City of San Jos history

The home of Captain Thomas Fallon (center), who raised the American flag over San José in 1846.

Owing to the area's rapid growth over the years, San Jose was declared the first capital of California in 1849.

San Jose became the first incorporated city in California on March 27, 1850.

If you are looking for vital records, real estate history and maps, please start at the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office, as they also hold documents from 1851 onward.

In 1854 the New Alamden Quicksilver Mines was built just south of San Jose, and the mercury industry boomed from there, and gave birth to the city’s daily newspaper Mercury News (now San Jose Mercury News).

San Jose supports a variety of music, dance, and theatre organizations, including professional ballet and opera companies. It is maintained as a museum, as are Peralta Adobe (1797), the last remaining structure from the original pueblo, and nearby Fallon House (1855), built for one of the city’s first mayors.

In 1861 Judge Lawrence Archer purchased 160 acres just outside of San José’s city limits.

In 1864 the coming of the railroad from San Francisco gave San Jose improved trade connections and enabled the produce of nearby farms to be readily shipped to San Francisco.

From the first eastward shipment of fresh fruit in 1869, the Valley became the world's largest food processing center.

One of the original schools in the area is San Jose State University, which opened in 1871.

"Safe Deposit Block," Commercial & Savings Bank on the corner of First and Santa Clara, 1884.

City Hall (built in 1887) is in the center of the Plaza in the background.

Clyde Arbuckle, born in 1903, attended Santa Clara High School until he was 15.

On the southwest corner of First and San Fernando, this 1905 steel-framed building is considered the first skyscraper in San José, and the site of its first radio station, KQW. It later became the Silicon Valley Financial Center.

Post Office on the Plaza soon after the 1906 eathquake.

Osen Hunter Auto Company, 1908, at the corner of First and St James.

First National Bank, built in 1909 at the southwest corner of First and Santa Clara, was the second "skyscraper" in San José, and towered over everything except the Electric Light Tower.

The Bank of Italy in San Francisco was founded by A. P. Giannini, a native of San José. The San José branch opened in 1910.

In 1912 the Guadalupe River was dammed near St John, and a recreational lake created.

Courthouse and Hall of Records on North First Street on July 4th, 1914.

The Scottish Rite Temple at 196 North Third was built in 1924.

Bank of America, built in 1927, on the southeast corner of First and Santa Clara.

In 1934 the Post Office moved from the building on the Plaza to this North First Street location.

The Japanese Americans were sent to interment for a time during the course of the war, while anti-Mexican violence took place in 1943 following the zoot suit riots that occurred in Los Angeles.

In 1945, his passion for sharing local history led the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Native Daughters, the California Pioneers of Santa Clara Valley and the Historic Landmarks Committee to recommend him for the honorary position of City Historian.

History San José’s (HSJ) activities began in 1949 following the centennial celebration of the California Gold Rush and statehood.

However, in 1951 Alden Campen learned that Louise Kelley was in failing health and her family was going to put the orchard at the corner of Senter and Keyes up for sale as a subdivision.

In 1970, Clyde Arbuckle nominated and Fox received an American Association for State and Local History award for his efforts and achievements in historic preservation.

Cisco was founded in 1984 and has its headquarters in San Jose, California.

The portico from the Eagles Hall building on Third Street, facing St James Park, was all that was preserved when a large office building was constructed on the site in 1985.

1988 view of banks at Santa Clara and Almaden.

In 1990, soon after Cisco sold its first shares of stock to the public, Lerner was ousted from the company, and Bosack subsequently quit.

Digital exhibit created from a 1991 physical exhibit:

The company introduced the improved 7000 model router in 1993, and that same year it began acquiring other companies.

In 1994 the company relocated its headquarters from Menlo Park, California, to San Jose, and the following year John T. Chambers replaced Morgridge as CEO. Chambers continued to pursue the strategy of growth by acquisition.

In 1998 Cisco bought Selsius Systems, a company with expertise in Internet telephony that helped Cisco take a dominant position in VoIP technology.

2002 - Symphony Silicon Valley established

2005 - New SJ City Hall opens downtown at 4th and Santa Clara

In 2006 Cisco introduced TelePresence, an elaboration of videoconferencing that is intended to allow people in different locations to interact as if they were in the same place.

Because of San Jose’s prominent economic position, its cost of living is deemed one of the highest not only in California but in the whole of US. The city is nearing the one millionth population mark as it stands at 945,942 as of 2010 US Census.

In February, 2012, the Kelley House was badly damaged in a two-alarm fire and was scheduled for demolition by the City of San Jose.

2017 - Coyote Creek flood