San Ramon, California
San Ramon is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States, located within the San Ramon Valley, and east of San Francisco. San Ramon's population was 84,605 per the 2020 census, making it the 4th largest city in Contra Costa County, behind Concord, Richmond and Antioch.
San Ramon is home to the Cooper Companies, the West Coast headquarters of AT&T, GE Digital, as well as the San Ramon Medical Center. Major annual events include the Art and Wind Festival on Memorial Day weekend and the Run for Education in October.
History
The lands now occupied by the City of San Ramon were formerly inhabited by Seunen people, an Ohlone/Costanoan group who built their homes near creeks. Sometime around 1797, they were taken by Mission San José for use as grazing land. In 1834, they were part of the Rancho San Ramon land grant to José María Amador.The area went through several informal names in the 1800s, including Brevensville, Lynchville, and Limerick. Amador named after a Native American vaquero who tended mission sheep on the land. Amador added the "San" per Spanish custom. In 1850, the first permanent American settlers, Leo and Mary Jane Norris, purchased the northwest corner of Amador's Rancho San Ramon, near the intersection of present-day Bollinger Canyon Road and Crow Canyon Road. In 1873, San Ramon became the official place name when a permanent post office was opened, further established when a railroad arrived.
The tracks for the San Ramon Branch Line of the Southern Pacific Railroad were laid down and completed in 1891. The line extended from San Ramon to an unincorporated area known as Avon, east of Martinez, where it connected to the Oakland/Stockton Line. On February 7, 1909, Southern Pacific extended the line south to Radum. In 1934, passenger service ended. By 1986, Contra Costa County had obtained the railroad right-of-way and the Iron Horse Regional Trail was established along its path.
On April 24, 2001, San Ramon was designated a Tree City USA.
Geography
flanks the city to the northeast and is prominently visible from almost all parts of the city. The Las Trampas Regional Wilderness borders San Ramon's extreme northwest, at the northern end of Bollinger Canyon. The smaller Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve straddles San Ramon's western border, located approximately between Interstate 680 and the Alameda County line.The topography of San Ramon is varied, featuring a mix of the rolling hills of the Diablo Range and the flatter basin of the San Ramon Valley. The city is predominantly urban and residential with many new housing developments; however, much of the land around the city's perimeter regions remains undeveloped, and is covered by grasslands and oak tree orchards. During the drier months the grasses are golden, but with the precipitation of winter and spring, the grasses turn green.
Climate
San Ramon's weather typifies a Mediterranean climate, seasonal, and moderate. Summers can range from warm to hot and dry, while winters are cool, wet and rather short. Its weather is similar to the adjacent cities of Danville, Dublin and Pleasanton. Fog can be infrequent but occurs normally in the western reaches of the city, at the eastern mouth of Crow Canyon, through which marine weather patterns funnel in from the San Francisco Bay via Castro Valley. It usually burns off by mid-to-late morning. Snow in the lower elevations of the San Francisco Bay Area is generally considered extremely rare, however, the East Bay lower elevation cities are affected by chance of light snowfall or dusting twice in 5 years.Demographics
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | % 2000 | % 2010 | ||
| Latino whites|White] alone | 32,356 | 34,956 | 27,140 | 72.35% | 48.45% | 32.08% |
| Black or African American alone | 842 | 1,946 | 2,113 | 1.88% | 2.70% | 2.50% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone | 142 | 128 | 100 | 0.32% | 0.18% | 0.12% |
| Asian alone | 6,629 | 25,531 | 43,052 | 14.82% | 35.39% | 50.89% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone | 89 | 141 | 174 | 0.20% | 0.20% | 0.21% |
| Race and ethnicity in [the United States census|Other race] alone | 131 | 146 | 427 | 0.29% | 0.20% | 0.50% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial | 1,295 | 3,050 | 4,497 | 2.90% | 4.23% | 5.32% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,238 | 6,250 | 7,102 | 7.24% | 8.66% | 8.39% |
| Total | 44,722 | 72,148 | 84,605 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
The 2020 United States census reported that San Ramon had a population of 84,605. The population density was. The racial makeup of San Ramon was 34.0% White, 2.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 51.1% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2.6% from other races, and 9.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.4% of the population.The census reported that 99.90% of the population lived in households, 0.06% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.03% were institutionalized.
