Like much of Silicon Valley, modern Sunnyvale got its start through agriculture, mostly wheat farms and fruit orchards. Since then, more than 8,000 businesses, along with homes for 133,000-plus residents, have replaced the fields. The legacy survives in the landmark C.J. Olson’s fruit stand, found at its original site at El Camino Real and South Mathilda Avenue. Selling fresh fruit and other goodies, the little business thrives next to a contemporary apartment complex and the popular Cherry Orchard Shopping Center.
It was during World War II that the high-tech, defense and aerospace industries edged out agriculture as Sunnyvale’s future. The city now boasts corporate headquarters including Yahoo, Palm Inc., Advanced Micro Devices and Network Appliance, while Lockheed Martin Space Systems maintains a large employer presence. The combined brain power in Sunnyvale results in the city’s residents and companies holding the second highest number of utility patents in the country, second only to San Jose.
Amid all this modernity, Murphy Avenue remains an old-fashioned shopping and dining destination downtown, featuring independently owned boutiques, stores and restaurants. Next door, work continues on a mixed-use shopping and residential development.
Sunnyvale encourages outdoor recreation with 51 tennis courts, two golf courses and 20 parks. These parks include pools, trails, dog parks and undeveloped baylands.
Sunnyvale’s unique Department of Public Safety trains all officers in firefighting as well as law enforcement, making them more flexible in the field. The city consistently ranks in the country’s top 10 safest cities.
Population: 133,544
Average household income: $79,926
Average household size: 2.47
Median age: 34
College graduates: 50.7 percent
Parks: 20
