Misplaced Pages

#993006

59-803: Lindsay Wildlife Museum was founded in 1955 by Alexander Lindsay as the Diablo Junior Museum. It became the Alexander Lindsay Junior Museum in 1962 after Alexander Lindsay died at 44. In 1965 it moved to a water-pump house in Larkey Park in Walnut Creek . In 1970 the museum started the first formal wildlife rehabilitation program in the United States. In 1986 the City of Walnut Creek ended operations and

118-482: A capital “F” in the middle. In 1864 the place name "Lafayette" first appeared on a map of the area, titled "Bancroft's Map of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona (copyrighted 1863. Scale: 24 miles to 1 inch). Yet research by Ruth Dyer, Lafayette historian, shows that the name of the post office and of the new town itself soon began to be written as two words, “La Fayette.” By 1890 it had changed to one word, "Lafayette," and so appeared in an official communication from

177-673: A hill overlooking the Lafayette BART station and Highway 24 "to represent and memorialize the American soldiers who have died in the ongoing Iraqi war." As of January 2014, there are approximately 6,000 crosses in place, representing the US troops who have died in Iraq , and there is also a large sign displaying the total number of deaths. The memorial has generated public attention, media coverage and counter-protests due to its visibility from

236-429: A male householder with no wife present. There were 1,286 (4.2 percent) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 298 (1.0 percent) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 11,884 households (39.0 percent) were made up of individuals, and 6,424 (21.1 percent) had someone living alone who was 65   years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08. There were 16,220 families (53.3 percent of all households);

295-474: A one-room schoolhouse, taught by a 25-year-old Kentucky migrant, Benjamin Shreve. By 1865 the school had expanded to 43 students in five classes, and so in 1868 a tax levy of $ 1,000 was used to build a new schoolhouse; school expanded from a five-month year to a nine-month year. In 1893, a new schoolhouse was built to accommodate the increasing number of students; this building still stands today. On March 2, 1857,

354-706: A political party. Walnut Creek residents attend schools in five public school districts. The Walnut Creek School District (K–8) has five elementary schools, one magnet school (K–8), and one middle school in the city. Some residents are served by schools from the Mount Diablo Unified School District (K–12), the Acalanes Union High School District (9–12), the San Ramon Valley Unified School District (K–12), and

413-453: A population of 23,893. The population density was 1,552.8 inhabitants per square mile (599.5/km ). The racial makeup of Lafayette was 20,232 (84.7%) White , 166 (0.7%) African American , 66 (0.3%) Native American , 2,162 (9.0%) Asian , (2.1%) Pacific Islander , 240 (1.0%) from other races , and 1,000 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,388 persons (5.8%). The Census reported that 23,794 people (99.6% of

472-600: A station for the Pony Express . In the mid-1900s, Lafayette was transformed from an agricultural village into a commuter town , and was incorporated in 1968. Lafayette is located at 37°53′09″N 122°07′05″W  /  37.88583°N 122.11806°W  / 37.88583; -122.11806 . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 15.4 square miles (40 km ). 15.2 square miles (39 km ) of it

531-495: A store were soon established by settlers. In 1850 Hiram Penniman laid out the town site and realigned Main Street to what it is today. (Penniman also developed Shadelands Ranch .) In December 1862 a United States Post Office was established here, named "Walnut Creek". Pioneer Homer Shuey platted the downtown street patterns in 1871–1872 on a portion of one of his family's large cattle ranches. These streets have been maintained to

590-643: Is 19 °F (−7 °C), set in December 1990. The region directly east of the hills is generally known for its more suburban or rural atmosphere, and features rolling, grassy hills which highlight a more peaceful and domestic aura. In the southwestern part of Lafayette, is the Lafayette Reservoir , and Briones Regional Park extends into the northern part of Lafayette. Lafayette's wildlife communities include mixed woods and oak woodlands . The 2010 United States Census reported that Lafayette had

