FMMP - Antioch-Brentwood Time Series

Changes in this area include conversions from irrigated farmland (green) and dryland or idle farmland (yellow) to urban (red) during this period. In addition, land is moving from higher-valued irrigated uses to pasture on Jersey Island in the northeast section of the animation. Information on these changes was gathered from air photos, local comments, and field reconnaissance.

The area shown on this graphic (about 9 miles in each direction) had a net loss of irrigated farmland of over 5,000 acres between 1984 and 2002, and a net gain of over 9,000 acres in Urban over the same period.

A brief history of the Antioch-Brentwood area

Contra Costa County was incorporated in 1850 as one of the original 27 counties of the State. Located on the eastern side of the county, Brentwood became the largest shipping point for wheat and barley between San Francisco and New Orleans by 1890. In 1913, a half-million dollar irrigation system was installed by Balfour Guthrie Investment Company, to support orchards of apricots, peaches, and cherries.

While agriculture still plays a major role in the area’s economy, Brentwood's population has grown from 4,434 in 1980 to 23,100 in 2000 (about 420%). The County Agricultural Commissioner reports that the Brentwood area produces crops worth $50 million annually. Efforts are underway to establish an Agricultural Enterprise Program to help maintain farming into the future by providing incentives to not prematurely develop this historic and economic resource.

Antioch was founded in 1849 as 'Smith's Landing' and was renamed for the biblical Syrian city in 1851. With easy access to the Golden Gate through Suisun and San Pablo Bays, it became the home of many chemical and paper manufacturing facilities, including Dow Chemical, Dupont and Gaylord Container. It has increased in population by 98% from 1980 to 2000 (from about 43,500 to 84,500) as development pressure pushes east along State Highway 4.

Division of Land Resource Protection