78-598: The Montalvo Arts Center is a non-profit center for the arts in Saratoga, California , United States. Open to the public, Montalvo comprises a cultural and arts center, a park, hiking trails and the historic Villa Montalvo , an Italian Mediterranean Revival mansion nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains . The mansion and estate were constructed from 1912 to 1914 by California statesman and businessman James Duval Phelan . After Phelan's death,
156-807: A National Historic Landmark . The climate of the Santa Clara Valley in California is a Mediterranean climate with warm, very dry summers and mild, fairly rainy winters. Today, the Valley attracts many people from the East Coast with its warm and sunny climate. The Santa Clara Valley receives on average 330 sunny days per year . The northern areas of the valley (such as Palo Alto or Mountain View ) have greater marine influences with temperatures rarely rising above 85 °F (29 °C) while in
234-667: A city nestled in the mountains. The highest peak on the Santa Cruz Mountain Range side of the valley is Loma Prieta at 3,790 feet. The highest peak in the Diablo Range side of the valley is Mount Hamilton , specifically Copernicus Peak at 4,370 feet elevation. It is the highest peak in Santa Clara County . The valley is a graben between the San Andreas and Hayward faults. During
312-466: A female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 14.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.13. The population-age distribution was as follows: 26.0% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
390-523: A large wine-making region. It was one of the first commercial wine-producing regions in California (and possibly the United States), utilizing high-quality French varietal vines imported from France. The northern end of the Santa Clara Valley is at San Francisco , and the southern end is south of Hollister . The valley is bounded by the Santa Cruz Mountains on the southwest, which separate
468-483: A local ball . This caused quite stir in the area. In 1867 the town received a post office under the name of McCarthysville . Early residents, who moved to Saratoga in 1881, were Mary Brown (1816–1884), widow of the abolitionist John Brown , her daughters Sarah and Ellen, and the husband of the latter, James Fablinger. All of them are buried in the Madronia Cemetery . The town soon industrialized with
546-607: A major crop, with the valley was producing the majority of prunes in California by 1900 and shipped internationally. Water was supplied from an artesian aquifer and when the water table dropped, wells were pumped. Many orchards were small with housing and fruit growing in a dispersed pattern. By the 1920s and 1930s, the agricultural and horticultural industries were doing well in the valley and included 18 canneries, 13 dried-fruit packing houses, and 12 fresh-fruit and vegetable shipping firms, and they were shipping internationally. Del Monte and Sunsweet are two brands which originated in
624-593: A new international iteration of the Montalvo artist residency program designed for a new purpose-built residency campus. In the fall of 2004, Montalvo opened the Sally and Don Lucas Artists Programs, which offer facilities and staff that are supportive of the creative process as well as state-of-the-art technology. A small gallery, called the Project Space Gallery, as well as the box office, are located in
702-647: A portion of Saratoga). Private schools in the area include Challenger School, Saint Andrew's School , and Sacred Heart School . West Valley Community College provides college-level education in the district whilst the Santa Clara County Library District operates the Saratoga Library. The original alignment of Highway 85 along Saratoga- Sunnyvale Road was deleted in 1994 when the West Valley Freeway
780-521: A queen named Calafia . The Amazons in the fable employed griffins in battle. Images of griffins can be found throughout the arts center grounds, "standing guard". Saratoga, California Saratoga is a city in Santa Clara County , California, United States. Located in Silicon Valley , in the southern Bay Area , its population was 31,051 at the 2020 census. Saratoga is known for its wineries and restaurants. The area comprising Saratoga
858-825: A regular column in the San Francisco-based The Daily People's World for the workers. San Francisco had a strong labor union tradition which thrived in Santa Clara County. During the " March Inland " organizing drive the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) backed the Cannery and Agricultural Workers' Industrial Union (CAWIU), a Communist -controlled union headquartered in San Jose, which had considerable success organizing farm and cannery workers in
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#1732801003948936-459: A scarcely noticeable soil-covered divide ." The northern portion is drained northward by various rivers and creeks into San Francisco Bay. The southern portion of the valley is drained southward by Llagas Creek into the Pajaro River , which in turn flows westward to Monterey Bay . As one travels across the valley floor, "the alluvial plain is continuous across the divide." The summit of
