Berkeley, California

Places

Berkeley is the site of the University of California, Berkeley, the flagship campus of the University of California, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Hall of Science, and Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, which are on the campus grounds.

History

The history of the city is inextricably linked to its university. Both city and university have long been famed as a center of activist politics and radical social ideas. The Free Speech Movement began on the Berkeley campus, arguing for free speech on campus, despite its ownership by the Regents. Many student demonstrations against the Vietnam War occurred there in the 1960s, which American news organizations dramatically televised.

Another notable series of events that helped to solidify this popular conception of Berkeley is the repeated takeover by populists of an open lot owned by the University of California. The University has long sought to build on the lot, but the populists have demanded that the lot remain undeveloped and open as a public park. Today this lot is called People's Park and 1960's era culture and spirit still lives on Telegraph Avenue.

More recently, Berkeley has become known as a gourmet centre. Even by the standards of the Bay area it has an exceptional number of specialist food shops and restaurants, and a Berkeley restaurant, Chez Panisse, is regarded as the birthplace of California cuisine. Its proprietor, Alice Waters, has been called "the mother of American cooking."

Since the 1970s, the Bay Area Rapid Transit, a metro system, has linked Berkeley to San Francisco and the other cities of the Bay Area. Berkeley has nevertheless maintained its own character.

Humorous saying: "Three things have come out of Berkeley: LSD, BSD, and the SCA. This is no coincidence."

Geography

Berkeley is located at 37°52'18" North, 122°16'29" West (37.871775, -122.274603)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 45.9 km² (17.7 mi²). 27.1 km² (10.5 mi²) of it is land and 18.8 km² (7.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 40.94% water.

Demographics

The city's population is culturally diverse, with a significant portion in transient residence to attend the university. As of the census² of 2000, there are 102,743 people, 44,955 households, and 18,656 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,792.5/km² (9,823.3/mi²). There are 46,875 housing units at an average density of 1,730.3/km² (4,481.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 59.17% White, 13.63% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 16.39% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 4.64% from other races, and 5.57% from two or more races. 9.73% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 44,955 households out of which 17.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.9% are married couples living together, 9.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 58.5% are non-families. 38.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.16 and the average family size is 2.84.

In the city the population is spread out with 14.1% under the age of 18, 21.6% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $44,485, and the median income for a family is $70,434. Males have a median income of $50,789 versus $40,623 for females. The per capita income for the city is $30,477. 20.0% of the population and 8.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 13.4% are under the age of 18 and 7.9% are 65 or older.

Mayors

• Shirley Dean, former Mayor of Berkeley
• Tom Bates, current Mayor of Berkeley

External links

• City of Berkeley official web page
• People's Park

Referenced By