Camp Tracy (California)
| Company type | Public airport |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Byron, California , United States |
Area served | Byron and surrounding areas |
| Products | Airport services |
| Owner | Contra Costa County |
Byron is recognized as a census designated place (CDP) situated within Contra Costa County, California, United States.
History
The origins of Byron trace back to an 1835 land grant awarded by the King of Spain to Jose Noriega. Subsequently, Noriega transferred ownership of 17,000 acres to John Marsh for roughly $500, equating to about three cents per acre. In 1841, the earliest Anglo settlers arrived at Marsh's ranch via the Bidwell-Bartelson wagon train coming from the eastern United States.
Byron established its inaugural post office in 1878. The town derives its name from an employee associated with the San Pablo, and the eastern U.S. and Pacific Railroad, which was eventually absorbed by the Southern Pacific Railroad.
In 1942, under pressure from agricultural interests in California, Japanese-American residents were forcibly evacuated by the U.S. government and sent to the Turlock assembly center.
The Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Center, commonly referred to as the Boys' Ranch, was founded in 1960 by Contra Costa County on a 50-acre plot southeast of Byron. This minimum-security institution accommodates up to 100 young offenders and prioritizes rehabilitation rather than incarceration. Facilities include dormitories, educational classrooms, dining halls, athletic areas, and administrative offices occupying approximately one-third of the land, notably without any perimeter fencing.
A 2008 review by the Contra Costa County Grand Jury evaluated the center’s financial efficiency through an unannounced visit. The resulting 2009 report highlighted 21 deficiencies that required remediation.
Geography
Per data from the United States Census Bureau, Byron encompasses , entirely consisting of land. It is located southeast of Brentwood.
Climate
The area experiences hot and dry summers, with average monthly high temperatures ranging from 55°F in January to 93°F in July. Byron is known for its windy conditions, occasionally giving rise to dust devils. Based on the Köppen Climate Classification, it falls under a warm-summer Mediterranean climate ("Csb").
Demographics
Byron was first identified as a census-designated place during the 2000 U.S. Census.
2020
According to the 2020 United States census, Byron had a population of 1,140 residents with a population density of . The racial makeup included 51.6% White, 2.3% African American, 1.9% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 27.4% identifying with other races, and 16.1% reporting two or more races. Individuals of Hispanic or Latino origin accounted for 50.5%.
There were 374 households recorded; among these, 34.2% had children under age 18 living with them. Married couples represented 55.6%, while cohabiting couples made up 5.6%. Female householders without a spouse were at 21.1%, and male householders without partners comprised 17.6%. Single-person households accounted for 17.9%, including 7.2% who were aged 65 or older. The average household size was calculated at three individuals, with families constituting 76.2% of all households.
Age distribution showed that 22.9% were under eighteen years old; those aged eighteen to twenty-four made up 8.7%; individuals between twenty-five and forty-four years accounted for 24.2%; residents aged forty-five to sixty-four represented 29.6%; and those sixty-five or older comprised 14.6%. The median age stood at 39.4 years. The gender ratio indicated approximately 111 males for every 100 females.
Out of the total 377 housing units (density ), nearly all—99.2%—were occupied, with owner-occupied units constituting 66.6%, and rentals making up the remaining 33.4%.
Education
Byron is fully encompassed within the boundaries of the Byron Union School District and the Liberty Union High School District. The district manages one middle school, Excelsior Middle School, which accommodates students in grades 6 through 8. For elementary education covering kindergarten to fifth grade, students attend Discovery Bay Elementary and Timber Point Elementary, both situated in Discovery Bay.
Former resort
Byron, California, hosts the historic Byron Hot Springs, a once-popular resort that drew celebrities and athletes during the early 20th century. The original hotel, established by Lewis Mead in 1889 around 57 natural hot springs, featured a three-story wooden structure accompanied by cottages, a laundry facility, a gas plant, and an ice plant. This building was lost to a fire in 1901. A second hotel, constructed between 1901 and 1902 with three stories and stucco exterior, also succumbed to fire in 1912. The final iteration was a four-story brick hotel built in 1913 and reopened the following year.
The resort ceased operations in 1938 amid legal disputes likely connected to the economic hardships of the Great Depression. In 1941, the site was leased by the government and repurposed as Camp Tracy, serving as a military interrogation center for German and Japanese prisoners of war throughout World War II until its closure in 1945.
In 1947, Byron Hot Springs was acquired by the Greek Orthodox Church for $105,000 and transformed into Monastery St. Paul. Over time, ownership changed hands several times as it functioned as a resort, country club, and private residence. In 2008, developers announced intentions to renovate the property, and as of 2021, a dedicated website continues to promote plans for its restoration.
A Victorian-era carriage house on the grounds was destroyed by fire in 2005; although the main hotel sustained some fire damage, it remains standing.
Byron Hot Springs lies roughly south-southeast of Byron itself. A post office operated at this location from 1889 until its closure in 1930.
Byron Airport
Construction of Byron Airport began in 1993 under Contra Costa County’s direction. Situated approximately two miles south of Byron, the airport was officially opened on October 8, 1994. Covering an area of 1,307 acres, about 814 acres are dedicated to habitat preservation aimed at protecting federally endangered species such as the San Joaquin kit fox.
Byron Airport serves as the home base for the Patriots Jet Team and has previously been linked to unauthorized drag racing events.