San Jose

San Jose is the largest city in Northern California, located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay. It has an estimated population of one million people and is part of the larger San Francisco Bay Area metropolitan area, which includes Oakland and other cities in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Marin County and Santa Clara County. The municipal government for San Jose consists of a mayor-council form with 11 council members elected from single member districts; as well as various departments such as public works, police department, parks & recreation department and airport services .

The first settlers to arrive in what would become modern day San Jose arrived around 1777 when Spanish colonizers founded El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles (the Town of Our Lady Queen Of The Angels) near downtown. In 1849 during the height of the Gold Rush era it was then renamed “San José” after Saint Joseph. After this time period there was rapid growth due to its strategic location on important trade routes between northern Mexico/California’s Central Valley region (via El Camino Real) & northern Californian ports like Monterey & Yerba Buena. By 1860s it had become a major agricultural hub known for its crops such as wheat barley grapes cotton sugar beets alfalfa etc..

In addition to agriculture many new industries were established here including canneries glassworks leather factories cigar makers distilleries brickyards soap manufacturers breweries woolen mills machine shops furniture companies hatters lumber yards bottling plants tinsmiths breweries wire rope factories wagon makers harnesses foundries flouring mills carriage builders blacksmiths dairy products jewelers tanneries biscuit bakeries printing offices lithographers book binders photographers photolithographers mattress manufactures piano manufacturers watchmakers stove manufacturers marble works ice cream parlors electric light stores bicycle repair shops upholsterers cooperages …etc all contributing towards economic development over time .

Today San José is often referred to informally by locals simply ‘Silicon Valley’ reflecting that fact that it has been one epicenter for technology industry since 1950s when electronics began being manufactured here along with commercialization computer technology taking place throughout 70&80′ s making way today’s high tech economy based off software engineering biotechnology semiconductor manufacturing venture capital start ups nanotechnology research …etc resulting world renowned reputation globally associated technological advancement innovation entrepreneurship creativity etc… Alongside these developments numerous educational institutions have also set up shop within city limits ranging from elementary schools universities specialty colleges vocational centers technical institutes offering wide range degree programs aiding further progress professional opportunities work force training ..etc