Los Gatos
The Town of Los Gatos is nestled at the base of the Sierra Azules, and is located approximately 60 miles south of San Francisco, in the southwestern portion of Santa Clara County where the Santa Clara Valley meets the lower slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Los Gatos is bounded by the City of San Jose to the north and east; the City of Campbell to the north; the Cities of Monte Sereno and Saratoga to the west; and unincorporated County of Santa Clara and the County of Santa Cruz to the south.
Chamber of Commerce Events page
History
Los Gatos is one of Santa Clara County’s oldest communities. In 1840, the Mexican government granted a land patent for a 6,600 acre rancho to Sebastian Peralta and Jose Hernandez. Los Gatos was originally named La Rinconada de Los Gatos (Cat’s Corner) by early settlers due to the screams of mountain lions prowling in the night. In 1868, 100 acres of the rancho was selected as a town site. The Town was incorporated in 1887, and by 1890 the Town’s population had grown to 1,652. When the first General Plan was adopted in 1963, the Town had grown to an area of approximately 4,000 acres, or 6.3 square miles, with a population in excess of 11,750. 
At the time the first General Plan was revised in 1971, the Town had grown to an area of 9 square miles with a population of 24,350. In 1984, Los Gatos covered approximately 10 square miles and had a population of 27,820 persons. Today, the Town population is estimated to be 28,592 in a 14 square mile area. While most of the growth through the 1970′s was due to new development, most of the growth in the 1980′s and 1990′s was due to annexations, in-fill development and changing demographics.
The Town originally developed at a distance from other population centers and therefore evolved as an independent community having residential, commercial and industrial areas. The economics of the Town have changed from the wheat farming, milling, logging, orchard and cannery businesses in the 19th and early 20th centuries to the suburban, high tech, visitor 
destination.
The railroad also played a major role in the growth and development of the Town, Los Gatos was either the terminus of the railroad or the transition point from standard to narrow gauge at more than one time during the railroad’s operation. The climate and easy access by rail from San Francisco made Los Gatos an early tourist destination. 
Today, the Town is situated within the largest metropolitan area of northern California, and is closely tied to Silicon Valley and its fast paced economy. Los Gatos, however, retains a mix of residential, commercial and light industrial uses, still attracts visitors, and continues to retain its small town image.
Los Gatos prides itself as a self contained community. Over 3,000 businesses serve the residents and act as a destination point for visitors who are attracted to its restaurants, hotels (Los Gatos hotel shown below) 
and variety of shops within a pedestrian oriented downtown setting. The Town is also an inclusive community with the full mix of ages, family sizes and incomes. Los Gatos has many parks and greenbelt areas, as well as a vibrant downtown area. Downtown Los Gatos is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Real Estate values in Los Gatos are some of the best in the entire Bay Area! Schools here are fabulous and affluence seems to be the rule rather than the exception here. This is one place in Santa Clara County that holds value above and beyond expectations.
Some may find Los Gatos expensive. However, there are affordable housing programs and solutions administered locally.
Rentals
– Aventino Apartments (behind Netflix)
51 Below Market Rate Units
14300-143500 Winchester Blvd.
www.aventinoapts.com
For more information, call (408) 871-7200
– Los Gatos Oaks Apartments
517 Blossom Hill Road
Two Below Market Price rental units. For more information, call 358-2900 or 858-3609.
– Los Gatos Fourplex
221 – 227 Nicholson Avenue
Owned by Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition. This fourplex consists of one-bedroom apartments for low and moderate income seniors. For further information, call 379-6119.
– 95 Fairview Plaza
This fourplex consists of one studio, two one-bedroom, and one two-bedroom apartments. For further information, call American Management at (408) 346-8497.
– Los Gatos Creek Apartments (pdf)
31 Miles Avenue
Managed by American Management Services. This building includes 12 studio units. For more information, call (408) 346-8497.
– Open Doors Multi-Family Development
634 West Parr Avenue
Open Doors contains 64 units ranging from two to four bedroom units. An on-site child care center with subsidized rates is available for tenants. Eligible households must have an annual income less than 60 percent of the County’s median. For more information, call the manager at 379-6119.
– Villa Vasona
626 West Parr Avenue
One hundred seven units for seniors and handicapped. Vacancies filled from facility’s waiting list. For further information, call the manager at 370-9410
– Project Match
Innovative “home sharing” concept in low income senior housing with ongoing social work support services. For more information, call (408) 416-0271.
Purchases–
Below Market Price Housing Program
The Town of Los Gatos adopted an ordinance which requires that a percentage of all units in a construction project be sold below market price. For further information on the Below Market Price program, please call the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara, (408) 361-4643 or click here for more details.
– Mortgage Credit Certificate Program
Through the County of Santa Clara, the Town participates in the Mortgage Credit Certificate Program which reduces the mortgage payment by providing a tax credit on federal personal income tax. For further information about the program, please call the County, Office of the County Executive, at (408) 299-4711.
Other Programs
800 Blossom Hill Road
A Licensed Residential Care Facility for the Elderly and a Continuing Care Retirement Community regulated by the State of California. Twenty-nine housing units and services are provided at reduced rates to eligible senior citizens as part of the Terraces program.
List of Schools Serving Los Gatos
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Alta Vista Elementary School |
Blossom Hill Elementary School |
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Capri Elementary School |
Carlton Elementary School 2421 Carlton Avenue San Jose, CA 95124 Phone: 408-356-1141 Fax: 408-356-5993 Link:http://carlton.ca.campusgrid.net/home |
| Daves Avenue Elementary School 5200 Dent Avenue San Jose, CA 95118 Phone: 408-335-2200 Fax: 408-335-2245 Email: greenofrls@comcast.net Link:http://www.daves.lgusd.k12.ca.us/ |
Lakeside Elementary School |
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Lexington Elementary School Phone: 408-335-2150
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Van Meter Elementary School 16445 Los Gatos Boulevard Los Gatos, CA 95032 Phone: 408-335-2250 Link: http://www.lvm.lgusd.k12.ca.us/ |
| Marshall Lane Elementary School Marshall Lane School Saratoga, CA 95070 Phone: 408-364-4259 Fax: 408-341-7080 |
Los Gatos High School 20 High School Court Los Gatos, CA 95030 Phone: 408-354-2730 Fax: 408-354-3742 Link: http://www.lghs.net/ |
| Noddin Elementary School 1755 Gilda Way San Jose, CA 95124 Phone: 408-356-2126 Fax: 408-358-9807 Email: itok@unionsd.k12.ca.us Link: http://noddin.unionsd.org/noddin/
Leigh High School
Westmont High School Saratoga High School
17421 Farley Road West Los Gatos, CA 95030 Link: http://www.lgsuhsd.org/
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Raymond J Fisher, Jr. Middle School Rolling Hills Middle School
Union Middle School |
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