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The City of Oakley has grown enormously since it officially became a city in 1999. The exploding growth between the 1970’s and 1999 was, and continues to be primarily because of relatively affordable home prices. However, there are other reasons to come here too.

The city motto is “A Place for Families in the Heart of the Delta.” With its continuing rapid growth, a focus on families remains all important. Oakley is an old English name meaning a “meadow of oak trees.” That’s what the first settlers found here. How Oakley got this name will be revealed a bit later on.

All the amenities are here for families; schools, shopping, recreation and more. The location is good for travel to just about any destination. The primary commute traffic is in the western direction on Highway 4 towards San Francisco and San Francisco Bay Area destinations. The nearly completed Highway improvement project is making that trip much easier and quicker. Travel north on Highway 160 will take you to Sacramento as well as to Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta destinations. East will take you to the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Gold Country.

The San Joaquin River with the Big Break Regional Shoreline Park and Bethel Island border Oakley on the north. On the east are more Delta areas. South is Brentwood and Knightsen and west is the city of Antioch.

With marina facilities and easy access to the river, Oakley is also a destination for families who love boating, kayaking, and other watersports.

There’s still plenty of farming in and around Oakley. Fresh from the farm produce is readily available locally from the farm stands where it is grown. Local wines are available from several wineries as well. The ancient wine vineyards, many of which are right in town are especially beautiful.

The weather is great! Being right on the river allows Oakley to be a bit cooler during the hot summer months than other locations further from the water. The climate is temperate with a cool rainy season in the fall and winter and a warm dry season in the spring and summer. Freezing temperatures happen occasionally but never very far below freezing and never for very long.

So how did Oakley get its name? It could have easily been “Dewey.” At the turn of the 20th century, the community founder Randolph Marsh and his friend J.T. Whightman were having a disagreement over what name to use. Marsh wanted the name “Dewey” after Admiral Dewey of Spanish-American War fame. Whightman preferred the old English “Oakley.” They decided to settle the matter with a game of cribbage. The winner would get to name the town and the loser would get to name the first streets.

Historic Oakley California — **Oakley Hotel, Oakley California circa 1910**

Whightman won the game and the name was thereafter “Oakley.” Marsh chose the first street names Main, Acme, Ruby, Star, and Home. The first letters spelling the name “Marsh.” Look for them when you come to town!