Gilroy

Gilroy is situated as the southern gateway to the Bay Area, Gilroy provides an idyllic place to live and work.  Gilroy is known throughout the area for its peaceful residential environment, award-winning parks, golf courses, recreation programs, urban forest, Gilroy Gardens Theme Park, and the annual Garlic Festival.

Gilroy boasts variety of superior community facilities and resources including St. Louise Regional Hospital, Wheeler Manor (senior residence) and the Gilroy Library. Gavilan Community College in Gilroy is known for the beauty of its campus, set in the foothills which surround the city.

The Downtown Corridor provides the heart of the town showcasing Gilroy's past with a healthy respect for the history of the area. Mature neighborhoods blend with newer homes to create an ambient atmosphere for residential areas, served by nearby schools, parks and churches, and just the right combination of rural and suburban amenities.

Average home costs in the area are in the $658,500 range.

Gilroy is situated in South Santa Clara County at the crossing of U.S. Highway 101 and State Highway 152. The 1.5 square mile rectangle known as The Old Quad, was laid out in the mid-1800's, and served as the city's original city limits from its incorporation in 1870 until the first annexation in 1948. The system of numbered streets was used for east-west streets, with First Street / Hecker Pass Highway at the north, and 11th Street at the south. East-west streets added in modern times have not been numbered, but have been named after trees, birds, presidents, historic Gilroy names, and old Spanish or early American names.

Sixth Street was once the central road, with perpendicular streets being labeled, for example, North Hanna to the north of 6th, and South Hanna to the south. The addressing scheme changed in 1969. Now Gilroy and Morgan Hill share a common numbering pattern for Monterey Road. East-West streets are labeled East and West as they cross Monterey.

Historically, Gilroy's economy has been based in agricultural products and processing. Over the years, prunes, tomatoes, flowers, onions and, of course, garlic, have contributed to the economic health of the agricultural industries. Food processing centers have also established themselves in Gilroy, and government centers also employ many local residents. The Outlets at Gilroy, a five-phase retail complex, draws shoppers from all over the Bay Area and Central Coast regions.

The modem era has also seen an increase in interest in Gilroy as a site for expansion of Silicon Valley. About a thousand acres remain available for industrial growth.

Sourced from: www.cityofgilroy.org