Richmond

Richmond in West Contra Costa County has a similar size population to that of Berkeley, approximately 100,000. It stretches from the San Francisco Bay up to Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Along the miles of Bay waterfront, including wetlands supporting a variety of bird life, are several marinas, a yacht club, regional parks and an extensive biking, walking and jogging trail. Point Isabel Regional Shoreline is a favorite for people to take their off-leash dogs. The neighborhoods of Richmond, from Richmond North and East, to Point Richmond and Marina Bay, from Richmond Annex to Richmond View, are as varied as those of Berkeley and Oakland and more affordable. Point Richmond is an historic small and quaint town with charming Victorians near the downtown area and contemporary homes on the water past Miller Knox Regional Shoreline, where there is a beach for swimming. Marina Bay has large condominium developments and a marina. Parts of Richmond View, the neighborhood alongside Wildcat Canyon Park, feel very rural and even support some horse stables. Many neighborhoods on the water or in the hills have spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay. Richmond attracts light and heavy industry and some large commercial complexes. Hilltop Mall is a large shopping complex with several department stores, Costco is close to Point Isabel and Home Depot and Target are on San Pablo Avenue. Prominently situated near the Richmond Bridge is the Chevron Refinery. Richmond has a port, Amtrak, one BART station at the end of the line, AC Transit and Golden Gate transit. It has 2 freeways running through it, the I80 and I580 and it is a short commute to Marin County.