Martinez, California
Martinez is a city of 36,903 people in Contra Costa County, California, founded in 1849.
Why visit Martinez
Townapedia lists 54 museums and landmarks, 52 parks and trails, 87 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 15 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Contra Costa Stadium Cinema, Benicia–Martinez Bridge, John Muir National Historic Site and Martinez Library.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; December lows average 35°F.
Weather in Martinez
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Martinez
Martinez (Spanish: Martínez) is a city in and the county seat of Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Located on the southern shore of the Carquinez Strait, the city's population was 37,287 at the 2020 census. The city is named after Californio ranchero Ygnacio Martínez, having been founded on his Rancho El Pinole. Martinez is known for its historic center and its waterfront.
From the Wikipedia article Martinez, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do15
Benicia–Martinez Bridge
Bridge · 3.0 mi
Californian series of road & rail bridges on the Carquinez Strait
John F. Kennedy University
School · 4.3 mi
Private university located in Pleasant Hill, California, United States
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord
Monument and historic site · 3.9 mi
Water park in Concord, California
3 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks54
John Muir National Historic Site
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Former home of John Muir in Martinez, California
4202 Alhambra Avenue
Martinez Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Martinez Branch of the Contra Costa County Library system
740 Court Street, Martinez
Tu 12:00-20:00; We,Th 10:00-20:00; Fr,Sa 09:00-17:00; PH off
Benicia Arsenal
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Historic district in Benicia, United States of America
Benicia Capitol State Historic Park
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 4.3 mi
State historic park in Benicia, California, USA
Benicia Southern Pacific Railroad Passenger Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Railway station in Benicia, the United States of America
Carr House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
United States national historic place
Don Fernando Pacheco Adobe
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
Historic house in California, United States
Don Francisco Galindo House
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Historic House museum in Concord, CA
Fischer-Hanlon House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.3 mi
Historical house built in 1858 in Benicia, California, USA
Old Masonic Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.4 mi
Building in California, United States
Patrick Rodgers Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Historic district in California, United States of America
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Tucker House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic house in California, United States
42 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds52
Waterbird Regional Preserve
Park · 2.1 mi
Regional park, Contra Costa County, California,
Briones Regional Park
Park · 4.5 mi
Regional park in Contra Costa County, California
City Park, Benicia
Park · 4.5 mi
Park in Benicia, United States of America
Dinosaur Hill Park
Park · 4.5 mi
Park in California, United States of America, United States of America
Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline
Park · 2.2 mi
Park in Contra Costa County, California, United States of America
40 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes87
Baskin-Robbins
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 0.8 mi
1175 Arnold Drive, Martinez
Mo-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:30
Mi Casita
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.0 mi
3210 Pacheco Boulevard, Martinez
Tu-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa 08:00-21:00; Su 08:00-20:00
Mountain Mike's
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.7 mi
1160 Arnold Drive, Martinez
Mo-Th 10:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-00:00; Su 10:00-23:00
Cinco de Mayo
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.1 mi
2250 Pacheco Boulevard, Martinez
Mo-Sa 10:00-20:30
La Costa Taqueria
Restaurant · Mexican
11 Muir Road
We-Su 10:00-19:00
75 more on the map.
History
The lush Alhambra Valley is believed to have been a seasonal “pantry” used for foraging by the local population of the Karkines Indians. The Karkines are a part of the Ohlone (Costanoan) Indian group.
In 1824, the western side of Martinez, Alhambra Valley was included in the Rancho El Pinole Mexican land grant to Ygnacio Martínez. East of these lands was the Rancho Las Juntas, a grant made to Irish born William Welch in 1844; his land lay between the lands of Martinez and Pacheco.
In 1847, Dr. Robert Semple contracted to provide ferry service from Martinez to Benicia, which for many years was the only crossing on the Carquinez Strait. By 1849, Martínez served as a way station for the California Gold Rush. The town was laid out in 1849 by Col. William M. Smith and named for Martinez. It became the county seat in 1850, but could not incorporate at the time because it lacked the 200 registered voters required, and would not become a city until 1876.
