Dan Walker

The largest city in Santa Clara County and Northern California, San Jose is renowned as the one of the main centers of the high tech industry, and boasts a population of over 900,000. Attractive to many newcomers for job opportunities and prosperous businesses, residents soon find there is much more to San Jose than the high-tech companies which call the area home.

The climate in San Jose warm and balmy, housing opportunities abound in the City's numerous neighborhoods, and assorted recreational activities and facilities are available no matter where you. Residents are involved and proactive in everyday events, practicing values of maintaining their homes, keeping the kids under supervision, the schools focused on basics, and the politicians running a tight ship. Because San Jose is ethnically diverse, the town, school, church and civic leaders working hard at helping people work together. With 25 percent of its population under 18, San Jose is also a thriving family town which has implemented a curfew for kids: 15 and under, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.; older kids, in by 11:30 p.m. In the 1990s, the city funded extra hours at gyms and swimming pools and after-school programs and opened teen centers. Through these combined efforts San Jose now boasts one of the lowest crime rates of any metropolis (400,000 or more residents) in the country, topping the list of America's safest big cities for five consecutive years.With low crime, great schools, active residents, a variety of housing choices, and a safe, vibrant atmosphere, it's no wonder 
San Jose entices so many new residents each year!

Housing

Although San Jose is spread over 175 square miles of the Santa Clara Valley floor and hillside, much of the city is built on flat land and outside of downtown very few buildings rise over three stories. What creates San Jose is the myriad of neighborhoods which have evolved, all sustained by their own shops, businesses, churches and social organizations and activities, many of them organized around schools. Indeed the great majority of residents take their pleasures in the back yard or local park. City council members are elected by district, which gives the neighborhoods more clout in local politics. Some of these neighborhoods include:

In some instances, the neighborhoods are distinct, with natural or man-made barriers, but many neighborhoods flow into one another, and some are just beyond the city limits. There is a good variety of housing, from brand new to established and customary, usually in suburban tracts, with prices ranging all over the spectrum. In 2000 residential units numbered over 280,000, of which over 95 percent is single-family homes, single-family attached, and multiples. Although market forces place new subdivisions next to old, a good deal of the older housing has been carefully maintained or restored. Attentive home owners put their creative energies into landscaping, gardening and interior decorating. These efforts pay off by helping to maintain the safety and charisma of the neighborhoods.

Schools

San Jose is served by 19 separate school districts, so researching the local district in your neighborhood is highly recommended to find out where your child will be attending school. The city grew up around established school districts, some of which serve other communities besides San Jose. Some schools will offer buses, some will start later than others, some have year-round schedules with vacations in October. There is one common factor about San Jose schools, though: many are very accomplished and have a history of receiving awards while placing in the top percentiles in comparison to the rest of California. In recent years, almost every school district has passed a bond to renovate facilities and build new schools (San Jose Unified passed a bond for $165 million in 1997), and a lot of school construction is currently underway. Local firms are even 'adopting' schools and getting more involved in civic causes. Lynbrook High is one of highest scoring schools in the state. Evergreen Elementary District schools (which are benefiting from renovations, improvements, and new campuses), has won national blue ribbons for meeting high academic standards.

For adult education,San JoseStateUniversity, one of the largest in the state, is located downtown and has partnered with the city to build a large library, now under construction. Besides the state university,San JoseCityCollege andEvergreenValleyCollege enhance the educational offerings of the town.

Recreation and Local Amenities

Although some may find San Jose 'bland' in comparison with the shocking and sometimes bizarre sites and activities found in San Francisco, the City is no longer the country bumpkin it was about 20 years ago, and compared to other cities in the west, it does very well, indeed. Since 1980 San Jose has been overhauling and improving its downtown which has added a light-rail system (now extended to Mountain View), a convention center, the Fairmont Hotel, the Children's DiscoveryMuseum, a retail mall, a highway and the CompaqCenter (home to the San Jose Sharks). Cultural and recreational enticements include a symphony, an opera, light opera, ballet, a repertory theater, a jazz festival, two museums, a Tech Museum of Innovation (opened in 1988), as well as concerts with top singers, rock bands and opera stars headlining the shows. In family and neighborhood activities there is: Little League, soccer, golf courses, youth service organizations, libraries, museums, a few marinas, many nice parks, and water slides. There are also events including art and wine festivals, fairs, the San Jose Flea Market, the Cinco de Mayo parade (which draws 100,000 people each year), and Farmers' Market.

For shopping and everyday amenities small businesses and shops are available, although more recently large retailers (such as Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, Rite Aid, McDonald's, Safeway, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Jamba Juice, Sweet Tomato, and so on) have been moving into neighborhood plazas. To get you to destinations outside of the immediate community, Highways 85 and 87 are the answer for residents and commuters. Light rail is popular and will eventually be extended to include Campbell and Southeast San Jose. There is also free shuttle bus around downtown, as well as between parking lots.