Neigborhood Info

Saratoga California

Located in beautiful Santa Clara County, Saratoga, California sits on the west side of the Santa Clara Valley in the prominent San Francisco Bay Area. Home to a population of over 29,843 residents as of the 2000 census, Saratoga, California is an ideal upper-class bedroom community. Recently, in July of 2005, Money Magazine named Saratoga the 26th best place to live in the entire United States.

As a result of this ranking, Saratoga real estate has evolved into one of the most prestigious California markets available. Its location in the southwestern corner of the Santa Clara Valley is one of the reasons why Saratoga real estate remains so appealing. Saratoga is widely known for its affluent, top-notch school system. Other reasons for the popularity of Saratoga real estate include Saratoga’s many antique shops, fine restaurants and European-themed bakeries. There are also numerous well-known vineyards located among the Saratoga, California foothills, including Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards and the Mountain Winery, both of which were founded in the 1800s.

The Early Names of Saratoga

The unincorporated city of Saratoga as we know it today dates back to 1956, but the town actually had its official beginning more than a century earlier, when a gentleman by the name of William Campbell built a sawmill in 1848. The sawmill was located more than two miles above the present village, along what is known as Highway 9 today. The earliest inhabitants of Saratoga were Native American Indians who built their homes near the mouth of the canyon. This area was known as Campbell’s Gap, as indicated by the notes of early area maps.

Martin McCarty leased Campbell’s sawmill in 1850, and McCarty subsequently built a toll road, which he connected to the village in order to expedite the hauling of lumber. Toll Gate is the name of the site of this barrier, and this is also the first widely used name of the town.

Just a decade or so later, the town was called Bank Mills, a name given by the local post office in 1863. During this time, the town housed a short-lived furniture factory, plus a gristmill, a tannery, and paper and paperboard mills. It was not until the discovery of mineral springs that the town received its current name of Saratoga in 1865. The content of the mineral springs were so similar to those of Congress Spring at Saratoga Springs, New York, that the name of Saratoga was ultimately chosen for the California town.

Soon after this name was chosen, an elaborate resort hotel was constructed in Saratoga, inspired by the Pacific Congress Springs. The resort fared extremely well for nearly 40 years, until it was destroyed by fire in 1903.

In the years that succeeded the fire, agriculture evolved as the leading industry in Saratoga and throughout the Santa Clara Valley. During the years that followed World War II, Saratoga real estate became increasingly more developed, thanks to the rapid urbanization that occurred. Today, several vineyards and orchards mark the remaining agriculture in Saratoga.

The Natural Beauty of Saratoga

The ever-growing City of Saratoga, California seeks to maintain the elements of its stunning natural beauty and colorful past with historic preservation and specific zoning policies.

There are several parks in Saratoga, which include Azule Park, Beauchamps Park, Bellgrove Park, Brookglen Park, Congress Springs Park, El Quito Park, Foothill Park, Gardiner Park, Hakone Gardens, Historical Park, Kevin Moran Park, Ravenwood Park, and Wildwood Park.

The parks of Saratoga, California provide residents and visitors with a number of recreational opportunities that include picnicking, hiking, bicycling, swimming, fishing, boating, and more. The ability to enjoy the natural beauty of the land further contributes to the popularity of Saratoga real estate.

To learn more about Saratoga, California and Saratoga real estate, please call Rick Ardizzone, John Howmiller or Jeff McLaughlin at 1-800-678-3570 or email info@losgatos-saratogahomes.com to make an appointment today.