Cupertino

About Cupertino

Cupertino is a dynamic city in Santa Clara County just west of San Jose. Although it's fairly small, covering just over 10 square miles, it's earned national recognition for its highly rated schools, upscale housing market and high-tech industry. As one of the central points in Silicon Valley, Cupertino is also known as the home of tech giant Apple.

The History of Cupertino

The area that's now Cupertino was first mentioned in recorded history in 1776, by Captain Juan Baustista de Anza, who visited the area on an expedition. After that, Spanish settlers started coming to the area and establishing communities. By the late 19th century, it was still just a small, rural community with orchards covering much of its land. Fruit agriculture was the cornerstone of the local economy, and a large winery was established in the late 19th century.

After World War II, the population grew rapidly as suburban development began to sweep the area. In 1955, the city was officially incorporated and named Cupertino. As the years went on, businesses began to flock to Cupertino and the surrounding area. After the VALLCO Business and Industrial Park was constructed in the 1960s, the city's development continued at a rapid pace. Homes, educational institutions and amenities were quickly constructed to keep up with the flourishing economy, and Cupertino blossomed into the busy community it is today.

Jobs in Cupertino

Cupertino is integral to Silicon Valley, home to a number of high-tech companies. Many of the companies base their design and development teams in the city, requiring a large workforce of educated professionals. If you're planning to begin your job search in Cupertino, the top occupations in the city are computer and mathematical, management, architecture, and engineering. You'll be happy to hear that the unemployment rate in the city is far lower than the county average, so your prospects are good.

Apple is the city's largest employer, providing several thousand jobs. It's followed closely by the local school districts, Seagate Technology and Affymax.

Cupertino Schools

The Cupertino Union School District manages the public elementary and middle schools in the city, while the Fremont Union High School District serves local high schools. Cupertino is nationally recognized as the home of many high-performing schools.

If you're planning to pursue your degree in Cupertino, you can attend De Anza College or a satellite campus of the University of California.

Resources for Moving to Cupertino

Here's an at-a-glance guide to help make your move to Cupertino a bit easier:

• Utilities: Pacific Gas & Electric is the city's central energy provider. Your water and sewer service provider will most likely be San Jose Water or the California Water Service.
• Garbage and Recycling: Trash and recyclables are collected on a regular basis. In some areas of the city, compost support is also available.
• Transportation: Cupertino is home to a network of public transit services, including Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Caltrain and the Cupertino Shuttle.
• Special City Programs: The city offers specialized resources and programs, including career services, day programs and volunteer opportunities, for teens and seniors.

Cupertino Housing

The average home price in Cupertino is significantly higher than the California average, nearly triple the cost of homes in other areas. In addition, you can expect fairly high property taxes. Rent is also more expensive here than in other California cities, but many of the area's communities have sought after amenities.