Rodeo (pronounced "row DAY' oh") is a census-designated place (CDP) located in Contra Costa County, California. The population was 8,717 at the 2000 census. The town is named for the livestock roundups common in the late 1800s. Rodeo is the hometown of Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt.
In October 2003, animal rights group PETA urged the town to change its name because it invokes images of the sport of rodeo, which they claim is harmful to animals. As a replacement name, they suggested Unity, an acknowledgement of Union Oil's role in saving the area economically in the late 19th century. PETA offered to donate $20,000 worth of veggie burgers to local schools if the name was changed. Residents of Rodeo were not warm to the proposal and it appeared to have little chance of succeeding.
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