1014-580: A shift in priorities for the SFAA left many people concerned about the future of Villa Montalvo. These citizens together formed the Montalvo Association. Trusteeship was transferred to the organization in October 1953. In 2024, the organization website uses the name Montalvo Arts Center . On April 11, 1971, serial killer Karl F. Warner murdered his third and final victim, Kathy Bilek, 18, on
1092-587: A union which genuinely represented cannery workers. The fruit industry gradually recovered, and by the early 1940s, prosperity returned to the valley. Wartime production associated with World War II brought industry to the valley such as building of marine engines for Liberty ships by the Joshua Hendy Iron Works , now Northrop Grumman Marine Systems in Sunnyvale ; landing craft were built by Food Machinery Corporation , which later built
1170-536: A vast tract of land stretching from Palo Alto to Gilroy, was founded by Franciscans in 1777. San Jose was California's first town and was also founded in 1777 by Spain as an agricultural pueblo. There were 66 original settlers. In Spanish and Mexican times the land was devoted to cattle, as was most of California. Following the Mexican–American War San Jose was briefly the capital of California. The influx of Americans resulted in relocation of many of
1248-470: Is a geologic trough in Northern California that extends 90 miles (140 km) south–southeast from San Francisco to Hollister . The longitudinal valley is bordered on the west by the Santa Cruz Mountains and on the east by the Diablo Range ; the two coastal ranges meet south of Hollister. The San Francisco Bay borders the valley to the north, and fills much of the northern third of
1326-536: Is a valley that has undergone the wearing away of the Earth's surface by natural agents. The underlying geology of the Santa Cruz Mountains was also formed by the sediment of the ancient seas, where marine shale points to Miocene origin. Today, evidence of this is still found in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where shark 's teeth and the remains of maritime life are still found as high as Scotts Valley ,
1404-821: Is a very affluent neighborhood with 1-acre (4,000 m ) minimum lots, west of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and up into the hills. The downtown area along Big Basin Way is known as the Village. The 2010 United States census reported that Saratoga had a population of 29,926. The population density was 2,416.9 inhabitants per square mile (933.2/km ). The racial makeup of Saratoga was 16,125 (53.9%) White , 94 (0.3%) African American , 41 (0.1%) Native American , 12,376 (41.4%) Asian , 23 (0.1%) Pacific Islander , 202 (0.7%) from other races , and 1,065 (3.6%) from two or more races. There were 1,034 Hispanic or Latino residents of any race (3.5%). The census reported that 29,727 people (99.3% of
1482-424: Is sometimes used as a theater for some of Montalvo's dramatic presentations, and the woods behind are open to the public. Since its bequest to the people of California, hiking trails through the surrounding Redwood -speckled hills have been added. In 1911, James D. Phelan , a three-term mayor of San Francisco who would go on to be California's first popularly elected US Senator , purchased 160 acres (65 ha) in
1560-572: The Great Depression . Bankrupt farmers from the Dust Bowl , the Okies , made the trek to California . Desperate to feed their families, they joined a workforce that was itself impacted by unemployment. The growers, with record low prices and surplus supply, could pay little. Labor organizers and goon squads battled in the labor camps. Woody Guthrie 's songs were on the radio and he wrote
1638-708: The Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District , Fremont Union High School District and Campbell Union High School District . These districts provide a number of high schools including Saratoga High School , Monta Vista High School (located in Cupertino but servicing a portion of Saratoga), Lynbrook High School (located in San Jose but servicing a portion of Saratoga as well), Prospect High School and Westmont High School (located in Campbell but servicing
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#17328010039481716-785: The M113 armored personnel carrier, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle , and the XR311 at its facility in Santa Clara ; and an IBM factory began manufacturing punch cards in San Jose in 1943. About 1,000 Japanese were interned , losing substantial property. Wartime production drew workers, including women , from the orchards and canneries; they were replaced by Mexican Americans from Texas and California and by Mexican braceros . Neighborhoods in East San Jose, such as
