Chester, CA

Chester is a city located in the San Francisco Bay Area, in Contra Costa County, California. According to the 2010 census, Chester had a population of 23,098. It is located approximately 25 miles east of downtown San Francisco and is part of the East Bay Metropolitan Area.

The city was founded by John Chester in 1839 as an agricultural community on land donated by General Mariano Vallejo. The first post office opened in 1841. Chester grew rapidly with the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1876 and became an important rail junction. The railroad created a need for food and other goods, which led to increased trade and commerce within the city. In addition, the construction of local roads and bridges made transportation within Chester easier.

Today, much of Chester's economy revolves around its role as a regional center for health care services and technology companies such as Intel Corporation and Google Incorporated. Additionally, many locally-owned businesses provide services that support these industries such as restaurants, retail stores, banks and insurance companies. The city has also seen an increase in residential development over recent years due to its proximity to major metropolitan areas such as San Francisco and Oakland as well as its lower cost of living relative to other areas within Contra Costa County.