Initially a prosperous agricultural area, San Jose was metamorphosised into a thriving commercial centre after the phenomenal computer revolution in Silicon Valley . The period from 1950 to 1980 saw a humungous growth in the economic sector in San Jose resulting in the increase in its population fourfold. The urban sector experienced tremendous growth especially in the real estate section. Although the sector experienced economic recession in 1985, San Jose is still considered as one of the lively and cheerful cities and is ranked as one of the top cities on the Westcoast.
San Jose is known as the first civic settlement established by the Mexican colonists in 1777. The economy was largely dependant on the agricultural sector and during the Gold Rush San Jose saw a major boom in population. The real estate frenzy in 1887 was also one of the major reasons behind the increase in population. Before the World War II, San Jose was famous for its canneries and packing houses. But nothing of this is compared with the technological revolution in the Silicon Valley in the early 1980's. The unplanned expansion of the city resulted in congestion, unnecessary construction, population boom, but the unemployment agencies were happy because of the increasing number of jobs in the city.
The Santa Clara County is one of the expanding metropolitan areas of San Jose . The city of San Jose sits in between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Mountain Range. Two of the major rivers of the area are the Coyote and the Guadalupe rivers. San Jose is known for its mild climate and the precipitation varies according to the seasons. The climate can also be called semi-arid. The computer revolution triggered unprecedented growth in the urban sector creating jobs in the IT sector. The New Economy comprised of the creation of new companies and Internet was primarily used for business. Along with the technology business, new service and support industry cropped up. Along with the technological advancement, the city had also put emphasis on Small Business Opportunity Program and the joined effort helped in the prosperity of economy in the metropolitan area. The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce focuses on the development of small and medium-sized companies which are involved in international business.
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Both the State Programs and the Job Training Programs are known to contribute generously in the development projects.
A favorite haunt for the travellers from all over the world, San Jose is a perfect synthesis of rich history and commercial development. The place is full of greens and parks and the nature lovers will be doubly happy to visit the Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. The San Jose Historical Museum, Japanese Friendship Garden, Overfelt Botanical Gardens, Municipal Rose garden are some of the cherished destinations of San Jose. The haunted Victorian Mansion of Winchester Mystery house or the demonstration of the agrarian life in Ardenwood Historic Farm can make the trip exciting. The table wines of the famous San Jose wineries along with the numerous theme parks like the Raging Waters are some of the major tourist attractions of San Jose. A hub for all the regional artists and budding talents, San Jose is known for the wide range of theatrical, musical and dance performances in the Centre for the Performing Arts and the Montgomery Theatre. The museums and art galleries of San Jose are known to exhibit some of the brilliant artifacts, antiques and they specialize in variety of fields. The San Jose Museum of Art and the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles showcase the history of quilts and textiles. Celebrations and festivals are a way of life for the local residents and the tourists are also encouraged to witness the vibrancy of events like San Jose International Auto show, the Vietnamese Spring Festival, San Jose Art Festival, Cinco de Mayo Parade and Festival, Comcast Jazz Festival.
The people of San Jose are known as sporty and adventurous types and the tourists can also indulge in a variety of activities like golf, baseball, basket ball, horse racing. The city is known for its myriad shops, designer boutiques, and grand shopping malls. The San Jose Flea Market , one of the largest flea markets attracts customers because of the wide range of collectibles and fresh foods. The Produce Row is reputed as California's largest farmer's market. One cannot just get away from San Jose without sampling some of the multi-ethnic delights like French, Persian, Moroccan, Thai and Mexican dishes. The Santa Clara wineries will leave a long-lasting impression on the wine connoisseur with the choicest of wines like Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Johannisburg Riesling wines.
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