Martinez is located on the South shore of the Carquinez Strait where it opens into the Suisun Bay and the Sacramento River Delta.
Martinez is the County seat of Contra Costa County and its Downtown houses State and County Courthouses as well as the majority of the County’s administrative offices. It also is home to numerous affiliated service industry offices – e.g., lawyers , engineers , consultants , and experts in various civil and criminal matters.
Intersected by two major freeways, (North I South) by Highway-680 and (East I West) by Highway 4, giving Martinez excellent access to other East Bay locations: Walnut Creek and Concord are South and East, while Hercules and Pinole are a short distance to the West.
Outsiders often view Martinez as nothing more than a refinery town, but the reality is, Martinez is a vibrant City with a fascinating history and lots to do. The Martinez Regional Shoreline runs along the North side of the City and features a Marina for boating and fishing, hiking trails, and picnic areas. At one time Martinez had the largest horse population in the Bay Area and the many trails and hills of the Briones Regional Park still provide the perfect place for horseback riding in the East Bay. The Briones Regional Park; extends from Martinez’ Alhambra Valley to the Reservoir in Orinda and Lafayette and provides many miles of trails for hiking, walking and jogging, or simply sitting back and quietly enjoying nature and the surrounding hills and views.
Downtown Martinez bustles with activity throughout the year. Popular events include a farmers market, car shows, the annual John Muir Summer Festival, the Italian Street Painting Festival, the July 4 Downtown Parade and Celebration , and the biannual Peddlers Faire.
Real estate in Martinez offers a variety of options. The Downtown area features mostly older homes, built in the early 1900s, in architectural styles that include Victorian, Craftsman, and Tudor. While within walking distance of Downtown are quiet tree-lined streets with historic older homes and bungalows. The Alhambra Valley is home to many horse ranches as well as some newer homes and more expensive developments like Stonehurst and Hidden Valley.
Martinez children (K thru 8) attend the highly rated John Swett and Valle Verde Elementary Schools.
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