Dublin, California

Dublin is a suburban city of the East Bay in California, United States. It is located within the Amador Valley of Alameda County's Tri-Valley region. It is located along the north side of Interstate 580 at the intersection with Interstate 680, roughly 35 miles (56 km) east of downtown San Francisco, 23 miles (37 km) east of downtown Oakland, and 31 miles (50 km) north of downtown San Jose.
It was referred to as "Dublin" in reference to the city of Dublin, Ireland, because of the large number of Irish who lived there. The post office formally adopted the name in the 1890s.
The population was 72,589 as of the 2020 census, which had grown from 46,063 in 2010. In 2013, Dublin was the second fastest-growing city in the state of California, behind only Santa Clarita. In 2019, census data showed Dublin as one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.
In 1835, José María Amador was granted 16,500 acres for his service as a Mexican soldier and in Mission San Jose where he was an administrator in the valley which was named Amador Valley after him. In 1850, Irish settlers bought land from Amador and founded a town.
Several historical sites are preserved and located where Dublin Boulevard is crossed by Donlon Way, itself formerly the northernmost segment of the main road to Sunol and Niles Canyon (present-day Foothill Road):
Dublin Boulevard, a generally east–west road running just north of Interstate 580, was a part of the Lincoln Highway and later U.S. Route 50. The street formerly curved southward near today's Hansen Drive to follow present-day Dublin Canyon Road toward Hayward.
In 1960, the first housing tracts were built in West Dublin, transforming the formerly rural community into a suburb. It grew steadily from the early 1960s onward as both a residential and retail center. The City became incorporated in February 1982.
Although a post office operated from 1860 to 1908 in Dougherty, which broke off from Dublin, Dublin's first post office was opened in 1963, and is still in operation today.
Dublin housed a federal low security women's prison, FCI Dublin, until it shut down in 2024. Many employees were convicted of sexually abusing prisoners. The US government agreed to pay over 100 million dollars to the victims.
On December 6, 2011, during shooting for an episode of MythBusters at Camp Parks, a cannonball went skyward and zoomed through a nearby residence, coming to rest in a car. Many residents were shaken and the community was shocked, but nobody was injured. MythBusters cast members Adam Savage and Kari Byron hosted a student engineering event at Dublin High School, a move to express gratitude to the community of Dublin for the access to Camp Parks as a shooting location. The Dublin Film Commission declared December 6 "Victory in the battle for Dublin", poking at the rogue cannonball incident, and announced plans to host a film festival every December 6 to honor Dublin's fallen cannonball. On December 6, 2012, Tri-Valley Film Coalition President Morgan Finley King hosted a film festival at the Dublin Library, in which winners of each category were awarded a "Golden Cannonball Award".
In 2000, following a conflict with Mayor Guy Houston and developers of the West Dublin Hills, Morgan King and David Bewley began a ballot initiative known as Measure M. The objective of the measure was to prevent the Dublin Hills from becoming overwhelmed with housing that had been promised to voters and that the housing would not be built on preserved open space. Measure M won in every precinct in Dublin and on the absentee ballots.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.2 square miles (40 km), all land.
Wallis Ranch is a subdivision developed by Trumark Communities with approximately 816 units which opened its first phase in September 2016. Trumark divided the project into eight neighborhoods, selling seven of them to other homebuilders including Warmington Residential, PulteGroup, Taylor Morrison, KB Home and D.R. Horton. Architects KTGY Architecture + Planning, Dahlin Group and Gates & Associates were the master plan architects. Teichert Construction built the infrastructure.
Tassajara Hills is another subdivision built by Toll Brothers, approximately 370 detached homes. Transit-oriented development around the city's two BART stations continues with the Aster and Valor Crossing developments. Valor Crossing is an affordable housing project specifically designed for veterans and their families. Avalon Dublin Station is another recently completed luxury rental development by AvalonBay Communities.