649-781: Is a city in Contra Costa County, California , United States, located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area , about 16 miles (26 kilometers) east of the city of Oakland . Walnut Creek has a total population of 70,127 per the 2020 census , is located at the junction of the highways from Sacramento and San Jose ( I-680 ) and San Francisco/Oakland ( SR-24 ), and is accessible by BART . The city shares its borders with Clayton , Lafayette , Alamo , Pleasant Hill , and Concord . There are three bands of Bay Miwok Native Americans associated with

SECTION 10

#1732790245994

708-587: Is a city in Contra Costa County, California , United States. As of 2020, the city's population was 25,391. It was named after the Marquis de Lafayette , a French military officer of the American Revolutionary War . Before the colonization of the region by Spain, Lafayette and its vicinity were inhabited by the Saclan tribe of the indigenous Bay Miwok . Ohlone also populated some of

767-750: Is also known as the Thurman G. Casey Memorial Library. Fundraising and other support is provided by the Walnut Creek Library Foundation. On February 26, 2008, the city demolished the Walnut Creek Library, that was built in 1961 at the southern end of Civic Park. Mayor Gwen Regalia hosted a groundbreaking on the same site for the new library on May 19, 2008. The new library, designed by Group   4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Inc., has 42,000 square feet (3,900 m ) and an underground parking garage. Construction

826-465: Is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km ) of it (1.08%) is water. The city is part of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and has its own station on the BART public transit system. Lafayette is situated between Walnut Creek , Moraga , and Orinda , and, together with the latter two towns, is considered locally as part of " Lamorinda ". Lafayette is separated from greater Berkeley and Oakland by

885-733: Is the Park Theater, which first opened in 1941, and then ceased operations in 2005. The Park Theater was originally a movie theater located on an intersection where the La Fayette statue was built. It then showed its last movie before ceasing operations in 2005. Recently, however, efforts have been made to reopen the Park theater for viewing. As of February 10, 2021, Lafayette has 19,151 registered voters with 10,177 (53%) registered as Democrats, 3,813 (20%) registered as Republicans, and 4,298 (22%) decline to state voters. Most of Lafayette

944-568: Is transected by the Iron Horse Trail (running north–south) through its downtown, as well as the Contra Costa Canal Trail (running east–west) at the north end of the city. Both these trails, in addition to city bike lanes, make bicycle transportation feasible both for recreation and as an alternative commute. The 2010 United States Census reported that Walnut Creek had a population of 64,173. The population density

1003-691: Is typical of California's interior valleys. In summer, high pressure results in almost unbroken sunshine and virtually no precipitation. Days start out cool but quickly warm up, with high temperatures normally in the 80s Fahrenheit (27 to 32   °C). Temperatures of 100 °F (38 °C) or hotter occur numerous times during heatwaves, however. In the winter, the jet stream moves far enough south so that Pacific storms can reach Walnut Creek, bringing much-needed rain – average annual rainfall approximates 26 inches (660 mm), with slight variations occurring in microclimates based on elevation and topography. During particularly cold storms, snow falls on

1062-628: Is used by walkers, runners and bikers. The mainline of the Sacramento Northern Railway passed through Walnut Creek. Both railroads had stations here. Today, the Yellow Line of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) serves Walnut Creek with a station adjacent to Highway 680. With the 1951 opening of the downtown Broadway Shopping Center (now Broadway Plaza), Contra Costa County's first major retail center,

1121-707: The 7th Senate District , represented by Democrat Steve Glazer . In the United States House of Representatives , Walnut Creek is located in California's 10th congressional district, represented by Mark DeSaulnier ( D – Concord ). According to the California Secretary of State , as of February 10, 2019, Walnut Creek has 46,149 registered voters. Of those, 21,391 (46.4%) are registered Democrats , 10,708 (23.2%) are registered Republicans , and 12,147 (26.3%) have declined to state

