About Port Costa CDP, California
Port Costa is a census-designated place (CDP) in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 190 at the 2010 census. It is located on the Carquinez Strait in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area.
The town began as a landing for cargo ships travelling between San Francisco and Sacramento. In 1879, the Southern Pacific Railroad built a track through the town and it soon became a thriving grain shipping center. The town also had a large coal-shipping industry and was known as the “Lamp Black Capital of the World”.
In recent years, Port Costa has become a popular tourist destination, with its antique shops, cafes, and bed & breakfast inns. It is also home to the Port Costa School District.