  As of 2006, the district's K-12 enrollment was 4,194.

Part of Martinez is served by the [[Mount Diablo Unified School District]],<ref name=ContraCostaSDmap/> whose Hidden Valley Elementary School is located in Martinez. [[St. Catherine of Siena School (Martinez, California)|St. Catherine of Siena School]], a private Roman Catholic elementary school, also serves the Martinez community.

=== Libraries ===
The [[Martinez Library]] is part of the [[Contra Costa County Library]] and is located in Martinez. The [[Art Deco]] style building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in early 2008.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a|access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref>

== Media ==
[[File:US Post Office, 815 Court St., Martinez, CA 9-14-2008 4-28-28 PM.JPG|thumb|left|The historic post office is on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Contra Costa County, California|National Register of Historic Places]].]]
Martinez and the surrounding area is served by several local newspapers, including the Martinez News-Gazette, the Martinez Tribune and the [[East Bay Times]].

Martinez is also served by Martinez Patch, a local news website covering community news and events, and the local news and talk blog Claycord.com.

In December 2019, there was a flurry of reports from reliable sources including the [[Associated Press]] and the [[San Francisco Chronicle]] that the 161 year-old Martinez News-Gazette, one of the longest-running newspapers in California, may have to cease publication. But as of late May 2020, the threatened cessation did not materialize and the newspaper appears to have weathered that storm. The newspaper did cease publication of a print edition effective April 2, 2020, but this was characterized as a temporary measure arising from a lack of advertising revenue. This in turn arose as many local businesses were forced to suspended operations or even ceased to exist, when the area was under shelter in place regulations arising from the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The newspaper plans to resume a full print edition when the local shelter-in-place restrictions are lifted.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Martinez News-Gazette to Suspend Print Edition [during Covid-19 pandemic shelter in place]|url=https://martinezgazette.com/martinez-news-gazette-to-suspend-print-edition/|last=Jones|first=Rick|date=April 2, 2020|website=Martinez News-Gazette|type=Letter from the Publisher (Rick Jones) to the newspaper's subscribers|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref> The newspaper continued to operate its online news website presence during the pandemic restrictions.

== Transportation ==
[[File:Martinez AMTRAK sta.jpg|thumb|[[Martinez (Amtrak station)|Martinez station]], served by [[Amtrak]]]]
[[File:AlhambraTrestle.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Muir Trestle|Alhambra Trestle]], commonly known as the Muir Trestle, carries the [[Stockton Subdivision]] of [[BNSF Railway|BNSF]].]]
[[WestCAT]] provides service to the [[El Cerrito del Norte BART station]]. The [[County Connection]] is the primary local bus operator providing service throughout the area.  Among its destinations are the [[Concord BART station|Concord]], [[Pleasant Hill BART station|Pleasant Hill]], and [[Walnut Creek BART station|Walnut Creek]] BART stations.  The County Connection also provides [[paratransit]] service. [[Tri Delta Transit]] runs express service between Martinez and eastern Contra Costa County.

[[California State Route 4|State Route 4]] runs through Martinez westward to [[Hercules, California|Hercules]] and eastward through [[Stockton, California|Stockton]] and the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] to near the border of [[Nevada]]. [[Interstate 680 (California)|Interstate 680]] runs northward across the [[Benicia–Martinez Bridge]] toward Sacramento via [[Interstate 80 in California|Interstate 80]] and southward toward [[San Jose, California|San Jose]].

=== Rail ===
* [[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, runs its ''[[California Zephyr]]'' daily in each direction through Martinez on its route between [[Emeryville, California|Emeryville]] (across the bay from San Francisco) and [[Union Station (Chicago)|Chicago]], also passing through [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]], [[Salt Lake City]], [[Denver]], and [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]].
* Amtrak's ''[[Coast Starlight]]'' operates daily in each direction through Martinez between [[Seattle]] and [[Union Station (Los Angeles)|Los Angeles]].
* [[Amtrak California]] operates its ''[[Capitol Corridor]]'' trains through [[Martinez station]], providing service several times daily between [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] to the west and [[Auburn, California|Auburn]] to the east (via Sacramento).
* Amtrak California also runs its ''[[San Joaquin (train)|San Joaquin]]'' trains through Martinez, providing service several times daily between [[Oakland, California|Oakland]] to the west and [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]] at the south end of the [[San Joaquin Valley]].  Bus connections branch off both the ''San Joaquin'' and the ''Capitol Corridor'', providing service as far as [[San Diego]]; [[Las Vegas]] and [[Sparks, Nevada|Sparks]], Nevada; and [[Medford, Oregon]].  One connection originates in Martinez and runs as far north as the [[Eureka, California|Eureka]] area.
* [[Bay Area Rapid Transit|BART]] makes a stop called [[North Concord/Martinez station]], although this station lies miles east of the Martinez city limits. The city was overlooked{{weasel inline|date=September 2019}} when the system was extended from Concord to [[Pittsburg/Bay Point BART station|Bay Point]]. However, BART's long-term plans include a new line extension running from [[Fremont, California|Fremont]] and through the [[Interstate 680 (California)|I-680]] corridor and ending in Martinez.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
* The {{convert|1600|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}}, {{convert|75|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}} steel [[Muir Trestle]] (aka Alhambra Trestle) carries the freight operations of the [[BNSF Railway]] through Martinez parallel to [[California State Route 4]] (John Muir Parkway).

