Pleasanton (formerly, Alisal and Pleasonton) is a city in Alameda County California incorporated in 1894. It is a major suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about 25 miles (40 km) east of Oakland, and 6 miles west of Livermore.
Pleasanton experienced a major economic boom starting in the early 1980s, largely associated with the development of a number of business parks, the largest of which is the Hacienda Business Park. Pleasanton has been successful in attracting a number of corporate headquarters, such as those of Safeway, Inc., Thoratec Corporation, Polycom, Shaklee Corporation, and Ross Stores.
Pleasanton continues to maintain a small town flavor with regular events for the community. Every Saturday morning the Farmers’ Market sets up on Angela, off Main Street. The Alameda County Fair runs annually at the Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. The Fairgounds in Pleasanton are also home to California’s Biggest Scottish Highland Games once a year.
[information courtesy of Wikipedia|