Martinez was the home of naturalist John Muir from 1880 until his death in 1914. He was buried about a mile south of the building that is now the John Muir National Historic Site. Also nearby is the Vicente Martinez Adobe, built in 1849 by the son of Ygnacio Martinez.
In 1860, Martinez played a role in the Pony Express, where riders would take the ferry from Benicia (particularly if they missed the steamer in Sacramento).
From the History section of Martinez, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Churches and places of worship8
First Congregational Church of Martinez, UCC
Church · United Church Of Christ · 1.5 mi
1229
Shopping19
Gas and EV charging22
Schools, colleges and libraries57
Healthcare7
Map of Martinez
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 35°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 61°F | 37°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 66°F | 40°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 71°F | 42°F | 1.3 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 78°F | 46°F | 0.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 85°F | 50°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 51°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 50°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 84°F | 50°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 76°F | 46°F | 0.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 64°F | 39°F | 2.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 56°F | 35°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Martinez Wtp (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Contra Costa County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2017-04-01: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2017-03-16: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Buchanan Field Airport (CCR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 miles away.
- Pleasant Hill 4 mi southeast, about 6 min by car
- Benicia 6 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
- Concord 6 mi east, about 10 min by car
- Lafayette 7 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Walnut Creek 8 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- Bay Point 9 mi east, about 14 min by car
- Orinda 9 mi south, about 14 min by car
- Hercules 10 mi west, about 16 min by car
- El Sobrante 10 mi west, about 17 min by car
- Vallejo 11 mi northwest, about 18 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Aerial view of Martinez, California, Dcoetzee, Public domain
- 7-Eleven store in Martinez, California, Thomasfan1916, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Union 76 gas station in Martinez, California, Thomasfan1916, CC BY-SA 4.0
- John Muir National Historic Site plaques (Martinez, CA), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (3), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (2), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- John Muir Home (Martinez, CA), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (4), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (10), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (5), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- John Muir Home study (Martinez, CA), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- John Muir Home parlor (Martinez, CA), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (6), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (11), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site (Photo of dr. John Strentzel -Polish Jan Strencel- and his wife Louisiana) - panoramio, MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (7), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (12), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (8), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (9), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (13), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio, MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - Vicente Martinez Adobe, built in 1849 by the son of Ygnacio Martinez (John Muir National Historic Site) - panoramio, MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - Vicente Martinez Adobe, built in 1849 by the son of Ygnacio Martinez (John Muir National Historic Site) - panoramio (cropped), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - Vicente Martinez Adobe, built in 1849 by the son of Ygnacio Martinez (John Muir National Historic Site) - panoramio (1) (cropped), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - Vicente Martinez Adobe, built in 1849 by the son of Ygnacio Martinez (John Muir National Historic Site) - panoramio (1), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez, CA USA - John Muir National Historic Site - panoramio (1), MARELBU, CC BY 3.0
- Martinez City Library (Martinez, California), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mount Wanda-John Muir National Historic Site, NPS, Public domain
- Benicia state capitol exterior, Epolk, Public domain
- Don Francisco Galindo House (Concord, CA), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BeniciaMasonicHall -- Side, DonaldCreaven, CC BY-SA 3.0
- FISCHER-HANLON HOUSE IN BENICIA CAPITOL STATE HISTORIC PARK, CALIFORNIA, JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Don Fernando Pacheco Adobe (Concord, CA), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Benicia Arsenal 1878, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- William T. Hendrick House (Pacheco, CA), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Benicia, CA train station (368456462), Ron Reiring, CC BY 2.0
- Tucker House (Martinez, CA), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Patrick Rodgers Farm (Pleasant Hill, CA), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- California Wolf Spider, Succulent54, CC BY 4.0
- Rick Jay Glen, Rickory, CC BY-SA 4.0
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