Pleasant Hill is a city in Contra Costa County, California, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 32,837 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated in 1961. Pleasant Hill is the home of College Park High School, the well respected and successful Diablo Valley College, John F Kennedy University, the central branch of the Contra Costa County Library system, and Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.4 km. (7.1 mi.), all land. Pleasant Hill has several beautiful Parks and is bordered by Briones Regional Park on the West side with its miles of wonderful hiking, walking and biking trails. A canal trail runs through the town and is popular with hikers and cyclists. A short drive to Martinez and you will find a marina for boating and fishing enthusiasts along the Carquinez straights.

It is served by Interstate 680 and nearby Highway 4 which serves both East and West Contra Costa County. There are two BART stations. One is in Pleasant Hill and the second in Lafayette. There is also the County Connection bus service.

Like many communities, Pleasant Hill started as a farming town. Squarely in the center of Contra Costa, it is a comfortable suburban community with a vibrant recently completed town center. The center contains more than 50 shops and restaurants. Some chain stores such as Boarders, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Staples as well as many charming local ones are located in this shopping center. The town center has a newer mega move theater and is with-in walking distance to several newer and existing residential areas.