Pleasanton is a community of nearly 69,000 people, situated in the Tri-Valley region of the Bay Area in Northern California. The "valleys" are Amador Valley, Livermore Valley, and San Ramon Valley. Amador Valley includes both Dublin and Pleasanton cities. San Ramon Valley includes Danville also. 

When I moved to Pleasanton in 1966, it was a small, rural community. In the late 1960s, existing communities included Pleasanton Meadows, Birdland, Jensen and Amador Estates to the north, and the Downtown, Old Town and Pleasanton Heights areas to the south. Development stopped at the intersection of Santa Rita Road and Valley Avenue. East of Valley was just orchards and fields.

The Del Prado, Country Fair, Valley Trails and Val Vista neighborhoods quickly followed. Pleasanton was fast becoming a suburban bedroom community. The 1970s saw a huge increase in both community boundaries and population. With its strategic location at the intersection of I-580/I-680, Pleasanton became a magnet for both retail and commercial developers. Several business parks were built, including Hacienda, which is one of the largest in northern California. The new developments and city expansion created many jobs.

Development fees and tax revenues from the many commercial centers helped the city of Pleasanton fund many recreational and cultural services. Pleasanton boasts over 500 acres of parks, including the largest active sports park in northern California. Other amenities include the Aquatic Center, a large public swimming complex located in Amador Valley Community Park; Shadow Cliffs, a regional park with boating, swimming, and fishing facilities; the Tennis Park at the intersection of Valley and Hopyard; miles of trails along Pleasanton Ridge; and a skateboard park. Pleasanton is also home to the Alameda County Fairgrounds which hosts statewide and regional events, as well as the annual Alameda County Fair.

Today Pleasanton is both a family town and a job center. Many corporate businesses have moved their headquarters here. Major Pleasanton employers include: Safeway, Shaklee, Oracle, AT&T, Valley Care Medical Center and EMC Corporation.