The city of Livermore first came into historical focus as part of the Rancho Las Positas land grant made to Robert Livermore and his business partner Jose Noriega in 1839. Robert Livermore became known as much for his horticultural practices as he was for animal husbandry. He planted both vineyards and orchards of pears and olives. The first building on his ranch was an adobe on Las Positas Creek. In 1849 a wooden two-story house was shipped around Cape Horn and became his new home. The city of Livermore itself was established in 1869, after Livermore’s death, and was officially incorporated on April 15, 1876.

In recent years, Livermore has seen much growth, including a downtown revitalization that includes the Livermore Cinemas, the Bankhead Theatre, a state-of-the-art library and the arrival of several businesses. Livermore is also known for its vineyards, on the south side of the city, a legacy of the many Italian families who settled there in its early days.

Livermore supports several arts organizations including the Livermore-Amador Symphony, Del Valle Fine Arts, the Valley Concert Chorale, Livermore Valley Opera and the Valley Dance Theatre. Locals also greatly enjoy the annual Livermore Rodeo that has been held since 1918.