Alameda County is characterized by rich diversity and culture. Alameda has long earned its reputation as one of California's best places to live. It ranks #19 of 525 as a best suburb in CA for young professionals and #39 of 562 for most diverse suburbs in the state.

Alameda County is located in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area of California. It was incorporated on June 6th, 1853. The County was created from the territory of two counties created in 1850: Contra Costa and Santa Clara. The word Alameda is derived from Alamo the Spanish name for cottonwood or poplar tree. 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. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,682,353, making it the 7th-most populous county in the state and 21st most populous nationally. The county seat is Oakland.

Alameda County is characterized by rich diversity and culture. The 2010 Census shows that there is no majority racial or ethnic group in Alameda County. Compared to the 2000 Census, the Black/African American population decreased countywide by 11%, the Asian population increased by 31%, and the Hispanic population increased by 23%. According to the California Department of Education, 53 languages were spoken by English language learners in the K-12 public school systems in Alameda County in 2008-09.

Alameda County is comprised of 16 towns and cities which consists of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Sunol and Union City.