Santa Clara County, California
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{{Infobox County
|official_name = County of Santa Clara, California
|image_seal = SantaClaraCountySeal.GIF
|image_flag = SantaClaraCountyFlag.gif
|image_map = SantaClaraCountyCALM.GIF
|map_caption = Location of Santa Clara County within California.
|subdivision_type = Country
State
|subdivision_name = United States
California
|leader_title = Board of Supervisors
District One
District Two
District Three
District Four
District Five
|leader_name =
Donald Gage
Blanca Alvarado
Pete McHugh
James T. Beall
Liz Kniss
|formed = 1850
|county_seat = San Jose
|area_total = 3,377
|area_land = 3,343
|area_water = 34
|population_year = 2000
|population_total = 1,682,585
|population_density = 503
|timezone = Pacific
|utc_offset = −8
|timezone_DST = Pacific
|utc_offset_DST = −7
|website = http://www.sccgov.org/
|footnotes =
}}
Santa Clara County is a county located in California's San Francisco Bay Area. It is the site of Silicon Valley. As of 2000 it had a population of 1,682,585. The county seat is San Jose.
Contents |
History
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.
Geography
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 is water. The total area is 1.02% water.
The San Andreas Fault runs along the Santa Cruz Mountains in the south 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
Demographics
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. 7.50% of the population and 4.90% of families were below the poverty line. 8.40% of those under the age of 18 and 6.40% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Santa Clara County has the highest median household income of any county in California.
Politics
Image:Santaclaracountygovernmentcenter.jpg
| 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 |
Transportation
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.
Cities, towns, and neighborhoods
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
- Sunnyvale
Unincorporated Census Designated Places
Unincorporated communities in the county include:
- Buena Vista
- Burbank
- East Foothills
- Fruitdale
- Lexington Hills
- Loyola
- San Martin
- Seven Trees
- Stanford
- Sunol-Midtown
Other unincorporated locales
- San Antonio
- Bell Station also known as Bells Station
Sister counties
See also
- Committee for Green Foothills
- Santa Clara County expressway system
- List of school districts in Santa Clara County, California
External links
Template:Cities of Santa Clara County, California
bg:Санта Клара
de:Santa Clara County fr:Comté de Santa Clara it:Santa Clara County ja:サンタクララ郡 pt:Condado de Santa Clara