San Jose, California


San Jose is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay in California and is the third largest city in the U.S. State of California. The San Jose area is home to the largest concentration of technology expertise in the world. More than 6,600 technology companies, such as Cisco Systems, eBay, and Adobe Systems, employing more than 254,000 people. San Jose, the hub of Silicon Valley, was named the 4th safest big city in the US for 2008-2009.



To See And To Do In San Jose


  • The Tech Museum
  • San José Museum of Art
  • Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and Planetarium
  • San José Museum of Quilts and Textiles
  • Winchester Mystery House
  • Japantown
  • Valley Fair Shopping Mall


History Of San Jose - Timeline


San José was founded on November 29, 1777, by farmers, as Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe, and was California's first civilian settlement. In 1797, today's downtown was settled, the Plaza in downtown was established, and the Peralta Adobe house was built. It is the last remaining structure from this period. In 1803, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, a Roman Catholic church was built.

In 1820, Mexican settlers discovered ores (rock that contains minerals) in what later would become the New Almaden quicksilver mine. In 1846, American settlers revolted against Mexico and Thomas Fallon and his men captured the town.

In 1850, San Jose was incorporated. In 1851, the newspaper, the Mercury News, was founded. The importance of the mercury industry during the California Gold Rush, in the 1850s, explains why the local newspaper was named the Mercury News. Mercury was used to separate gold from ore. In 1854, the New Almaden quicksilver mine was built. In 1857, the San Jose State University was established.

In 1858, a stagecoach route was established and the Thomas Fallon House with 15 rooms was built. In 1861, the city had street lights. In 1863, the San José High School was established. In 1864, the railroad came. In 1881, the Electric Light Tower was constructed to give the streets electric lights. In 1886, the Winchester Mystery House was built.

In 1900, about 21,500 people lived in the city. In 1904, the Jose Theater was built. In 1905, the Hayes Mansion, with its 62 rooms, was completed. In 1906, over 100 people were killed in the city by an earthquake. (The 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed many buildings in San Jose). In 1909, Dr. Charles Herrold created the world's second radio station and began experimental radio broadcasts in downtown.

In 1926, the Hotel Sainte Claire was built. In 1931, the De Anza Hotel was built. In 1933, the kidnapping and murder of Brooke Hart were reported throughout the United States. It resulted in mob violence in San Jose and about 10,000 residents stormed the jail and lynched the two men who had confessed to the killing. The lynching of his alleged murderers sparked political debate. Broke Hart was the son of Alexander Hart, the owner of L. Hart and Son Department Store in San Jose.

In 1942, the San Jose Municipal Stadium opened. Many American people of Japanese heritage lives in San Jose. During the World War II, most of the Japanese community were removed and interned in war detention camps.

In 1952 IBM opened a research and development facility in the city. In 1987, the 805-room hotel, The Fairmont, opened. In 2003, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library opened. In 2005, the City Hall building was completed.