Pittsburg, California

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For other places with the same name, see Pittsburg.

Coordinates: 38°0′54″N, 121°53′33″W
Pittsburg, California
Location of Pittsburg within California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Contra Costa
Area
- City	43.6 km² (16.8 sq mi)
- Land	40.4 km² (15.6 sq mi)
- Water	3.2 km² (1.2 sq mi) 7.25%
Population
- City (2000)	56.769

Pittsburg is a city located in north central Contra Costa County, California. It was founded in 1839 and went through a series of names before citizens voted on "Pittsburg" on February 11th, 1911, in honor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The original townsite fronts on the San Joaquin River Delta, reflecting its origins as a river port. Since then, the city has grown inland to the south, then spread east and west along California State Route 4, now a freeway carrying resident commuters to jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,769.

It is the home of Los Medanos College, a two-year community college. Unincorporated West Pittsburg (now called Bay Point) is infamously crime-stricken. Pittsburg is definitely a city divided. Clean, safe suburbs lie to the south of State Route 4 while prostitution and drug dealing cripple the northern, older part of town. Another part of town which is known for a great number of homicides and historically has had the highest crime rate in the city is known as the El Pueblo Housing area. The city is currently in the process of redeveloping the older downtown part of the city to increase business presence and reduce crime.

NASCAR driver Marvin Burke was from Pittsburg.

[edit] Geography

Pittsburg is located at 38°0′54″N, 121°53′33″W (38.015021, -121.892491)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 43.6 km² (16.8 mi²). 40.4 km² (15.6 mi²) of it is land and 3.2 km² (1.2 mi²) of it (7.25%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 56,769 people, 17,741 households, and 13,483 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,405.0/km² (3,639.0/mi²). There were 18,300 housing units at an average density of 452.9/km² (1,173.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 43.53% White, 18.89% Black or African American, 0.75% Native American, 12.65% Asian, 0.86% Pacific Islander, 16.11% from other races, and 7.22% from two or more races. 32.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,741 households out of which 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.17 and the average family size was 3.59.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,557, and the median income for a family was $54,472. Males had a median income of $39,111 versus $31,396 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,241. About 8.7% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.