Physical Character

Physical Geography and Location of Fremont, California

Despite strong central planning efforts, the City of Fremont has a patchwork quilt appearance and feeling due to differences in the characters of its constituent towns (Niles, Irvington, Centerville, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs) each of which already possessed a town center at the time of incorporation. Although a municipal center (called the Central district and located in the middle of Fremont) physically joins the former towns like the hub it intended to be, it creates a centrifugal rather than centripetal effect. The city's visual lack of cohesion results in a lack of identity causing grief to the city government.

Transportation routes have been an important factor in shaping Fremont. The two freeways, I-880 and I-680, restrict and define residential development, following the city's General Plan of Development (see section: Development of Fremont, California). In addition, the southern-most BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) terminal is located in Fremont. As a result, Fremont houses commuters working in San Francisco and Oakland, and it receives traffic from south Bay commuters arriving here to catch BART.

With the San Francisco Bay and bay wetlands running along the west side of the city and with hills running along the east side of the city, Fremont has developed a north-south linear orientation and form which is reiterated and reified by I-880 and I-680.

Silicon Valley employees also live in Fremont and commute south. The wealthiest of these are currently building monster homes in the hills of Mission San Jose and Warm Springs. The contrast between these and the older, more modest houses of Fremont is striking. In fact, Mission Boulevard acts as a wall to separate the two areas: simple-old houses (west) from ostentatious-new houses (east).

Located between the two regional engines of economic development (the high-technology industry of Silicon Valley and the service industry of San Francisco/Oakland), Fremont provides housing for both these industries. This marginal location also results in Fremont possessing quantities of undeveloped and underdeveloped land, making the city desirable to the expanding urban population of the East Bay Area. Contrary to expectation, however, real estate and housing prices in Fremont have kept up with those of the East Bay in general, a fact which compromises Fremont's competitive advantage in attracting and retaining businesses.

In 1989, Fremont projected a future name for itself: Silicon Valley North, in hopes of attracting some of the high-technology action and associated housing development. Judging by the extensive, spiffy new, high-tech business parks located west of I-880 in Fremont's Industrial planning zone, I would surmise that this prediction was accurate. (see photos in Industrial section)

Although much of the neighborhood commerce appears to be ethnically homogenous, Irvington, especially, and Centerville (with the Naz Indian movie theater) have extremely cosmopolitan commercial landscapes, and Warm Springs has an exclusively Chinese commercial zone. (see photos in these three neighborhood sections). The ethnic diversity of Irvington an Centerville, which are the most populous and most central neighborhoods in Fremont, reflect the increasing ethnic diversity of the city. The 1960 population was 2% nonwhite, and the 1980 population was 16% nonwhite, a trend which is steadily increasing. The local magazine, What's Happening: The Tri City Magazine, Fremont, Newark, Union City, also witnesses this diversity among its restaurant advertisers which include Afghan and Lebanese fare in addition to the anticipated Italian, Korean, French, American, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, Greek, German, Japanese, and Viennese offerings.

Information for this page derived from: City of Fremont Strategic Plan (May 1989, Fremont Telesis Committee), Stanley Weir's "Separate Efforts--Similar Goals and Results: A Study of the New Public City of Fremont, California, for Comparison with Private New Communities" (1965), and What's Happening: The Tri City Magazine, Fremont, Newark, Union City (October, 2000), and from site observation with my teammates. -Anne Toxey

Mission Peak Landslide, 1998. Photos courtesy City of Fremont. (Image at left enlarged image of area on right.)

Geology

Much of Fremont is flat, unsloped land underlain by a relatively stable geologic formation. Underlying Fremont is a deep bedrock trough which rises to form the steep hills in the eastern part of the City and the Coyote Hills at the Bay margin. This trough has been with alluvium deposited by stream flowing from the hills, and with Bay mud sediments.

Moving from east to west, subsurface materials include progressively more clay and silt and less and gravel. In most areas these materials are mixed, due to the wandering pattern of stream beds. Ground water, another important geologic consideration, is relatively high east of the Hayward Fault due to the impervious barrier formed by the water table level is substantially lower, rising again near the Bay.

Geologically Constrained Land

There is a relatively little unconstrained vacant residential land remaining in Fremont for new development. In the future, a larger proportion of all development will be in areas with geologic constraints. Careful investigation of geologic conditions will be an important perquisite to development.