1794-651: The Meadowfair district, became barrios . The Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missile was built during the Cold War by Lockheed Missiles & Space Division in Sunnyvale for the United States Navy , while Northrop Grumman Marine Systems built the launch tubes and propulsion systems. For the most part, the defense industry and traditional electronics manufacturers, with the exception of IBM, in
1872-399: The Saratoga countryside and foothills. Phelan began construction of the mansion in 1912. The initial supervising architect was William Curlett . When he died in 1914, his son, Alex Curlett , took over supervision along with partner Charles E. Gottschalk . The construction of the building was completed that same year. During his lifetime, Phelan hosted many celebrities and notables of
1950-547: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 12.4 square miles (32 km ), all of it land. Within its borders, Saratoga includes lush redwood forests , foothills suitable for wine grapes and sunny valley floor once covered with prune and apricot orchards , now with suburban homes, schools and churches . Neighborhoods in Saratoga include Brookview and Pride's Crossing in
2028-592: The 1960s transformed the area from farmland to densely populated cities, and it became referred to as the Silicon Valley . Once primarily agricultural because of its highly fertile soil, Santa Clara Valley is now largely urbanized, although its far southern reaches south of Gilroy remain agrarian. Few traces of its agricultural past can still be found, but the Santa Clara Valley American Viticultural Area remains
2106-531: The 19th century, 37,388 metric tons of mercury were extracted from the New Almaden mine south of San Jose and northeast of Santa Cruz . The area, closed for many years, resulted in pollution of the Guadalupe River and South San Francisco Bay. After intermittent mining operations finally ceased in the 20th century, the area was purchased by Santa Clara County to be used as a park and was designated
2184-490: The Golden Triangle is a neighborhood known as Saratoga Woods, a small community located behind Prospect High School north of Cox. Bellgrove Circle is a popular neighborhood located next to highway 85. The land of Bellgrove Circle, once used as a vineyard, was previously owned by Paul Masson Winery and is east of Saratoga Avenue and north of Rt 85. Kentfield is south of Rt 85 and also east of Saratoga Avenue. Parker Ranch
2262-682: The Santa Clara Valley and elsewhere in California until it was suppressed and its leaders jailed in 1934 by the State of California following sustained attacks by business and political forces which, in San Jose, resulted in an atmosphere of terror (the low point of which was a public lynching tacitly supported by James Rolph , the Governor of California). The canneries, with a segregated seasonal work force of white women, were eventually organized, at first by an AFL-affiliated company union, but one which gradually evolved, thanks to rank and file efforts, into
2340-486: The Santa Clara Valley is often supplemented by grants from private foundations set up for that purpose and funded by local residents. Schools in less favorable demographics must depend on state funding. Cities and towns in the Santa Clara Valley include (in alphabetical order): Because technology companies have spread out from Silicon Valley, Fremont and Newark , even though they are not in Santa Clara County, are often included in discussions about Silicon Valley, or, in
2418-619: The Santa Clara Valley was recorded in Los Gatos on June 9, 2000, with a temperature of 114 °F (46 °C) and the record low was recorded in Gilroy on December 23, 1990, with a temperature of 16 °F (−9 °C). Temperatures drop below 40 °F (4 °C) on average of 17 days per year, below freezing on average of 4 days per year and below 30 °F (−1 °C) on average of 0 days per year (none). More recently, extensive droughts in California , further complicated by drainage of
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2496-574: The Santa Clara Valley were unionized, mainly by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers , International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers , and Teamsters. The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America , a communist dominated union, but friendly to minority and women workers, gradually lost its place during the McCarthy era. In the 1950s, the first transistor industries were established in
2574-468: The Santa Clara Valley. The need for workers greatly exceeded the local population and in the nineteenth century, Chinese and Japanese immigrants met that need. Toward the end of the nineteenth century many Italians and other immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe came to the valley and worked in the orchards and canneries. During the 20th century there were Filipino immigrants and increasing numbers of immigrants from Mexico who during World War II became
2652-443: The area are broom , mountain mahogany , chamise , coyote brush ( Baccharis pilularis ), madrone , manzanita , monkey flower , pitcher sage , poison oak , and toyon . Phelan named Villa Montalvo in honor of the popular 16th-century Spanish writer Garci Ordonez de Montalvo . Montalvo coined the name "California" in one of his fables. In it he described an island rich with gold and jewels , peopled by Amazons ruled by
