Alameda County, California, was established in 1853. We are located in the Bay Area of Northern California across the bay from San Francisco. 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. Alameda County is characterized by rich diversity and culture and is now one of the most ethnically diverse regions in the Bay Area and the nation.