History and Description of the Metropolitan San Jose Regional Area

History and Description of the Metropolitan San Jose Regional Area - Search Home and House Property Listings

Named for the Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe in 1777, San Jose was the first civil settlement in California and the first state capital.

It was also the first major city with a woman mayor and is home to a new convention and cultural center. San Jose is the nations top high-tech growth center and ranks fifth in the nation in manufacturing. Shopping centers, museums, recreational areas and parks abound.

San Jose's largest employers include Cisco Systems, IBM, San Jose State University and Lockheed to name a few. San Jose is well known for its Mediterranean climate averaging 300 days of sunshine and an annual average temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Several professional sports franchises make their home in San Jose - the San Jose Sharks (NHL) and the San Jose Giants (minor league - A). Within a short drive you can be in San Francisco, quaint Los Gatos, Stanford University, beaches at Santa Cruz, galleries in Carmel or tidepools in Monterey.

Outdoor activities abound. With sunny weather, golf, tennis, and all manner of water sports are popular among residents and visitors alike. San Jose has 125 parks and two recreational lakes, and the Pacific Ocean and beaches are just over the mountain, less than one hour away. Truly, San Jose is a city to enlighten and delight in.

Known as the "Capital of Silicon Valley", San Jose is considered one of the more affordable areas in which to live. Home prices start at $450,000, although some smaller townhouses and condominiums can be found beginning at $350,000. North San Jose is made up primarily of single-family homes and mature neighborhoods. The city provides residents with easy access to the 101 Freeway and its direct access to San Francisco or the 680 or 880 freeways that take travelers to the east bay cities and on to Sacramento. San Jose offers its residents an excellent quality of life with a beautiful mild Mediterranean climate, good schools, low crime and an exceptional public safety record, and plenty of employment opportunities including many in the field of information technology.