California State Resources
National Resources
Alameda County
Contra Costa County
Marin County
Napa County
San Francisco County
San Mateo County
Santa Clara County
Santa Cruz County
Solano County
Sonoma County
Find Healthcare Resources
Throughout the California Bay Area
National Resources
A list of resources offered throughout the United States
Documents
A compilation of forms curated from various California agencies
Alameda County
“Alameda County, California, was established in 1853. The County was created from the territory of two counties created in 1850: Contra Costa and Santa Clara. It was given the local name for the region, Alameda, which translated loosely as "a grove of poplars." The County enjoys a varied geography ranging from urban marinas to rolling open spaces to hillside lakes and streams. Alameda is the seventh most populous county in California, and has 14 incorporated cities and several unincorporated communities. The total population is estimated to be 1,510,271 as of April 2010, a 4.6% increase from April 2000. During the same time period, California's population rose 10%. Oakland is the seat of County government and the largest city.”
Contra Costa County
“Contra Costa County is home to more than one million residents, and was one of the original 27 counties established in California in 1850. Comprised of 19 cities and many established communities in the unincorporated area, it is the ninth most populous county in the state.
The most notable landmark in the county is Mount Diablo, rising 3,849 feet at the northern end of the Diablo Range. It is the centerpiece of Mt. Diablo State Park, one of many recreation areas residents and visitors can enjoy. The East Bay Regional Park District is comprised of more than 100,000 acres within 65 parks, including more than 1,200 miles of trails.”
Marin County
“Marin County is magical. The smallest of the San Francisco Bay Area counties, both in size and population, what it lacks in acreage it compensates for in visual appeal. It is no wonder that it is home to one of the most affluent, active and civically minded populations in the United States. Redwood forests. Beaches for surfing and strolling. Waterfalls. Marshes. Creeks. A genuine mountain. The Golden Gate Bridge! The rainbow arches over the highway tunnel from San Francisco to Marin. On the other side is the Bay Area’s pot of gold—Marin County.
The natural treasures of Marin range from the windswept bluffs of the Point Reyes National Seashore to the intimate canyons of the Muir Woods National Monument to the wooded trails—both gentle and daunting—of Mount Tamalpais, whose 2,571-foot peak provides Marin’s signature profile. Against this background, recreation is part of everyday Marin life.”
Napa County
“Napa County is north of San Francisco, in California. It's known for hundreds of hillside vineyards in the Napa Valley wine region. In the city of Napa, Oxbow Public Market features regional gourmet food. The Napa Valley Wine Train is a vintage locomotive and traveling restaurant running through the valley. Northwest of Napa is Yountville, a town known for high-end restaurants and sparkling wine.”
San Francisco County
“Perched atop hills and filled-in marshland at the entrance to one of the Pacific’s largest natural harbors, San Francisco has had an outsized influence on the history of California and the United States. Originally a Spanish (later Mexican) mission and pueblo, it was conquered by the United States in 1846 and by an invading army of prospectors following the 1848 discovery of gold in its hinterland. The Gold Rush made San Francisco a cosmopolitan metropolis with a frontier edge.”
San Mateo County
“San Mateo County was formed in April 1856 out of the southern portion of then-San Francisco County with a population of fewer than 5,000 people and little in the way of commerce. Today, more than 764,000 people call San Mateo County home and it stretches the boundary of Silicon Valley northward. Innovation thrives here in industries including bioscience, computer software, green technology, hospitality, financial management, health care, education and transportation. The County prides itself on how that prosperity fosters its commitment to protecting and enhancing the health, safety, welfare and natural resources of the community.”
Santa Clara County
“The County of Santa Clara, also referred to as "Silicon Valley", is unique because of its combination of physical attractiveness and economic diversity. With its numerous natural amenities and one of the highest standards of living in the country, the County has long been considered one of the best areas in the United States in which to live and work
The Mediterranean climate of the region remains temperate year round due to the area's geography and its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The area is warm and dry much of the year. Rarely is the humidity uncomfortable, and the thermometer seldom drops below freezing. Rain generally confines itself to the winter and snow to the tops of the local mountains, the Mt. Hamilton Range lining the eastern border of the County and the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west.”
Santa Cruz County
“Santa Cruz County has 276,603 residents and is situated at the northern tip of Monterey Bay, approximately 65 miles south of San Francisco, 35 miles north of Monterey, and 35 miles southwest of Silicon Valley. Its natural beauty is present in the pristine beaches, lush redwood forests, and rich farmland. It has an ideal Mediterranean climate with low humidity and sunshine 300 days a year.
There are four incorporated cities in the County. The largest is the City of Santa Cruz, with a population of 59,946. Watsonville has a population of 51,199, Scotts Valley has 11,580, and Capitola has 9,918.”
Solano County
“Solano County is a special place, with its inviting mix of rural and suburban lifestyles and easy access to all of the urban amenities associated with two of the nation’s most dynamic metropolitan regions. Situated midway between San Francisco and Sacramento—the State capitol, Solano County is home to rolling hillsides, waterfronts and fertile farmland. County residents can enjoy day trips to the San Francisco Bay area, Lake Tahoe region and the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Thanks to a mild climate, plenty of open space, proximity to lakes, rivers and mountains, residents can enjoy year round outdoor recreational activities like fishing, boating, skiing, hiking and biking.
Solano County is a growing community that reaps the benefits of its ideal location for those who live and work here. The blend of agriculture, corporate business and pleasant lifestyle enhance the attraction of Solano County. The County limits residential and commercial development outside of cities, thus preserving approximately 80 percent of the land for open space or agricultural uses. Blessed with a thriving agricultural economy, the county is also home to biotechnology and other growth industries.”
Sonoma County
“Long before Sonoma County was known for Wine Country, it was home to thousands of Native Americans, including those of the Pomo, Coast Miwok, and Wappo tribes. Many places in Sonoma County still impart this 4,000-year-old Native American history, including Tolay Lake in Petaluma, a significant spiritual site thought by many California tribes to have healing powers. And in Santa Rosa, the first-class California Indian Museum and Cultural Center portrays California history and culture from a uniquely Native American perspective.
It actually wasn't until the 1800s that grapes found their way to Sonoma County. As early as 1821, Russian colonists, who had primarily come east to hunt seals, planted and cultivated grapevines at Fort Ross on the Pacific Coast. But in 1832, the foundation for the region's wine industry was laid when Padre Jose Altimera, a Spanish Franciscan monk, planted several thousand grapevines at his order's northernmost mission, San Francisco Solano in Sonoma.”