Brentwood was settled by Euro-Americans in the late 19th century. The community is still known throughout the Bay Area for its agricultural products - primarily its cherries , corn and peaches.
Due to urban sprawl , many of the old farms and orchards have been replaced by suburban properties and developments since As of currently, estimates put the population at around 65,; a Marsh was one of the wealthiest men in California and was instrumental in its becoming independent from Mexico and part of the United States.
His letters extolling the potential for agriculture in California were published in newspapers throughout the East. They resulted in the first wagon trains to California. Marsh encouraged this, and allowed new arrivals to stay on his ranch until they could get settled. Brentwood's first post office was established in The company invested heavily in other California agricultural properties as well. This replaced an earlier hotel on the same site that had burned down in The hotel was razed in , and replaced by a service station.
The Brentwood water tower perhaps symbolizes the city's transition from a rural farm community to a modern bedroom community. This landmark on Walnut Boulevard, across the street from the Brentwood Park and Ride lot, is the tallest structure in the city. It is no longer used for its original purpose, but now serves as a cell phone tower.
City water is stored in large tanks atop hills outside the city. The city is bordered on three sides by the Contra Costa County Agricultural Core which consists of 11, acres of preserved and still actively productive farm land. The city broke ground for a new civic center in November The Mission-style architectural inspiration for City Hall, the main building, was the Brentwood Hotel.
