About the District

The Seventh Congressional District of California stretches across the eastern half of Contra Costa County and through parts of Solano County, encompassing several major cities including Richmond, Vallejo, Vacaville and parts of Concord. Both Contra Costa and Solano counties were two of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. Additional cities include Benicia, Clayton, El Cerrito, Fairfield, Hercules, Martinez, Pinole, Pittsburg, Rodeo, San Pablo and Suisun City.

A Tradition of Industry

Owing to the district’s extensive waterfront on the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bays, the district has long been a site for heavy industry, making up a vital resource to the greater Bay Area as a key industrial base. During the mid-20th century, the city of Richmond sprung up seemingly overnight in response to Henry Kaiser’s plan to build a shipyard in the deep-water port. This industrial tradition was solidified during the Second World War when tens of thousands of women worked to build ships for the Pacific theater. These women came from all over the United States, swelling the population of the East Bay area. For many, it was the first time they had ever worked and earned money. This massive influx of labor increased the speed of construction of ships to the point of being the most efficient in the entire nation. These women are now memorialized in the Rosie the Riveter Memorial in Richmond, now, after efforts by Rep. Miller and local political and civic leaders in Richmond, a national park.

Across the Carquinez Strait the city of Vallejo, named for a Mexican general and member of the first California Senate, also assumed a key role in the production of warships during World War II, employing over forty thousand workers at the giant Mare Island Naval Shipyard. This tradition of blue collar industrialism in the district continues today, including in a number of still active oil refineries, particularly Chevron in Richmond, and Shell Oil and Tesoro in Martinez, and chemical plants such as Dow Chemical and a substantial integrated steel plant, USS-POSCO Industries located in Pittsburg. This key industrial base provides an invaluable asset to the entire Bay Area region.

Natural Beauty and Preservation of Open Spaces

The Seventh Congressional District is nestled alongside the East Bay Regional Park District, the largest regional park agency in the United States, with nearly 108,000 acres of parklands spread across 65 regional parks and over 1,100 miles of trails in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Approximately 14 million visitors a year from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond take advantage of the vast and diverse District parklands and trails.

In an effort to protect this natural beauty, local voters have passed numerous measures to set limits on growth and development. These open spaces help to ensure preservation of the natural beauty that makes the Bay Area such a desirable place to live, as well as providing viable habitat for wildlife and enhancing the region's quality of life.

Demographics

Today the district is includes some of the most ethnically diverse towns and cities in the country, with large populations of African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Filipinos, bringing culture and vitality to growing communities. Additionally, 5.9% of residents identify themselves as bi- or multi- racial, a significantly higher percentage than the national average.
The district is served by four community colleges, Diablo Valley, Los Medanos, Contra Costa, and Solano Community, each of which provide students of all backgrounds the opportunity to pursue a higher education at affordable cost.

Local Links:

Contra Costa County
Solano County

City of Benicia
City of Clayton
City of Concord
City of El Cerrito
City of Fairfield
City of Martinez
City of Pinole
City of Pittsburg
City of Richmond
City of Rodeo
City of San Pablo
City of Suisun City
City of Vallejo
City of Vacaville

Rosie the Riveter Memorial
East Bay Park District
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
John Muir National Historic Site