Santa Clara, California is located at the lower end of the San Francisco peninsula near San Jose in the heart of Silicon Valley. The history of Santa Clara is rich with stories of Spanish and Mexican settlement, the romance of the Gold-Rush era, the tranquil beauty of abundant orchards, the post-war suburbanization, the race to the moon, and the invention of the silicon chip. Santa Clara is one of fifteen communities that make up Santa Clara County and has a population of 107,204 residents.

Santa Clara County's scientific/commercial renaissance has, for good reason, been compared to the earlier European renaissance. The creation of lasers, nuclear magnetic resonance, random access computer storage, disk drives, integrated circuits, personal computers, open-heart surgery, ink jet printing, gene-splicing and other wonders in such a short span of time has placed Santa Clara County firmly in history as a unique location whose creative energies have changed the world.

Currently Santa Clara is involved in developing a comprehensive downtown area. The city has its own convention center that corporate and meeting planners have awarded with the Planner's Choice Award for exceptional convention and hospitality service. The 262,000 square-foot Convention Center includes a 100,000 square foot clear-span exhibit hall, a 607 seat theater, 25 breakout rooms, and over 2,000 free parking spaces. Santa Clare has 19.3 square miles of tree-lined neighborhoods and other thriving business and industrial centers.

Three out of every four homes was built between 1950 and 1980. Most of them are quaint one-story bungalows with three bedrooms and a single car garage. Housing in Santa Clara is more affordable than in neighboring Sunnyvale or Mountainview. Single-family house prices range from $350,000 to $700,000 and above. Condos and town houses range from $125,000 to $350,000. The median value for Santa Clara is $462,500. Santa Clara has a long tradition of quality public services and a well-maintained infrastructure. The City has owned and operated its own electric, water and sewer utilities for over a century. Lower utility rates and high standards of service have encouraged the relocation and growth of businesses in the community.

With the ideal climate, many favorite outdoor activities are available year round. Golfing, bicycling, tennis, jogging, water sports are all within easy driving distance. There are many community activities and parks located throughout the area with many activities for the children. Families will find Santa Clara convenient to its most well known attraction, Great America, a giant amusement park north of Highway 101. Other exciting attractions include Intel Museum, an interactive museum that introduces visitors to the micro-miniature world of computer chips; and Triton Museum of Art, with rotating exhibits highlighting 19th and 20th century American art plus a permanent Native American tribal collection and a stunning sculpture garden on seven acres of lush grounds.

Shopping enthusiasts will love Santa Clara's Westfield Shoppingtown Valley Fair. It is one of Northern California's largest enclosed shopping malls featuring specialty shops, elegant boutiques, major department stores, and a 450-seat food pavilion. Also Great Mall Of The Bay Area is Northern California's largest outlet mall. Great Mall has over 185 outlet, off-price and specialty stores all under one roof. Plus numerous restaurants, and two entertainment centers. Santa Clara Flea Market has been the world's largest flea market since 1960. Here shoppers can discover art, handcrafts, collectibles, great food, music, and family fun. This open-air shopping emporium offers great bargains with over 2,200 vendors, arcades, rides, restaurants and snack bars. Many find that farmers' markets can become a very pleasurable ritual in life. It connects individuals to the community, the seasons, and farmers. In most parts of the world, the local market is the heartbeat of the community and Santa Clara is no exception. The farmer's market is held every Saturday May through October.

Santa Clara Unified School District serves over 13,000 K-12 students, and an additional 18,000 students in preschool through adult school. Neighborhoods in the cities of Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and San Jose comprise the District's 56 square-mile area. Santa Clara Unified prides itself on having teachers, classified employees and administrators who are dedicated, experienced professionals who care about each student's well-being and academic preparation.

Santa Clara is home to Santa Clara University. The Jesuit run university is noted for its academic excellence. On the University grounds you will find Mission Santa Clara de Asis, founded in 1777, the eighth of California's missions. Also Mission College, a two-year public community college, provides extensive course schedules over extended hours to meet every student's needs. Two of the state's leading educational institutions, Stanford University in nearby Palo Alto and the University of California at Berkeley, are both within an hour's drive.

From historical neighborhoods and high tech facilities, to exceptional education and exciting activities, Santa Clara has it all! Santa Clara offers an outstanding environment to live, work and raise a family.


If you're thinking of moving to Santa Clara, California, our relocation packet is yours for the asking!