Alameda Island, situated in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, is the primary location for the city of Alameda. The island’s geography has defined its development and character. Understanding the island requires quantifying its physical size, the scale of human habitation it supports, and the specific geographic features that delineate its boundaries.
The Island’s Physical Dimensions
The physical size of Alameda Island is defined by its distinctive long, narrow shape. The total land area is approximately $12.4$ square miles, which translates to roughly $7,936$ acres. This area encompasses the entire landmass, including the former Naval Air Station Alameda, which occupies a substantial portion of the western end.
The island stretches for about $6.5$ miles from east to west, while its width is only about $1$ mile across at its widest points. This elongated dimension has shaped the island’s infrastructure, resulting in a linear layout for its primary roadways and urban development. The former naval air station, once one-third of the island’s total mass, featured two $8,000$-foot runways, indicating the large scale of land reclamation and alteration that has occurred.
Population Density and Scale
The island’s limited land area supports a substantial population. The current population estimate for the City of Alameda, which is largely situated on the island, is approximately $80,000$ inhabitants. This population figure yields a high population density.
The density for the city is measured at approximately $7,491.6$ inhabitants per square mile based on the 2020 census data. This metric illustrates the intensely developed nature of the island, where nearly the entire landmass has been built upon. The resulting residential environment is one of dense, established neighborhoods, where space is a finite resource.
Defining Geographic Boundaries
Alameda Island is geographically isolated from the mainland. The island is separated from the adjacent city of Oakland by the Oakland Estuary, a navigable channel that flows into the San Francisco Bay. This body of water acts as the northern and eastern boundary.
The current island status is a result of human engineering, as the land was originally a peninsula connected to the Oakland mainland. In $1902$, a tidal canal was dredged through the marshland to join the Oakland Harbor with the San Leandro Bay, creating the barrier that defines the island’s size. This crucial excavation established the perimeter, transforming the former peninsula into a true island and enhancing the area’s utility as a major shipping port.