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Contra Costa County is one of 27 counties that made up the originals in 1850 when California became a state. The name Contra Costa is Spanish for opposite coast. This is because the county is located opposite of San Francisco on the east on the San Francisco Bay. The original name for the county was Mt. Diablo County and its county seat is Martinez.
The economy in Contra Costa County includes agriculture, commuter railroads, irrigation canals, and heavy industries. The Moraga region still has people stopping and picking trees. In East County, cherries are still grown with opportunities for people to pick their own for a fee. Heavy industries refer to oil refineries and chemical plants.
Contra Costa County has an east county that includes incorporated places like Antioch and Brentwood. The west county has El Cerrito and San Pablo. The central county has Clayton and Concord. All three have incorporated and unincorporated places.
West County is the places near or on San Pablo and the San Francisco Bays. The housing there is quite expensive. Central County includes a valley that transverses Highway 24 and Interstate 160. This area is great for families with children all thanks to high quality schools.
Contra Costa County is full of museums and historic sites to keep families busy and interested while visiting. The Blackhawk Museum has a site of paleontology from the University of California-Berkley. Others of interest include the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, the John Muir National Historic site, and Borges Ranch.
There are numerous parks to spend sunny days enjoying picnics and biking. The Diablo Foothills, Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, and Briones Regional Park are just a few for you to visit. The Iron Horse Regional Trail and Marsh Creek Trail will have you enjoying nature walks in no time.
There are several proposals waiting in the wings to be built in Contra Costa County. They include four gaming casinos in Richmond and the surrounding area to the west. They are a Hilltop Mall, Lytton Rancheria at Casino San Pablo, Point Molate Resort, and North Richmond that will include a buffet.
Contra Costa County is a place with rich history that can be viewed through its vast museums and historic sites all around the county that you can visit. The homes are nice and several trails that make the scenery part of your vacation and that means more than just breathtaking pictures.
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