2730-453: The area. Led by Stanford University , the lower San Francisco Peninsula became a global high-tech hub known as Silicon Valley . The name refers to silicon , the most common semiconductor used to produce microchips and other electronic devices. The borders of Silicon Valley have been variously defined. Most observers include the entirety of Santa Clara County and the southern portions of San Mateo and Alameda counties, while others extend
2808-583: The building between the mansion and the Carriage House Theatre. Montalvo and its arts programs serve nearly 200,000 visitors each year. Still called "Villa Montalvo" by local area residents, the Montalvo Arts Center hosts a 137-acre (55 ha) arboretum and botanical garden , located behind the center. It is free and open to the public during daylight hours and run as part of a non-profit organization for art, artists, and
2886-505: The building of a furniture factory, grist mill , tannery , and paper factory. To commemorate this newfound productivity, the town was renamed again in 1863 as Bank Mills . In the 1850s, Jud Caldwell discovered springs which were called Pacific Congress Springs because the water had a mineral content similar to Congress Springs in Saratoga Springs , New York . In 1865 the town received its final name, Saratoga , after
2964-626: The case of Fremont, referred to as the "Gateway to the Silicon Valley" (a title also claimed occasionally by San Jose, Union City , and several other locations). Similarly, Palo Alto , while in Santa Clara County and considered part of Silicon Valley , is on the San Francisco Peninsula . There are a number of well-known structures and sites of interest in the South Bay: Santa Clara Valley
3042-585: The central portion of the Santa Clara Valley is often considered by itself, contained entirely within Santa Clara County. The valley, named after the Spanish Mission Santa Clara , was for a time known as the Valley of Heart's Delight for its high concentration of orchards, flowering trees, and plants. Until the 1960s it was the largest fruit-producing and packing region in the world, with 39 canneries . The growing high-tech industry in
3120-471: The city are established by state law. It has a council–manager form of government. The current mayor is Yan Zhao, and the Vice Mayor is Belal Aftab. The other current council members are Kookie Fitzsimmons, Chuck Page, and Tina Walia. The Saratoga City Council has had to make many controversial decisions in a community with residents known to be protectionist of their existing exclusivity. The council
3198-493: The city in New York. At the same time a resort hotel called Congress Hall was constructed at the springs, named after the famous resort Congress Hall at Saratoga Springs, New York. California's Congress Hall attracted tourists to the area until it burned down in 1903. These events would eventually lead to Saratoga being listed as a California Historical Landmark in 1950. Saratoga became agricultural , as did much of
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3276-424: The city of Saratoga was "Keep it rural," according to historian Willys I. Peck. Today the city serves as a bedroom community for upper class Silicon Valley tech workers and executives. Saratoga drew notoriety for the suicide of Audrie Pott , a 15-year-old Saratoga High School student, September 2012. The three teenagers charged with sexually assaulting Pott pleaded guilty and served time in juvenile hall for
3354-403: The city was 67.39% White , 0.39% African American , 0.15% Native American , 29.08% Asian , 0.08% Pacific Islander , 0.57% from other races , and 2.33% from two or more races. 3.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 10,450 households, out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.0% were married couples living together, 4.9% had
3432-426: The dominant agricultural workforce. The town of San Jose was dominated by its business community, which was in part composed of Irish Catholics, who had a self-contained social life which did not include immigrant labor. There was marked prejudice against Asians, particularly Chinese, who gradually left the valley. Deflation and overproduction severely hurt the orchards and packers of the Santa Clara Valley during
3510-650: The entire estate was donated to California as a park and then a cultural and arts center as it exists today. The arts center maintains the estate in partnership with Santa Clara County . The mansion is a historic landmark, and in 1978 it was awarded inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places . The grounds of the villa now encompass 175 acres (71 ha), more than the original 160 acres (65 ha) purchased by Phelan. The estate boasts several large structures as well as gardens and untouched natural areas. Montalvo includes two theaters, an art gallery,
