Santa Clara

About Santa Clara

Santa Clara is a large city in the San Francisco Bay Area, nestled in the heart of California's Silicon Valley. A number of well-known companies and leading technology firms fuel the local economy, attracted to Santa Clara for its convenient location and powerful workforce. It's also home to the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, who play home games at the city's Levi's Stadium.

The History of Santa Clara

The city's name comes from the Mission Santa Clara de Asis, a Spanish mission established in 1777 during Spain's rule of California. Eventually, Spanish rule ended in the area, and the land transferred into the hands of the American government. The expansion of the American frontier brought new settlers to Santa Clara in the 1840s. Many were former gold prospectors who turned to farming the area's fertile land after failing to strike it rich in the gold rush. Development was swift in the 1850s, when the town received a schoolhouse, a church, a college, several new houses, businesses and hotels. The city was officially incorporated in 1852, just two years after California was recognized as a state.

Over the next hundred years, Santa Clara thrived as an agricultural community, producing rich crops of fruits and vegetables. When the semiconductor industry arrived in the area in the 1960s, Santa Clara would be forever changed. The city's population more than quadrupled, and new businesses and residential communities sprung up at an impressive pace.

Jobs in Santa Clara

If you're planning to join the Santa Clara job market, you'll find plenty of options to choose from. The city has an unemployment rate well below the national average and has enjoyed recent positive job growth. A large percentage of the economy is based in white-collar jobs, mainly because the local tech industry is so strong. Intel, Sun Microsystems, NVIDIA and Yahoo are just some of the tech firms headquartered in Santa Clara. The city is home to Santa Clara University and Mission College, two establishments helping make Santa Clara one of the most educated cities in America. There are also a number of jobs in tourism and retail, with one of the city's largest employers being California's Great America, a 100-acre amusement park.

Santa Clara Schools

The Santa Clara Unified School District oversees the city's public schools, and there are also a few private schools to choose from. You'll also find a number of higher education institutions, including Santa Clara University, Mission College and Golden State Baptist College.

Resources for Moving to Santa Clara

Here are a few handy resources for planning your move to Santa Clara:

• Utilities: Silicon Valley Power is the city's local energy provider. The City of Santa Clara manages public water and sewer services.
• Garbage and Recycling: Trash, recyclables and green waste are collected on a weekly basis. The city also offers special disposal services, like bulky item pick-up and document shredding.
• Transportation: The Valley Transportation Authority provides a network of bus and light rail routes that serve Santa Clara and the surrounding area. There are also plenty of options for commuters, including Caltrain and Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) Commuter Service.

Santa Clara Housing

Santa Clara has a variety of housing options, ranging from compact studio apartments to large single-family homes. The median home price in the city is drastically higher than both the state and national averages, stretching well into seven figures. Rent is also extremely expensive, and rental properties are typically in high demand.