Manhole Covers of Gilroy, Santa Clara County, California
Gilroy is a medium-sized suburban city in southern Santa Clara County at the southern end of the San Francico Bay, at an average elevation of 200 feet above sea level. The City of Gilroy was founded in 1850, and incorporated in 1867 at the Town of Gilroy, and then as the City of Gilroy on 12 March 1870. Gilroy was named after John Cameron Gilroy (baptised Juan Bautista Gilroy), a Scotsman born in 1794 who settled in the "Pleasant Valley" in the early 1800s. Gilroy currently has a population of about 41,464 people (2000). Gilroy citizens are composed of 58.9% Whites, 53.8% Hispanics, 4.4% Asians, 1.6% Native American, and 1.8% African-American.
Gilroy was originally settled by the Ohlone Indians, who where largely replaced by Spanish emigrants under Spanish colonization in the early 1800s. Gilroy is the center of the garlic-growing area, also with a number of vineyards and wineries. Historically, Gilroy has been important for growing grains, tobacco, and making cheese and raising horses.
Gilroy has grown tremendously in the last 20 years, incorporating within its borders many acres of former farmlands. Crops grown included strawberries, garlic, prunes, grapes, apricots, and broccoli. Gilroy is now synonomous with urban sprawl, providing less expensive housing than can be found in the northern part of the county. The median household income for Gilroy residents is $62,135 and the per capita income is $22,071. About 19% of Gilroy residents over age 25 have earned a Bachelor's degree or higher.
Two highways pass through Gilroy, U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 152. Southern Pacific Railroad passes through Gilroy, arriving in 1869. The average commute time for Gilroy workers is 31 minutes, which is about 5 minutes longer than the national average commute. Gilroy has a very nice climate, with an annual average high temperature of 77 degrees F and average low of 49 degrees F. The average annual rainfall is 20-25 inches, with about 70 percent of the days sunny. Pajaro River tributaries pass through the city. Additional information about Gilroy can be found at Gilroy Info and at the Official City of Gilroy site.
