East Bay’s History and Why We’re Proud to Serve the East Bay Community
The East Bay’s story begins with the Ohlone people, who settled along the creeks and rolling hills more than 5,000 years ago. They fished in tidal flats and streams, hunted deer and other game, and gathered acorns, berries and shellfish, cultivating a rich cultural heritage that still echoes throughout the region.
Spanish explorers Pedro Fages and Juan Crespí journeyed through the area in 1772, paving the way for colonization. After Mexican independence, vast land grants such as Rancho San Pablo were awarded to loyalists; Don Francisco Castro received 17,000 acres where later communities like Richmond would arise. The promise of prosperity drew settlers who established farms, ranches and small towns across Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Industrialization arrived at the turn of the 20th century. A transcontinental rail terminal was proposed at Point Richmond in 1895, and by 1899 the Santa Fe Railroad had chosen Richmond as its western terminus while Standard Oil built a refinery nearby. During World War II, the Kaiser shipyards in Richmond became the largest shipbuilding operation on the Pacific Coast, producing 747 ships and drawing tens of thousands of workers; the city’s population quadrupled almost overnight.
Today the East Bay encompasses a vibrant mix of urban and suburban communities—from industrial Oakland and Richmond along the bay to the vineyards of the Tri‑Valley. The Port of Oakland is one of the nation’s busiest container ports and anchors a regional economy that includes heavy industry, metalworking, oil refining and a high concentration of Fortune 500 companies. Fast Plumbing & Drain is honored to support the diverse neighborhoods of the East Bay, ensuring reliable service for families and businesses in this dynamic and historic region.