About Rodeo

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Rodeo's History
Regional Setting
Location
Demographics

Rodeo's History

A Brief History
By Edward Richard Werth

For thousands of years, Rodeo was home to the Ohlone Indians. The arrival of Spanish explorers and the resulting land grants during the 1800's transformed the area from a quiet Indian enclave to a bustling center of ranching, meat packing, lumber yards and shipping. Rodeo was founded in 1890 when the Union Stock Yard Company was formed for the purpose of canning and packing meat.

Rodeo (pronounced Ro-DAY-o) gets its name from the cattle, sheep and hog round-ups (also known as rodeos) which took place at the Union Stock Yards.

The end of 1800's saw the end of meat packing in Rodeo and the advent of the petroleum and refining industry. In 1895, Union Oil Company purchased land and a wharf from the Humbolt Lumber Company. The first crude oil still was installed in 1896 and over 100 years later Phillip's 66 San Francisco Area Refinery still operates in Rodeo.

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Today, the population of Rodeo has grown to over 11,000, but the small town atmosphere that characterized Rodeo around the turn of the century still exists today. Residents are fiercely proud of their historic waterfront community and are highly involved in community activities and civic affairs. Rodeo boasts 14 different local service clubs, recreation groups, homeowners associations and advisory committees. They all have one thing in common, a deep love for the town and a strong desire to see its tremendous potential realized.

If you are looking for a stable, safe and progressive community where long-time residents welcome new neighbors and businesses, come see what Rodeo has to offer!

Regional Setting

The heart of this quaint waterfront village is its historic downtown. Built down to the waterfront, it once welcomed ferry boats from across the bay filled with residents who used the ferries for commuting. The ferries also served as transportation for recreational lovers who came to Rodeo for its world renowned striped bass fishing. Today, Rodeo residents are a vibrant mix of professionals, technicians, writers and small business owners who love Rodeo for its central location and its friendly small-town atmosphere. Fishing is still a favorite pastime, along with hiking, wind surfing, and baseball.

Rodeo is part of the eight-county San Francisco Bay Area, located along the Interstate highway connecting San Francisco and the state capital. It is a residential community with small-town charm, great views of the bay, and gently sloping hills. Housing is less expensive than in many Bay Area locales, and a great many styles are available to choose from. Rodeo's close proximity to Walnut Creek and Concord provides residents with access to cultural and recreational outlets, as well as restaurants and shopping.

Location

Rodeo is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The town is situated on the shore of San Pablo Bay, just across the water from Marin County, Vallejo and Benicia. The commerce and culture of San Francisco is 28 miles southwest, and California's state capital, Sacramento, is 56 miles northeast.

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Demographics