South Santa Clara County

South Santa Clara County, situated at the south end of San Francisco Bay, was a cattle-ranching area in the 19th century. With 300 days of sun a year, it became a major agricultural and food-production center. Since the 1960s, the electronics and computer industries have transformed the Valley of the Heart’s Delight into a world-class technology center. City dwellers are now taking up residence in an area once steeped in agriculture, with more than 240,000 people making their homes here. Featured in this book are south San Jose, Coyote Valley, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and unincorporated parts of the south county, such as east Santa Cruz Mountains and Pacheco Pass.