Fremont is a city located in California. With a 2020 population of 247,708, it is the 16th largest city in California and the 92nd largest city in the United States. Fremont is currently growing at a rate of 1.35% annually and its population has increased by 15.70% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 214,089 in 2010. Fremont reached it's highest population of 247,708 in 2021. Spanning over 88 miles, Fremont has a population density of 3,198 people per square mile.
The average household income in Fremont is $160,528 with a poverty rate of 4.29%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to $2,345 per month, and the median house value is $931,600. The median age in Fremont is 38.3 years, 37.9 years for males, and 38.7 years for females. For every 100 females there are 98.3 males.
Fremont is located in Alameda County and is in the southeast region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Together with Newark and Union City, Fremont is part of the Tri-City area.
Fremont Population and Labor Statistics
Over half of Fremont’s residents are of Asian ancestry, and there are large populations of Asian Indians, Filipinos and Chinese residents living within the city. About one-quarter of the total population is under the age of 18. The most significant percentage of the population falls within the 25 to 44 age group, which makes up 26.4% of the population. Over 10% of the population is at least 65 years old. There are more females than males living in Fremont. The median income is quite high in Fremont. Estimates from 2007 show that the median income per household was over $93,000, while family income was over $103,000. Over 5% of the population live below the federal poverty line.
The city’s largest employer is Tesla, which has approximately 6,000 employees. Fremont Unified School District, Washington Hospital, Lam Research Corporation, and Western Digital round out the top five employers in Fremont.
Fremont Population Growth
Fremont has seen impressive population growth since it was founded in the 1950s. Population growth has been recorded during every 10-year census since 1960. In 1970, the population topped 100,0000 after experienced 130.3% growth in just ten years. At the time of the 2000 census, the population had doubled to over 200,000. Most recently, the population between the 2010 census and estimates taken in 2016 reflect a population growth of 8.9%. Based on these trends, as well as the many opportunities offered to residents, Fremont should see continued steady growth into the future.
Fremont was first incorporated as a city in 1956 after five communities were merged. These communities were Warm Springs, Mission San Jose, Niles, Irvington, and Centerville. Fremont saw a period of growth during the 1950s and 1960s when it became industrialized. Further growth occurred during the 1980s, and 1990s as the city had more high-tech employment, linking it to nearby Silicon Valley. Fremont was the site of the Apple factory that made the first Mac computer. This led to the development of other tech companies, including Asyst Technologies, Nextlink California, and Cirrus Logic, to name a few. There were about 750 tech companies located in Fremont by the time the 2000s rolled around.
Since the 1980s, Fremont has also played an essential role in the automotive industry, as it was the location of the General Motors auto assembly plant. The plant later became a joint venture between GM and Toyota, although operations closed in 2010. However, Tesla has since acquired part of the plant. The city was also home to Solyndra, which manufactures solar panels. Though it shut its doors in 2011, the building has since been taken over by Seagate Technology, continuing the city’s history of tech and innovation.