Monte Sereno, California

From Free net encyclopedia

Monte Sereno is a city located in Santa Clara County, California, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 3,483. The city is located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 10 miles southwest of San Jose and is immediately northwest of Los Gatos. The city is named for 2249 ft. El Sereno mountain upon whose slopes the southern portion of the city is built. The community is almost entirely residential, with no commercial zoning and very little multi-family housing and is an upscale Silicon Valley bedroom community. Monte Sereno shares a ZIP Code and school district with Los Gatos. Many municipal services are provided under contract by the city of Los Gatos.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Notable events
5 External links

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History

The Monte Sereno area was part of the 1839 Alta California land grant of Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos. The city incorporated in 1957 to protect its semi-rural atmosphere.

John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men in a wooded home at 16250 Greenwood Lane in what is now Monte Sereno.

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Geography

Monte Sereno is located at 37°14'17" North, 121°59'22" West (37.238194, -121.989475)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 km² (1.6 mi²). 4.2 km² (1.6 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

The El Sereno Open Space Preserve is immediately south of the city and covers the top and portions of the flanks of El Sereno mountain.

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Demographics

As of the census Template:GR of 2000, there were 3,483 people, 1,211 households, and 1,024 families residing in the city. The population density was 835.3/km² (2,158.7/mi²). There were 1,237 housing units at an average density of 296.7/km² (766.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.61% White, 0.17% African American, 0.06% Native American, 12.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. 3.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,211 households out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.0% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.4% were non-families. 12.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $154,268, and the median income for a family was $156,706. Males had a median income of $100,000+ versus $41,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $76,577. 4.2% of the population and 3.1% of families were below the poverty line. 3.9% of those under the age of 18 and 4.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

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Notable events

A dispute between two neighbors over extravagant Christmas decorations gained Monte Sereno attention in national news. Alan and Bonnie Aerts of Monte Sereno, the City's most active philanthropists, had for years showcased elaborate holiday displays, costing as much as $150,000, on their front yard. The displays attracted large masses of visitors, resulting in great traffic around the normally quiet cul-de-sac of four houses. Neighbors Le and Susan Nguyen protested, and, in late 2003, the city council (with Councilmembers Barbara Nesbet, Mark Brodsky and Curtis Wright voting for and Councilmembers Erin Garner and David Baxter voting against) passed an ordinance regarding "regulation of special events" [1], [2] which would require permits for such displays. This ordinance has also been called the "Alan Aerts" ordinance because no application for a special event has ever been submitted other than by the Aertses. The next Christmas (in 2004), the Aertses declined to apply for a permit, which would only allow the Aerts's holiday display to be active for 12 hours in a 72-hour period. Instead, they erected a huge, 10-foot-tall Grinch on their lawn, who swayed from side while singing "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch" . The Grinch's outsretched arm pointed conspicuously at the home of the Nguyens. [3]

The spectacle gained mention from the Associated Press and NPR. [4]

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