San Leandro enjoys a mild climate with evening winds from the nearby SF Bay. So it’s no surprise that residents make good use of the area’s 23 parks, sports fields, swimming pools, and facilities. The San Leandro Marina, part of the Shoreline Recreation Area, hosts over 400 berths, two yacht clubs, three restaurants, a Shoreline Trail, and two golf courses.

In short, there are ample opportunities to relax. And if outdoors recreation isn’t your thing, the Marina Square outlet shopping center is just one of the many bustling commercial districts outside of the revitalized downtown.

The first inhabitants of this land were the ancestors of the Ohlone people, who arrived sometime between 3500 and 2500 BC. They lived by hunting, gathering and fishing. Spanish settlers called these natives Costeños or "coast people" and the English-speaking settlers called them Costanoans. The first Europeans came to San Leandro in 1772. Portuguese immigrants arrived from the Azores and laborers from Hawaii began settling in the city in the 1880s. By 1910, they accounted for nearly two-thirds of San Leandro's population.

This city with diverse roots continued to grow and thrive, although by 1960 the city was almost entirely white because of restrictive housing sales. Thankfully, these restrictions were declared illegal, and by 1970 the city was made up of more than 86% Hispanics. Changes kept coming. By 2010 Asian Americans made up approximately one-third of the population. This town has worked to earn its current reputation as a diverse, tightly knit, family-friendly town.

Historically San Leandro was home to food processing operations; now corporations such as The North Face, Ghirardelli and Coca-Cola are located there. Residents who prefer fresh food shop weekly at the Farmers’ Market. It’s more than just fruits and vegetables, though. You’ll find fragrant flowers, gourmet snacks, and tasty foods, as well as special events like wine tastings and cooking demonstrations.

San Leandro schools have been improving steadily over the years. Their high school is home to such programs as the Business Academy, Social Justice Academy, and San Leandro Academy of Multimedia (SLAM). One of the award-winning national programs located in San Leandro is Distributed Education Clubs of America (DECA), an association for marketing students.

• City of San Leandro, California website for local news, city government
• San Leandro, California Calendar of Events
• Children’s Library Calendar of Events
• San Leandro Connect Quarterly Newsletter
• Neighborhood Association Roster and Neighborhood Maps
• Trails and Bikeways Map​

If you’re looking to buy or sell in San Leandro, we’d be delighted to show you around the town.