Pinole, California
Pinole is a city of 18,761 people in Contra Costa County, California, founded in 1772.
Why visit Pinole
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 35 parks and trails, 61 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Century Hilltop 16, Bank of Pinole, Bernardo Fernandez House and Alvarado Area.
September is the warmest month, with average highs of 75°F; January lows average 44°F.
Weather in Pinole
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Pinole
Pinole (Spanish for "cornmeal") is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. Its population was 19,022 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Pinole, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks4
Bank of Pinole
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic building in Pinole, California, United States
Bernardo Fernandez House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic house in California, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds35
Alvarado Area
Park · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
National Historic Place in Richmond, California
Breuner Marsh
Park · 3.3 mi
Park in California, United States of America
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
Park · 2.7 mi
Regional park in San Pablo Bay, California
Richmond Country Club
Park · 2.4 mi
Park in California, United States of America
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Sobrante Ridge Botanic Regional Preserve
Park · 4.0 mi
Park in California, United States
Sobrante Ridge Regional Park
Park · 3.9 mi
Park in United States of America
23 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes61
49 more on the map.
History
The Huchiun tribe lived in the region. In 1823, Ygnacio Martínez, commandant of the Presidio of San Francisco, received a land grant of Rancho El Pinole from the Mexican government. Martinez built a hacienda in Pinole Valley; this is land encompassed by Pinole Valley Park. During the 1850s, Bernardo Fernandez, a Portuguese immigrant, started a trading facility on the shores of San Pablo Bay. He built Fernandez Mansion, a historic building that still stands today at the end of Tennent Avenue. From these early beginnings, a small but thriving community developed into the city of Pinole.
The settlement's growth was stimulated by construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1878 and the establishment of the California Powder Works in nearby Hercules. During this period, the city had an active waterfront and was a regional hub of commerce and banking. The first post office opened in 1878 when the railroad reached the community. The City of Pinole was incorporated in 1903.
During the post-World War II boom, Pinole and the surrounding area grew rapidly. Construction of Interstate 80 in 1958 stimulated developers to build new housing to satisfy demand, and the town evolved as a suburban bedroom community within the San Francisco/Oakland commuter belt. Much of its original industry was displaced during this time, and the town became predominantly residential.
From the History section of Pinole, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship6
Temple Beth Hillel Richmond
Place of worship · Reform · 2.2 mi
801 Park Central Street, Richmond
Shopping13
Gas and EV charging14
Schools, colleges and libraries58
Pinole Library - Contra Costa County Library
Library · 1.9 mi
2935 Pinole Valley Road
Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy
School · 2.3 mi
3040 Hilltop Mall Rd., Richmond
Healthcare2
Map of Pinole
199 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 44°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 61°F | 46°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 64°F | 47°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 49°F | 1.6 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 69°F | 52°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 72°F | 54°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 71°F | 55°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 72°F | 56°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 56°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 54°F | 1.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 65°F | 49°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 58°F | 44°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Richmond (7 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
San Rafael Airport (SRF) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- Hercules 2 mi northeast, about 3 min by car
- El Sobrante 2 mi south, about 4 min by car
- San Pablo 4 mi southwest, about 6 min by car
- Richmond 5 mi southwest, about 8 min by car
- El Cerrito 6 mi south, about 10 min by car
- Vallejo 7 mi north, about 12 min by car
- Albany 8 mi south, about 13 min by car
- Berkeley 10 mi south, about 16 min by car
- Benicia 10 mi northeast, about 16 min by car
- San Rafael 11 mi west, about 17 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
- Pinole area aerial, Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Amtrak 538 in Pinole, George Luchs, CC0
- Bernardo Fernandez House (Pinole, CA), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pinole banner Pinole Creek, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Pinole Creek, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Sizzler restaurant in Pinole, California, Thomasfan1916, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sizzler in Pinole, California, Thomasfan1916, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cameron Sasai being sworn in at Pinole City Hall, Alfred Twu, CC0
- Pinole City Hall, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Bank of Pinole (Pinole, CA), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pinole City Council with Devin Murphy and Malia Cohen and Mayor Vincent Salimi, Alfred Twu, CC0
- DSC17005, Starbucks, Pinole, CA, USA (256901930), Jim G from Silicon Valley, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Motel 6, Pinole, California, Thomasfan1916, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Target store in Pinole, California, Thomasfan1916, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Round Table Pizza restaurant in Pinole, California, Thomasfan1916, CC BY-SA 4.0
- In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Pinole, California, Thomasfan1916, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alvarado Park (Richmond, CA), Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0
- East bay hills (4409718145), nick fullerton from 'Vallejo, USA, CC BY 2.0
- TamFromPinole, Seglea at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Ostrea lurida 244734451, LJ Moore-McClelland, CC BY 4.0
- Ostrea lurida 244734466, LJ Moore-McClelland, CC BY 4.0
- Ostrea lurida 244735454, LJ Moore-McClelland, CC BY 4.0
- Ostrea lurida 244735462, LJ Moore-McClelland, CC BY 4.0
- Ostrea lurida 244735471, LJ Moore-McClelland, CC BY 4.0
- Ostrea lurida 209171194, P Holroyd, CC BY 4.0
- Ostrea lurida 209171173, P Holroyd, CC BY 4.0
- ISS065-E-396997 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS064-E-37207 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-396655 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-431189 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS029-E-5423 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-434919 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-393516 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS022-E-35865 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-223098 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS020-E-46360 - View of California, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS020-E-46361 - View of California, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Chelsea Wetlands 3, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Chelsea Wetlands 2, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Chelsea Wetlands 1, Mx. Granger, CC0
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