Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a
county located in the
San Francisco Bay Area of the
U.S. state of
California. It is the site of
Silicon Valley. As of 2000 it had a population of 1,682,585. The
county seat is
San Jose.
Santa Clara County was one of the original counties of California, formed in
1850 at the time of statehood. Part of the county's territory was given to
Alameda County in
1853.
The county is named after
Mission Santa Clara, which was established in
1777, and named for
Saint Clare of Assisi,
Italy. The name "Clare" or "Clara" means "clear" or "bright."
In
1882, Santa Clara County tried to levy taxes upon property of the
Southern Pacific Railroad within county boundaries. The result was the
U.S. Supreme Court case of
Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad,
118 U.S. 394 (
1886), in which the Court established the doctrine of
corporate personhood.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,377
km² (1,304
mi²). 3,343 km² (1,291 mi²) of it is land and 34 km² (13 mi²) of it (1.02%) is water.
The
San Andreas Fault runs along the
Santa Cruz Mountains in thesouth of the county.
Adjacent Counties
*
San Benito County, California - south
*
Santa Cruz County, California - south, southwest
*
San Mateo County, California - northwest
*
Alameda County, California - north
*
Stanislaus County, California - east
*
Merced County, California - southeast
As of the
census² of 2000, there were 1,682,585 people, 565,863 households, and 395,538 families residing in the county. The
population density was 503/km² (1,304/mi²). There were 579,329 housing units at an average density of 173/km² (449/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 53.83%
White, 2.80%
Black or
African American, 0.67%
Native American, 25.56%
Asian, 0.34%
Pacific Islander, 12.13% from
other races, and 4.66% from two or more races. 23.98% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 565,863 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were
married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.41.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 35.40% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 102.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $74,335, and the median income for a family was $81,717. Males had a median income of $56,240 versus $40,574 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $32,795. About 4.90% of families and 7.50% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 8.40% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.
Santa Clara County has the
highest median household income of any county in California.
Santa Clara County is covered by
California's 14th congressional district and
California's 15th congressional district.
Presidential elections results
|
Santa Clara County Government Center |
Presidential elections results| Year | GOP! Dems |
|---|
| 2004 | 34.6% 209,094 | 63.9% 386,100 |
| 2000 | 34.4% 188,750 | 60.7% 332,490 |
| 1996 | 32.2% 168,291 | 56.9% 297,639 |
| 1992 | 28.4% 170,870 | 49.2% 296,265 |
| 1988 | 47.0% 254,442 | 51.3% 277,810 |
| 1984 | 54.8% 288,638 | 43.6% 229,865 |
| 1980 | 48.0% 299,048 | 35.0% 166,995 |
| 1976 | 49.5% 219,188 | 46.9% 208,023 |
| 1972 | 51.9% 237,334 | 45.6% 208,506 |
| 1968 | 45.6% 163,446 | 48.4% 173,511 |
| 1964 | 36.6% 117,420 | 63.1% 202,249 |
| 1960 | 52.7% 131,735 | 47.0% 117,667 |
|
Mass transit
Santa Clara County has consolidated its transportation services into the
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, which operates a rapidly expanding
light rail system and a large system of
bus routes. It also manages certain county-funded highway and expressway projects.
Besides SCVTA, the County is also served by
Caltrain commuter rail service.
Freeways and expressways
The county has an extensive
freeway system (now nearing completion) and a separate
expressway system. Expressways in California are distinct from freeways; although access to adjoining properties is eliminated, at-grade intersections are allowed. However, unlike expressways virtually everywhere else in California, the
Santa Clara County expressways were built, signed, and maintained as county roads; they are not maintained by
Caltrans, although they are patrolled by the
California Highway Patrol.
Many journalists and mapmakers from outside California do not understand the important difference between freeways and expressways, and incorrectly describe or depict Silicon Valley as criss-crossed by a "web" of freeways when many of the lines on the map are really expressways.
There is also a large
street network dominated by four- and six-lane arterials. Some of the newer boulevards (primarily in the West Valley) are divided with landscaped medians. They also often have neat concrete
sidewalks, although people are rarely seen using them.
County roads
*
Santa Clara County Expressway System*
Santa Clara County Route G2 - Lawrence Expressway
*
Santa Clara County Route G3 - Page Mill Road / Oregon Expressway
*
Santa Clara County Route G4 - San Tomas Expressway / Montague Expressway
*
Santa Clara County Route G5 - Foothill Expressway
*
Santa Clara County Route G6 - Central Expressway
*
Santa Clara County Route G8 - Almaden Expressway
*
Santa Clara County Route G10 - Blossom Hill Road
*
Santa Clara County Route G21 - Capitol Expressway
Ports
The county's main airport is
Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC).
Moffett Federal Airfield (NUQ), a former Naval Air Station, is used by the
Air National Guard,
NASA, and
Lockheed Martin, There are also smaller general aviation airports in
Palo Alto (PAO),
San Jose (RHV), and
San Martin (E16).
The county has no seaports. Like all other Bay Area counties, it is dependent upon the
Port of Oakland for transport of ocean cargo.
Incorporated Places
There are 15 incorporated cities and towns in the county:
*
Campbell*
Cupertino*
Gilroy*
Los Altos*
Los Altos Hills*
Los Gatos*
Milpitas*
Monte Sereno*
Morgan Hill*
Mountain View*
Palo Alto*
San Jose (incorporating the formerly independent unincorporated communities of
Alum Rock, and
Cambrian Park, as well as the formerly independent incorporated cities of
Willow Glen,
East San Jose, and
Alviso)
*
Santa Clara*
Saratoga*
SunnyvaleUnincorporated communities
*
Buena Vista*
Burbank*
East Foothills*
Fruitdale*
Lexington Hills*
Loyola also known as
Loyola Corners*
San Martin*
Seven Trees*
Stanford*
Sunol-MidtownOther unincorporated communities
*
Bell Station also known as
Bell's Station and
Hollenbeck's Station*
Chemeketa Park*
Casa Loma also known as
Loma Chiquita*
Redwood Estates (part of
Lexington Hills CDP.)
*
San Antonio also known as
Deforest circa 1892-1924.
*
Hsinchu County,
Taiwan*
Committee for Green Foothills*
Santa Clara County expressway system*
List of school districts in Santa Clara County, California*
List of special districts in Santa Clara County (LAFCo)*
Santa Clara County official website
