Bethel Island
Bethel Island is a small community on an island in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta in Contra Costa County, California. It sits about 6 miles east of Antioch and is surrounded by several sloughs. The island covers roughly 5 square miles and is mostly land. The only road access is a single bridge to Oakley.
As of 2020, about 2,100 people live on Bethel Island, with around 1,000 homes and several mobile-home parks. It’s known as “the heart of the Delta” and is popular for outdoor activities like fishing, boating, and hunting. The area has many marinas, a golf course, and a small commercial area. In 2019, Delta Coves began construction — a housing development with a lagoon.
Governance and services: Bethel Island is not an incorporated city. It is managed by the Bethel Island Municipal Improvement District (BIMID), a special district created by the state to oversee levees, drainage, parks and habitat work. Fire protection comes from the Contra Costa Fire Protection District, and police services come from the Contra Costa County Sheriff. BIMID also maintains the levees, drainage systems, and the central park area.
Geography and climate: The island lies mostly below sea level and is protected by about 14.9 miles of perimeter levees and 11.5 miles of edge levees. It has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate.
Education: Students on Bethel Island attend Oakley Union Elementary School District and Liberty Union High School District.
History: The land began as Sand Mound Ranch owned by the Bethell brothers in the 1800s. It became an island after sloughs were dredged in 1911. The post office name changed between Bethell and Bethel over the years. After World War II, Bethel Island grew as a recreation destination.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:58 (CET).