San Martin, California
Encyclopedia
San Martin is a census-designated place
(CDP) and an unincorporated town in Santa Clara County, California
, United States
. It takes its name from St. Martin of Tours
, the patron saint
of early pioneer Martin Murphy, who built the first Catholic church in the area. The community has been considering incorporating into either a city or town since 2004, but no official action had been taken by the end of 2010. The population was 7,027 at the 2010 census.
Like neighboring Morgan Hill
and Gilroy
, San Martin is a large producer of garlic
and table mushroom
s. It is also home to the volunteer-run Wings of History aviation museum, located next to South County Airport.
, 11 km (6.8 mi) north of Gilroy, California
, and 24 km (14.9 mi) inland from the Pacific Coast
. Lying in a roughly 6 km-wide (4-mi-wide) southern extension of the Santa Clara Valley
, it is bounded by the Santa Cruz Mountains
to the west and the Diablo Range
to the east.
San Martin lies at an elevation of about 86 m (282 ft) above MSL
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30 km²), all of it land.
, San Martin enjoys a warm, Mediterranean climate. Temperatures range from an average midsummer maximum of 90.2°F (32.3°C) to an average midwinter low of 33.6°F (0.9°C). Average annual rainfall is 480 mm (18.9 in), and the summer months are typically dry. Snowfall is rare, about once every 20 years, and is light and short-lived when it occurs. Summer months are characterized by coastal fog which arrives from the ocean around 10 p.m. and dissipates the next morning by 10 a.m. Winter months have many sunny and partly cloudy days, with frequent breaks between rainstorms. The local terrain is inconducive to tornadoes, severe windstorms and thunderstorms. The local climate supports chaparral
and grassland biome
s, with stands of live oak
at higher elevations.
was 606.0 people per square mile (234.0/km²). The racial makeup of San Martin was 4,329 (61.6%) White, 27 (0.4%) African American, 71 (1.0%) Native American, 470 (6.7%) Asian, 18 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 1,752 (24.9%) from other races
, and 360 (5.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,249 persons (46.2%).
The Census reported that 6,896 people (98.1% of the population) lived in households, 114 (1.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 17 (0.2%) were institutionalized.
There were 1,993 households, out of which 812 (40.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,267 (63.6%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 199 (10.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 124 (6.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 131 (6.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 14 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 279 households (14.0%) were made up of individuals and 98 (4.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.46. There were 1,590 families
(79.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.70.
The population was spread out with 1,780 people (25.3%) under the age of 18, 713 people (10.1%) aged 18 to 24, 1,613 people (23.0%) aged 25 to 44, 2,098 people (29.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 823 people (11.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.5 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.9 males.
There were 2,122 housing units at an average density of 183.0 per square mile (70.7/km²), of which 1,309 (65.7%) were owner-occupied, and 684 (34.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 1.7%. 4,491 people (63.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,405 people (34.2%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 4,230 people, 1,210 households, and 994 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 766.4 people per square mile (295.9/km²). There were 1,254 housing units at an average density of 227.2 per square mile (87.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 65.46% White, 0.83% African American, 1.63% Native American, 6.12% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 20.97% from other races
, and 4.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.41% of the population.
There were 1,210 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 12.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.44 and the average family size was 3.66.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $70,064, and the median income for a family was $70,708. Males had a median income of $56,625 versus $34,792 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $25,944. About 5.2% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over. According to Forbes Magazine, San Martin is rated as one of the country's most expensive zip codes with a median home price of $824,390 in 2010, despite a drop in home value of almost 20% from 2008.
.
, and is the location of an uncontrolled airport, South County Airport
(E16), operated by Santa Clara County. Public transportation needs are provided by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
(VTA) buses and a commuter rail station
served by Caltrain
.
, San Martin is located in the 15th Senate
District, represented by Republican
Abel Maldonado
, and in the 27th Assembly
District, represented by Democrat
Bill Monning
. Federally, San Martin is located in California's 16th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of D +16 and is represented by Democrat Zoe Lofgren
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) and an unincorporated town in Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It takes its name from St. Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
, the patron saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
of early pioneer Martin Murphy, who built the first Catholic church in the area. The community has been considering incorporating into either a city or town since 2004, but no official action had been taken by the end of 2010. The population was 7,027 at the 2010 census.
Like neighboring Morgan Hill
Morgan Hill, California
Morgan Hill is a city located in the southern part of Santa Clara County, California, United States. Founded on November 10, 1906, the city was named after Hiram Morgan Hill, a San Franciscan who built a country retreat home there in 1884...
and Gilroy
Gilroy, California
Gilroy is the southernmost city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 48,821 at the 2010 census. Gilroy is well-known for its garlic crop and for the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, featuring various garlicky foods, including garlic ice cream. Gilroy also produces...
, San Martin is a large producer of garlic
Garlic
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
and table mushroom
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
s. It is also home to the volunteer-run Wings of History aviation museum, located next to South County Airport.
Geography
San Martin is located at 37°05′16"N 121°36′00"W (37.087746, -121.600020). It is approximately 48 km (29.8 mi) south of San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, 11 km (6.8 mi) north of Gilroy, California
Gilroy, California
Gilroy is the southernmost city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 48,821 at the 2010 census. Gilroy is well-known for its garlic crop and for the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, featuring various garlicky foods, including garlic ice cream. Gilroy also produces...
, and 24 km (14.9 mi) inland from the Pacific Coast
Pacific Coast
A country's Pacific coast is the part of its coast bordering the Pacific Ocean.-The Americas:Countries on the western side of the Americas have a Pacific coast as their western border.* Geography of Canada* Geography of Chile* Geography of Colombia...
