United Way map showing concentrated poverty neighborhoods in Oakland http://www.uwba.org/helplink/datacentral.php Map of Oakland

Founded in 1852, Oakland is the eighth-largest city in California and the 44th-largest city in the United States. The California Department of Finance estimates that Oakland's population on January 1, 2008 was 420,183.

Oakland is a major West Coast port, and is home to several major corporations including Kaiser Permanente and Clorox, as well as corporate headquarters for nationwide businesses like Dreyer's (ice cream) and Cost Plus World Markets.

According to the 2000 U.S. census, Oakland and Long Beach, California, are the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States, with over 150 languages spoken in Oakland. Attractions include Jack London Square, the Oakland Zoo, the Oakland Museum of California, the Chabot Space and Science Center, Lake Merritt, the East Bay Regional Park District parks and preserves, and Chinatown. Oakland is home to a large community of artists and arts organizations, and hosts a variety of annual cultural events, including Cinco de Mayo Fruitvale Festival & Parade; Chinatown Streetfest; Art & Soul Festival; and the Black Cowboy Parade.