History and Geography
– Tamien tribe of the Ohlone nation inhabited the area prior to European arrival
– José Francisco Ortega was the first European to visit the valley in 1769
– Mission Santa Clara de Asís was founded in 1777 during the Spanish period
– The Battle of Santa Clara was fought between Californios and American forces during the Mexican period
– Santa Clara College was established in 1851 and the town was incorporated in 1852
– Santa Clara is located in the center of Silicon Valley
– The city is drained by three seasonal creeks: San Tomas Aquino Creek, Saratoga Creek, and Calabazas Creek
– The city has significant biological resources including habitat for the burrowing owl
– Coyotes have become active in the area in recent years
– The city covers an area of 18.4 square miles, all of it land
Climate and Demographics
– Average daily temperatures in July range from 82°F to 53°F
– Winters are mild, with mean daily temperatures in January ranging from 58°F to 38°F
– Most of the annual rainfall comes in the winter months
– Average precipitation days per year is 14.49
– Santa Clara had a population of 116,468 according to the 2010 United States census
– The city has a population density of 6,327.3 inhabitants per square mile
– Ethnic makeup includes White, African American, Native American, and Asian populations
– 19.4% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino
– Mexican ancestry accounted for 14.6% of the population
Economy and Companies
– Santa Clara is home to headquarters of companies such as Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, and Nvidia
– The city is also home to Santa Clara University, the oldest university in California
– Levis Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, is located in Santa Clara
– The semiconductor industry has had a significant impact on the city’s economy
– Santa Clara has a diverse economy with a mix of industries including technology, education, and sports
– Santa Clara operates an electric utility called Silicon Valley Power
– Silicon Valley Power’s Donald Von Raesfeld (DVR) Power Plant produces 147 megawatts of electricity
– Santa Clara’s electricity rates are cheaper than Pacific Gas and Electric
– Companies headquartered in Santa Clara include Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Intel, and Palo Alto Networks
– Bandai Namco Entertainment’s North American offices were previously located in Santa Clara
Government Representation and Education
– The current mayor of Santa Clara is Lisa M. Gillmor
– Santa Clara is represented by Ro Khanna in the U.S. House of Representatives
– Aisha Wahab represents Santa Clara in the California State Senate
– Ash Kalra represents Santa Clara in the California State Assembly
– The city council members represent different districts within Santa Clara
– Santa Clara University is the oldest university in California
– Santa Clara Unified School District serves the city and small portions of Sunnyvale and North San Jose
– The city is home to several K-8, elementary, and high schools
– Cupertino High School serves a small part of Santa Clara
– Private schools in Santa Clara include Saint Clare School and Granada Islamic School
Culture, Entertainment, and Transportation
– Californias Great America, an amusement park, is located in Santa Clara
– The Santa Clara Convention Center is a major event and meeting venue
– Santa Clara offers museums such as the Intel Museum and Triton Museum of Art
– The city has the Mission City Center for Performing Arts for theatrical productions
– The Our Lady of Peace Shrine features a notable 32-foot-tall statue
– Santa Clara has two major train stations served by Amtrak and regional train services
– The city is served by the VTA light rail system with four stations
– San Jose International Airport is adjacent to Santa Clara
– The city does not have any sources of transportation citations
– Santa Clara is located in California and is part of the San Francisco Bay AreaSources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Clara,_California
