Livermore
As the easternmost city in the San Francisco Bay Area, Livermore looks a little different than its contemporary Bay Area neighbors. Instead of the traditional Bay Area urban core, Livermore is dominated by historical vineyards, undeveloped farmland, and traditional style ranches reflective of the city’s agricultural history. However, despite its thriving wine industry and functional ranches, Livermore is a city striding firmly into the future via its burgeoning science centers and technology sector.
Lay of the Land
As part of the Tri-Valley region, Livermore is a city dominated geographically by the surrounding mountain ranges. Located in a valley of the same name, Livermore enjoys an extremely mild climate as a result of the protection offered by the Diablo Mountain range. Relatively isolated, the city has access to its closest neighbors via a series of passes running through the surrounding ranges. Despite its somewhat remote location, Livermore has a bustling population of approximately 85,000 total residents. The town has also benefited from the rapidly growing Bay Area economy, with a median household income of $91,790 and estimated home values of $504,200.
Transportation
Ground transportation from Livermore to the rest of the San Francisco Bay area is possible via Interstate 580 while Interstate 680 provides more direct access to the San Jose area. The 580 corridor that runs through Livermore is a primary conduit for traffic between the Bay Area and the Los Angeles area via Interstate 5. Additionally, despite its relative geographic isolation, Livermore residents and visitors are able to take full advantage of the Bay Area public transportation services thanks in large part to Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LATVA). LATVA provides residents of the more remote regions of the Tri-Valley area with access to commuter bus lines that connect to all of the major regional transit stations. These include Bay Area Rapid Transit stations, local Amtrak stations, and Altamont Commuter Express Train stations. Finally, corporate and private travel is possible via the Livermore Municipal Airport.
Local Highlights
Historically, Livermore is a city known for its distinctive regional wines and rich history of agricultural and western living. As it has grown both technologically and economically the city has worked hard to hold on to its traditional roots. Many vineyards continue to function in the region today, providing residents and visitors alike access to scenic nature hikes and wine tasting tours. However, the number one industry in Livermore is technology.
Livermore is home to both the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Sandia National Laboratory. Both laboratories are part of the United States Department of Energy\’s national laboratory system and employ approximately 7,600 individual scientists, researchers, and support staff. While most of what is worked on at the laboratories is considered a matter of national security, the labs still manage to publish enough of their findings to garner international recognition. This includes discovering a new heavy element which was eventually officially named Livermorium as a tribute to the town.
Livermore also has a thriving commercial district highlighted by two main locations: The Livermore Downtown District and the San Francisco Premium Outlets, the largest premium outlet mall of its kind in the immediate Bay Area. Downtown Livermore is an area dedicated less to well-known national retail locations and dining experiences and more towards locally developed locations and culinary talents. Guests can expect a unique experience in both regards. On the other hand, the San Francisco Premium Outlets is a more mainstream shopping option, with hundreds of well-known retail locations offering a wide array of designer clothing and accessories.
Finally, Livermore has an ever expanding scene focused on both the arts and recreation. In addition to the numerous cultural arts organizations and heritage groups, the city has also worked to cultivate support for a full array of performance and visual arts endeavors. This includes everything from a symphony orchestra and local opera company to Shakespeare festivals and local poetry readings.