The 2010 United States Census reported that Dublin had a population of 46,036, which grew over 57,000 as of 2016, and nearly 65,000 in 2018. It has been one of the fastest-growing cities in California, with its population nearly doubling during the past decade. Once the building of homes is finished in East Dublin, the city will have a capacity for over 75,000 citizens. The population density in 2010 was 3,087.1 people per square mile (1,192.0/km). The racial makeup of Dublin was 23,634 (51.3%) White, 4,347 (9.4%) African American, 246 (0.5%) Native American, 12,321 (26.8%) Asian, 287 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 2,458 (5.3%) from other races, and 2,743 (6.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6,663 persons (14.5%).
The Census reported that 40,262 people (87.5% of the population) lived in households, 92 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 5,682 (12.3%) were institutionalized.
There were 14,913 households, out of which 5,897 (39.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 8,615 (57.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,383 (9.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 615 (4.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 775 (5.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 142 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,201 households (21.5%) were made up of individuals, and 578 (3.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70. There were 10,613 families (71.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.19.
The population was spread out, with 10,297 people (22.4%) under the age of 18, 3,703 people (8.0%) aged 18 to 24, 17,587 people (38.2%) aged 25 to 44, 11,092 people (24.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,357 people (7.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.4 males.
There were 15,782 housing units at an average density of 1,058.3 per square mile (408.6/km), of which 14,913 were occupied, of which 9,425 (63.2%) were owner-occupied, and 5,488 (36.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.0%. 26,954 people (58.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 13,308 people (28.9%) lived in rental housing units.
The median income for a household in the city was $114,699, and the median income for a family was $128,737. The per capita income for the city was $44,679.
In 2000, there were 9,325 households and 6,508 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,232.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,248.2/km). There are about 9,872 housing units at an average density of 784.3 per square mile (302.8/km).
There were 9,325 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city, the population was 21.0% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 44.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.4 males. The average income for a household in the city is $101,550. Males had a median income of $77,605 versus $48,116 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,451. About 1.9% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
Dublin has also undergone significant remodeling and expansion, with almost every shopping center in Dublin being remodeled while new shopping centers continued to be built. Dublin Place and Dublin Retail Center were followed by Hacienda Crossings, The Shops at Waterford, The Shops at Tralee Village, Grafton Station, Fallon Gateway, and Persimmon Place.
Dublin is the site of Santa Rita Jail, the principal jail for Alameda County. The third largest jail in California and the fifth largest in the United States, Santa Rita Jail is considered a "mega-jail", specified to hold 4,000 prisoners at any one time, making it as large as, or larger than, many of California's state prisons. It was completed at a cost of $172 million in 1983.
The Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA), historically known as Camp Parks, is located in Dublin. A sub-installation of Fort Hunter Liggett, Camp Parks is the only training facility within a short drive for the 11,000-plus reservists in the San Francisco Bay Area. Firing ranges and a wide variety of training facilities are available. The post is home to the Regional Training Site-Intelligence, Regional Training Site-Medical and the 91st DIV Battle Projection Center. Growth is on the horizon as new facilities have been built and more are programmed for construction in the near future.
Dublin was formerly home to the headquarters of Sybase, Inc (now part of SAP SE) and is currently home to the headquarters for CallidusCloud, Patelco Credit Union, Ross Stores, TriNet, Medley Health, Challenge Dairy and Arlen Ness.
According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
The annual Saint Patrick's Day celebration includes a 5K Fun Run and Walk, a pancake breakfast, a two-day festival, and a parade. The parade is popular with residents and visitors from outside Dublin alike and has been growing in popularity each year. It is sponsored by the Dublin Rotary Club and features bands and colorful floats. The Dublin firefighters sponsor the pancake breakfast, and tours of the firehouse are popular with children. The festival continues all weekend and features food, games, kiddie rides, arts & crafts, and information about local organizations. The festival had been held near the end of the parade route in Shamrock Village on Amador Valley Blvd but was relocated to the Civic Center on Dublin Blvd in 2007, moving it closer to the growing population in the eastern part of Dublin.
Dublin has two dog parks: Dougherty Hills Dog Park, which comprises an area for large dogs and another area for small dogs and a dog run at Bray Commons.
