Shandon, CA

Shandon is a small town located in the hills of eastern Contra Costa County, California. The population was 10,827 at the 2010 census. Shandon has been described as "a small town with big city amenities" because of its proximity to both San Francisco and Oakland.

The town was founded in 1868 by two brothers, Charles and John Shandon, who were mining engineers from Cornwall, England. The name " Shandon" is derived from the Irish word "shan," meaning valley or lowland. The first business in Shandon was a general store opened by Charles Shandon. In 1875, the railroad came to Shandon and began to develop it as a center for agriculture and commerce. Today there are several businesses that remain from when the town was first developed including a bank (the oldest continuously operating bank in Contra Costa County), an insurance company, two restaurants (one of which is considered one of the best diners in Northern California), a hair salon, two churches (one Protestant and one Catholic), three stores (two general stores and one hardware store), four gas stations/convenience stores/grocery stores/libraries/post offices/thrift shops, three schools (elementary through high school) and one hospital.

The main street through Shandon is State Route 24 which runs north-south through the middle of town connecting Interstate 80 to Interstate 580 on its east side and State Route 4 on its west side. There are also several smaller streets that intersect State Route 24 including Broadway Street which runs east-west through downtown Shandon; Main Street which runs north-south through central downtown; Grant Avenue which connects Broadway Street with Main Street; Franklin Avenue which connects Grant Avenue with Franklin Boulevard; Hillcrest Road which connects Hillcrest Road with Franklin Boulevard; Mountain View Road which connects Mountain View Road with Franklin Boulevard; Oak Grove Drive which connects Oak Grove Drive with Mountain View Road; Parkview Drive which connects Parkview Drive with Oak Grove Drive; Valley View Drive which connects Valley View Drive with Parkview Drive; Westwood Waywhichconnects Westwood WaywithOak GroveDrive

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all land.

The 2010 United States Census reported that Shandon had a population of 10,827 people living in 3,936 households