Page Contents for Gilroy, California

Statistics & Facts

Location

Weather & Climate

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Economy

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

---

Statistics & Facts

The California state capital is Sacramento.
The population of Gilroy is approximately 50,207 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 12,152 (2000), 14175 (2010).
The amount of land area in Gilroy is 41.819 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Gilroy is 16.146 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0.010 sq kilometers.
The distance from Gilroy to Washington DC is 2531 miles.
The distance to the California state capital is 103 miles. (as the crow flies)
Gilroy is positioned 37.01 degrees north of the equator and 121.57 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Gilroy elevation is 200 feet above sea level.
Gilroy per capita income is $ 27,039 (2009).
Gilroy median income is $ 67,039 (2009).
The Gilroy median home price is $ 568,777 (2009).
Gilroy average annual rainfall is 19.11 inches per year
Gilroy average temperature is 62.8 degrees F.
The average low temperature is 48.7 degrees F.
The average high temperature is 76.9 degrees F.

Location

just 75 miles from San Francisco and 26 miles from San Jose
Gilroy is 271 miles north of Los Angeles and 173 miles west of Yosemite National Park. Other nearby communities include San Martin, Llagas-Uvas, Morgan Hill, Aromas, Interlaken, Amesti, San Juan Bautista and Watsonville.
Return to Index

Climate

Mediterranean and very enjoyable. Around 70 percent of the days in a year are sunny! The summer highs average around 90 with the winter average temperature hovering around 57 degrees. There have been extreme temperatures in both directions, but they are the exception rather than the rule. The first freeze is usually sometime in November with the last freeze occurring around March 1, giving the area a very long growing season.
Return to Index

History & History Related Items

Gilroy is named for John Cameron, who took his mother's maiden name of Gilroy when he left England at age 19. He arrived in Monterey by ship in 1814 and was baptized at the Carmel Mission in 1817 when he took the name of Juan Bautista Gilroy. The first cross-country settlers came by wagon train following the same route as the doomed Donnor party used later on. The Martin family in that company, went on to settle in the Gilroy area. Many other settlers followed, especially during the gold rush era. The area was known as Pleasant Valley at that time and was a center for hay and grain in the state. The actual town was first a stage stop in 1850. It grew quickly and was incorporated in 1867 as the Town of Gilroy, the third largest community in the county at that time.

The Gilroy Hot springs were found in 1865 and became a tourist draw with mud baths, mineral springs, massage, health drinks and other activities. Gilroy was incorporated as a city on 12 March, 1870. The tobacco industry had begun to thrive here with the world's largest cigar factory producing huge numbers of cigars each month. Then, in the 1880's, more Swiss and middle-Europeans arrived. They brought with them their dairy industry, giving Gilroy yet another title, that of Dairy and Cheese Capitol of California. As the era moved on, more and more of the grain fields were turned into fruit orchards, particularly the French prune. Once again, the farmers of the area excelled and Gilroy then became known as the Prune Capitol of California. As the 1900's arrived, more Italians also arrivied. This time row crop farming became prevalent with tomatoes, peppers, onions AND Garlic being grown. After World War I, the commercial market for garlic expanded and eventually the Gilroy Garlic Festival was started in 1979. Now, Gilroy has once again changed it's claim to fame to the Garlic Capitol of the World.

Here is a history page for Gilroy.
Return to Index

The founding of Gilroy

1850

The incorporation of Gilroy

1867 as the Town of Gilroy

Attractions

The Gilroy Garlic Festival
held each year the last weekend in July since 1979

Gilroy Gardens - Family Theme Park
the only California theme park with a horticultural theme.

The Gilroy Museum is housed in the historic 1910 Carnegie Library Building. The museum began in 1963, housed in the basement of the library. When the library built a new facility, the museum took over the entire building.
195 Fifth Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
Phone: 408-846-0446

Gilroy Visitors Bureau
Return to Index

Economy & Industry

based mainly in agricultural products and processing. Many types of vegetables, fruits and flowers are grown here as well as processed here, bringing more employment to the area.

Gilroy Economic Development Corporation
Return to Index

---

Gilroy City Government

City of Gilroy 7351 Rosanna Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
Phone: (408) 846-0400

Gilroy has a city council of sevven members who all serve four year terms. The mayor is elected separately and has no term limits.

Gilroy Chamber

The Chamber of Commerce
7471 Monterey Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
Phone: (408) 842-6437
Toll-free: (800) 490-4329, Ext.

Gilroy Organizations

The Chamber of Commerce
7471 Monterey Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
Phone: (408) 842-6437
Toll-free: (800) 490-4329, Ext.

Gilroy Libraries

Gilroy Library
7652 Monterey Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
Phone: 408-842-8207

This library is part of the Santa Clara County Library System

Gilroy Schools

Gilroy Unified School District
7810 Arroyo Circle
Gilroy, CA 95020
Phone: 408-847-2700 Gilroy

Miscellany

The population of Gilroy was:
1997 - 36,550
2000 - 41,464
2010 - 48,821

Population Density:
2000 - 2,615.2 persons per square mile
2010 - 3,021 persons per square mile

Median age:
2000 - 30 years

Number of Housing Units:
1990 - 9,767
2000 - 12,152

---

Median Household Income:
2000 - $ 66,401
2009 - $ 67,039

Per Capita Income:
2000 - $ 22,071
2009 - $ 27,039

Median House Value:
2000 - $ 337,200
2009 - $ 568,777

Gilroy is located in the Pacific Time Zone and does participate in daylight savings time during a portion of the year. Average home costs in the area are in the $ 235,000 range.