Port Costa first came into prominence
along in 1879, when the late G. W. McNear, Sr., purchased a large strip of
frontage along the shore and built the immense grain warehouses that have
had a prominent place in Port Costa's commercial history. Out of his large
holdings he laid out the town of Port Costa and founded the Port Costa Water
Company, which supplies the principal towns along the northeastern shore.
Since his death the interests that he founded have been ably conducted by
his son, G. W. McNear, Jr.
Port Costa has always been a great grain
port, shipping wheat and barley from interior California points to all parts
of the world. Of late years the volume of grain has fallen off to some
extent, due to the fact that the soil has been utilized for other purposes;
but this has resulted in no commercial loss to Port Costa, for her
warehouses have been constantly filled with other products.
The Southern Pacific operates the largest
ferry boats in the world, the "Solano" and the "Contra Costa," between Port
Costa and Benicia, across the Straits of Carquinez.
Several large brick factories play a
prominent part in Port Costa's commercial activities.
An institute for seamen, located at Port
Costa, branch of the San Francisco Mission to Seamen, watches after the
welfare of sailors on the Carquinez Straits and does much good, affording
means of wholesome recreation and amusement for crews of visiting ships.