Living in Los Gatos Santa Cruz County CA
Los Gatos is a charming city that feels like a small town but offers all that a nicely sized city has to offer. It is located in northwest Santa Cruz County about a 30-minute drive north from the city of Santa Cruz traveled easily along Highway 17. Los Gatos is also nicely located just 10 miles south of San Jose following the same road and the city of San Francisco is just over an hour away.
Los Gatos is most popular for its amazing outdoor recreational activities and wineries as well as its quieter location on the southern border of Silicon Valley. It is also known as the headquarters of Netflix.
History of Los Gatos
Los Gatos is one of the oldest communities in the area. The earliest recorded history dates back to 1840 when the Mexican government allowed a land patent application for 6600 acres to be used as a ranch by Sebastian Peralta and Jose Hernandez. The first name for Los Gatos was La Rinconada de los Gatos which means cats corner. It was given this name by the earliest settlers who heard screams of mountain lions prowling in the night in the area. In 1868 100 acres of the ranch were selected to be a town site and the town was later incorporated in 1887. This area became very popular and as of 1890, the town population had grown to 1652 residents. By 1963 Los Gatos has grown to an area of 4000 acres with a population of more than 11,750.
Currently, the population of Los Gatos is estimated to be around 33,529 people with a 14-square-mile area. Los Gatos is a nice mix of residential, commercial, and light industrial that still attracts visitors and keeps a small town charming atmosphere. It is a great collection of quiet neighborhoods, amazing shopping and restaurants, great hotels, and several outdoor activities. The downtown area of Los Gatos has retained its historic charm and is an official spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
Things to do in Los Gatos
Amazing Food
The city of Los Gatos is well known for its many great local and larger franchise restaurants. If you are someone who enjoys great food or likes to try something new and unique Los Gatos will not disappoint. Some of the most popular places to grab a bite in Los Gatos include Manresa Restaurant, the popular Boulevard Coffee, the amazing dessert offerings at Dolce Spazio Dessert Café, and the great burgers at Super Duper Burgers.
If you are into cooking your own homemade meals and finding the best fresh ingredients Los Gatos also supplies not only great grocery stores but an amazing farmers market. The Los Gatos Farmers Market is in downtown Los Gatos at the Town Park Plaza on Main Street on N. Santa Cruz Ave. This is a treasure trove of local seasonal fruits and vegetables grown in the Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County areas and is open year-round. There are over 40 local farmers that bring their products to the market from eggs and vegetables to honey and specially prepared foods.
Outdoor Activities
The location in the hills offers very many opportunities to get outside and enjoy outdoor activities. Not only are there several great public parks there are many amazing hiking trails. One of the most popular is the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Other popular outdoor spots are Castle Rock State Park and smaller local parks including Vasona Park, and Oak Meadow Park. Whether you just need to take the kids out to get some time on the play structures or you want to immerse yourself in the amazing beauty of the Santa Cruz mountains there's something for every level of nature and outdoor enthusiast.
Art and Culture
Los Gatos is a great hidden gem hub of several museums and performing arts venues. There are five museums within the Los Gatos city limits including the Museum of Los Gatos Gallery, New Museum Los Gatos, and the Los Gatos Museum which all sound like the same place but are very different. If you are into the performing arts the Town Plaza is the place to be it is host to several live music performances of varying types from jazz to rock to drums and more.
Public Schools in Los Gatos
The public schools in Los Gatos are part of the Los Gatos – Saratoga Joint Union High School District and the Santa Clara Unified School District. According to the website niche.com which makes it their duty to research aspects of each school the schools of Los Gatos have received an A+ rating which is the highest possible rating from this website. At niche.com you can check out every school in the Los Gatos area and how it rates as well as reviews from parents and students that have been directly connected to the specific school. You will find that not only are the schools highly rated on a small local level they also rank fairly high within the state of California.
Real Estate in Los Gatos
Los Gatos offers an amazing mix of home types and prices in a quieter area of Santa Cruz County yet not too quiet and within very easy commuting distance of Silicon Valley. In Los Gatos, you can find anything from apartments, condos, townhomes, and large sprawling single-family homes on larger lots of land. Some homes are nicely tucked into the famous hills of Los Gatos and offer some of the most amazing views of the surrounding valley areas. The home prices range anywhere from the $300,000s for multifamily properties all the way to several million. The median sale price of homes is around $2 million.
Finding Available Los Gatos Properties for Sale
If you are interested in purchasing a home in Los Gatos please feel free to browse the included available Los Gatos homes for sale in the listings above. If you have a question about a certain property or would like to schedule a private showing please contact us anytime with the form below. We are also happy to start a customized home search of Los Gatos properties that meet your specific search criteria. We are highly knowledgeable in all greater Santa Cruz area real estate and make it our focus to find a home you will love.
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