CUPERTINO
Evergreen
Campbell
Located in the West Valley of Santa Clara County, Campbell is a delightful community where tradition and progress combine in a successful blend. Named for prominent civic leader and rancher Benjamin Campbell of the 1850's, this city is today a thriving and growing community of more than 39,000. Campbell was home to three major canneries in the late 1800's, including the J.C. Ainsley Packing Company, the Hyde Cannery, and the Payne Cannery. The most famous owner was J.C. Ainsley, and his name adorns a park in Campbell located between Harrison Avenue & the railroad tracks.
Campbell was incorporated as a city in 1952 and features one of the more lively downtown districts in the region. Excellent restaurants, pubs, jewelry shops, clothing stores, and personal service boutiques adorn the historic district. VTA light rail runs through the heart of the downtown Campbell district and provides access to Downtown San Jose as well as the Caltrain system. During the summer nights, Campbell is host to a weekly concert series in the park that draws residents from nearby neighborhoods into the downtown.
Campbell is also home to the Pruneyard shopping center that features over 250,000 square feet of mixed-use retail and office space. This center is a popular destination for restaurant goers and features a movie theater as well. The shopping center was acquired by Ellis Partners in 2014, and they are working to enhance the site to attract new retail tenants and make it a larger destination center for the area.
The City of Campbell has its own 95008 zip code and is served by the Campbell Union School District and the Campbell Union High School District. The combination of two vibrant shopping and districts and the high-quality schools in the region make Campbell a desirable place to live. Below is the historical market data for the City.
Almaden Valley
The Almaden Valley is a picturesque area located in the southern region of San Jose, CA. The area is named after the New Almaden Quicksilver Mines that produced an ore called cinnabar, which was in operation until the early 1900's. The cinnabar was used for body painting and wall writings by the local Ohlone Indians, but it also contained mercury. Mercury was heavily used in the 1800's to assist with the processing of silver and gold during the gold rush era, and this mine was one of the most valuable mines in the state. The mine is no longer, and was converted to the Almaden Quicksilver County Park by the County of Santa Clara, and is still operated to this day.
The Almaden Valley is recognized by local residents as an upper-middle class neighborhood with larger homes on larger lots, and some of the best public schools in the San Jose Unified School District. This community is a driving style community with very little in the way of walkable retail or a central downtown core. Amenities such as grocery stores and retail are primarily located along Almaden Expressway and near Blossom Hill Road and Highway 85 to the north of the Valley.
For those that love outdoor recreation, the southern part of the valley offers convenient access to boating on Calero Reservoir, hiking and biking trails, and a 27-hole championship golf course named Cinnabar Hills. For those that desire a little more urban recreational environment, Almaden Lake Park and Lake Almaden offers a 32 acre lake that is available for fishing and paddle boating. It also offers a tremendous amount of walking trails and picnic areas. For those desiring private golf and country clubs, the Almaden Golf and Country Club and The Golf Club at Boulder Ridge are both excellent local options.
The Almaden Valley has both single family homes, condos, and townhomes that are available for purchase, but the majority of homes in the region are single family homes. The primary zip code for the region is 95120, and the majority of the developed lots in the region are located within the City of San Jose. Below is the historical home sale data for the Almaden Valley.
Cambrian
Located North of Los Gatos and the Almaden Valley, and South of the Campbell and Willow Glen communities, the Cambrian area of San Jose is home to many middle-class families that value excellent schools and a decent sized suburban home. It is a small enclave of single-family homes, a few condos & townhomes, and a small mix of retail. There is no downtown core or urban center, but because of the proximity to Willow Glen, Campbell, and Los Gatos, residents can enjoy the nightlife when they want and live in a serene neighborhood environment.
What sets Cambrian apart from other communities in San Jose are the elementary schools. The Cambrian School District serves approximately 3200 students in grades K-8, and all five of the district's schools have been recognized as California Distinguished Schools. The district is working on bringing technology into the classrooms and has received numerous grants for their curriculum development work. The area is also served by the Campbell Union High School District, with Branham High and Leigh High the local options based on residency. A portion of the Cambrian area to the East is served by the San Jose Unified School District.
The Cambrian area is ideally located for commuters who want multiple options for heading North by car to local job centers. The area straddles Highway 85 with multiple access points and offers relatively quick access to Highway 87 and Highway 17. The area is not ideal for public transit access, as a drive to a local station is required in order to access the system. Public amenities in the area include a newly built public library, and numerous City maintained parks. The local Cambrian Park Plaza was purchased by a developer in 2014, and given the location at the heart of the Cambrian neighborhood, will likely be rebuilt into a new retail and restaurant center for the community.
The Cambrian area of San Jose shares the 95124 zip code with Willow Glen, and also includes the 95118 zip code. The real estate community uses MLS area 14 to designate Cambrian and below is the historical market data for the region.