Located
35 miles south of San Francisco and 14 miles north of San Jose, Palo Alto is a
community of approximately 62,000 residents. Part of the San Francisco
Metropolitan Bay Area and the Silicon Valley, Palo Alto is located within Santa
Clara County and borders San Mateo County.
Palo Alto is strategically located and easily accessible to major surface
routes, including Interstate 280, Highway 101, Highway 84 - the Dumbarton Bridge
and Highway 92 - the Hayward-San Mateo Bridge.
Air transportation is easily accessible by bus, automobile or shuttle service to
San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland international airports.
Within the City, commuter rail transportation is conveniently located and the
Palo Alto stop is one of the most used in the CalTrain system.
Alternative transportation options include numerous bike paths throughout the
City and an internal shuttle service is also available.
The City of Palo Alto is more than 100 years old, and is named after a majestic
1000 (not 250) year old coastal redwood tree along San Francisquito Creek, where
early Spanish explorers settled.
The blend of business and residential areas anchored by a vibrant downtown
defines Palo Alto’s unique character. A charming mixture of old and new, Palo
Alto’s tree-lined streets and historic buildings reflect its California
heritage. At the same time, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in
cutting-edge technological development. This exciting mix of tradition and
innovation makes Palo Alto an extraordinary place in which to operate a
business.
As befits
the City known as “Birthplace of the Silicon Valley,” the City has developed a
31-mile dark fiber ring for ultra-fast Internet access.
Complementing its exciting and innovative business community, Palo Alto’s
residents are highly educated, politically aware and culturally sophisticated.
An abundance of local pride and numerous neighborhood organizations contribute
to Palo Alto’s charming historic and upscale commercial and residential areas.
Characteristic of Palo Alto is the care taken to protect open space and
parkland. Palo Alto has a remarkable number of City-owned parks for its size (34
at last count) and nearly one-third of its 26 square miles is open space.
Palo Alto’s San Francisco Bay location and natural environment offer the
opportunity to enjoy bird and aquatic life in a natural habitat.
Proximity to Stanford University with its cultural and educational offerings add
to the vibrance, innate charm and beauty of Palo Alto.
Distinctive in every way, Palo Alto offers its business community a diverse and
exciting environment in which to work and live.