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Alum Rock, San Jose

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Coordinates: 37°22′3″N 121°49′32″W / 37.36750°N 121.82556°W / 37.36750; -121.82556
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Alum Rock
Neighborhood of San Jose
Clockwise from top left: Alum Rock Village; Overfelt Gardens; Mayfair; Alum Rock Park
Location in Santa Clara County and the state of California
Location in Santa Clara County and the state of California
Alum Rock is located in the United States
Alum Rock
Alum Rock
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 37°22′3″N 121°49′32″W / 37.36750°N 121.82556°W / 37.36750; -121.82556
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySanta Clara
CitySan Jose
RegionEast San Jose
Area
[1]
 • Total
0.87 sq mi (2.25 km2)
 • Land0.87 sq mi (2.25 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[2]
164 ft (50 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
12,042
 • Density13,857.31/sq mi (5,350.74/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
95127
Area codes408/669
FIPS code06-01458
GNIS feature ID2407736[2]

Alum Rock (/ˈæləm/) is a district of San Jose, California, located in East San Jose. Formerly an independent town, it has been a neighborhood of San Jose since the 1950s,[3] though some portions are still unincorporated as a census-designated place.[4] Alum Rock is one of San Jose's most notable and historic Chicano/Mexican-American districts.[5][6] It is home to Alum Rock Park, the oldest municipal park in California and one of the largest in the country.

History

[edit]
Calvary Cemetery was founded in 1852.

Alum Rock was named after a rock formerly thought to be composed of alum in nearby Alum Rock Park.[7]

In the 19th century and early 20th century Alum Rock was mostly fruit orchard land. During the 1940s and 1950s, developers began building housing and formed the community of Alum Rock. During that time, Alum Rock Avenue and a passenger railroad passed through the town on the way to Alum Rock Park.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the neighborhood became older and increasingly populated with Latino immigrants as "white flight" affected the area of East San Jose. Today, Alum Rock remains a distinct community separated from the rest of San Jose.

Geography

[edit]

Alum Rock is a vast district of East San Jose, made up of numerous smaller neighborhoods.[8] Neighborhoods include Little Portugal, Little Saigon, Mayfair, King & Story, East Foothills, Alum Rock Village, Mount Pleasant, among others.

Alum Rock is located north of the Evergreen district, south of the Berryessa district, and east of Downtown San Jose. Alum Rock is bound by the Diablo Range to the east, Coyote Creek to the west, Mabury Road to the north and Ocala Avenue to the south.

Demographics

[edit]

The following demographic data is about the Alum Rock CDP, not the larger Alum Rock district of San Jose.

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
200013,479—
201015,53615.3%
202012,042−22.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1850–1870[10][11] 1880-1890[12]
1900[13] 1910[14] 1920[15]
1930[16] 1940[17] 1950[18]
1960[19] 1970[20] 1980[21]
1990[22] 2000[23] 2010[24]
Mexican Heritage Plaza in Alum Rock's Mayfair neighborhood.
Alum Rock Park, founded in 1872, is California's oldest municipal park.

The 2020 United States census reported that the CDP had a population of 12,042. The population density was 13,857.3 inhabitants per square mile (5,350.3/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 16.7% White, 1.4% African American, 3.4% Native American, 19.0% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 43.3% from other races, and 15.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 67.1% of the population.

The census reported that 98.7% of the population lived in households, 0.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1.0% were institutionalized.

There were 2,922 households, out of which 47.1% included children under the age of 18, 53.1% were married-couple households, 7.2% were cohabiting couple households, 24.0% had a female householder with no partner present, and 15.7% had a male householder with no partner present. 14.1% of households were one person, and 5.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 4.07. There were 2,332 families (79.8% of all households).

The age distribution was 23.4% under the age of 18, 10.3% aged 18 to 24, 29.1% aged 25 to 44, 25.5% aged 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.8 males.

There were 3,029 housing units at an average density of 3,485.6 units per square mile (1,345.8 units/km2), of which 2,922 (96.5%) were occupied. Of these, 62.0% were owner-occupied, and 38.0% were occupied by renters.[25][26]

Mt. St. Joseph Monastery is a Carmelite novitiate.

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 47.1% of the population were born in California, 5.9% were born in a different state, 1.6% were born in a US territory or abroad to an American parent, and 45.3% were born outside US jurisdiction. Of those aged 5 or older, 27.3% spoke only English at home, 54.6% spoke Spanish, 1.9% spoke other Indo-European languages, 16.0% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.2% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 66.8% were high school graduates and 19.8% had a bachelor's degree.[27]

The median household income was $111,976, and the per capita income was $34,255. About 5.1% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line.[28]

Government

[edit]
The Dr. Roberto Cruz Alum Rock Branch of the San José Public Library

In the California State Legislature, Alum Rock is in the 15th Senate District, represented by Democrat Dave Cortese, and in the 27th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Esmeralda Soria.[29]

In the United States House of Representatives, Alum Rock is in California's 19th congressional district, represented by Democrat Jimmy Panetta.[30]

Regarding San Jose City Council, most of Alum Rock falls inside of District 5, represented by Magdalena Carrasco, though small portions are inside of District 7 and District 4.

Education

[edit]
James Lick High School

Alum Rock is served by the Alum Rock Union School District for elementary and middle school, while high schools are served by the East Side Union High School District.[31]

Schools in Alum Rock include:

Parks and plazas

[edit]
Delano Manongs Park
The Chinese Cultural Garden memorial hall at Overfelt Gardens

Parks in the Alum Rock district include:

Transportation

[edit]
Alum Rock Transit Center

The Alum Rock Transit Center is an important transit center for East San Jose, operated by the Valley Transportation Authority. It is serviced by bus and light rail.

VTA light rail stations along Capitol Expressway within Alum Rock:

Penitencia Creek station is located right at the border of Alum Rock and Berryessa.

The Eastridge Expansion of the VTA light rail plans the construction of another light rail station at Story Road and Capitol Expressway.

Both the Bayshore Freeway (US-101) and the Sinclair Freeway (I-680) pass through Alum Rock.

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Alum Rock, San Jose
  3. ^ City of San José - Vision for the Alum Rock Corridor
  4. ^ "County Island Annexations". City of San Jose. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  5. ^ San José Spotlight - Lechuga: San Jose’s Alum Rock area needs cultural designation
  6. ^ San José Spotlight - The price of growth: Alum Rock businesses at risk of displacement
  7. ^ Gudde, Erwin; William Bright (2004). California Place Names (Fourth ed.). University of California Press. p. 10. ISBN 0-520-24217-3.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ "Alum Rock CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  26. ^ "Alum Rock CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  27. ^ "Alum Rock CDP, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  28. ^ "Alum Rock CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  29. ^ "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  30. ^ "California's 19th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  31. ^ "Schools - Alum Rock Union School District". www.arusd.org. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
[edit]
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