San Jose, California
The city of San Jose is dedicated to helping open doors to innovative employment opportunities and living options. Once a hushed, mid-sized town, San Jose has recently transformed into a massive metropolis and a U.S. phenomenon. Considered the Capital of Silicon Valley, the city is the third largest city in California and the 11th largest in the United States. Along with prosperous cities such as San Francisco, Oakland and the East Bay communities, San Jose plays a major role in the country's fourth largest metropolis. Those moving to San Jose will also find one of the safest cities in the country, ranking first among major American cities for three consecutive years.
History:
Founded in 1849, San Jose was the original capital of California. During those early years, the city was excited by the capitol’s construction; however, the people who visited found the city disappointing and the capital building would never be completed. The city’s rainy weather would be the determining factor, and eventually the discontented people moved the state’s capital to the city of Monterey. During that time, gold seekers began pouring into California in hopes of discovering some of the state’s precious gold. Although many of these people’s migration ended in vain, a great number of these people decided to stay in San Jose, and focus their energy tending to local crops. The city’s largest crops included prunes, apricots, cherries, apples, peaches and pears, and soon canneries were built to can the fruit and ship it around the country. A powerful earthquake shook San Jose in 1906. The earthquake caused business buildings to collapsed, damaged homes and hundreds of residents were injured or killed. Today, San Jose and the Silicon Valley are known across the globe as the heart of the computer and software industry.
Economy:
The large number of high technology and microprocessor companies located in and around San Jose, California has led to the area’s nickname of Silicon Valley. The largest city in Silicon Valley, San Jose is the self-proclaimed “Capital of Silicon Valley." The city’s colleges and universities aid in adding bright, well-educated talent to the local workforce. Intense economic growth during the technology bubble resulted in a boom in employment, housing prices and traffic congestion, all peaking during the late 1990s. As the area’s economy began showing signs of slowing in early 2000, employment, housing cost and traffic congestion experienced significant decrease. That same year, city residents reported having the highest median income of any city in the country with a population over 280,000. Some of the city’s largest companies include Hewlett-Packard, Adobe Systems, IBM and eBay.
Tourism:
San Jose, California provides residence and visitors with several action-packed parks, such as Great Adventure, Raging Waters and Gilroy Gardens. Check out the Tech Museum of Innovation, where you can experience the history of the Silicon Valley, or head over to the uniquely bizarre Winchester Mystery House. Next, visit the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and Planetarium for a day filled with learning and entertainment. San Jose is a fiery sports town with plenty of recreational and spectator-sporting events for you to help cheer on. Possibly the city’s most zealous fans are the supporters of the San Jose Sharks hockey team. In addition to its large number of sporting opportunities, the city is the perfect location for outdoor action; with its 150 parks, gusty mountain roads and celebrated golf courses, San Jose is an active oasis. At night, head over to one of the city’s many bars, nightclubs, or late night diner, where you can have a beer, dance the night away, or treat yourself to a slice of pie before calling it a night.
Colleges/Universities:
• San Jose City College
• San Jose State University
• Golden Gate University
Interesting Facts:
• San Jose is ranked as one of the top three places to grow up in the country.
• The city’s residents produce more U.S. patents than any other city in the country.
• Thirty-five percent of all venture capital funds in the country are invested in San Jose and Silicon Valley companies.
Helpful Links:
• San Jose Real Estate
• San Jose Dental Offices
• San Jose Insurance
• San Jose Moving Companies