United Way map showing concentrated poverty neighborhoods in East Contra Costa County  http://www.uwba.org/helplink/datacentral.php

Brentwood, located in far eastern Contra Costa County, began as a farming community in the late 1800s, and is known throughout the Bay Area for its agriculture—primarily its cherries, corn and peaches. Brentwood incorporated in 1949 and has become increasingly residential. Since 1990 it has been among the fastest growing cities in the Bay Area and California, growing from a population of 7,563 in 1990 to an estimated 50,614 in 2008. Brentwood underwent a boom and bust cycle from 2000 through 2008—new housing
construction continued at a rapid pace through 2006 but came to a standstill with the onset of the subprime mortgage crisis in 2007. In May, 2008, 1/16 of all households had defaulted on their home loans and median home resale prices had decreased 33%, far more than the rest of the Bay Area. The change caused a sharp downturn in retail sales, and has curtailed services by city government, which depends on new construction permit fees as an income source. (James Temple, San Francisco Chronicle, May 11, 2008.)

Brentwood was named among the “100 Best Communities for Young People” in 2007 by America’s Promise – Alliance for Youth, in recognition of its innovative youth programs. The Brentwood Union Elementary District has seven elementary schools and three middle schools. The Liberty Union High School District operates three high schools, an alternative school and a continuation school.