Centerville - Fremont, CA

The Ohlone tribe was the first to call Centerville home, before the arrival of Spanish, Mexican, Italian, Portuguese and Swiss settlers who established farms in the area. Apricots represented the most popular crop, followed by almonds and other nuts. Centerville Post Office opened in 1855, declaring the area its own township, yet it would take another century for greater Fremont to be formally incorporated into Alameda County.

Home of the Fremont Train Station, Centerville has always held an important significance as a transportation hub. Opened in 1910, the station was busy with both freight trains and passenger traffic, including shipments of dairy headed to nearby San Francisco. The station still operates today under the supervision of Amtrak.

For more on the history of Centerville and greater Fremont, check out the Museum of Local History in nearby East Fremont. Within Centerville proper, the Children's Natural History Museum provides a family-friendly museum experience.

You'll discover an eclectic mix of cuisine when you move to Centerville. With dining hubs along Fremont Boulevard and south of the Fremont BART stop, the good eats could easily overwhelm. In the heart of Centerville's Little Kabul, De Afghanan introduces diners to the world of Afghan food, a healthy and delectable cuisine familiar to Centervillians, yet hard to find in most American cities. Though their kabobs and baklava are sure to please, the menu truly shines with more authentic Afghan offerings. Locals rave about the bolani, pastries filled with leek and potato and served with a mint-yogurt sauce.

Further south on Fremont and one continent away, Peacock Indian Restaurant serves the area's best Indian cuisine. While other Indian spots focus on one regional style, Peacock takes on delicacies from all over the vast region of India. Its lentil flour-based idli represents a South Indian breakfast favorite, while the dum biryani gives a nod to the city of Hyderabad's favorite rice dish. Even Indo-Chinese offerings make it to the menu with an appetizer of gobi Manchurian, a soy-flavored cauliflower treat. The vast menu can make it intimidating to order, so novices might prefer to come during the lunch buffet for a chance to sample a little of everything.

When it comes to nightlife, nothing can compete with the nightclubs of nearby San Francisco. However, Centerville holds its own with several excellent options for a casual drink and local live music. Peralta Boulevard's Mojo Lounge attracts a steady stream of local talent, with live music on weekend nights. Karaoke night offers a fun way for the clientele to get in on their own performing. Don't worry, the drinks are reportedly strong enough to make anyone a singer.

Like most Californians, Centerville residents commute mainly via car. The drive to Oakland takes around 30 minutes, while the San Francisco commute typically takes an hour, thanks to Centerville's proximity to I-880. For those wishing to leave the car behind, Centerville has several area parking lots. Parking lots can be found at the Fremont Amtrak station as well as the local Fremont subway (BART) stop. Parking at the BART stop costs a mere $2.50 per day for commuters heading downtown. The commute to San Francisco via BART runs just 15 minutes over the commute by car; yet, many choose public transit to avoid the uncertainty of highway traffic.

Taxis prove a reliable option for shorter commutes, and are best secured via phone reservation with any area cab company. Recently, Centerville residents have jumped on the tech craze of nearby San Francisco, reserving cars through services offered by the ride-sharing app Uber and the more affordable UberX.

Within Centerville itself, most residents ditch the car altogether and roam by foot or bicycle. The city's planners clearly had cyclists in mind, with designated lanes along many major streets.

While community parks dot the Centerville landscape, nothing can beat the recreation center at Quarry Lakes. If the choice between fishing, lake-swimming, picnicking and boating proves too difficult, why not stay awhile and try all four? Sitting on four distinct bodies of water, this multi-use park provides residents with an escape to nature right in the heart of Alameda County. A mere $5 secures a parking space to access these otherwise free offerings. Dog-owners enjoy the open fields for off-leash exercise, and runners like Quarry Lakes for its dirt paths. For the most serious runners, Quarry Lakes hosts marathons and half-marathons periodically throughout the year.

With rents in nearby San Francisco among the highest in the country, Centerville presents an affordable alternative for professionals who enjoy a little distance from the urban grind. The average rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment in Centerville goes for $1,600 per month, almost $1,000 cheaper than the San Fran equivalent.

When it comes to commuting, Centerville residents spend around 18 percent more per gallon on gas than the national average. A one-way fair into San Francisco on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) subway costs $6, while the ride to Oakland costs only $4.

The Bay Area prides itself on good beer, and many connoisseurs pay upwards of $8 for a bottle of craft beer. For those looking for a cheap brew, however, domestics mirror national prices at a more affordable $4 to $6 per bottle.

With major shopping districts along Fremont Boulevard and Peralta Boulevard, Centerville residents have their pick when it comes to retail. The intersection of these two streets marks Centerville's "Little Kabul," home of the above-mentioned De Afghanan restaurant and several other Afghan-owned businesses. The Afghan Bazaar provides a one-stop shop for Afghani clothing and jewelry. A few blocks away, Little Kabul blends with Mexican-owned shops, among them Tocci Quinces and More. Specializing in quinceañera and bridal supplies, this party retailer helps clients prepare for their most important occasions.

Centerville's grocery options range from small specialty stores to large chain retailers. For imported Afghan goods, check out Maiwand Market on Peralta Boulevard or Damavand Market, which reportedly carries the area's best Afghan bread. For a larger variety of American grocery items, Lucky Supermarket has residents covered. Located in the Brookvale Shopping Center, this Bay Area chain serves all the grocery essentials as well as a full pharmacy.

The Centerville Farmer's Market stands apart from other area farmer's markets with its dedication to serving customers year round. In addition to a full display of organic veggies, residents can expect to find Dungeness crabs in winter and fresh halibut in the summer.