. Lying in a roughly 6 km-wide (4-mi-wide) southern extension of the Santa Clara Valley
Santa Clara Valley
The Santa Clara Valley is a valley just south of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California in the United States. Much of Santa Clara County and its county seat, San José, are in the Santa Clara Valley. The valley was originally known as the Valley of Heart’s Delight for its high concentration...
, it is bounded by the Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California, United States. They form a ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco, separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south,...
to the west and the Diablo Range
Diablo Range
The Diablo Range is a mountain range in the California Coast Ranges subdivision of the Pacific Coast Ranges. It is located in the eastern San Francisco Bay area south to the Salinas Valley area of northern California, the United States.-Geography:...
to the east.
San Martin lies at an elevation of about 86 m (282 ft) above MSL
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30 km²), all of it land.
Climate
Due to the moderating influence of the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, San Martin enjoys a warm, Mediterranean climate. Temperatures range from an average midsummer maximum of 90.2°F (32.3°C) to an average midwinter low of 33.6°F (0.9°C). Average annual rainfall is 480 mm (18.9 in), and the summer months are typically dry. Snowfall is rare, about once every 20 years, and is light and short-lived when it occurs. Summer months are characterized by coastal fog which arrives from the ocean around 10 p.m. and dissipates the next morning by 10 a.m. Winter months have many sunny and partly cloudy days, with frequent breaks between rainstorms. The local terrain is inconducive to tornadoes, severe windstorms and thunderstorms. The local climate supports chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
and grassland biome
Biome
Biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, and are often referred to as ecosystems. Some parts of the earth have more or less the same kind of abiotic and biotic factors spread over a...
s, with stands of live oak
Live oak
Live oak , also known as the southern live oak, is a normally evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States...
at higher elevations.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that San Martin had a population of 7,027. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 606.0 people per square mile (234.0/km²). The racial makeup of San Martin was 4,329 (61.6%) White, 27 (0.4%) African American, 71 (1.0%) Native American, 470 (6.7%) Asian, 18 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 1,752 (24.9%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 360 (5.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,249 persons (46.2%).
The Census reported that 6,896 people (98.1% of the population) lived in households, 114 (1.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 17 (0.2%) were institutionalized.
There were 1,993 households, out of which 812 (40.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,267 (63.6%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 199 (10.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 124 (6.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 131 (6.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 14 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 279 households (14.0%) were made up of individuals and 98 (4.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.46. There were 1,590 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(79.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.70.
The population was spread out with 1,780 people (25.3%) under the age of 18, 713 people (10.1%) aged 18 to 24, 1,613 people (23.0%) aged 25 to 44, 2,098 people (29.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 823 people (11.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.5 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.9 males.
There were 2,122 housing units at an average density of 183.0 per square mile (70.7/km²), of which 1,309 (65.7%) were owner-occupied, and 684 (34.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 1.7%. 4,491 people (63.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,405 people (34.2%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,230 people, 1,210 households, and 994 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 766.4 people per square mile (295.9/km²). There were 1,254 housing units at an average density of 227.2 per square mile (87.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 65.46% White, 0.83% African American, 1.63% Native American, 6.12% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 20.97% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.41% of the population.
There were 1,210 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 12.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.44 and the average family size was 3.66.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $70,064, and the median income for a family was $70,708. Males had a median income of $56,625 versus $34,792 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $25,944. About 5.2% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over. According to Forbes Magazine, San Martin is rated as one of the country's most expensive zip codes with a median home price of $824,390 in 2010, despite a drop in home value of almost 20% from 2008.
.
Transportation
San Martin is adjacent to a freeway, U.S. Route 101U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
, and is the location of an uncontrolled airport, South County Airport
South County Airport
South County Airport of Santa Clara County, colloquially South County Airport, is a public non-towered airport located one mile east of San Martin, serving Santa Clara County, California, U.S.A. This general aviation airport covers and has one runway. A self-service fueling facility offers...
(E16), operated by Santa Clara County. Public transportation needs are provided by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is a special-purpose district responsible for public transit services, congestion management, specific highway improvement projects, and countywide transportation planning for Santa Clara County, California, United States...
(VTA) buses and a commuter rail station
San Martin (Caltrain station)
San Martin Station is a Caltrain station located in San Martin, California. It is only served during weekday peak commute hours.-External links:**...
served by Caltrain
Caltrain
Caltrain is a California commuter rail line on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the Santa Clara Valley in the United States. The northern terminus of the rail line is in San Francisco, at 4th and King streets; its southern terminus is in Gilroy...
.
Politics
In the California State LegislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
, San Martin is located in the 15th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Abel Maldonado
Abel Maldonado
Abel Maldonado is an American politician who was the 48th Lieutenant Governor of California. On November 23, 2009, then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Maldonado as his nominee for Lieutenant Governor to fill the vacancy created by John Garamendi's election to the United States House of...
, and in the 27th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Bill Monning
Bill Monning
William "Bill" Monning is an American educator, lawyer and politician. Monning was elected to the California State Assembly from the 27th Assembly District in the 2008 Assembly election....
. Federally, San Martin is located in California's 16th congressional district
California's 16th congressional district
California's 16th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that covers part of Santa Clara County and includes much of central San Jose.The district is currently represented by Democrat Zoe Lofgren....
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of D +16 and is represented by Democrat Zoe Lofgren
Zoe Lofgren
Zoe Lofgren is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1995. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in San Jose.-Early life, education, and early career:...
.
External links
- Factual Information from www.city-data.com
- "How San Martin Came to Be," Gilroy Dispatch, September 16, 2006
- Wings of History Museum
- AirNav airport information for South County Airport (E16)