There were 28,447 households, out of which 47.7% included children under the age of 18, 67.7% were married-couple households, 3.7% were cohabiting couple households, 17.9% had a female householder with no partner present, and 10.6% had a male householder with no partner present. 16.1% of households were one person, and 5.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.97. There were 22,690 families.
The age distribution was 27.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% aged 18 to 24, 24.1% aged 25 to 44, 29.7% aged 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 39.9years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males.
There were 29,146 housing units at an average density of, of which 28,447 were occupied. Of these, 68.2% were owner-occupied, and 31.8% were occupied by renters.
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income in 2023 was $197,358, and the per capita income was $82,145. About 3.1% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line.
2010 census
The 2010 United States census reported that San Ramon had a population of 72,148. The population density was. The racial makeup of San Ramon was 38,639 White, 2,043 African American, 205 Native American, 25,713 Asian, 156 Pacific Islander, 1,536 from other races, and 3,856 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6,250 persons.The Census reported that 72,073 people lived in households, 52 lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 23 were institutionalized.
There were 25,284 households, out of which 11,988 had children under the age of 18 living in them, 16,318 were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,997 had a female householder with no husband present, 850 had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,067 unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 187 same-sex married couples or partnerships. 4,682 households were made up of individuals, and 1,105 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85. There were 19,165 families ; the average family size was 3.30.
The population was spread out, with 21,351 people under the age of 18, 3,557 people aged 18 to 24, 22,798 people aged 25 to 44, 18,815 people aged 45 to 64, and 5,627 people who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
There were 26,222 housing units at an average density of, of which 25,284 were occupied and 18,056 of them were owner-occupied, and 7,228 were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.0%. 54,705 people lived in owner-occupied housing units and 17,368 people lived in rental housing units.
The median income for a household in the city was $119,297, and the median income for a family was $132,339. Males had a median income of $97,475 versus $70,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $50,736. About 2.0% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
, a master-planned office park development, with some retail elements, began major construction in the early 1980s, and provides a healthy tax base for the city. Bishop Ranch is situated on 585 acres once owned by Western Electric, and was farmland before that. Current tenants include the corporate headquarters of Chevron Corporation, as well the West Coast headquarters of AT&T Inc.. United Parcel Service has a regional distribution center in Bishop Ranch. Toyota has a regional office and parts distribution center located there. GE Global Research started its Global Software Center in Bishop Ranch in 2011. Bishop Ranch covers the vast majority of "Central San Ramon", which is the large square formed by Freeway 680 on the west, Crow Canyon Road on the north, Iron Horse trail on the east, and Bollinger Canyon Road on the south. In December 2016, the Ligier EZ-10 began use in the first autonomous vehicle passenger shuttle route in North America, looping through Bishop Ranch Office Park, with on-sight operation and maintenance by First Transit.ChevronTexaco's headquarters moved from San Francisco to San Ramon in 2001 but 12 years later, 800 jobs were moved to Houston, a quarter of the San Ramon workforce due to high corporate costs and to consolidate existing units in Houston.