3588-486: The era as guests at Montalvo. Jack London , Ethel Barrymore , Mary Pickford , Douglas Fairbanks , and Edwin Markham were among Phelan's many guests. Though not his only home, Villa Montalvo was one of Phelan's favorites and is where he died. Some photographs, correspondence, and other mementos of his life are displayed in cases in the mansion's library and can be viewed if one happens to be attending an event for which
3666-555: The estate in 1930. Within a year the association announced the intention to launch an artist residency program, the third program of its kind in the United States. The program began in 1939 with ten artists in residence. In 2004 it became the Montalvo Art Center's Sally and Don Lucas Artists Residency Program with 10 newly designed discipline specific live/work studios and a commons building. After World War II ,
3744-465: The grounds of Villa Montalvo. It was the investigation into the Bilek slaying which led to his arrest and conviction for his string of three slayings of teenage girls throughout the southern Santa Clara Valley . Today, the Montalvo Arts Center is a private non-profit cultural center maintained by the Montalvo Association through a partnership with Santa Clara County . The park and arts center are open to
3822-448: The historic Villa Montalvo, an artist residency complex called The Sally and Don Lucas Artists Residency Program, hiking trails and gardens. The mansion itself boasts 19 rooms and two stories. The first floor of the mansion used to host art exhibits, but is now open only for the many weddings and other occasions that are held there. The grounds include several gardens embellished with marble sculptures and garden structures. The Front Lawn
3900-471: The local community. The arboretum is adjacent to the villa and is an Audubon Society bird sanctuary. There are dirt paths leading out of a redwood canyon to Lookout Point at altitude 1,200 feet (370 m). A number of forest types are represented, including chaparral , evergreen , and redwood . Trees native to the Santa Cruz Mountains include bay , California nutmeg , Douglas fir , big-leaf maple , tanoak , and coast live oak . Other plants common in
3978-462: The mansion is open. Upon his death, Phelan bequeathed Montalvo thus: I would like the property at Saratoga, California, known as Villa Montalvo, to be maintained as a public park open under reasonable restrictions, the buildings and grounds immediately surrounding the same to be used as far as possible for the development of art, literature, music, and architecture by promising students. The San Francisco Art Association (SFAA) assumed trusteeship of
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#17328010039484056-540: The mill, built a toll road down to the Santa Clara Valley , and founded what is now Saratoga as McCarthysville . The toll gate was located at the present-day intersection of Big Basin Way and 3rd St., giving the town its first widely used name: Toll Gate . During the Civil War a woman showed her support for the south by wearing a Confederate Flag with the motto "Shall we not protect our cotton?” to
4134-448: The native Mexican and Indian people of San Jose to the mission at Santa Clara, which had been under control of Jesuits from 1850; they founded Santa Clara University there in 1851. In 1860, as an American town, the population of San Jose was 4,579, with cattle ranching still the main agricultural activity. For a time wheat became the main crop, but in the 1870s fruit gradually became the main crop and processing of fruit by drying or canning
4212-695: The nearby Permanente Quarry . The rail line travels parallel to Route 85. Passenger trains, including the Peninsular Railway , operated starting in 1908, delivering commuters to San Francisco in 90 minutes. Saratoga currently has no passenger train service; it has minimal bus service. Saratoga also has a zoning code aimed at preserving a semi-rural appearance. Saratoga emphasizes its semi-rural appearance by foregoing street lights and sidewalks on most residential streets. This contributes to Saratoga's high housing costs. Santa Clara Valley The Santa Clara Valley ( Spanish : Valle de Santa Clara )
4290-494: The north part of the city, Blue Hills and Greenbrier in the northwest area, and Congress Springs in the southwestern corner of Saratoga. The Golden Triangle, a name invented by real estate agents, is an area bounded by Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Cox Avenue. The Golden Triangle consists mostly of four-bedroom ranch homes (with values ranging from between $ 1 and $ 3 million) on quarter acre lots that are gradually being replaced by Mediterranean custom designs. Northeast of
4368-440: The only use we will ever find for the hydrogen bomb will be to erase this great mistake from the face of the earth." Housing for each additional 1000 people took 257 acres of land. In more recent years, San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley have suffered from extensive droughts in California to the extent that some residents may run out of household water by the summer of 2022. Funding for public schools in upscale communities in
