Named for an ancient redwood tree that was a living landmark for late-1700s Spanish explorers, Palo Alto today is a diverse community, a mixture of high-tech and locally owned companies and more than 26,000 homes.
Since incorporation in 1894, Palo Alto has expanded to encompass the area stretching from San Francisquito Creek to the north to San Antonio Road to the south, from the San Francisco Bay to the Skyline Ridge. It is home to nearly 60,000 residents — but during weekdays the population swells to nearly 140,000 with the daily flow and ebb of commuters.
Over time, the demographics of Palo Alto have changed dramatically. What once was a homogeneous, mostly blue-collar community, with an enclave of Stanford University professors, has become a diverse, mostly well-to-do, well-educated, but aging, population.
Despite a median household income of $166,063 in 2008 inflation-adjusted dollars, many are challenged to keep up with the median home price — $1,375,000 (from December 2009 through November 2010).
But people continue to flock to Palo Alto, taking pride in its environmental consciousness, city-owned utilities, support of social services and some firsts, including opening a public Children’s Library in 1940 and becoming the first U.S. city to have an Internet home page in 1994.
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Barron Park
Charleston Gardens
Charleston Meadows
College Terrace
Community Center
Crescent Park
Downtown North
Duveneck/St. Francis
Esther Clark Park
Evergreen Park
Greater Miranda
Green Acres
Walnut Grove
Greenhouse
Greenmeadow
Leland Manor
Midtown
Monroe Park
Old Palo Alto
Palo Alto Hills
Palo Verde
Professorville
South of Midtown
Southgate
St. Claire Gardens
Triple El
University South
Ventura
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