The Bay Area is crossed by several faults which are part of the San Andreas Fault system. The San Andreas fault travels through much of the coastal areas of California, traversing San Mateo County, east of Fremont. The San Andreas fault is the largest fault in California with the potential for the most sever earthquakes. Fremont is traversed by the Hayward fault, a branch fault" of the San Andreas system. Another branch fault o the San Andreas fault in the vicinity of Fremont is the Calaveras fault on the eastern edge of the Diablo Range.

A seismic event(an earthquake) on any of these major faults could cause damage in Fremont. The amount of resulting damage would be dependent on the magnitude of the earthquake, localize soil conditions and the proximity of development to the focus or epicenter of the earthquake.

Fremont Earthquake Hazards map. Courtesy ABAG.

Fremont Dam Failure Water Inundation areas. Courtesy ABAG.

San Andreas Fault, Hayward Fault, & Calaveras Fault

San Andreas Fault
Studies of the frequency and intensity o the earthquakes on the major fault system traversing the Bay Area suggest a pattern of recurrence. Geologist and seismologist generally concur that a major quake will occur on the San Andreas system on the average of once every 50 years, with such a quake(magnitude of 8 of higher) likely to occur on the Bay Area segment of the fault on the average of once every 100 years. The October 1989 earthquake was not considered by seismologists to be of sufficient magnitude to alleviate the probability of another even more destructive quake occurring. As indicated by the records of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, any major quake on the San Andreas system in the Bay Area region will cause severe shaking in Fremont.

Hayward Fault
Recurrence intervals for earthquakes on the Hayward fault are more difficult to predict than those for the San Andreas fault. Over the past few years geologist have revised predictions to suggest an increase in the probability of an earthquake on the Hayward fault. Recent data gathered by the U.S. Geologic Survey suggests a 36 to 50 percent probability of a 7.5 (Richter Scale) earthquake on this fault over the next 30 years.

Calaveras Fault
Movement on the Calaveras fault is expected to have less impact on Fremont than the other two faults. The Calaveras fault is considered to be less active that the Hayward fault in the general vicinity of Fremont and, therefore, less likely to generate a major earthquake in this area. However, based on past occurrences, and earthquake of 7.0(Richter Scale) on the Calaveras fault could be expected to cause ground distortion along traces of the Hayward fault, as well as intense shaking. A quake on the Calaveras fault could breach the earthen dam at Calaveras Reservoir. The resevoir is located on the Alameda-Santa Clara county line, and if the dam were to break, most of Fremont would be inundated with water from the1450 acre reservoir surging through the Niles Canyon. The effects of such an earthquake would be similar to those of the 1868 Hayward earthquake(Richter scale 6.8), including surface rupture of several feet northeast of Fremont in the Sunol area.

Climate

Fremont has generally mild climate. Temperature variations are moderated b nearby water areas. The warmest month is September, when daily high is 77° and the mean daily high is 53°. The coldest month is January when the mean daily high is 58° and the mean daily low is 48°. Winter days are usually mild, sunny and clear. The mean number of days with temperature below 32° is thirteen. The mean number of days with temperature above 90° is five.

There is practically no rainfall from June to September. From October through April there is moderate rainfall ranging from two to seven inches per month, averaging 15 inches per year. There is no snow. Prevailing winds are from the north west. About one-third of observations a nearby airport show calm conditions of less than 3.5 mph. There are no local measurements of wind velocities. There is usually a high enough velocity in the late afternoon to cause distinct discomfort. At the Civic-Cultural site outdoor areas must be protected form the wind for comfort. Extreme winds of 35 miles per hour can b expected about once every two years. Storm winds are usually from the southwest or northwest.

Humidity conditions are moderate. The fall has more muggy days. The average day has sunshine more than half the time.

Visibility is often limited by low fog, and by smog. The mean visibility is about 8 miles. About one-fourth to the time the visibility is over 10 miles with more clear days in fall than any other season. About one-fourth often time the visibility is reduced by haze or fog to less than 6 miles. --Evelyn Yee & Jenna Loyd

Citations:

Fremont General Plan, May 7, 1991.

Stober, Dan. 1998. "California Officials Order Review of Seismic Safety of an Earthen Dam". San Jose Mercury News. Feb. 18.

Stober, Dan. 1998. "California Dam Failures Could Swamp San Jose-Oakland Suburbs". San Jose Mercury News. Feb. 18.

