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Free Traveling Guides » States » California » Greater San Francisco
Oakland
Lying on the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay, the city of Oakland is the eighth largest city in California. Oakland is surrounded by Berkeley on the North and San Francisco on the west. Oakland is the county seat of Alameda County with a population of 415,492 (as per 2000 census), making it the third most populated city in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The earliest recorded inhabitants of Oakland were the Huchiun Tribe. The area was later occupied by Spaniards and Mexicans. Oakland was formally incorporated into the California State Legislature on May 4, 1852. The name of the city has originated from woodland that had oak trees. Development became a reality in Oakland with the construction of Oakland Long Wharf that served as the terminus for transcontinental railroads and commuter trains.
The city of Oakland is an economically dominant region in the United States. It has a well-developed public transportation system that includes the Oakland International Airport, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), The Western Pacific Railroad and the Sacramento Railroad. The Port of Oakland is the fourth busiest container port in the USA. Oakland is also served by numerous freeways, bridges and tunnels that connect it with practically every part of the country.
The climate of the city is greatly influenced by its unique geographical location. Oakland has a temperate and seasonally arid Mediterranean climate throughout the year. The city has an ethnically diversified population that includes Caucasians, Native Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, Latinos and other races who collectively speak more than 100 languages and dialects.
Oakland has one of the most picturesque surroundings that include the lovely East Bay Hills, the shimmering Lake Merritt, exemplary architecture and 19 miles (31 km) of shoreline along the San Francisco Bay. Oakland is known for its numerous parks and open spaces like Joaquin Miller Park, Anthony Chabot Regional Park, Huckleberry Botanical Regional Preserve, Redwood Regional Park, Temescal Regional Park, Roberts Regional Recreational Area and Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Reserve.
Other interesting places to visit include the Oakland Public Library, the Oakland Museum, Chinatown, the Oakland Zoo, Morcom Rose Garden, Knowland State Park Arboretum, the Oracle Arena, the Paramount Theater, the Grand Lake Theater and William Joseph McInnes Botanic Garden.
Oakland has a vibrant nightlife with numerous restaurants, bars, nightclubs, movie theatres, galleries, jazz clubs, dance clubs and cafes that are spread around the Jack London Square. Oakland is significant for its hip hop culture.
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