The history of Concord mirrors that of the entire state. The area that is now Concord was originally inhabited by the Bay Miwok Indians and later explored by the Spanish. The area was designated as a Mexican land grant in 1834, under the name Monte del Diablo, which changed to Todos Santos in 1868. In the early 20th Century, local residents voted on the current name, from the eponymous city in Massachusetts. Concord developed into an orchard and poultry centre following the construction of the Oakland, Antioch, and Eastern Railway in 1912. Today, transportation connecting residents to other parts of the Bay includes the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, Interstate 680, and the 242 and 4 Highways. The city is predominantly residential and was recently rated by Popular Science magazine as one of the 50 greenest cities in the country. The home town of Tom Hanks and Dave Brubek, Concord hosts an annual jazz festival and its Chronicle Pavillion serves as a venue for performing arts and exhibitions. City parks, amusement parks and the nearby Mount Diablo State Park provide exceptional recreational opportunities for residents.

According to the 2008 U.S. Census Department estimate, 121,160 people live in Concord. According to the 2000 Census, the city of Concord is 70.7 percent White, 9.4 percent Asian, 3 percent Black, 0.8 percent American Indian and Alaska Native, and 0.5 percent Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. 21.8 percent of Concord residents are of Latino or Hispanic origin, and 5.9 percent of residents report being of two or more races.