Chamber Information

Mission
The Antioch Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses organized to enhance the local business environment.

Vision
The vision of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce is to continuously reinvent itself, to act as a cutting edge business and meet the needs of the Antioch business community.

History
Antioch got its name in 1851 after the Biblical city of Antioch and in memory of Joseph Smith, the brother of William Wiggin Smith.

The coal mines of Nortonville and Somersville helped put Antioch on the map. In the years between 1860 and 1902, they produced over $20 in coal. These mines are now tourist attractions.

In 1861 Noah Norton located the Black Diamond Vein of coal in the eastern foothills of Mt. Diablo, and with several others opened the Cumberland Mine. The mines were closed in 1885.

The first major industries of Antioch were hay, lumber and shipping.

During it's time, there were five coal mining town in the area: Nortonville, Somersville, Stewartville, West Hartley and Judsonville  The mines employed approximately 900 men, women and children.

The Williamson Ranch House on Lone Tree Way is one of the areas oldest ranches.  While development has replaced many of the acres of trees with a park, gas station and shopping center, the original house still stands on the property.

The Antioch Ledger was founded in 1870 by J.E. Townsend.  The first newspaper was distributed on March 10th.

The  City of Antioch was incorporated on February 6, 1872. The boundaries were one mile in width by three miles in length and had a population  of about 200. As a full-fledged city, Antioch could pass laws and  hire a police force.

Antioch’s  first paper mill, established in 1889 made labor history on January 1, 1917 when it shifted the work day hours from 12 to 8 without a reduction in wages.

The El Campil Theater, which still stands on Second Street, opened it's doors November 1, 1928.  It held 1200 seats hosted many famous celebrities who left their autographs on the theater walls.  In also housed state-of-the-art projection capabilities.

An early Antioch ordinance covering the council meetings stated that an absentee member, without a legitimate excuse, could be fined $1.00 and the board could also order the marshal to arrest the absentee and bring him to the meeting.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce received its Articles of Incorporation on August 3, 1938.

Salmon fishing once played an important role in Antioch’s economy. Two to three hundred fish a day was a normal catch for the season. They were boxed in Antioch and sent that same night to San Francisco via riverboat.

The first regional telephone office was established in the 1940s, and since everyone was on a party line, telephone operators became the  town criers alerting the community of emergencies and welcoming newcomers.

The City of Antioch is encompasses approximately 28 square miles and is approximately 15 feet above sea level, located on the banks of the San Joaquin River.

Antioch is approximately 50 miles from Sacramento, San Francisco or Stockton.

In 1985, Humphrey the Humpback Whale, who decided to take a swim in the wrong direction, brought the eyes and hearts of the world to Antioch.

When you shop Antioch, you get a higher return on your shopping dollar the overall economy of the community benefits making it easier to provide good community services.