Welcome to Rodeo
An historic California town, the early years of Rodeo read more like a western novel than the events of an actual city. Brothers operating competing ranches, the influence of the railroad, and the devastation left in the wake of the 1906 earthquake all play a part in the city’s development. Modern Rodeo real estate is a little quieter, though the community still possesses a fierce sense of independence and a dedication to public service.
Lay of the Land
Rodeo is located along San Pablo Bay in the western section of Contra Costa County. Rodeo is positioned in the northeast section of San Pablo Bay, near where the Bay connects to the Carquinez Strait. Crockett in the east and Hercules in the west are the city’s two largest neighbors, though the area is dominated by a variety of unincorporated rural communities. Despite a population of 8,679 Rodeo is itself an unincorporated census designated location. The city enjoys an estimated median household income of $65,039 and an average home value of $309,362.
Transportation
Rodeo is positioned just north of the intersection of Interstate 80 and State Highway 4. Moving north, Interstate 80 connects to Vallejo and Sacramento, while moving south, it runs into Oakland and San Francisco. In addition to providing access to the eastern section of the county, State Highway 4 also eventually intersects Interstate 680.
Rural appearance aside, Rodeo is still a part of the Bay Area which means an outstanding system of public transportation. A series of local busses are operated by WestCAT (Western Contra Costa County Transit Authority). The bus lines connect several of the communities in the area to each other and to numerous important locations within the western section of the country, including Bay Area Rapid Transit stations. They also connect to the San Francisco International Airport.
Local Highlights
Rodeo is primarily a residential community. While the city does have a wide range of professional services, commercial operations, and eateries, the vast majority of these are more concerned with providing a functional experience and less interested in garnering national or regional attention. However, the local businesses do have plenty of character, especially the organizations located in the historic downtown region of the city.
The primary focus of residents of Rodeo is maintaining a small town atmosphere while taking advantage of its location and designation as a Bay Area resident. To that end, the city boasts a total of 14 different organizations dedicated to civic service, including several recreation groups, homeowners associations, and advisory committees. The organizations are primarily focused on providing a positive local atmosphere, and include groups dedicated to general beautification, senior programs, youth sports programs, and general public economic support.
The city is also home to several locations which make managing community events easy and convenient. This includes a wide range of athletic fields and sports facilities dedicated to baseball, tennis, and volleyball. It also includes the Lefty Gomez Recreation Center which is a general use building dedicated to a wide range of educational and enrichment classes.
The area is managed on a state level by the East Bay Regional Park District. In addition to managing many of the open spaces in the region, it is also in charge of development and improvement of existing facilities. Currently, work is underway on an extended multi use trail between Lone Tree Point in Rodeo and Point Pinole Regional Shoreline in Richmond. San Pablo Trail will eventually run a total of 10 miles and connect all of the cities and small communities in between the two locations.
The highlight of the East Bay Regional Park District in Rodeo is the Crockett Hills Regional Park which extends through a large portion of the community. The 1,900 acre park offers visitors access to several different natural habitats as well as to locations of varying elevations. In addition to the extremely diverse array of plants and animals that make their home in the park, it also supports walking, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and picnicking, though it lacks a dedicated campground.
