Campbell, California Totally Explained

Everything about Campbell California totally explained

Campbell is a city in Santa Clara County, California, part of Silicon Valley, in the San Francisco Bay Area. As of 2007 population estimates, Campbell's population is 39,200. Although not a major high-tech city like many of its neighbors, Campbell is the original home of eBay and of its creator, Pierre Omidyar.
Campbell is home to the Pruneyard Shopping Center, a sprawling open-air retail complex which was involved in a famous U.S. Supreme Court case that established the extent of the right to free speech in California. The larger of the associated Pruneyard Towers, built in 1970, was for many years the tallest building between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Geography

Campbell is located at (37.283909, -121.955026). It is bordered on the east and north by San Jose and on the south by Los Gatos. A narrow strip of San Jose separates Campbell on the west from Saratoga.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.8 km² (5.7 mi²). 14.5 km² (5.6 mi²) of it's land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it's water.
Of the total area, 1.75% is water, consisting of percolation ponds in Los Gatos Creek Park and in other locations; San Tomas Aquino Creek, which flows north on the west side of the city, is completely enclosed with fences and runs through concrete culverts; and Los Gatos Creek, which flows north-north-east on the east side of the city and has paths along both banks for hikers and joggers (locally called the "Par Course"). State Route 17 runs roughly parallel to Los Gatos Creek on its eastern side; State Route 85 runs roughly east-west through Los Gatos just south of Campbell and cuts through the southwest corner of the city.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 39,200 people, 15,920 households, and 9,122 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,624.8/km² (6,802.8/mi²). There were 16,286 housing units at an average density of 1,120.9/km² (2,905.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.78% White, 2.53% African American, 0.65% Native American, 14.16% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 4.87% from other races, and 4.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.33% of the population. and is represented by Democrat Mike Honda.

History

Campbell was founded by Benjamin Campbell, after whom the city was named. He came to California in 1846 with his father, William Campbell. William started a sawmill in Saratoga and surveyed the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara. In 1851, Benjamin bought in southern Santa Clara Valley and cultivated hay and grain on it. This area later became Campbell's historical downtown core.
   About a third of Campbell was a part of the 1839 Alta California Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos land grant. The Northern extent of the granted land was along present-day Rincon Avenue and across the North end of John D. Morgan Park in central Campbell.
   In 1878, Campbell sold his land for $5 an acre to a railroad company. By 1887, the first subdivision was recorded west of the railroad from Campbell Avenue to the spot where the Water Tower Plaza now stands. The area became the center for shipping fruit grown in the surrounding area, and within a short time, the drying grounds and canneries made Campbell an important rail center. The Campbell Fruit Growers' Union became a well-known cooperative with its 17 acre drying yard. J.C. Ainsley Packing Company, Hyde Cannery, and Payne Cannery were the main fruit packing companies. The Bank of Campbell was founded in 1895.
   Campbell was officially incorporated as a city in 1952. The city then grew rapidly as orchard lands disappeared tract by tract. Today, Campbell is a quiet suburban residential neighborhood in the southern part of the Santa Clara Valley.

Layout

Campbell is situated in the southern portion of the Santa Clara Valley, with Highway 17 passing through eastern Campbell and Highway 85 to its south. The historic downtown section sits just west of the railroad in the central area. The southwestern area of Campbell is known as the San Tomas neighborhood and varies somewhat from most of Campbell in the size of its lots and styles of housing. Hamilton Avenue is one the northernmost roads in Campbell.
The largest park in Campbell is Los Gatos Creek Park near Highway 17, and the second largest is John D. Morgan Park.

Transportation

Campbell is served by several major roads, including State Route 17, State Route 85 and Santa Clara County Route G4, better known as the San Tomas Expressway. Major local arterial roads include Winchester Boulevard and Bascom Avenue. Public transport in Campbell is operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and includes several local and express bus lines that link the community to nearby towns, including Cupertino, Los Gatos, Palo Alto San Jose, Santa Clara and Saratoga. Additionally, the town is served by three light rail stations on the Mountain View - Winchester line, including Hamilton Station, Downtown Campbell Station, and the line's terminus at Winchester Station. These stations were opened as part of the first phase of the Vasona Light Rail project; the line will be extended past Winchester to Vasona Junction in Los Gatos once funding is secured. That line is now served by buses.
The extension was the subject of a minor dispute with the Federal Railroad Administration over the sounding of train horns late at night. This dispute delayed the opening of most of the extension for two months before the grand opening on October 1, 2005.

Housing and businesses

There are few large shopping centers or business complexes in the city, as Campbell is primarily a suburban residential area. Fry's Electronics and The Home Depot each have stores within the city limits and are two of the city's largest employers.
   Most residences are single-family homes, although there are some areas with condominiums, duplexes, and apartments. The Gaslighter produced melodramas and Vaudeville-style shows there until it closed in 2006. The building was sold and is currently undergoing refurbishment to become a lounge.
   As of October 2006, the median price of single-family homes and condos was $707,500, up 4.8% from the previous October, and averaging $472 per square foot ($5,080/m²) according to the San Jose Mercury News; the average single-family home price, excluding condos, was $645,000 in January, 2004 (according to the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors). The price is based largely on the land value; the replacement cost for homes is about $150 to $200 per square foot ($1,600 to $2,200/m²).
   Like many other cities in the Santa Clara Valley, Campbell was originally orchard land that was later developed into housing tracts. A few small orchards remain, though their numbers continue to dwindle rapidly as they're converted to housing and shopping.

Points of interest

In the early 1990s, the Ainsley House, a unique English Tudor-style house built in the 1930s, was moved from its original site at the corner of Hamilton and Bascom Avenues (the current site of eBay's headquarters) to the downtown quad and furnished with many of the Ainsley family's original furnishings. It has become the centerpiece for the Campbell Historical Museum, which houses additional exhibits in the nearby old firehouse. The Ainsley House was built in the style of English country cottages for John Colpitts Ainsley, a canning pioneer in Santa Clara County, which was at the time known for its vast spreads of fruit orchards.
   The Campbell Community Center is located on the northwest corner of Winchester and Campbell Avenues, in the building that used to be Campbell High School, the original school in the Campbell Union High School District. The Redwood Tree, which stands at the corner of Winchester Boulevard and Campbell Avenue was originally planted there on May 11, 1903 by then President, Teddy Roosevelt. The city acquired the property on August 1, 1985, three years after the school shut down. The Heritage Theater, formerly the high school's auditorium, was reopened after renovations in 2004. The Community Center holds classes, and portions are available to be rented for various events.
   Campbell was also the site of the 1896 spree-killing by James Dunham.
   In 1975, Mayor Rusty Hammer, at 21, became the youngest mayor ever in the United States.
   The fruit cocktail was invented in Campbell. Lars Frederiksen, singer and guitarist for the punk band Rancid, grew up in Campbell and frequently mentions the town in songs by both Rancid and his side project Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards.

Notable residents

Dave Meltzer, editor and owner of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Don Hahn, baseball outfielder; played for the Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Diego Padres in the late 1960s to mid-1970s
Sylvia Browne, psychic, spiritualist, author
Chris Dufresne, psychic, author, son of Sylvia Browne
Lars Frederiksen of Rancid, Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards
Mark Brown, guitar technician for The Doobie Brothers

Sister cities

Keelung City, TaiwanFurther Information

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