San Jose guide

San Jose (meaning St. Joseph in Spanish) or San José is the third-largest city in California, and the tenth-largest in the United States. It is the county seat of Santa Clara County. San Jose is located in Silicon Valley, at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area. Once a small farming city, San Jose became a magnet for suburban newcomers in new housing developments between the 1960s and the 1990s, and is now the largest city in Northern California. The official United States Census Bureau population estimate for July 1, 2006 is 929,936.[4] The California Department of Finance estimates, San Jose's population on January 1, 2007 was 973,672. Originally known as El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, San Jose was founded on November 29, 1777 as the first town in the Spanish colony of Nueva California, which later became Alta California. The city served as a farming community to support Spanish military installations at San Francisco and Monterey. When California gained statehood in 1850, San Jose served as its first capital.

After more than 150 years as an agricultural center, increased demand for housing from soldiers and other veterans returning from World War II, as well as aggressive expansion during the 1950s and 1960s, led San Jose to become a bedroom community for Silicon Valley. Growth in the 1970s attracted more businesses to the city. In the late 1980s, after four decades of heavy development and population growth, San Jose surpassed San Francisco in population to become the third most populous city in California. By the 1990s, San Jose's location within the booming local technology industry earned the city the nickname Capital of Silicon Valley. San Jose lies near the San Andreas Fault; a major source of earthquake activity in California. The most serious earthquake, in 1906, damaged many buildings in San Jose. San Jose, like most of the Bay Area, has a Mediterranean climate. Unlike San Francisco, which is exposed to the ocean or Bay on three sides and whose temperature therefore varies relatively little year-round and overnight, San Jose lies further inland, protected on three sides by mountains.


Latest Tweets featuring San Jose

  • donaenvida

    #Puebla URGE #sangre A+ NIÑA Adriana Lopez Vega, Hospital San Jose cama 405 info 2224556014 Rocio @amydepetatiux PLS RT!

    Yesterday, 06:08

  • abc7newsBayArea

    San Jose police believe a body is in a pond near Almaden Expressway and Blossom Hill Road and are working with divers to recover it.

    Yesterday, 19:07

  • donaenvida

    #Hermosillo URGEN 2 donadores #sangre c/tipo María Eduwiges Ibarra Escoboza, Hosp San José #Sonora info Alejandra 6621200556 PLS RT!

    Today, 00:43

  • josesitologomez

    RT // ExpoFoto en Ex-Templo de San José por alumnos del 2do semestre de comunicación a las 18 Hrs. // #NaturalezaYArquitecturaMaya

    Today, 05:44

  • Dowbiggin

    I'm at Casa de Main (San Jose, CA) http://t.co/eEttD2ba

    Today, 05:43

  • ValverdeAndrey

    Estoy en Residencial Altamonte (Granadilla, San José) http://t.co/9fWxVGBX

    Today, 05:43

  • marthaalvarez6

    @larryhernandez1 saludos mi larry eres lo maximo chaparrito des de san jose california

    Today, 05:43

  • sounderatheart

    Can we really ask what the biggest upset in @USOpenCup is yet? Chivas or San Jose are going to lose too?

    Today, 05:43

  • diegobb07

    Estoy en Taco Bell (Curridabat, San Jose) http://t.co/NExyAtjT

    Today, 05:43

  • KamaraFans

    RT @GothamistDan: Here we go again: Fort Lauderdale leading San Jose 1-0. #USOC

    Today, 05:43

  • QuakesMatchday

    52' Lenhart's shot deflected near the top of the box, nearly squirts in. San Jose corner

    Today, 05:43

  • razzendres

    MITT ROMNEY will celebrate with a Glenfiddich in CAYMAN-midia .. http://t.co/gfmQo1Nu los angeles sacramento san diego juan josé bernardino

    Today, 05:42

  • _SammiSkaaa

    Great thing about moving to San Jose, I get to be in Santa Cruz with @fortheluvofbowz all da time!

    Today, 05:42

  • Sporting_Times

    RT @GothamistDan: Here we go again: Fort Lauderdale leading San Jose 1-0. #USOC

    Today, 05:42

  • trxiegalang

    RT @gmanetwork: Julie Anne San Jose & Elmo Magalona is starring in "Together Forever". More serious acting ang masusubaybayan!! @MyJaps @SuperElmo

    Today, 05:42

  • shiohisayou

    Mariners end 5-game losing streak, 10-3 at Texas - San Jose Mercury News http://t.co/9VG5jBNh

    Today, 05:42

  • cool4ever18

    San Jose Sharks: 7 Sharks That Would Be Good Offseason Trade Chips | Bleacher Report http://t.co/eYN9k9DO via @bleacherreport

    Today, 05:42

  • CodyCliett

    @ToddGiles11 so you want san jose state to be in the final four? Kent state? Arkansas state? THE POWER HOUSE TEAMS ARE THE BEST TEAMS!!?!?!

    Today, 05:42

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