1180-756: The Berkeley Hills (and the Caldecott Tunnel running beneath), a geographical boundary within the East Bay which also represents interesting meteorological, cultural, and political distinctions. Like the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area, Lafayette has a Mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification Csa ); however, the climate differences can be striking: during the summer, temperatures can soar beyond 100 °F (38 °C) in Lafayette and its neighboring cities while

1239-599: The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors , Walnut Creek is split between Supervisorial District 2 and Supervisorial District 4, represented by Candace Andersen and Karen Mitchoff, respectively. In the California State Legislature , Walnut Creek is split between the 14th Assembly District , represented by Democrat Buffy Wicks and the 16th Assembly District , represented by Democrat Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and in

SECTION 20

#1732790245994

1298-716: The Lafayette School District (K–8). The Walnut Creek and Lafayette districts feed into Acalanes Union HSD. The following public schools are within the city limits of Walnut Creek: Walnut Creek is home to several private schools, including: The Walnut Creek Library and the Ygnacio Valley Library of the Contra Costa County Library are located in Walnut Creek. The Ygnacio Valley Branch, which opened in 1975,

1357-542: The San Ramon Valley and the Ygnacio Valley below the western slopes of Mount Diablo . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 19.8 sq mi (51.2 km ), 0.06 percent of which is water. Walnut Creek – the actual waterway that runs through the town – has been routed underneath downtown through a series of tunnels. These start at

1416-555: The French general who became a hero of the American Revolution (probably not because his wife was a native of Lafayette, Indiana). The first LaFayette post office was established at 3535 Plaza Way. Shreve became the town's first permanent postmaster, holding the job for 30 years. Spelling: On the original document from the U.S. Postal Service, dated March 2, 1857, the name “LaFayette” is unmistakably written as one word with

1475-617: The LaFayette post office was established by the U.S. Postal Service. (The official document giving this exact date was supplied to the Lafayette Historical Society in 1993 by the Historical Division of the U.S. Postal Service.) Prior to 1857 the community that is now known as "Lafayette" actually had no official name but was sometimes called Dog Town, Brown's Corner, Brown's Mill, and (when Milo Hough

1534-467: The Scenes lets visitors watch a live veterinary procedure at the hospital through a large, one-way window. At Raptors visitors can soar virtually over Mount Diablo and measure their armspan against raptors' wingspans. At Hive Alive! and Hive to Honey~Honey Bees and Beekeepers at Work visitors can watch thousands of live bees and their queen and learn what jobs different bees do. In fall 2013, the museum opened

1593-519: The U.S. "Post Office Department" in Feb. 1899. Then by 1905 it was back to two words. Finally on March 31, 1932, the name of the post office was officially changed to Lafayette, which has remained unchanged to this day. Lafayette was the tenth post office established in Contra Costa County. (See Salley, History of California Post Offices). In the early 1860s, Lafayette was briefly the site of

1652-663: The area of Walnut Creek (the stream for which the city is named): the Saclan , whose territory extended through the hills east of present-day cities of Oakland , Rossmoor , Lafayette , Moraga and Walnut Creek; the Volvon (also spelled Bolbon, Wolwon or Zuicun), who were near Mt. Diablo ; and the Tactan , located on the San Ramon Creek in present-day Danville and Walnut Creek. The city of Walnut Creek has developed within

1711-507: The areas along Lafayette Creek. The indigenous inhabitants' first contact with Europeans was in the late 18th century with the founding of Catholic missions in the region. These initial contacts developed into conflict, with years of armed struggle, including a battle on what is currently Lafayette soil in 1797 between the Saclan and the Spanish, and eventually resulting in the subjugation of

1770-483: The areas west of the hills and nearer to the bay remain up to 20 °F (11 °C) cooler. Summers are warm, dry and very sunny (although mornings can be foggy); winters are cool and damp, with occasional freezes. Most of the annual rainfall comes in the winter, although there are still plenty of clear days during that time. The record high temperature is 115 °F (46 °C), set in July 1972. The record low temperature