4446-551: The participants produce works and give performances. Since Montalvo started its artists-in-residence program, more than 600 artists from 20 countries have participated, including Karla Diaz . In 2003 the residency program's board found Gordon Knox, who had initiated and run a remarkable arts residency for 11 years, the Civitella Ranieri Foundation at a castle in Umbria, Italy. Knox envisioned and established
4524-418: The population were below the poverty line , including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 2.6% over 64. The 2016 Coldwell Banker Home Listing Report listed Saratoga as the most expensive housing market in the United States. In 2010, Bloomberg Businessweek named Saratoga the most expensive suburb in California. According to CNN Money , 70.42% of Saratoga households have an income greater than $ 100,000. Saratoga
4602-644: The population) lived in households, 34 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 165 (0.6%) were institutionalized. There were 10,734 households, out of which 4,024 (37.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 7,893 (73.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 608 (5.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 213 (2.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 159 (1.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 44 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 1,740 households (16.2%) were made up of individuals, and 1,115 (10.4%) had someone living alone who
4680-561: The population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,526 people (11.8%) lived in rental housing units. In 2011, Bloomberg Businessweek reported that the average household income was $ 237,804 with an average household net worth of $ 1,516,018. As of the census of 2000, there were 29,843 people, 10,450 households, and 8,600 families residing in the city. The population density was 951.5 people/km (2,464 people/sq mi). There were 10,649 housing units at an average density of 339.5 units/km (879 units/sq mi). The racial makeup of
4758-588: The predominant industry. The railroad reached San Jose in 1860. The valley with its scenic beauty, mild climate, and thousands of acres of blooming fruit trees was known as "The Valley of Heart's Delight". Various fruit cooperatives were formed in the area to deal with economic issues, including the California Fruit Union (founded in 1883) and the Santa Clara County Fruit Exchange (founded in 1892). Prunes were
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#17328010039484836-560: The public. Funding support is provided by the Friends of Montalvo memberships, as well as foundation grants, other private donations, and earned income via ticket sales and rental fees. More than 600 volunteers donate thousands of hours annually to support the arts programs and maintenance of the villa and grounds. Since 1939, the estate has hosted "artists-in-residence" who live and work on the property. Artists range from musicians, painters, actors, writers and architects. While in residence,
4914-505: The region northwest to San Francisco or northeast to San Ramon . In 1950, Dutch Hamann was appointed city manager of San Jose. Hamann's boosterism was supported by Joe Ridder , publisher of the San Jose Mercury . In power until 1969, Hamann created a master plan for San Jose and embarked on a program of annexation that increased the area of San Jose from 17 square miles to 136.7 square miles. The main bargaining chip
4992-424: The rest of the valley; a few vineyards and orchards from this period remain today. The Miller-Melone Ranch is the last remaining prune ranch home in Saratoga and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 1, 1993. After World War II the town quickly became urbanized , and it incorporated in 1956 mostly to avoid being annexed by San Jose . A slogan during the campaign to incorporate
5070-494: The sexual assault. Saratoga High School is depicted in Steven Spielberg 's 2022 film The Fabelmans . Saratoga is bordered by Cupertino and San Jose to the north, a small portion of Campbell and Los Gatos to the east, and Monte Sereno to the southeast. Saratoga is located at 37°16′21″N 122°01′10″W / 37.272443°N 122.019538°W / 37.272443; -122.019538 . According to
5148-490: The southern areas and near the mountains (such as Los Gatos , Morgan Hill , or Gilroy ) the temperature frequently exceeds 95 °F (35 °C) in the summer months. Winter is the rainy season, but still quite sunny. Winter highs range from 57 to 66 °F (14 to 19 °C) while lows range from 40 to 48 °F (4 to 9 °C). Summer highs range from 82 to 95 °F (28 to 35 °C) and summer lows range from 53 to 58 °F (12 to 14 °C). The record high for
5226-497: The transverse divide is about two miles from the former town of Madrone at an elevation of 345 feet (105 meters), but the alluvial plain is so continuous that most travelers are unaware they are crossing between two drainage basins . The earliest known inhabitants on the Santa Clara Valley are the Ohlone people , who had eight distinct languages and tribes in the coastal region. Mission Santa Clara de Asís , which had control over
