1824Culture
In 1824, the western side of Martinez, Alhambra Valley was included in the Rancho El Pinole Mexican land grant to Ygnacio Martínez.
1844Culture
East of these lands was the Rancho Las Juntas, a grant made to Irish born William Welch in 1844; his land lay between the lands of Martinez and Pacheco.
1849Culture
By 1849, Martínez served as a way station for the California Gold Rush.
1850Government
It became the county seat in 1850, but could not incorporate at the time because it lacked the 200 registered voters required, and would not become a city until 1876.
1851Architecture
The first post office opened in 1851.
1860Culture
In 1860, Martinez played a role in the Pony Express, where riders would take the ferry from Benicia (particularly if they missed the steamer in Sacramento).
1880Culture
Martinez was the home of naturalist John Muir from 1880 until his death in 1914.
1904Government
The first oil refinery in the Martinez area was built in 1904 at Bull's Head Point, a then-unincorporated waterfront area two miles east of the downtown district.
1905Economy
That area soon became known as Mococo, following the 1905 arrival of a smelting works, operated by the Mountain Copper Company (Mo Co Co).
1908Architecture
That first facility, operated by the Bull's Head Oil Company, was followed in 1908 by a test refinery built by the Pacific Coast Oil Company.
1913Architecture
In 1913, the Golden Eagle facility became the third oil refinery to be built in the area.
1916Architecture
A fourth refinery, built by the Shell Oil Company on land adjacent to the Martinez City limits, went online in January 1916.
1927Culture
Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Martinez, California
Martinez Area Chamber of Commerce
Main Street Martinez
Martinez, California Scenes, c.1927.
2000History
=== 2000 ===
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,866 people, 14,300 households, and 9,209 families residing in the city.
2006History
As of 2006, the district's K-12 enrollment was 4,194.
2007History
The median income for a household in the city was $63,010, and the median income for a family was $77,411 (these figures had risen to $73,668 and $92,486 respectively as of a 20...
2008Architecture
The Art Deco style building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in early 2008.
2020Disaster
The Golden Eagle Refinery (currently owned by Marathon Petroleum Company) was idled in April 2020 as a response to lower petroleum demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2023History
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $125,436, and the per capita income was $62,336.