The Basics:
- Population: 18,454 (as of 2011)
- Percent of residents with at least a high school education: 88.3 (according to CityData.com)
- Median age of residents: 42.6 years old
- Major streets and freeways: Interstate 80, San Pablo Avenue (also known as Lincoln Highway), Pinole Valley Road, Appian Way, Fitzgerald Drive.
General Location:
Pinole is located in the northern portion of the East Bay Area. It’s north of Richmond and El Sobrante. Hercules, and then Rodeo, lie directly north of Pinole.
To the east of Pinole, you’ll find parkland and open space. The San Pablo Bay lies to the west and northwest, though very little of Pinole actually touches the bay because a point of San Pablo juts in between Pinole and the bay for a while.
Even though Hercules and Rodeo – both located in the East Bay – are further north than Pinole, Pinole is still very close to the northern borders of the East Bay. It’s only about six miles from Pinole to the Carquinez Bridge, which takes you from the East Bay into Vallejo and the North Bay.
Getting There:
Interstate 80 runs right through the geographical center of Pinole. This makes it simple to get to most parts of the city, and it’s just a question of which exit to take to get where you’re going.
This can be slightly confusing if you aren’t familiar with how Interstate 80 works. In the East Bay, this interstate runs almost exactly north and south. However, your choices are 80 East and 80 West. 80 West runs toward San Francisco (and therefore in a southern direction until it abruptly turns west). 80 East runs toward Vallejo (which is north, rather than East, of the East Bay).
If you are heading to Pinole from most other East Bay locations, including Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, San Leandro, and Hayward, take Interstate 80 East, following signs for Sacramento.
If you are heading to Pinole from Vallejo, Fairfield, and similar locations, take 80 West, following signs for San Francisco.
If you are heading to Pinole from eastern locations such as Martinez and Antioch, take Highway 4. This meets with Interstate 80 just north of Pinole, so take 80 West until you reach your Pinole exit.
Exits in Pinole on Interstate 80 include Fitzgerald Drive, Appian Way, and Pinole Valley Road.
Landmarks:
Pinole is known largely for its selection of big box stores along Fitzgerald Drive. If you’re looking for major retailers and don’t want to make the drive to Emeryville, this is the place to go. Here you’ll find Target, Kmart, Best Buy, Orchard Supply Hardware, Mancini’s Sleepworld, David’s Bridal, Staples, Toys R Us, BevMo, and other similar stores. You’ll also find major chain restaurants in the same area, including, for example, Outback Steakhouse, Mel’s Diner, In-N-Out Burger, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill, Round Table Pizza, Starbucks, and Sizzler. You get the idea.
The Hilltop Mall and its associated shops are technically in Richmond rather than Pinole. However, there is no obvious break between Pinole’s big box stores and some of the shops around Hilltop Mall. It all runs together as one big shopping area where you can find pretty much any major retailer you can imagine.
Of course, there is more to Pinole than big box shopping. The downtown area is actually quaint and charming in some areas, with some of the buildings being historically significant. Bayfront Park is relatively small, but provides a bit of a waterfront break from the bustle of daily life. Pinole Park is significantly larger and offers more of a sense of seclusion and access to nature.
A Brief History:
Like the rest of the East Bay, Pinole was inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. This is actually reflected in the name of the city: “pinole” was a Native American word for a kind of meal made from local seeds and grains. Spanish explorers were given some of this meal, and named their camp accordingly.
The roots of the Pinole we know today were formed in the 1850s, when a community revolving around a trading facility began to grow.
Pinole was incorporated in 1903, and was a thriving small city at the time. Some buildings from this period (and before) still stand in various parts of the city, and help contribute to the charm of Old Town Pinole. It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that Pinole became something of a bedroom community for the Bay Area rather than a vibrant city in its own right.