About Antioch, CA

Antioch, California has been previously known as Marsh’s Landing, Smith’s Landing, and East Antioch The community is located in Contra Costa County. The community of Martinez is the county seat of Contra Costa County. The population of Antioch was 1,049,025 in 2010. Antioch is mainly suburban and is also located in the northern part East Bay area.

One of the oldest communities in California is Antioch. A man named John Marsh constructed a landing on the San Joaquin River in what is currently known as Antioch. The landing came to be called Marsh’s Landing. The landing included a pier that extended far out into the river, which, during any season of the year, enabled boats that drew 15 feet of water to tie up at the landing.

Two brothers, named Joseph and William Smith, established a settlement somewhat west of Marsh’s Landing, and it became known as Smith’s Landing in 1850. The new minister in the settlement convinced the citizens to rename the settlement to Antioch, after biblical community of Antioch.

In the hills just south of Antioch, coal was discovered. Aside from dairy farming and agriculture, coal mining became the first major business in 1859. This new industry resulted in the establishment of the communities of Pittsburg, Stewartsville, Somerville, and Nortonville and contributed significantly to the economy of Antioch. In 1876, two men named George Hawxhurst and John Rouse established the Empire Coal Company. This company constructed a railroad that ran to what was then known as Kimberly Street from Antioch. However, sometime later, the Belshaw purchased the railroad as well as the mine. The railroad tracks were removed and the mine stopped operating long ago.

In 1851, the Antioch Post Office was organized, but then in 1852, it closed and in 1855, reopened, and then in 1862, closed again and then reopened again in 1863. The post office has been in continuous operation since 1863. The year 1872 brought the incorporation of Antioch as a city.

In 1870, the first newspaper, known as the Antioch Ledger was published, and has since never missed an issue, in 43 years. A copy of the first issue being published was framed and currently hangs over the current editor’s desk, in memory of when the newspaper was established. Sometime later the Contra Costa Times and the Antioch Ledger merged. In 2005, the last issue was published.

A company known as Fiberboard Research patented a technique of applying coatings of wax to cardboard containers in the middle 1950’s, that fueled the first ice cream, juice, and milk containers. Antioch became known as the home of the milk carton.

These days, Antioch is primarily a bedroom community, and the majority of the adults work in larger communities such as San Francisco and Oakland. During the past 30 years. The community has seen some expansive growth, while the population of the Bay Area is continually increasing, and the cost of real estate has forced some families to relocate to the outskirts of the Bay Area.

After the news about a girl named Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped, but discovered alive in Antioch, the community received media attention all around the world. In 2009, this news story fueled many other news stories, with regard to the 1,000 registered sex offenders in the area. In 2012, the community attempted to annex a neighboring 678-acre piece of unincorporated land, which included a GenOn Energy 760-megawatt power plant, that within the city limits, included the power producing plant.

These days, the community of Antioch is a wonderful place to live work, play, visit, and raise a family. The residents of this community are proud of its rich history and are looking forward to a bright future.