1829-716: The average family size was 2.79. The population was spread out, with 10,719 people (16.7 percent) under the age of 18, 3,599 people (5.6 percent) aged 18 to 24, 15,137 people (23.6 percent) aged 25 to 44, 17,653 people (27.5 percent) aged 45 to 64, and 17,065 people (26.6 percent) who were 65   years of age or older. The median age was 47.9   years. For every 100 females, there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males. There were 32,681 housing units at an average density of 1,653.2 units per square mile (638.3 units/km ), of which 20,262 (66.6 percent) were owner-occupied, and 10,181 (33.4 percent) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate

Lindsay Wildlife Experience - Misplaced Pages Continue

1888-527: The census in 1852, 76 people were listed as living in the area. Brown founded a mill in 1853. One of the original settlers in Brown's party was Milo J. Hough. He built a hotel in 1853 near Plaza Park and in 1854 was named postmaster of the Acelanus post office, an alternate spelling of the original land grant, Acalanes. The post office was short-lived, closing the following year. A school began in 1852 in

1947-463: The city took off in a new direction. In the postwar period of suburban development, its population more than quadrupled – from 2,460 in 1950 to 9,903 in 1960. Growth has accelerated since the late 20th century, with a population just over 70,000 according to the latest census. Walnut Creek is located at 37°54′23″N 122°03′54″W  /  37.90639°N 122.06500°W  / 37.90639; -122.06500 . Portions lie in both

2006-500: The commuter thoroughfare below. Also, since the creation of the memorial, there have been several incidents of vandalism . While some show support for the protest, other residents complain that it is disrespectful to the US military in Iraq and that it is an eyesore to the community. The memorial is on private property and modifications and trespassing without consent of the owners has been common. Another historical site found in Lafayette

2065-417: The country were developed here. Hospital staff and volunteers treat animals that have been poisoned, struck by automobiles, fallen from trees during trimming, and injured by other often human-related activities. They also care for orphaned young, both onsite and at the homes of specially trained volunteers. After being treated, an animal is released back into the wild. If it cannot be safely released, it may join

2124-570: The earlier area of four extensive Mexican land grants. One of these land grants – measuring 18,000 acres (73 km ) – belonged to Juana Sanchez de Pacheco. The grant was called Rancho Arroyo de Las Nueces y Bolbones , named after the principal waterway, Arroyo de las Nueces (Walnut Creek in English), and for the local group of Volvon indigenous Americans (also known as Bolbones in Spanish). The Arroyo de las Nueces

2183-407: The menu option "Walnut Creek Television", and on YouTube. Claycord.com is the widely read independent news and talk blog serving the greater Walnut Creek metropolitan area. Walnut Creek has an active Sister Cities International program with two sister cities. Schools in the city have a yearly student exchange with these cities. Lafayette, California Lafayette (formerly La Fayette )

2242-430: The museum as a resident "animal ambassador". As many animals brought to the hospital are cat-caught, the museum strongly encourages visitors to keep their cats indoors. Lindsay Wildlife Experience specializes in the care of animals unable to return to the wild. Of the 70 animals that call Lindsay Wildlife home, nearly all of them have a physical, psychological, or behavioral problem that would make them unable to survive in

2301-489: The museum became an independently operated not-for-profit organization. The next year "Junior" was dropped from the title, making it the Lindsay Museum. In 1993 the museum moved to a newly built 28,000-square-foot (2,600 m) museum near the old pump house. Three years later the name was changed to Lindsay Wildlife Museum. In recent years, the museum has added a number of major new exhibits. Wildlife Hospital Behind

2360-509: The native population. Most of what is currently Lafayette was given as a Mexican land grant, Rancho Acalanes to Candelario Valencia in 1834. The name Acalanes seems to have come from the name of a native village in the area, Ahala-n. American settlement started with the arrival of Elam Brown from St. Joseph, Missouri , in 1846. He purchased Rancho Acalanes in 1848. The settlement continued to steadily grow due to its proximity to San Francisco; starting with Brown's group of 18 settlers, by

