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Oakley is situated on the northeast side of beautiful Mount Diablo State Recreation Area in East Contra Costa County. The city is located along Stale Highway 4 in a growth corridor that includes Pittsburgh, Antioch and Brentwood. California's San Joaquin Delta lies on the northern edge of town, with local marinas fur boating access. The commerce and culture of San Francisco is 55 miles west, and California's state capitol, Sacramento, is 55 miles northeast. Oakley became Contra Costa County's newest incorporated city newest July 1999 - the general law city is governed by an elected five-person City Council. The Oakley Redevelopment Area (PDA), established in 1989, encompasses approximately 964 acres in the city. Redevelopment funds will be used to enhance the quality of life for all residents and assist businesses with projects that will create jobs for local residents.
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Oakley Education
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Oakley boasts four elementary schools, one middle school and a brand new high school. Class size reduction initiatives have resulted in an average student-to-teacher ratio of 24:1. The huge Bay Area population supports a diverse selection of public and private colleges. There are seven four-year schools and six two-year colleges located within 60 miles of Oakley. Los Medanos College, 11 miles away, is part of the California Community College system and offers tower division transfer courses and vocational training. California State University, Hayward, offers upper division and graduate courses for working adults at its Contra Costa Campus in Concord, Just 20 miles from Oakley. UC Berkeley, just 35 miles away, is a world-renowned institution offering undergraduate and graduate studies up to the doctoral level.
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Oakley Employment
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Current Employers Local manufacturers produce a variety of products, which include sheet metal, commercial cleaning equipment, wood products, musical Instruments, advertising signs and fabricated structural metal. Non-manufacturing companies include grocery stores, contractors, fast food and family restaurants, banks, gas stations, jewelers, antique shops, nurseries, milk producers and drug stores. Future Employers With its educated and enthusiastic workforce, equal proximity lo the Bay Area, Silicon Valley and Sacramento, available land and comparably lower costs, Oakley is a particularly good fit for companies in the following fields: food processing, fabricated metals, computers and electronics, printing and publishing, biomedical products, medical and other instruments, rubber and plastic products, information processing, transportation/warehousing, pharmaceuticals, electronic equipment, and office development. Labor Force Oakley's historically agricultural economy has been supplanted in recent years by retail interests and light industry. A surplus of labor created by Bay Area workers seeking lower housing costs and a small town environment has supplemented the traditionally blue-collar labor-force with more highly educated professionals and managers who currently commute to jobs elsewhere in the county. Over half of East County's residents commute outside the area. Business Parks & Commercial Areas Oakley is seeking new businesses for its Light Industrial Area, located in the western part of Oakley, within one block of Highways 4 and 160- Parcels in the 220-acre area range from 0.22 to 36.76 acres. Seven sites boast complete infrastructure. Commercial retail developments, including some well-known chains and fast food restaurants, have developed in Oakley, along State Highway 4/Main Street. Opportunities exist here for restaurants, convenience and visitor retail stores, auto service centers, and office facilities. Business Assets & Incentives The Redevelopment Agency can offer assistance in obtaining permits, provision of infrastructure, direct financial assistance to businesses, and site assembly services on all development projects within the Redevelopment Area (RDA), saving the developer/business owner valuable time and money. To expedite business development, Oakley offers fast track permitting, and has established P-1 zoning. This standardizes development conditions, policies and procedures and provides cost savings for applicants within the ROA. Oakley is located within a growth corridor. Its booming population has created a surplus of out commuters. You can now find managers, professionals, craftspersons, technicians, salespersons, service workers and general laborers, in addition to a solid foundation of agricultural and heavy industry workers. Wages comparable to the Central Valley are an additional bonus. Oakley companies that use recycled products in their production process may qualify for special low-interest loans and other incentives through the Contra Costa Recycling Market Development Zone. In addition to the Redevelopment Agency, business development assistance is available from the Contra Costa Economic Partnership and Contra Costa Small Business Development Center (S80C).