Largest employers
According to the city's 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees | % of Total City Employment |
| 1 | Pacific Gas & Electric | 2,230 | 5.25% |
| 2 | Chevron | 1,852 | 2.36% |
| 3 | Robert Half International | 1,364 | 3.21% |
| 4 | BMO Bank N.A. | 658 | 1.55% |
| 5 | San Ramon Regional Medical Center | 650 | 1.53% |
| 6 | Primed Management Consulting | 453 | 1.07% |
| 7 | Five9, Inc. | 448 | 1.05% |
| 8 | United Parcel Service | 385 | 0.91% |
| 9 | Target | 223 | 0.52% |
| 10 | Armanino LLP | 206 | 0.48% |
Downtown
In 2014, the city approved the design for an animated civic space featuring. This City Center Bishop Ranch was designed by international architectural firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Opened on November 8, 2018, City Center has a variety of shops, including furniture, clothing, food, and a movie theater.Arts and culture
The San Ramon Library and Dougherty Station Library branches of the Contra Costa County Library are in San Ramon.Forest Home Farms in San Ramon is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Parks and recreation
San Ramon features 58 separate parks and an 18-hole golf course, the San Ramon Golf Club.Memorial Park
Originally, this city park, located on a hill overlooking Bollinger Canyon Road and San Ramon Valley Blvd., was to be named Alta Mesa Park. During the construction of the park, the City Council voted to change the name to Memorial Park to honor Tom Burnett, a San Ramon resident, and other victims from Flight 93 killed in the September 11 attacks of 2001. A plaque was installed at the base of a lighted flagpole dedicated to those victims and the surrounding meadow is part of the city's memorial tree program dedicated to local residents who have perished. The park was dedicated on September 11, 2002.This 16-acre park includes a play area, a BMX course, a picnic area, a bocce ball court, horseshoe courts, a ball field, a dog park, restrooms and water fountains. The play area has two big play structures, one for ages 2–5 and another for ages 5–12.
Government
San Ramon is governed by a five-body City Council composed of individuals elected to four-year overlapping terms in coordination with a two-year elected mayor. Police services were provided under contract by the Contra Costa County sheriff until July 1, 2007, when the city officially took over providing police services.As of 2025, the Mayor is Mark Armstrong, and the other City Councilmembers are Richard Adler, Robert Jweinat, Marisol Rubio, and Sridhar Verose.
In the United States House of Representatives, the city is fully within the Contra Costa-based 10th Congressional District, represented by Democrat Mark DeSaulnier.
According to the California Secretary of State, as of February 10, 2019, San Ramon has 41,872 registered voters. Of those, 16,518 are registered Democratic Party|Democrats], 8,907 are registered Republican Party|Republicans], and 12,147 have declined to state a political party.
| Year | Democratic | Republican |
| 2024 | 64.6% 24,985 | 30.9% 11,950 |
| 2020 | 70.4% 29,397 | 27.7% 11,553 |
| 2016 | 66.9% 21,134 | 27.7% 8,741 |
| 2012 | 60.1% 17,410 | 38.1% 11,028 |
| 2008 | 62.3% 18,517 | 36.2% 10,768 |
| 2004 | 53.0% 12,872 | 46.0% 11,172 |
| 2000 | 48.2% 9,384 | 48.9% 9,525 |
| 1996 | 45.3% 8,141 | 46.4% 8,349 |
| 1992 | 36.1% 6,569 | 39.9% 7,256 |
| 1988 | 34.5% 4,957 | 64.6% 9,288 |
| 1984 | 26.6% 2,816 | 72.7% 7,709 |
Education
San Ramon's public schools are part of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, serving approximately 31,000 students. The city has 12 elementary schools and four middle schools. The high schools are California High School and Dougherty Valley High School. Some of the middle schools are Pine Valley Middle School, Gale Ranch, Windemere Ranch, and Iron Horse Middle School. The elementary schools are Walt Disney Elementary, Country Club, Montevideo, Neil Armstrong, Twin Creeks, Bollinger Canyon, Quail Run, Live Oak, Golden View, and Coyote Creek Elementary. An alternative K–12 school is operated by the SRVUSD to support home-schooled students: Venture Independent Study School, along with Del Amigo High School which offers credit recovery courses on a flexible schedule. The district has two additional high schools in Danville, including Monte Vista High School, and San Ramon Valley High School.California High School was founded in 1973 and ranked 1049th best high school in the United States by Newsweek. Dougherty Valley High School was founded in 2007 and is ranked 42nd within California; it is ranked No. 158 in the national rankings and earned a gold medal.
Higher education
- Diablo Valley College – San Ramon branch campus
- University of San Francisco – San Ramon regional campus
- UC Davis Graduate School of Management – the Bay Area working professional program
Transportation