VISIT AN AREA OF FREMONT:
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Irvington District

Mission San Jose District

Warm Springs District

Centerville District

Niles District

Central District

Industrial District

'Northern Plains' Area

'Hill Planning' Area

Baylands Areas


	Physical Geography and Location of Fremont, California
	Despite strong central planning efforts, the City of Fremont has a patchwork quilt appearance and feeling due to differences in the characters of its constituent towns (Niles, Irvington, Centerville, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs) each of which already possessed a town center at the time of incorporation. Although a municipal center (called the Central district and located in the middle of Fremont) physically joins the former towns like the hub it intended to be, it creates a centrifugal rather than centripetal effect. The city's visual lack of cohesion results in a lack of identity causing grief to the city government. Transportation routes have been an important factor in shaping Fremont. The two freeways, I-880 and I-680, restrict and define residential development, following the city's General Plan of Development (see section: Development of Fremont, California). In addition, the southern-most BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) terminal is located in Fremont. As a result, Fremont houses commuters working in San Francisco and Oakland, and it receives traffic from south Bay commuters arriving here to catch BART. With the San Francisco Bay and bay wetlands running along the west side of the city and with hills running along the east side of the city, Fremont has developed a north-south linear orientation and form which is reiterated and reified by I-880 and I-680. Silicon Valley employees also live in Fremont and commute south. The wealthiest of these are currently building monster homes in the hills of Mission San Jose and Warm Springs. The contrast between these and the older, more modest houses of Fremont is striking. In fact, Mission Boulevard acts as a wall to separate the two areas: simple-old houses (west) from ostentatious-new houses (east). Located between the two regional engines of economic development (the high-technology industry of Silicon Valley and the service industry of San Francisco/Oakland), Fremont provides housing for both these industries. This marginal location also results in Fremont possessing quantities of undeveloped and underdeveloped land, making the city desirable to the expanding urban population of the East Bay Area. Contrary to expectation, however, real estate and housing prices in Fremont have kept up with those of the East Bay in general, a fact which compromises Fremont's competitive advantage in attracting and retaining businesses. In 1989, Fremont projected a future name for itself: Silicon Valley North, in hopes of attracting some of the high-technology action and associated housing development. Judging by the extensive, spiffy new, high-tech business parks located west of I-880 in Fremont's Industrial planning zone, I would surmise that this prediction was accurate. (see photos in Industrial section) Although much of the neighborhood commerce appears to be ethnically homogenous, Irvington, especially, and Centerville (with the Naz Indian movie theater) have extremely cosmopolitan commercial landscapes, and Warm Springs has an exclusively Chinese commercial zone. (see photos in these three neighborhood sections). The ethnic diversity of Irvington an Centerville, which are the most populous and most central neighborhoods in Fremont, reflect the increasing ethnic diversity of the city. The 1960 population was 2% nonwhite, and the 1980 population was 16% nonwhite, a trend which is steadily increasing. The local magazine, What's Happening: The Tri City Magazine, Fremont, Newark, Union City, also witnesses this diversity among its restaurant advertisers which include Afghan and Lebanese fare in addition to the anticipated Italian, Korean, French, American, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, Greek, German, Japanese, and Viennese offerings. Information for this page derived from: City of Fremont Strategic Plan (May 1989, Fremont Telesis Committee), Stanley Weir's "Separate Efforts--Similar Goals and Results: A Study of the New Public City of Fremont, California, for Comparison with Private New Communities" (1965), and What's Happening: The Tri City Magazine, Fremont, Newark, Union City (October, 2000), and from site observation with my teammates. -Anne Toxey


		Mission Peak Landslide, 1998. Photos courtesy City of Fremont. (Image at left enlarged image of area on right.)
	Geology Much of Fremont is flat, unsloped land underlain by a relatively stable geologic formation. Underlying Fremont is a deep bedrock trough which rises to form the steep hills in the eastern part of the City and the Coyote Hills at the Bay margin. This trough has been with alluvium deposited by stream flowing from the hills, and with Bay mud sediments. Moving from east to west, subsurface materials include progressively more clay and silt and less and gravel. In most areas these materials are mixed, due to the wandering pattern of stream beds. Ground water, another important geologic consideration, is relatively high east of the Hayward Fault due to the impervious barrier formed by the water table level is substantially lower, rising again near the Bay. Geologically Constrained Land There is a relatively little unconstrained vacant residential land remaining in Fremont for new development. In the future, a larger proportion of all development will be in areas with geologic constraints. Careful investigation of geologic conditions will be an important perquisite to development. The Bay Area is crossed by several faults which are part of the San Andreas Fault system. The San Andreas fault travels through much of the coastal areas of California, traversing San Mateo County, east of Fremont. The San Andreas fault is the largest fault in California with the potential for the most sever earthquakes. Fremont is traversed by the Hayward fault, a branch fault" of the San Andreas system. Another branch fault o the San Andreas fault in the vicinity of Fremont is the Calaveras fault on the eastern edge of the Diablo Range. A seismic event(an earthquake) on any of these major faults could cause damage in Fremont. The amount of resulting damage would be dependent on the magnitude of the earthquake, localize soil conditions and the proximity of development to the focus or epicenter of the earthquake.

