San Jose is…
- The oldest civilian settlement in California, founded in 1777
- The site of the first state capital
- Northern California's largest city, population of 945,000 (2005 census)
- The third largest city in California
- The tenth largest city in the nation
- One of the top three Safest Big Cities in America
- The largest concentration of technology expertise in the world, with 6,600 technology companies
Bet You Didn't Know…
- The sun shines 300 days of the year in San Jose
- Average daily temperatures range from January's 50° to July's 70°
- "California Casual" is always in style
- Silicon Valley is very pet-friendly-San Jose has six fabulous dog parks
- The highest elevation is 4,372 feet at Copernicus Peak on Mount Hamilton in the Diablo Range; on a clear day
the view east from the peak can stretch all the way to the Sierra Nevada Range; locals say the route up Mount
Hamilton from San Jose has 365 turns-one for every day of the year
Amazing, but True
- San Jose boasts the highest median household income in the nation
- More than half of the adults living in Silicon Valley hold a college degree
- San Jose leads the nation in patent generation
- San Jose State University (SJSU) is Silicon Valley's largest institution of higher learning with 30,000 students and 4,000 employees
- The 154-acre campus of SJSU anchors downtown and includes the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library co-managed with the city-the first such partnership in the nation and the largest public library west of the Mississippi, displaying artwork on every floor
- San Jose is the number one recycler among the nation's largest cities
San Jose's Rich Diversity
- San Jose takes pride in the cultural and ethnic diversity of its population, and the unique and vibrant identity of its many neighborhoods
- Residents speak more than 56 different languages
- The census bureau shows the demographics are: 33% white, 32.1% Hispanic, 28% Asian and 2.8% African-American
- Japantown-one of only three in the U.S. - and the Japanese Friendship Garden are popular stops for visitors
- The outstanding Biblioteca Latinoamericana holds one of the largest collections of Spanish language materials in Northern California
- Home to the biggest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam, San Jose has the nation's first Vietnamese Heritage Garden and Historical Museum
- Year-round, San Jose sponsors many cultural festivals
- Numerous ethnic chambers of commerce are active in the community
Play All Day
- Roam 150 parks and gardens
- Play 15 local and championship golf courses
- Sip or buy at more than two dozen local wineries
- Shop 'til your credit cards sizzle at malls, outlets, and premium shopping centers
- Watch traveling Broadway shows, ballet, opera, symphony, or local acts at off-Broadway style houses
Let's Give 'Em Something to Talk About
- The "Today Show" and "Oprah" recently broadcast a Men's Health magazine poll ranking San Jose as the 3rd place in the U.S. to find a mate
- A recent story on CNN.com places San Jose as the 8th Best Fitness Walking City in the U.S.
- MostLivable.org recently ranked San Jose among the Top 10 Most Livable Large Cities LA to Seattle Coast Starlight)
Getting Here, Getting Around
- Covering 177 square miles at the southern end of San Francisco Bay, San Jose is 45 minutes south of San Francisco, and some 40-70 minutes northeast of Santa Cruz and Monterey respectively.
- The sleek light rail cars of the Valley Transit Authority (VTA) link downtown to businesses and attractions, making downtown easy to navigate
- Access the city via any of three interstate highways (I-280, I-880, I-680), use the expressways, or hop on Caltrain (commuter rail between San Francisco and Gilroy) or Amtrak (the Sacramento to San Jose Capitol Corridor and the LA to Seattle Coast Starlight)
- The Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) is just three miles from downtown San Jose; average time from baggage claim bag pickup to hopping into a cab: five minutes
- As the gateway to Silicon Valley, SJC is one of the most convenient and accessible airports in the Bay Area, boasting 13 airlines and 182 daily departures
About The San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB)
The San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB) mission is to enhance the image and economic well being of San
Jose by marketing San Jose as a globally recognized destination. The SJCVB offers visitors, meeting planners, and
tour operators, a range of services to ensure a successful event and fun visit to San Jose. For a copy of the Official
Visitors Guide, please contact the SJCVB at 1.800.SAN.JOSE (1.800.726.5673) or visit http://www.sanjose.org.
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