Why Dublin
Dublin is a suburban municipality situated in the Amador Valley within Alameda County's Tri-Valley region in California's East Bay area. Covering 15.2 square miles of land, the city sits along the north side of Interstate 580 at its intersection with Interstate 680. It is located roughly 35 miles east of downtown San Francisco, 23 miles east of downtown Oakland, and 31 miles north of downtown San Jose. Driven by steady suburban expansion, Dublin's population grew to 72,589 by 2020, making it one of the fastest-growing communities in California and the United States.
Originally called Alamilla Springs after a spring near Dublin Boulevard and Dougherty Road, the surrounding valley was granted to former Mexican soldier José María Amador in 1835. Irish immigrants acquired land from Amador in 1850 and established a settlement. The town took its name from Dublin, Ireland, reflecting its early Irish population, though local lore also points to a pair of crossroads hostelries called the Double Inns or horse-doubling practices on nearby slopes. Formerly a rural area, the town began building housing tracts in 1960 and officially incorporated as a city in February 1982.
Historic landmarks are concentrated where Dublin Boulevard meets Donlon Way. Key sights include the Murray Schoolhouse, built in 1856, and Green's Store from 1860, which currently houses a local church. The Dublin Pioneer Cemetery was formally established in 1859, the same year Old St. Raymond's Church was constructed. As the oldest existing Catholic church in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, Old St. Raymond's is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Dublin Boulevard itself holds historical significance as a former segment of the Lincoln Highway and U.S. Route 50.
Public spaces and recreation facilities are prominent throughout the city. Emerald Glen Park, Dublin's largest community park, features The Wave, a 31,000-square-foot aquatic complex anchored by an indoor pool for year-round swimming, exercise, and play. The 30-acre Don Biddle Community Park offers sports courts, playgrounds, a community garden, an orchard, an outdoor classroom, and veterans art sculptures. Additionally, Fallon Sports Park provides illuminated athletic fields, basketball, tennis, and bocce courts, sand volleyball courts, and a cricket pitch. Canine visitors can exercise at Dougherty Hills Dog Park or Bray Commons.
A major cultural event in the city is the annual Saint Patrick's Day celebration. The festivity features a 5K fun run and walk, a firefighter-hosted pancake breakfast accompanied by firehouse tours, a two-day festival at the Civic Center with food, crafts, and rides, and a popular parade organized by the Dublin Rotary Club featuring bands and colorful floats.
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02 Top 1 things to do in Dublin