Dublin opened Fallon Sports Park in East Dublin in 2010. The first phase of the Fallon Sports Park includes two adult softball fields, two little league baseball fields, two synthetic turf soccer fields, four lighted basketball courts, four lighted tennis courts, and a rough grade BMX bike facility. The second lower extension was completed in March 2018. The extension added two fully lit turf soccer fields, a 90-foot baseball diamond, tanbark playground, additional restrooms, family picnic tables, and four bocce ball courts. In October 2022, the upper third expansion was completed, closest to the Dublin Fire Station 18. This extension added a cricket field, four sand volleyball courts, two Little League fields, and multi-sport batting cages.
Emerald Glen Park is the largest community park in Dublin. On Memorial Day weekend 2017, the City opened The Wave at Emerald Glen Park, a 31,000-square foot facility which is anchored by an indoor pool for year-round swimming lessons, exercise programs, and recreational use.
The 30-acre Don Biddle Community Park is in the heart of Dublin, at 6100 Horizon Parkway. Named for former Dublin Vice Mayor Don Biddle, the park features tennis courts; basketball courts; two playgrounds; picnic areas; a community garden and orchard; a garden shed; an expansive great lawn; shade structures; an outdoor classroom; and towering veterans art sculptures.
The City of Dublin is a general law city operating under a City Council / City Manager form of local government. This form of government combines an elected mayor and council and an appointed local government administrator. The City Council elections are nonpartisan. The Mayor serves a two-year term, and Council members serve four-year terms.
The Mayor and City Council, as a collegial body, are responsible for setting policy, setting / prioritizing goals and objectives, and approving the budget. The Mayor, with confirmation by the City Council, makes appointments to the city's advisory commissions and committees.
The Council appoints the City Manager, who is responsible for the day-to-day administrative operation of the city, including:
As of March 2025, the Council consisted of Mayor Sherry Hu, Vice Mayor Kashef Qaadri, Jean Josey, Michael McCorriston, and John Morada.
Additionally, Dublin has a Youth Advisory Committee, for teens aged 13–18; a Planning Commission; Parks and Community Services Commission; Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission; Human Services Commission; and a Senior Center Advisory Committee.
In the House of Representatives, Dublin is part of two districts: California's 10th congressional district, represented by Democrat Mark DeSaulnier, and California's 14th congressional district, represented by Democrat Eric Swalwell. In the State Assembly, it is in the 16th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, and in the 7th Senate District, represented by Democrat Jesse Arreguín.
Dublin has 28,798 registered voters with 12,071 (41.9%) registered as Democrats, 5,044 (17.5%) registered as Republicans, and 10,505 (36.5%) decline to state voters.
Dublin Unified School District operates the public schools, including seven elementary schools (Amador, Dougherty, Dublin, Frederiksen, John Green, Kolb, and Murray), one K-8 school (Cottonwood Creek), two middle schools (Wells and Fallon), one alternative high school (Valley), and two comprehensive high schools.
Dublin is also home to the following private schools:
Dublin is served by BART with two rail stations, Dublin/Pleasanton and West Dublin/Pleasanton, The West Dublin station began construction in 2007. The project cost $80 million and opened in March 2011. The West Dublin/Pleasanton station includes a hotel, restaurant, 210 apartments, and 170,000 sq ft (16,000 m). of office space.
Local bus service is provided by WHEELS.
Dublin is situated at the intersection of Interstate 580 and Interstate 680. No US Routes or major California State Highways run directly through Dublin, though California State Route 84 orbits Dublin and surrounding cities from its south to its east.
The Iron Horse Regional Trail, a walking and biking rail trail, goes through Dublin.
Dublin's closest airport is Livermore Municipal Airport, though the airport is a general aviation airport with no regularly-scheduled commercial service. Through BART, Dublin is accessible to all three major San Francisco Bay Area airports; distance-wise, it is closest to Oakland International Airport.
There are full-time 911 emergency services. Police services are contracted to and provided by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. Fire services are provided by Alameda County Fire Department.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) Dublin Office is located off of Gleason Drive. The CHP provides safety, service, and security to the public on freeways/unincorporated highways and on state property.
Dublin is twinned with Bray, County Wicklow in Ireland.