Antioch is the Gateway to the Delta, located on the banks of the San Joaquin River in Northern California. Just off of Highway 4, in Contra Costa County.
With a population of over 100,000 people, Antioch has become the heart of Eastern Contra Costa County, offering a variety of employment, shopping and vast recreational activities.
Land remains plentiful and affordable, compared with other parts of the Bay Area. Retail and office space in Antioch typically leases for 20 to 30 percent less than comparable space in central Contra Costa County.
Antioch is one of the few Bay Area communities that offers affordable housing. There are a variety of house styles throughout Antioch, from condominiums to single family residences, priced for a variety of income levels.
The pace of development in Antioch has spurred activity for financial and insurance institutions, contractors, and other types of service-oriented businesses. Increased development has created increased employment in schools, hospitals and other local service sectors
Parks and Trails
Antioch is home to 31 parks covering a total of 310 acres (130 ha) with an additional 600 acres (240 ha) of city-owned open space. It also has 11 mi (18 km) of walking paths connecting communities to parks and schools.
Within its boundaries it has Contra Loma Regional Park, the Antioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline and Black Diamond Mines Regional Park, and the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail and Delta de Anza Regional Trail. According to the East Bay Regional Parks District, these three parks take up 6,493 acres (2,628 ha); approximately 38% of Antioch’s total land area.
Just outside Antioch’s city limit is the 2,024 acres (819 ha) Round Valley Regional Preserve.
Established in 1980, Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge was the first national wildlife refuge in the country established for the purpose of protecting endangered plants and insects, specifically the Lange’s Metalmark Butterfly, Antioch Dunes evening primrose, and Contra Costa wallflower.[28] It is located on the south shore of the San Joaquin River in Antioch. The refuge and a few acres of surrounding lands contain most of the remaining habitat for these three species and are all that remain of a nine kilometer stretch of sand dunes formed during glaciation periods.
The city has a municipal marina,[29] along with other private marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs. There is a public fishing pier in town, and another out near the Antioch Bridge.
There is fishing in the San Joaquin River along the Antioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline, located just upstream from Highway 160’s Antioch Bridge (also known as Nejedly Bridge).
Antioch is served by both the Antioch-Pittsburg Amtrak station, and access to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is available at the Pittsburg/Bay Point Station in Pittsburg. Although public transportation agency Tri-Delta Transit is the predominant provider of public transportation in the Antioch area, County Connection bus #930 also serves Antioch going to John Muir Medical Center, Mitchell Park n’ Ride, Railroad Castlewood, Delta Fair Sommersville and Hillcrest Park ‘n Ride. This is in addition to the city’s 50 cent a ride senior shuttle.[37] However due to budget cuts in 2011 it was proposed to eliminate their $275,000 subsidy for this program.[37]
Commercial airports serving this area are:
- Oakland International Airport
- San Francisco International Airport
- San Jose International Airport
- Sacramento International Airport
- Stockton Metropolitan Airport
Other nearby airports serving private aircraft are:
- Byron Airport
- Livermore Municipal Airport
- Buchanan Field Airport
Antioch Arts and Culture
Antioch currently has 4 Historic Places or Buildings on the National Register of Historical Places. The Black Diamond Mines, Roswell Butler Hard House, Riverview Union High School Building and the Shannon-Williamson Ranch.
El Campanil Theatre
The historic El Campanil Theatre opened on November 1, 1928 in downtown Antioch. It now presents a wide variety of entertainment opportunities including Classic Films, Live Theatre, Concerts, Symphony, Ballet, Comedy and is host to numerous local dance and community based organizations such as the Antioch Rivertown Theatre Group.
Arts and Cultural Foundation of Antioch
The Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch organizes education in graphic arts, sculpture, pottery, and performance arts for various age groups. It also hosts the Saturday Summer Concert Series, Delta Blues Festival, Holiday De Lights along with other community events.
Antioch Historical Society Museum
Run by the Antioch Historical Society, the museum is located in the Riverview Union High School Building. This high school was the first high school constructed in Contra Costa County. It houses moving historical exhibits and offers tours of the grounds.
Lynn House Gallery
The Lynn House Gallery houses exhibits throughout the year, with an emphasis on providing opportunities for local artists.
Rivertown Art Center
Rivertown Art Center is housed in a historic bank building built in 1923. It is administered by the Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch and was created to allow local artists additional opportunities to exhibit their art and to conduct art classes.
ESPACE Academy
The ESPACE Academy is located within Deer Valley High School and includes a planetarium.
