The City of Martinez is located on the southern bank of the Carquinez Strait, in Contra Costa County. It is a small city of some 37,000 residents, and covers an area of approximately 12.5 square miles. Antique stores, restaurants, and other small businesses adorn the downtown area, and many have retained their early 20th Century appearance and charm. Martinez is rich in history from the ferry boats of the 1840s, through the days of the Californian Gold Rush, to John Muir and Joe DiMaggio.

Today, Martinez is the County seat of Contra Costa County. It has 16 city parks and plenty of open space within its twelve square mile area. The waterfront has a yacht club, a thriving marina with activities, such as: fishing, yachting, hiking trails, bocce ball courts and tournament-style baseball and softball fields. The local youth programs, historical museums, local businesses and the Amtrak station make this city a hub of activity. Easy to get to, Martinez is located just off Highway 680 in Contra Costa County, not far from I-80 and about an hour from Oakland and San Francisco.