2419-832: The neighborhood, homes can be assigned to schools in Lafayette, San Ramon Valley, Walnut Creek, or Mt. Diablo Unified School District. Walnut Creek owns more open space per capita than any other community in the state of California . In 1974, Walnut Creek voters approved a $ 6.7   million bond measure to acquire and protect open space: the city purchased 1,800 acres (730 ha) of undeveloped hillsides, ridge lines, and park sites. Walnut Creek owns parts of Lime Ridge Open Space, Acalanes Ridge Open Space, Shell Ridge Open Space, and Sugarloaf Open Space. The East Bay Regional Park District operates Diablo Foothills Regional Park and Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area, both of which are located in Walnut Creek. Walnut Creek's warm summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification Csb )

Lindsay Wildlife Experience - Misplaced Pages Continue

2478-405: The new exhibit The Burrow where visitors can go "underground" to discover the world of wildlife beneath their feet. The museum changed its name to Lindsay Wildlife Experience in 2015. The wildlife rehabilitation hospital at the museum receives more than 5,000 California native wild animal patients every year. The hospital is a pioneer in wildlife rehabilitation and many now-standard protocols across

2537-515: The peak of nearby Mount Diablo , but snow in the valley floor is very rare. There are numerous clear, mild days in winter, often with morning frost. The climate allows for the successful cultivation of many plants and crops, being warm enough for citrus yet cold enough for apples. The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a renowned botanical garden that showcases the diversity of plants that can be successfully grown. The city has two Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations – Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill (in

2596-429: The population) lived in households, 176 (0.3 percent) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 826 (1.3 percent) were institutionalized. There were 30,443 households, out of which 6,363 (20.9 percent) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 13,305 (43.7 percent) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,071 (6.8 percent) had a female householder with no husband present, 844 (2.8 percent) had

2655-640: The population) lived in households, 38 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 61 (0.3%) were institutionalized. There were 9,223 households, out of which 3,262 (35.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,871 (63.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 651 (7.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 273 (3.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 306 (3.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 75 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 1,916 households (20.8%) were made up of individuals, and 802 (8.7%) had someone living alone who

2714-467: The population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,769 people (20.0%) lived in rental housing units. In 2016, the median household income in Lafayette was over $ 140,000. The Lafayette Library and Learning Center of the Contra Costa County Library is located in Lafayette. Oakmont Memorial Park is a cemetery in Lafayette. Oakwood serves as a country club/fitness center for Lamorindans. In November 2006, area residents began placing crosses on

2773-473: The present. The arrival of Southern Pacific Railroad service in 1891 stimulated development of Walnut Creek. On October 21, 1914, the town and the surrounding area were incorporated as the 8th city in Contra Costa County. A branch line of the Southern Pacific ran through Walnut Creek until the late 1970s. Portions were adapted by East Bay Regional Park District for the Iron Horse Trail , which

2832-594: The southwest end of Macy's and end just southwest of Bar Camino Restaurant. Walnut Creek consists of a bustling, upscale downtown with established neighborhoods in its surrounding areas. Neighborhoods range in affordability and feel, with some being exceptionally charming and tight-knit (e.g., Parkmead) while others are more rural and forested with homes on generous lots (e.g., Tice Valley). Not all neighborhoods are incorporated; there are many unincorporated areas that are serviced by Contra Costa County. A non-exhaustive list of neighborhoods in Walnut Creek include: Depending on

2891-635: The unincorporated area known as Contra Costa Centre Transit Village) – both served by the Yellow Line . Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection/CCCTA) provides bus service throughout Walnut Creek and Contra Costa County at a modest cost. County Connection also operates three free weekday shuttles within city limits: the Downtown Trolley/Route 4 loops from Walnut Creek BART to Broadway Plaza; Route 5 runs from Walnut Creek BART to Creekside; and Route 7, which runs from Pleasant Hill BART to Shadelands Business Park. Walnut Creek