5304-463: The valley from the Pacific Ocean, and by the Diablo Range on the northeast. The valley is approximately 93 miles (150 km) long by 15 miles (20 km) wide. Its largest city is San Jose . Santa Clara Valley has a Mediterranean semi-arid climate. Joseph S. Diller, a geologist, observed in 1915 that a "notable peculiarity" of the Santa Clara Valley is that "it is divided transversely by
5382-593: The valley. The valley floor is an alluvial plain that formed in the graben (tectonic depression) between the San Andreas Fault to the west and the Hayward and Calaveras faults to the east. Within the valley and surrounding the bay on three sides are the urban communities of San Mateo County , Santa Clara County , and Alameda County , while the narrow southern reaches of the valley extend into rural San Benito County to Hollister. In practical terms,
5460-414: Was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males. According to a 2007 estimate the median income for a household in the city was $ 137,270, and the median income for a family was $ 159,765. Males had a median income of $ 75,000 versus $ 66,240 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 65,400. About 1.8% of families and 2.8% of
5538-417: Was 47.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males. There were 11,123 housing units at an average density of 898.3 units per square mile (346.8 units/km ), of which 9,258 (86.2%) were owner-occupied, and 1,476 (13.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%. 26,201 people (87.6% of
5616-410: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77. There were 8,714 families (81.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.11. In Saratoga, 7,173 people (24.0%) were under the age of 18, 1,390 people (4.6%) were aged 18 to 24, 4,678 people (15.6%) were aged 25 to 44, 10,598 people (35.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 6,087 people (20.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
5694-879: Was a leader in dealing with the unfunded pension crisis in California. In the California State Legislature , Saratoga is in the 15th Senate District , represented by Democrat Dave Cortese , and in the 23rd Assembly District , represented by Democrat Marc Berman . In the United States House of Representatives , Saratoga is in California's 16th congressional district , represented by Democrat Anna Eshoo . Various public school districts serve Saratoga. At elementary level (grades K to 8) these include Saratoga Union School District , Campbell Union School District , Cupertino Union School District and Moreland School District . High school districts that serve Saratoga include
5772-404: Was completed, and it passes through northeast Saratoga. Highway 85 has one onramp/offramp within the city, at Saratoga Avenue; while the original plans for the freeway also included exits at Quito Road and Prospect Avenue, objections by residents kept those interchanges from being constructed. Street signs are brown in color. The Union Pacific Railroad operates freight through the town, servicing
5850-438: Was created by the sudden growth of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range during the later Cenozoic era. This was a period of intense mountain building in California when the folding and thrusting of the Earth's crust , combined with active volcanism , gave shape to the present state of California. Hence, Santa Clara Valley is a structural valley, created by mountain building, as opposed to an erosional valley, which
5928-487: Was earlier inhabited by the Ohlone Native Americans. In 1847, European settlers created a settlement at what is now Saratoga when William Campbell (father of Benjamin Campbell, the founder of nearby Campbell, California ), constructed a sawmill about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) southeast of the present downtown area. An early map noted the area as Campbell's Gap. In 1851, Martin McCarthy, who had leased
6006-548: Was ranked by Forbes in 2009 as one of America's top 20 most-educated small towns. Bloomberg Businessweek named Saratoga's zip code 95070 the 18th richest zip code in America in 2011. In 2018, data from the American Community Survey revealed that Saratoga was the 8th wealthiest city in the United States. Saratoga is a general law city under California law , meaning that the organization and powers of
6084-656: Was the superior sewage system built to handle cannery waste. To overcome resistance by school districts, who otherwise would have lost their tax base, annexed areas were allowed to maintain independent school districts. This resulted in some parts of the city, such as East San Jose , having low-quality segregated school systems with a low tax base while school systems in other parts of San Jose had an ample tax base and high-quality schools. The population of San Jose increased from 95 thousand in 1950 to 446 thousand in 1970. There were critics: Santa Clara County Planning Director Karl Belser, who opposed urban sprawl , commented, "Perhaps
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