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Mountain View, CA

Frequently asked questions

Mountain View, CA

Mountain View is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. Named for its views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, it has a population of 82,376 as of the 2020 census.

Mountain View was integral to the early history and growth of Silicon Valley and is the location of many high-technology companies. In 1956, William Shockley established Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory in Mountain View, the first company to develop silicon semiconductor devices in Silicon Valley. Today, Mountain View houses the headquarters of many of the world's largest technology companies, including Google and Alphabet Inc., Unicode Consortium, Intuit, NASA Ames Research Center, and major former and current headquarters offices for Microsoft, Symantec, 23andMe, LinkedIn, Samsung, and Synopsys.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.236 square miles (31.69 km2), of which 11.958 square miles (30.97 km2) is land and 0.278 square miles (0.72 km2) (2.26%) is water.

The city borders Palo Alto and the San Francisco Bay to the north, Los Altos to the south, and Moffett Federal Airfield and Sunnyvale to the east.

Mountain View is located in the south-eastern and south-western section of the San Francisco Peninsula, at the north end of State Route 85, where it meets U.S. Route 101. State Route 82 follows the route of the historic El Camino Real through Mountain View. The city is bounded to the north by the Bay, northeast by East Palo Alto, California at Baylands Park, Palo Alto, to the south and southwest by Los Altos, and to the east by Sunnyvale and Moffett Federal Airfield.

The Santa Cruz Mountains, the origin of the city's name, lie to the west. This range separates Mountain View from the Pacific Ocean and, together with the Diablo Range to the southeast, forms the Santa Clara Valley.

The fertile land between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the shores of the southern San Francisco Bay once supported multiple villages of the indigenous Ohlone people. Spanish missionaries utilized the land for sheep pastures.

The Mexican land grant of Rancho Pastoria de las Borregas was given in 1842 by Alta California Governor Juan Alvarado to Francisco Estrada. This grant was later passed on to Mariano Castro, who sold half of the land to Martin Murphy Jr. Eventually, the former land grant was developed as the cities of Mountain View and Sunnyvale.

Mountain View focuses on health and wellness. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs Mountain View’s Recreation and Community Services Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Orangetheory, Movement Gym, and Transform Fitness Studio. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Mountain View, such as the Stevens Creek Trail and the Bay Trail Shoreline Lake. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

The top sites in Mountain View, CA are the Computer History Museum, Shoreline Amphitheatre, and Cuesta Park. 

Population: 82,376 (2020). ZIP code: 94040. Area code: 650. Elevation: 105 ft (32 m). Area: 12.3 sq mi (31.8 km2).

FAQs

Is Mountain View, CA a good place to live?

Mountain View is in Santa Clara County and is one of the best places to live in California. Living in Mountain View offers residents an urban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Mountain View, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Mountain View and residents tend to be liberal.

What is the history of Mountain View, CA?

Mountain View began as a stagecoach stop between San Jose and San Francisco in 1849. A blacksmith shop, store, hotel, saloon, and school were built along what is now El Camino Real. When the railroad was built in 1864, the center of town shifted to Castro Street, near the train tracks.

Why is Mountain View, CA famous?

Mountain View was integral to the early history and growth of Silicon Valley and is the location of many high-technology companies. In 1956, William Shockley established Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory in Mountain View, the first company to develop silicon semiconductor devices in Silicon Valley. Mountain View houses the headquarters of many of the world's largest technology companies, including Google and Alphabet Inc., Unicode Consortium, Intuit, NASA Ames Research Center, and former or existing headquarters for Microsoft, Symantec, 23andMe, LinkedIn, Samsung, Quora, and Synopsys.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Mountain View

Mountain View’s Recreation and Community Services Department

Orangetheory

Movement Gym 

Transform Fitness Studio

Stevens Creek Trail 

Bay Trail Shoreline Lake

Computer History Museum

Shoreline Amphitheatre

Cuesta Park

Niche

Librarymountainview.gov

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