About Berkeley
Berkeley is a university town with a population of 100,744 people. There are eleven elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school. The city has numerous theater groups, a symphony, and an opera company.  The University, almost at the physical center of the city, has a student population of approximately 30,000.  The Berkeley Hills are known for having spectacular views of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. Tilden Park, 2,079 acres of land, runs along the upper edge of Berkeley and into Kensington.  There is a carousel, a lake for swimming, hiking paths, and beautiful nature areas. 

The University of California at Berkeley was founded in 1868. The city spread out from the university as more development occurred.  A major fire in the 1920s destroyed much of the city.  There are some Victorian homes left but most of the area was rebuilt, in the 1920s and 1930s,  after the fire.  The hill areas were developed in the 1940s and 1950s.

Berkeley was a sleepy university town in 1964 when the Free Speech Movement , an outgrowth of student demonstrations at the university, became part of the national dialogue around the Viet Nam war.
The entire city was drawn into the struggle between the students and the University.  Street demonstrations and riots followed.   For many years after, Berkeley retained the reputation of being politically charged.

Today the city is quiet and peaceful.  The University still holds a position of influence but has less impact on the day to day lives of the community.