Alameda

City in Alameda County, north-central California, USA; population (1990) 76,500. It is located mainly on two islands on the east side of San Francisco Bay, across Oakland Harbour to the southwest of the city of Oakland. San Leandro Bay lies to the southeast. Settled in the 1850s on part of Rancho San Antonio, it became an island city after the harbour was successfully channelled in 1902. Waterfront industries include shipbuilding, lumber milling, steel fabrication, and the handling of fishing and cargo vessels.

Its larger island is 10 km/6.5 mi long. It was the site of Alameda Naval Air station, a major carrier base, which was closed in 1993. The College of Alameda (1970) is situated here. The city has extensive Victorian and modern residential neighbourhoods. The smaller Coast Guard (or Government) Island is a training centre and service community. Alameda has popular parks, municipal beaches, and facilities for boating and fishing.