Briones boundaries

Exactly where is Briones? Why is it a telecom donut hole?

Above: One possible boundary map encompassing about 6 square miles, or 3,800 acres. (Compare this size to the 2020 August Complex Fire which burned over 1 million acres, 300 times the size of Briones.) The western and southern boundaries are formed by EBRPD and EBMUD lands. The northern boundary is formed by Franklin Ridge and related ridges that have no public through roads. The unambiguous eastern boundary is the Urban Limit Line which was established in 1988 and largely follows the city limits of Martinez in that area. However the map shown here puts the boundary a bit farther west to reflect the cohesion of the neighborhood.

Why is it underserved by telecommunications? Because 1) Its population is less than 200 businesses and residences, resulting in a density of about one entity per 19 acres. Thus the cost per customer is higher than in non-rural regions. 2) It doesn’t advocate for itself with a unified voice. And 3) Briones is not even recognized as a geographic place.

Looking south at the northern terminus of Bear Creek Road. Although “Welcome to Briones” implies a border at this location, a large portion of Briones is located north and east of here, an area served by Pereira and Alhambra Valley Roads.

Briones is in the center of census tract 3560.02, in green with red outline in the illustration above. The closest urban sprawl is the Alhambra Valley neighborhood of the City of Martinez, to the east of Briones. Also included in 3560.02 are the Christie neighborhood to the north, and small parts of Pinole and Hercules.

Here’s a screenshot of where Google Maps thinks Briones is. Their location is not even within the boundaries of what we consider Briones.

Bing has it right.

OpenStreetMap has it right.

Here’s another view of the Census Bureau’s Briones Census County Division.

Nextdoor calls the northern section “Valley Orchard.” Is that a generally accepted name?

According to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, “Briones” the way we think of it doesn’t even exist. The list at right shows all uses of the title “Briones” in Contra Costa County. None refer to our community. And there’s a second Briones Valley near Brentwood. There’s even an electric substation named “Briones” out that way.

We can’t effectively advocate without first becoming a place.