About Antioch, CA

Antioch is the third-largest city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area along the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. The city’s population was 115,291 at the 2020 census. The city has grown substantially more diverse since the 1970s. == History == === Early history === Antioch is one of the oldest towns in the region. The town has been variously named East Antioch, Smith’s Landing, and Marsh’s Landing, prior to its current name. In 1848, John Marsh, owner of Rancho Los Méganos, one of the largest ranches in California, built a landing on the San Joaquin River in what is now Antioch. It became known as Marsh’s Landing, and was the shipping point for the 17,000-acre (69 km2) rancho. It included a pier extending well out into the river, enabling vessels drawing 15 feet (4.6 m) of water to tie up there in any season of the year. The landing also included a slaughterhouse, a smokehouse for curing hams, rodeo grounds, and a 1+1⁄2-story dwelling, embellished with fretwork, that was brought around the Horn to serve as a home for the mayordomo and his wife.