		Fremont Earthquake Hazards map. Courtesy ABAG.

		Fremont Dam Failure Water Inundation areas. Courtesy ABAG.
	San Andreas Fault, Hayward Fault, & Calaveras Fault San Andreas Fault Studies of the frequency and intensity o the earthquakes on the major fault system traversing the Bay Area suggest a pattern of recurrence. Geologist and seismologist generally concur that a major quake will occur on the San Andreas system on the average of once every 50 years, with such a quake(magnitude of 8 of higher) likely to occur on the Bay Area segment of the fault on the average of once every 100 years. The October 1989 earthquake was not considered by seismologists to be of sufficient magnitude to alleviate the probability of another even more destructive quake occurring. As indicated by the records of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, any major quake on the San Andreas system in the Bay Area region will cause severe shaking in Fremont. Hayward Fault Recurrence intervals for earthquakes on the Hayward fault are more difficult to predict than those for the San Andreas fault. Over the past few years geologist have revised predictions to suggest an increase in the probability of an earthquake on the Hayward fault. Recent data gathered by the U.S. Geologic Survey suggests a 36 to 50 percent probability of a 7.5 (Richter Scale) earthquake on this fault over the next 30 years. Calaveras Fault Movement on the Calaveras fault is expected to have less impact on Fremont than the other two faults. The Calaveras fault is considered to be less active that the Hayward fault in the general vicinity of Fremont and, therefore, less likely to generate a major earthquake in this area. However, based on past occurrences, and earthquake of 7.0(Richter Scale) on the Calaveras fault could be expected to cause ground distortion along traces of the Hayward fault, as well as intense shaking. A quake on the Calaveras fault could breach the earthen dam at Calaveras Reservoir. The resevoir is located on the Alameda-Santa Clara county line, and if the dam were to break, most of Fremont would be inundated with water from the1450 acre reservoir surging through the Niles Canyon. The effects of such an earthquake would be similar to those of the 1868 Hayward earthquake(Richter scale 6.8), including surface rupture of several feet northeast of Fremont in the Sunol area. Climate Fremont has generally mild climate. Temperature variations are moderated b nearby water areas. The warmest month is September, when daily high is 77° and the mean daily high is 53°. The coldest month is January when the mean daily high is 58° and the mean daily low is 48°. Winter days are usually mild, sunny and clear. The mean number of days with temperature below 32° is thirteen. The mean number of days with temperature above 90° is five. There is practically no rainfall from June to September. From October through April there is moderate rainfall ranging from two to seven inches per month, averaging 15 inches per year. There is no snow. Prevailing winds are from the north west. About one-third of observations a nearby airport show calm conditions of less than 3.5 mph. There are no local measurements of wind velocities. There is usually a high enough velocity in the late afternoon to cause distinct discomfort. At the Civic-Cultural site outdoor areas must be protected form the wind for comfort. Extreme winds of 35 miles per hour can b expected about once every two years. Storm winds are usually from the southwest or northwest. Humidity conditions are moderate. The fall has more muggy days. The average day has sunshine more than half the time. Visibility is often limited by low fog, and by smog. The mean visibility is about 8 miles. About one-fourth to the time the visibility is over 10 miles with more clear days in fall than any other season. About one-fourth often time the visibility is reduced by haze or fog to less than 6 miles. --Evelyn Yee & Jenna Loyd Citations: Fremont General Plan, May 7, 1991. Stober, Dan. 1998. "California Officials Order Review of Seismic Safety of an Earthen Dam". San Jose Mercury News. Feb. 18. Stober, Dan. 1998. "California Dam Failures Could Swamp San Jose-Oakland Suburbs". San Jose Mercury News. Feb. 18.