San Martin | |
|---|---|
Clockwise: Sign onMonterey Road; Lion's Peak; Old San Martin Winery. | |
Location inSanta Clara County and the state ofCalifornia | |
| Coordinates:37°5′16″N121°36′0″W / 37.08778°N 121.60000°W /37.08778; -121.60000 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Santa Clara |
| Named after | St. Martin of Tours |
| Area | |
• Total | 11.600 sq mi (30.044 km2) |
| • Land | 11.600 sq mi (30.044 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 289 ft (88 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,008 |
| • Density | 604.1/sq mi (233.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 95046 |
| Area code | 408/669 |
| FIPS code | 06-68238 |
| GNIS feature ID | 277595 |
San Martin orSan Martín (Spanish forSaint Martin) is a village andcensus-designated place (CDP) inSanta Clara County,California, in the southernSanta Clara Valley. Located to the south ofMorgan Hill and north ofGilroy, San Martin is characterized by ranches, wineries, and orchards, as well as large estates in the foothills of theSanta Cruz Mountains.
San Martin was named afterSt. Martin of Tours, the patronsaint ofSanta Clara Valley by pioneerMartin Murphy Sr., anearly settler and Mexican citizen who built the first Catholic church in the area.[2]
The community has considered incorporating as a city since 2004, but concerns over the community's small size and its ability to pay for municipal services have held efforts back. Other options considered include annexation byMorgan Hill.[citation needed]

San Martin is approximately 48 km (30 mi) south ofSan Jose, California, 11 km (6.8 mi) north ofGilroy, California, and 24 km (15 mi) inland from thePacific Coast. Lying in a roughly 6 km-wide (4-mi-wide) southern extension of theSanta Clara Valley, it is bounded by theSanta Cruz Mountains to the west and theDiablo Range to the east.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30 km2), all of it land.
Due to the moderating influence of thePacific Ocean, 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 supportschaparral and grasslandbiomes, with stands oflive oak at higher elevations.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,162 | — | |
| 1970 | 1,392 | 19.8% | |
| 1980 | 1,731 | 24.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,713 | −1.0% | |
| 2000 | 4,230 | 146.9% | |
| 2010 | 7,027 | 66.1% | |
| 2020 | 7,008 | −0.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[3] 1960[4] 1970[5] 1980[6] 1990[7]2000[8] 2010[9] | |||
The2020 United States census reported that San Martin had a population of 7,008. The population density was 604.1 inhabitants per square mile (233.2/km2). The racial makeup of San Martin was 46.2%White, 0.6%African American, 2.9%Native American, 6.5%Asian, 0.3%Pacific Islander, 26.6% fromother races, and 17.0% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 48.0% of the population.[10]
The census reported that 97.3% of the population lived in households, 2.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.4% were institutionalized.[10]
There were 1,980 households, out of which 32.5% included children under the age of 18, 61.1% were married-couple households, 5.0% werecohabiting couple households, 15.8% had a female householder with no partner present, and 18.1% had a male householder with no partner present. 15.7% of households were one person, and 7.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.44.[10] There were 1,553families (78.4% of all households).[11]
The age distribution was 20.7% under the age of 18, 8.4% aged 18 to 24, 23.1% aged 25 to 44, 28.9% aged 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.6 males.[10]
There were 2,092 housing units at an average density of 180.3 units per square mile (69.6 units/km2), of which 1,980 (94.6%) were occupied. Of these, 71.8% were owner-occupied, and 28.2% were occupied by renters.[10]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $156,292, and theper capita income was $60,388. About 1.9% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line.[12]
The2010 United States census[13] reported that San Martin had a population of 7,027. The population density was 606.0 inhabitants 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%) fromother races, and 360 (5.1%) from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino 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%) wereopposite-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 1,590families (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.
According toForbes 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.

San Martin is a large producer of garlic, table mushrooms, and wine.[citation needed] TheWings of History Museum, an aviation museum, is located next toSan Martin Airport.
In theCalifornia State Legislature, San Martin is inthe 15th senatorial district, represented byDemocrat Dave Cortese, and inthe 29th Assembly district, represented byDemocrat Robert Rivas.[14]
In theUnited States House of Representatives, San Martin is inCalifornia's 18th congressional district, represented byDemocrat Zoe Lofgren.[15]
San Martin is adjacent to afreeway,U.S. Route 101, and is the location of an uncontrolled airport,San Martin Airport (E16), operated by Santa Clara County. Public transportation needs are provided bySanta Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses and acommuter rail station served byCaltrain.