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Oakley History
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Oakley's history dates back to 1897 when local farmers were approached by Santa Fe Railroad agents seeking to purchase right-of-way across the northwest quarter of what was to becoming 0akey. The response from farmer and postmaster R.C. Marsh was, 'No gentlemen, we will not sell you right-of-way… until we will give you right-of-way if you sign an agreement lo put down at least a half-mile of side track, put up a small room for shelter while waiting for trains, and build us a station whenever the business will justify." *0akley, as we know it today, was born. The name Oakley was derived from the abundance of oak woodlands covering the landscape. Oakley's sandy soil allowed almond trees and logan berries to thrive and gave way to a prosperous fruit and almond industry. Mary years later, the expansion of the freeway opened up East Contra Costa County and Oakley was transformed from a farming community to a bedroom community. Today, Oakley is populated by many young families seeking affordable housing and proximity to the Delta. The rapid population growth has dramatically changed the character of the local workforce, which is now much more diverse and on average, more highly skilled than it was 15 years ago. This growth led residents in November 1998 to vote for incorporation; thus Oakley became Contra Costa County's newest city, effective date July 1, 1999.
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Oakley Housing
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Several projects will be funded through tax increment financing in the Oakley Redevelopment Area, which includes the Oakley Light Industrial Area and the downtown area. These include road and drainage improvements at the Light Industrial Area, improvements to State Highway 4, and infrastructure improvements in several areas. Housing to those on the outside, Oakley is seen as a traditional bedroom community for Bay Area employees seeking affordable housing. While the affordable housing initially attracts residents, the community assets that keep residents in Oakley are the small town setting, proximity to the Delta and the peaceful and quiet residential areas with very low crime rates. Oakley added 1,800 new housing units between 1990 and 1995. Single-family homes in a variety of neighborhoods start in the low $100,000's for starter homes. Custom homes in upscale neighborhoods are available at $300,000 and up. Access to four golf courses, numerous regional parks and hiking trails, and boating on the Delia make Oakley an exceptional place to live.
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Oakley News
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Search for "Oakley CA" - Datebook - Ledger Dispatch
| A variety of classes are offered, including watercolor, drawing, acrylic and polymer clay. |
- Allyance to co-sponsor Unsound Pro and Oakley NB Pro - Surfing News and Contests, Surf Reports, Wave Forecasts
| Surfersvillage Global Surf News , 3 September, 2008 : - - Allyance is honored to be the presenting junior pro sponsor for the Unsound Pro in Long Beach, NY from Sep. |
- Vans El Ponto Loco pres by Sun Diego ready for kickoff - Surfing News and Contests, Surf Reports, Wave Forecasts
| Surfersvillage Global Surf News , 2 September, 2008 : - - Huntington Beach -- The Inaugural Vans El Ponto Loco pres. |
- “Rootin’ Tootin’... - Free Republic
| The cowboy has often been described a "rootin' tootin' shootin'" . The 1936 song performed by native Texan Gene Austin, "I'm a Rootin' Shootin' Tootin' Man From Texas," solidified the western image. |
- Cory Arrambide captures the Oakley Pro Jr in New Jersey - Surfing News and Contests, Surf Reports, Wave Forecasts
| Surfersvillage Global Surf News , 30 August, 2008 : - - Sea Isle City, New Jersey -- Cory Arrambide , 19, claimed his second Oakley Pro Junior presented by Heritage Surf and Sport title today. |
- Novato actor in - Annie Get Your Gun' production - Novato Advance
| PHOTO COURTESY OF HOOCHIDOO PRODUCTIONS Buffalo Bill Cody: Novato resident John Conway plays Buffalo Bill Cody in Irving Berlin's Tony award-winning musical, "Annie Get Your Gun." Previous Arts & Entertainment ... |
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Oakley Recreation
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The area is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Hikers, bikers and nature lovers enjoy an abundance of parks, including Mount Diablo State Park, Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, Big Break Wetlands Area, Contra Loma Regional Parks, and the DeAnza Recreational Trail System, to name a few. There are four local public golf courses in addition to strategically located ball fields, swimming pools, basketball courts, tennis courts, and play areas. Water sports abound with more than 1,000 miles of California's San Joaquin Delta literally at your doorstep. San Francisco, with its endless cultural opportunities, is 55 miles away.
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Oakley Transportation
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Oakley is located at the edge of a world-class transportation center-the San Francisco Bay Area. The city sits near the junction of State Highways 4 and 160, which provide access to San Francisco, the Silicon Valley, Stockton and Sacramento. Three hub airports are located less than 60 miles away (Oakland, San Francisco, and Sacramento) and ct general aviation airport is located just 12 miles south in Byron. Seven ports are located nearby. The largest of these, Oakland, is Just 40 miles from Oakley, and accounts for nearly five percent of U.S. exports. Burlington Northern Santa Fe offers rail service west to Richmond and east to San Joaquin's County. Bus service is provided by Tri-Delta Transit, which connects with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), the light rail service covering most of the Bay Area.
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Oakley Weather
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