== Sister cities ==
According to [[Sister Cities International]], Martinez is paired with:
*{{Flagicon|UK}} [[Dunbar]], Scotland, United Kingdom
*{{Flagicon|CHN}} [[Hanchuan]], China
*{{Flagicon|ITA}} [[Milazzo]] and [[Stresa]], Italy

== Notable people ==
* [[Beatrice Winn Berlin]] (1922–1999), painter, printmaker, and teacher<ref name="Marquis Who's Who-1996">{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4vLNkPFGO_UC |title=Who's Who of American Women, 1997–1998 |date=1996 |publisher=[[Marquis Who's Who]] |isbn=978-0-8379-0422-1 |pages=80 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Maurice Benard]] (born 1963), actor known for playing Sonny Corinthos on the ABC soap opera ''[[General Hospital]]''
* [[DC Solar|Jeff and Paulette Carpoff]], convicted fraudsters and owners of DC Solar and the [[Martinez Clippers]]
* [[Yau-Man Chan]] (born 1952), Malaysian table tennis player, technology executive, and reality television participant
* [[Trevor Davis]]  (born 1993), football wide receiver
* [[Sara Del Rey]] (born 1980), professional wrestling trainer and retired professional wrestler
* [[Joe DiMaggio]] (1914–1999), baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year Hall of fame career in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees
* [[Vince DiMaggio]] (1912–1986), all-star baseball center fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates
* [[Ainjel Emme]] (born 1978), singer-songwriter, record producer, and recording engineer
* [[Robb Flynn]] (born 1967), lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for heavy metal band [[Machine Head (band)|Machine Head]]
* [[Najee Harris]] (born 1998), football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers
* [[Mark Kozelek]] (born 1967), singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer and occasional actor
* [[Ella Leffland]] (born 1931), novelist and short story writer
* [[Tug McGraw]] (1944–2004), professional baseball relief pitcher and father of singer [[Tim McGraw]]
* [[Seanan McGuire]] (born 1978), author
* [[John Muir]] (1838–1914), [[naturalist]]
* [[Richard Rodgers (tight end)|Richard Rodgers]] (born 1992), football tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles
* [[Simon Rodia|Sabato "Simon" Rodia]] (1879 or 1886–1965), creator of giant folk art [[Watts Towers]] in [[Los Angeles]]
* [[Victor Salva]] (born 1958), filmmaker
* [[J. Otto Seibold]] (born 1960), visual artist and children's book creator
* [[Robert Stephenson (baseball)|Robert Stephenson]] (born 1993), professional baseball pitcher for the Colorado Rockies
* [[Jim Turner (placekicker)|Jim Turner]] (1941–2023), former [[placekicker]] for the [[New York Jets]] and [[Denver Broncos]]
* [[Norv Turner]] (born 1952), football coach in the National Football League (NFL)
* [[Jeff Van Gundy]] (born 1962), commentator for ESPN and former basketball coach most famous for his time with the New York Knicks
* [[Stan Van Gundy]] (born 1959), commentator for TNT and CBS and former basketball coach, taking Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009
* [[Travis Williams (running back)|Travis Williams]] (1946–1991), football player for the [[Green Bay Packers]]

== See also ==
{{portal|San Francisco Bay Area}}
* [[Martinez, California beavers|Martinez beavers]]

== References ==

{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==

{{sister project links|collapsible=true|voy=Martinez (California)}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{gnis|277553}}
* [http://www.martinezchamber.com/ Martinez Area Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.mainstreetmartinez.org Main Street Martinez]
* [https://archive.org/details/Martinez1927 ''Martinez, California Scenes, {{circa}}1927'']. Silent amateur film of daily life

{{Geographic location
| Center    = Martinez
| North     = [[Benicia, California|Benicia]]
| Northeast = [[Suisun Bay]]
| East      = [[Pacheco, California|Pacheco]]
| Southeast = [[Pleasant Hill, California|Pleasant Hill]]
| South     = [[Lafayette, California|Lafayette]]
| Southwest = [[Pinole, California|Pinole]]<br />[[Richmond, California|Richmond]]
| West      = [[Hercules, California|Hercules]]
| Northwest = [[Port Costa, California|Port Costa]]
}}
{{Contra Costa County, California}}
{{California county seats}}
{{East Bay}}
{{SF Bay Area}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Martinez, California| ]]
[[Category:1876 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Carquinez Strait]]
[[Category:Cities in Contra Costa County, California]]
[[Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:County seats in California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Pony Express stations]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1849]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1876]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in California]]