Danville is a town in Contra Costa County, California, occupying a central position in the San Ramon Valley between the cities of San Ramon to the south and Alamo and Walnut Creek to the north, with Mount Diablo rising to the east. It describes itself as the Heart of the San Ramon Valley, and its history stretches from Native American settlement and the Mexican Rancho San Ramon land grant to its incorporation as a town in 1982. The town's defining feature is its well-preserved, walkable downtown, a collection of historic buildings now occupied by independent shops, restaurants, and art galleries that draw visitors from across the East Bay. This commercial core, set along tree-lined streets, gives Danville a small-town character unusual for a community of its size and affluence. San Ramon Creek runs through the town, and the surrounding neighborhoods are predominantly spacious, established single-family communities. Danville is widely regarded as one of the Bay Area's premier family suburbs. The San Ramon Valley Unified School District, headquartered in Danville, is consistently ranked among California's strongest, and its campuses — including San Ramon Valley and Monte Vista high schools — are a principal reason families relocate here. Cultural assets include the Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site at Tao House, where the playwright wrote his final works, and the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, housed in an 1891 railroad depot. The Iron Horse Regional Trail, a paved path along a former rail corridor, runs through downtown Danville and connects the town to Walnut Creek and the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. Interstate 680, which borders the town's western edge, provides access to the greater Bay Area. Danville suits households seeking top-tier schools, a genuine downtown, and established, high-quality housing within commuting distance of the Tri-Valley and central East Bay employment centers.