Alameda, County 1

Demographics:

Census	Pop.		%±
1860	8,927		—
1870	24,237		171.5%
1880	62,976		159.8%
1890	93,864		49.0%
1900	130,197		38.7%
1910	246,131		89.0%
1920	344,177		39.8%
1930	474,883		38.0%
1940	513,011		8.0%
1950	740,315		44.3%
1960	908,209		22.7%
1970	1,073,184		18.2%
1980	1,105,379		3.0%
1990	1,279,182		15.7%
2000	1,443,741		12.9%
2010	1,510,271		4.6%

The 2010 United States Census reported that Alameda County had a population of 1,510,271. The population density was 2,047.6 people per square mile (790.6/km²). The racial makeup of Alameda County was 649,122 (43.0%) White, 190,451 (12.6%) African American, 9,799 (0.6%) Native American, 394,560 (26.1%) Asian, 12,802 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 162,540 (10.8%) from other races, and 90,997 (6.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 339,889 persons (22.5%).

Population reported at 2010 United States Census
The County	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Alameda County	1,510,271	649,122	190,451	9,799	394,560	12,802	162,540	90,997	339,889
Incorporated cities	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Alameda	73,812	37,460	4,759	426	23,058	381	2,463	5,265	8,092
Albany	18,539	10,128	645	88	5,790	37	607	1,244	1,891
Berkeley	112,580	66,996	11,241	479	21,690	186	4,994	6,994	12,209
Dublin	46,036	23,634	4,347	246	12,321	287	2,458	2,743	6,663
Emeryville	10,080	4,490	1,764	44	2,775	16	348	643	927
Fremont	214,089	70,320	7,103	976	108,332	1,169	13,605	12,584	31,698
Hayward	144,186	49,309	17,099	1,396	31,666	4,535	30,004	10,177	58,730
Livermore	80,968	60,418	1,702	476	6,802	277	6,960	4,333	16,920
Newark	42,573	17,566	2,002	279	11,571	621	7,735	2,799	14,994
Oakland	390,724	134,925	109,471	3,040	65,811	2,222	53,378	21,877	99,068
Piedmont	10,667	7,917	144	6	1,939	13	94	554	421
Pleasanton	70,285	47,058	1,190	226	16,322	134	2,002	3,353	7,264
San Leandro	84,950	31,946	10,437	669	25,206	642	11,295	4,755	23,237
Union City	69,516	16,640	4,402	329	35,363	892	7,253	4,637	15,895
Census-designated places	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Ashland	21,925	6,705	4,269	232	4,031	260	5,124	1,304	9,394
Castro Valley	61,388	35,602	4,260	329	13,140	417	3,757	3,883	10,689
Cherryland	14,728	6,035	1,698	200	1,404	310	4,016	1,065	7,955
Fairview	10,003	4,499	2,105	76	1,525	129	913	756	2,171
San Lorenzo	23,452	11,115	1,136	228	5,054	182	4,207	1,530	8,843
Sunol	913	780	1	6	48	7	19	52	91
Unincorporated communities	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
All others not CDPs (combined)	8,857	5,579	676	48	712	85	1,308	449	2,737

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,443,741 people, 523,366 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living within them, 47.00% married couples living together, 13.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 33.90% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $55,946, and the median income for a family was $65,857 (these figures had risen to $66,430 and $81,341 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $47,425 versus $36,921 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,680. About 7.70% of families and 11.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

In 2000, the largest denominational group was the Catholics (with 306,437 adherents). The largest religious bodies were The Catholic Church (with 306,437 members) and Judaism (with 32,500 members). 

Alameda County is a stronghold of the Democratic Party. It has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1956, when Dwight Eisenhower carried the county. Historically, the county was Republican until the 1958 defeat of William F. Knowland. Even when Ronald Reagan won the national popular vote by an 18.3% margin in 1984, Walter Mondale won Alameda County by a slightly larger margin. In 2004 it voted for John Kerry by a margin of over 50%. Every city and town voted Democratic. In the House of Representatives, all of the 9th district, parts of the 10th and 11th districts, and most of the 13th district are in the county. All four districts are held by Democrats: Barbara Lee, John Garamendi, Jerry McNerney, and Pete Stark, respectively.

In the State Assembly, parts of the 14th and 15th districts, all of the 16th and 18th districts, and most of the 20th district are in the county. All of its five legislators are Democrats: Nancy Skinner of the 14th district, Sandré Swanson of the 16th district, Mary Hayashi of the 18th district, and Bob Wieckowski of the 20th district, and Joan Buchanan of the 15th district. In the State Senate, most of the 9th and 10th districts are in the county and are both represented by Democrats: Loni Hancock and Ellen Corbett, respectively.

