Overview
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A step back in time can be found on Oakland's southern border in San Leandro. Historically a town with dozens of huge cherry farms and a Spanish missionary ranch, San Leandro today is a rapidly growing city of worldwide industries and growing suburbs south of Oakland. Founded in 1872, it is one of the oldest cities in California. The central location makes San Leandro a very economical home base for residents and commuters, and its panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay and its hills are about as good as it gets.
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Just east of the Oakland International Airport and right off San Francisco Bay, it is a large city in Alameda County and is home to a population of more than 80,000 happy East Bayers. San Leandro has a diverse population, with Whites consisting of only 31% of the population, Africans-Americans around 9.9%, and rapidly growing Hispanic (20%) and Asian (23%) populations.
Interstates 880 and 580 as well as highway 238 serve San Leandro as well as the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train system that operates two stations in the city. Access to the Bay area's three major airports is a snap. Oakland International Airport is only 5 minutes to the north, San Jose International is 30 miles to the south and San Francisco International is 20 miles to the west.
Also, the LINKS is a free shuttle linking San Leandro BART and the West San Leandro business community. The shuttle provides an alternative mode of transportation for over 20,000 employees in west San Leandro, helping to ease traffic congestion and improve air quality. The shuttle runs every 15 minutes during morning and evening commute hours.
The Hayward Faultline runs right through Ssan Leandro, just so you know.
Like its northern neighbor Oakland, San Leandro has its tough neighborhoods. One area to beware is the portion of MacArthur Boulevard near the Oakland border. Another area is near the Hayward and Ashland borders, but overall San Leandro is a safe city with crime free zones in the area near the Castro Valley border at Lake Chabot to the end of Estudillo Avenue, (where downtown begins)and near the marina and at Washington Manor Park and Pool to Farnsworth Avenue. Fairmont Drive is heavily secured between Lake Chabot Park and 152nd Avenue because a Juvenile Hall is located in that area. Police patrols occur every 30 minutes and security cameras are hidden on trees and fences.
The San Leandro Marina is part of the San Leandro Shoreline Recreation Area. It boasts a full service marina with 455 berths, a free launch ramp and two yacht clubs. In addition there are a variety of other amenities nearby including three restaurants, a waterfront hotel, two golf courses, golf driving range, a par course, park and picnic areas, and the shoreline trail.
Monarch Bay Golf Club features two spectacular courses - the 18-hole Tony Lema Golf Course and the Marina 9-hole course.
Quaint neighborhoods are packed with rows and rows of 30's-40's era bungalows, and small apartment communities climb atop one another near the city's center, while newer subdivisions and apartment communities have popped up along the city's Marina. Mission Bay is a fairly popular place among seniors and retirees. It has a wonderful climate, is a neighborly community, and is conveniently located.
San Leandro Unified School District operates eight elementary schools, two middle schools and San Leandro High School.
San Leandro's great climate and classic neighborhoods have been somewhat of a new discovery with folks over the last couple years as those priced out of many of Oakland's neighborhoods have decided to venture a couple miles south, so for a while it carried the name of 'East Bay's best kept secret.
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