Historic Downtown Pleasanton near San Francisco, CA is a city in Alameda County, California is a true vacationer's delight. Pleasanton is around 25 miles from Oakland and has a population of over 67,000. As a middle-sized city, it is one of the wealthiest. It is the site of the Alameda County Fairgrounds, with their annual county fair being held there each summer attracting thousands.
Sometimes referred to by its nickname "P-town", Pleasanton has a very interesting history. John W. Kottinger, a justice of the peace for Alameda County, founded the town and named it after Alfred Pleasonton, a major general in the Union army and close friend of Kottinger. In its beginning in the 1850s, Pleasanton was controlled by desperados and bandits, leading it to be given the nickname of the "most desperate town in the west". It was not unusual to see shootouts on Main Street. Eventually, it lost this reputation and was used for the filming of such movies as Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.
Today the town of Pleasanton is known for its activity and growth. Former NFL coach and commentator John Madden makes his home in Pleasanton. His production company is also located here. NFL great Rod Woodson has also lived in Pleasanton.
Pleasanton is a town full of activities and events to attract tourists and the local citizens. Saturday mornings will find many people at Angela Street, right off of Main Street for the Farmer's Market. From May through September on the first Wednesday of the month, you'll find Main Street the host of many people gathering for good sales. The businessmen in the city set up booths in the middle of the street like vendors. In between your browsing, you can listen to live music in the parking lot of the Round Table Pizza. The town also has live band concerts at the gazebo between Main and First Street on Friday evenings. This is a great opportunity for socializing as people sit on blankets listening to the music, munching on snacks and visiting.
The downtown area is loaded with great shopping, ethnic restaurants and spots of lively entertainment.