According to the California Secretary of State, there are 709,414 registered voters in Alameda County. 401,847 (56.6%) are registered Democrats, 116,864 (16.5%) are registered Republicans, 33,689 (4.8%) are registered to minor political parties, and 157,014 (22.1%) declined to answer. This means Democrats have a 40.1% registration advantage over Republicans. Every city, town, and unincorporated area in Alameda County has more registered Democrats than Republicans.

Alameda County vote by party in presidential elections:

Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2008	19.3% 119,554	78.9% 489,106	1.8% 11,724
2004	23.3% 130,911	75.2% 422,585	1.5% 8,594
2000	24.1% 119,279	69.4% 342,889	6.5% 32,168
1996	23.1% 106,581	65.8% 303,903	11.2% 51,560
1992	20.6% 109,292	63.0% 334,224	16.3% 86,629
1988	34.0% 162,815	64.8% 310,283	1.2% 5,899
1984	40.0% 192,408	58.7% 282,041	1.3% 6,425
1980	38.0% 158,531	48.3% 201,720	13.7% 57,366
1976	38.1% 155,280	57.9% 235,988	4.0% 16,413
1972	42.8% 201,862	55.0% 259,254	2.1% 10,079
1968	37.6% 153,285	53.9% 219,545	8.5% 34,519
1964	33.5% 142,998	66.4% 283,833	0.1% 509
1960	45.6% 183,354	54.0% 217,172	0.4% 1,474
1956	52.4% 192,911	47.3% 174,033	0.3% 1,187
1952	52.7% 201,976	46.5% 178,239	0.8% 3,079
1948	46.6% 150,588	47.8% 154,549	5.6% 18,194
1944	41.8% 122,982	57.7% 169,631	0.5% 1,374
1940	43.6% 116,961	55.2% 148,224	1.2% 3,311
1936	35.1% 82,352	63.6% 149,323	1.3% 3,011
1932	43.7% 89,303	52.0% 106,388	4.3% 8,761
1928	65.4% 118,539	33.6% 60,875	1.0% 1,780
1924	61.5% 81,454	6.1% 8,020	32.5% 43,016
1920	69.1% 73,177	20.3% 21,468	10.6% 11,244

On Nov. 4, 2008 Alameda County voted 62.0 % against Proposition 8, which won statewide, and which amended the California Constitution to bansame-sex marriages. The county garnered the sixth highest "no" vote, by percentage, of all California counties, and the was the second largest county, by total voter turnout, to vote against it.

The Alameda County Arts Commission, a division of the county administration, under the California Arts Council, was created in 1965. Its fifteen appointed members act in an advisory capacity to the board of supervisors, in promoting the arts. The Oakland Museum of California has a substantial collection of California art works and historical artifacts.

The Alameda County Office of Education oversees seventeen K-12 school districts and one K-8 district in Alameda County. In all, there are approximately 10,000 teachers serving 225,000 students. The ACOE also services three community college districts with a total enrollment of approximately 55,000 students.

The Alameda County Library operates libraries in the cities of Albany, Dublin, Fremont, Newark and Union City and the unincorporated communities of Castro Valley and San Lorenzo. The cities of Alameda, Berkeley, Hayward, Livermore, Oakland, San Leandro, and Pleasanton have their own library systems.

Alameda County is home to the University of California, Berkeley, one of the campuses of the University of California system, and one of the largest and most prestigious research universities in the world.

Other colleges and universities located within Alameda county include:

• Berkeley City College

• California State University, East Bay, one of the campuses of the California State University system

• Chabot College, a two year community college, part of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District

• College of Alameda, a two year community college, part of the Peralta Community College District of northern Alameda County

• Ex'pression College for Digital Arts

• Holy Names University

• Laney College, a two year community college, part of the Peralta Community College system

• Las Positas College

• Merritt College, a two year community college, part of the Peralta Community College system

• Mills College, a private 4 year women's college and coeducational graduate school

• Ohlone College, part of the Ohlone Community College District

• Samuel Merritt University

• University of California, Berkeley, part of the University of California system

There are more than 350 parks located within the county. The East Bay Regional Park District operates within Alameda and neighboring Contra Costa County, with numerous parks within the county, including, Tilden Regional Park, Redwood Regional Park, and Anthony Chabot Regional Park. Eastshore State Park is located partially along the bay shore of northern Alameda County. TheSan Francisco Bay Trail, a project of the Association of Bay Area Governments, will run along the bay shore of the county. 

The county operates hospitals and primary care clinics, through the Alameda County Medical Center.