Fremont sits to the southeast of San Francisco and is considered part of the East Bay area. Home to nearly 250,000 people, Fremont is the fourth largest city in the San Francisco Bay area. Fremont is close to Silicon Valley, and is well-known for being home to companies like Tesla, Seagate, and others. It’s also a city full of many beautiful green spaces, and has been recognized as a Tree City for more than 20 years. It’s also a very diverse, friendly, and welcoming place for all.
A Look at Fremont’s History
The Fremont area was initially settled by the Spanish, who founded Mission San Jose, which was the 14th mission founded by the Spanish in California. It remained a mission until the mid-1800s, when John Fremont, a settler and the eventual namesake of the city, mapped a trail through Mission Pass, which provided American settlers access to the southeastern San Francisco Bay Area. The area began growing, drawing more and more settlers, and becoming known for, among other things, being the earliest home to California’s motion picture industry. Fremont as it is known today was formed when five communities – Centerville, Irvington, Niles, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs – joined together in 1956. After that time, Fremont continued to grow, eventually becoming known for its booming high-tech employment industry – in fact, Apple’s first Mac Computer manufacturing plant was located in Fremont. Today, Fremont continues to play an important role in the tech industry, and is also known as being a warm, friendly, and welcoming place to all, including to its growing and thriving LGBTQ community.
Fremont – A Few Fun Facts
Read more fun facts about Fremont here.
Fremont’s LGBTQ Community
Fremont is fortunate to have a strong, growing, and thriving LGBTQ community which is well-loved and supported by a variety of resources and community centers, including:
The Pacific Center is an LGBTQ community center dedicated to serving the East Bay and Greater Bay Area. The Pacific Center proudly offers a wide array of human and health services for LGBTQ people of all ages and backgrounds and seeks to strengthen, celebrate, and encourage the growth of the LGBTQ community in Fremont and the Greater Bay Area.
The City of Fremont has designated an LGBTQ liaison to serve as a resource for the public and to enable and encourage the voice of the LGBTQ community to be heard and addressed by the city and its staff.
What’s the Weather Like in Fremont?
If you love plenty of sunshine and warmth – mild temperatures year-round, virtually no snow, and a little bit of rain here and there, Fremont’s weather may suit you perfectly. Year-round, the weather is pleasant, with the high in July averaging around 77° and the low in January dropping to around only 42°. On average, Fresno receives 16 inches of rain per year, and about 264 sunny days.
Can’t-Miss Fremont Events
The annual Fremont Festival of the Arts is the largest free street art festival west of the Mississippi. For 38 years, the festival has been a can’t-miss Fremont event. Visitors can enjoy more than 500 top arts and crafts booths, great food, and plenty of family-friendly fun on a beautiful Fremont day.
Though not technically in Fremont, this yearly pride event held only half an hour away in Oakland each year is one you won’t want to miss. Every September, Oakland celebrates pride in a big way. The yearly festivities include concerts, parades, parties, networking opportunities, and more. Oakland Pride has the mission of educating the greater Oakland community and promoting equality and awareness for the LGBTQ community, as well as celebrating the unique and vibrant diversity that the LGBTQ community adds to the East Bay area.
Where to Live in Fremont
Particularly in light of its close proximity to San Francisco, a city with one of the largest gay populations in the country, it’s hard to go wrong when choosing a Fremont neighborhood to live in. The entire city is very diverse, with numerous LGBTQ-friendly businesses, restaurants, and nightspots throughout. One neighborhood in Fremont that is particularly popular with the LGBTQ community, however, is Centreville. It has plenty of LGBTQ-friendly businesses, a wide variety of home styles and price ranges to choose from, and beautiful, walkable, tree-lined streets. It also has plenty of history, and is full of historic landmarks and buildings from the Gold Rush era. The median value of homes and condos in Centreville is currently around $828,000.
Another popular neighborhood for Fremont’s LGBTQ community is the Niles District. This upscale area has a rich history and is the neighborhood in which many silent movies were filmed in the 1920s. Characterized by unique Art Deco architecture and a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment areas to enjoy, it's a wonderful neighborhood to call home. The median list price of homes in the Niles District is currently around $1.2 million.
Arts and Entertainment
The Niles Film Museum is located in the Niles Historic District. It is located in the Edison Theater, which is a century-old Nickelodeon-style movie theater, just a block from the former site of the Niles Essanay Studios where many of the most famous silent films of the early 1900s were made. Today, the museum is dedicated to showing and preserving silent films and their history.
Music at the Mission is a unique Fremont tradition. Music at the Mission presents “out-of-the-box" classical chamber music concerts from October through May. Its evening concerts are held at the historic Old Mission San Jose and the afternoon concerts are held in beautiful homes within the South Bay and Tri-City Area.
Parks and Recreation
In Fremont, nature’s beauty abounds. The weather is usually pleasant for most of the year, making it an optimal place to get outside, get some exercise, and enjoy all that nature has to offer. Fortunately, Fremont is surrounded by many gorgeous outdoor areas including the Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, the Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area, the Mission Peak Regional Preserve, and the Coyote Hills Regional Park, to name only a few.
The Niles Canyon Railway is a unique way to experience Fremont’s history and beginnings as a railroad town. Beyond learning about the history of the railroad itself, visitors The railway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is a unique and fun experience to take a ride on this piece of history today. Throughout the year, the railway offers rides and experiences to visitors, including its very popular “Train of Lights” event at Christmas.
Fremont Nightlife
The Mojo Lounge is a laid-back night club that is popular with the LGBTQ community and is known for its live rock and blues concerts, excellent DJs, karaoke nights, good food, and strong drinks. It's definitely a worthwhile stop during a night out on the town.
Coach’s Sports Bar is a great LGBTQ hangout and a perfect spot to enjoy pub food, good beer, sports, pool, and a nice patio area.
Contact a Fremont Realtor Today
If you’re thinking of making Fremont your next home, today is a great time to take the first important step in your search for the perfect place. We’re here to help you find an agent who will work with you each step of the way to find the best home for your family in a neighborhood you’ll love. Contact a Fremont gay realtor today for a free, no-obligation consultation!