2950-474: The wild. All of the animals that live at Lindsay Wildlife Experience serve as animal ambassadors and educate the public on conservation and natural history. Some animals are on view to the public; others live off-exhibit and are brought out for presentations, classes, tours, and private animal encounters. 37°55′25″N 122°04′33″W  /  37.9235°N 122.0757°W  / 37.9235; -122.0757 Walnut Creek, California Walnut Creek

3009-549: Was 2.4 percent; the rental vacancy rate was 6.7 percent. 43,079 people (67.1 percent of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 20,092 people (31.3 percent) lived in rental housing units. City Council members are elected at-large to staggered, four-year terms, in elections held in even-numbered years. As of 2022, the current elected representatives are Matt Francois (Mayor), Cindy Silva (Mayor Pro Tem), Loella Haskew, Cindy Darling and Kevin Wilk (Council members). On

SECTION 50

#1732790245994

3068-483: Was 3,246.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,253.4/km ). The racial makeup of Walnut Creek was 50,487 (78.7 percent) White , 1,035 (1.6 percent) African American , 155 (0.2 percent) Native American , 8,027 (12.5 percent) Asian , 125 (0.2 percent) Pacific Islander , 1,624 (2.5 percent) from other races , and 2,720 (4.2 percent) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5,540 persons (8.6 percent). The Census reported that 63,171 people (98.4 percent of

3127-431: Was 45.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males. There were 9,651 housing units at an average density of 627.2 per square mile (242.2/km ), of which 9,223 were occupied, of which 6,937 (75.2%) were owner-occupied, and 2,286 (24.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%. 19,025 people (79.6% of

3186-419: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58. There were 6,795 families (73.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.01. The population was spread out, with 5,956 people (24.9%) under the age of 18, 1,220 people (5.1%) aged 18 to 24, 4,676 people (19.6%) aged 25 to 44, 8,069 people (33.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,972 people (16.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

3245-537: Was completed in 2010 and the library was officially opened on July 17, 2010. Companies based in Walnut Creek include Central Garden & Pet (makers of the AvoDerm , Amdro , Kaytee brands, among others), American Reprographics Company , CSE Insurance Group , Maximum Games , and the PMI Group . Walnut Creek is served by the daily newspaper, The East Bay Times (formerly The Contra Costa Times ). The paper

3304-493: Was named for the junction where roads met from the settlements of Pacheco and Lafayette. The intersection of Mt. Diablo Boulevard and North Main Street is now at this site. The first town settler was William Slusher, who built a dwelling on the bank of Walnut Creek, first called "Nuts Creek" by Americans in 1849. In 1855, Milo Hough of Lafayette built the hotel named "Walnut Creek House" in The Corners. A blacksmith shop and

3363-542: Was named for the local species of walnut tree, the California Walnut . The two grandsons of Sanchez de Pacheco inherited the thousands of acres of land. One, Ygnacio Sibrian, built the first roofed home in the valley in about 1850. As settlers from the United States arrived following US annexation of California after victory in the Mexican–American War , a small settlement called "The Corners" emerged. It

3422-574: Was originally run and owned by the Lesher family. Since the death of Dean Lesher in 1993, the paper has had several owners. The Times , as it is known, has a section called "The Walnut Creek Journal." Walnut Creek TV (WCTV) is the city's government-access television channel, covering local government and community events. WCTV is available in Walnut Creek on Comcast channel 28 (channel 26 in Rossmoor), Astound channel 29, AT&T U-verse channel 99 under

3481-431: Was postmaster in 1854–1855) Alcalanus. The name "LaFayette" came together with the community's first post office. In 1857 Benjamin Shreve, owner and manager of a roadside hotel-general store (which faced today's Lafayette Plaza), applied for a post office for the community, first requesting the name Centerville. When informed that a post office with that name already existed in California, Shreve suggested La Fayette, after

#993006