Morgan Hill, California | |
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 Clockwise: theDiablo Range hills, historic Morgan Hill Elementary Building, Votaw Building, Civic Center andEl Toro, Downtown shops,Anderson Lake | |
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  Morgan Hill, California Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:37°07′50″N121°37′26″W / 37.13056°N 121.62389°W /37.13056; -121.62389 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Santa Clara |
| Incorporated | November 10, 1906[1] |
| Named after | Diana and Hiram Morgan Hill |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager government |
| • Mayor | Mark Turner[2] |
| • City manager | Christina Turner[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 12.94 sq mi (33.51 km2) |
| • Land | 12.94 sq mi (33.51 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 361 ft (110 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 45,483 |
| • Density | 3,515/sq mi (1,357/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes | 95037–95038 |
| Area codes | 408/669 |
| FIPS code | 06-49278 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411162[5] |
| Website | www |
Morgan Hill is a city inSanta Clara County, California, at the southern tip ofSilicon Valley in theSan Francisco Bay Area. As of the2020 census, Morgan Hill had a population of 45,483.[7] Morgan Hill is an affluent residential community, the seat of several high-tech companies,[8] and a dining and recreationaldestination, owing to its luxury hospitality,[9]wineries, andnature parks.[10][11][12]
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Prior to the arrival ofSpanish colonists,Santa Clara Valley had been inhabited by theTamien nation ofOhlone people for more than 6,000 years. In that area, the Matalan tribe lived in ahunter-gatherer society.[13]
Before the area was colonized as part of theAlta California province of theViceroyalty of New Spain, the 1772 Spanish expedition led byPedro Fages and FatherJuan Crespí, the two explorers camped in the area around Morgan Hill alongsideLlagas Creek. The location of their camp subsequently became a campsite for Spanish soldiers on their way from New Spain to Alta California. With the founding ofMission Santa Clara de Asís in 1777, the lands of present-day Morgan Hill were granted to theRoman Catholic Church.[13]
Following Mexico's independence from Spain, land was redistributed to Mexican citizens across California and the land encompassing modern-day Morgan Hill was granted to Juan María Hernández, in 1835.[13] In 1845, Martin Murphy Sr., an Irish-born Mexican citizen, acquired the area and named itRancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche.[14][15][16]
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In 1850,Martin Murphy Sr.'s youngest son,Daniel Martin Murphy, married Maria Fisher, heiress of the neighboring 19,000-acre (7,700 ha)Rancho Refugio de la Laguna Seca, thus combining the two estates.[17] By 1870, theMurphy family had acquired around 70,000 acres (28,000 ha) of the Morgan Hill area.[13]
Martin Murphy Sr.'s middle son, Bernard Murphy died in 1853, leaving the majority of his estate to Martin Murphy Sr., but a substantial portion of the land in the Morgan Hill area to his surviving wife, Catherine O'Toole, who later married James Dunne.[13]
By the late 1850s,Californio ranchero José María Malaguerra began cultivatingvineyards inMadrone, then an independent township just north of Morgan Hill.[18] In 1869, he founded theMalaguerra Winery, the oldest extant winery in Santa Clara Valley, which is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[19] In 1875,Tiburcio Vásquez, famed Californiobandido, robbed21-Mile House; the Vásquez Oak that stands there today is named in his memory.
In 1882, Daniel and Maria Murphy's daughter, Diana Helen Murphy, fell in love withMissouri businessman Hiram Morgan Hill.[17] They married in secret, there are discrepancies on why this happened with some sources stating her father disapproved of the union and didn't think Hiram could be a rancher,[17][20] and others stating it was due to the religious differences with his family beingQuaker and her family beingRoman Catholic.[13] When Daniel Martin Murphy died, Diana and Hiram Morgan Hill inherited the 4,500 acres (1,800 ha) surrounding the original Murphy estate, near Murphy's Peak (now known as El Toro). In 1884, the Hills built their weekend estate, as the family primarily lived inSan Francisco, dubbedVilla Mira Monte (Spanish for Mountain-View Estate).[21]
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By 1886, the family chose to live primarily at theRancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche, as they jointly inherited 22,000 acres (8,900 ha) around the estate. However, the move was temporary, as scandal caused by the marital complications of Hiram Morgan Hill's prominent socialite sister,Sarah Althea Hill, and her husband, SenatorWilliam Sharon, made the Hills a source of social ridicule, thus causing them to start spending the majority of their time between San Francisco and Washington, D.C., thus leaving their rancho untouched for long periods of time.[13]
In 1892, Hiram Morgan Hill contracted land developerC. H. Phillips to divide and liquidate the Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche, only retaining theVilla Mira Monte estate and the surrounding 200 acres (81 ha), which the Hill family would hold until 1916. By 1898, a significant community had built around what was then known asMorgan Hill's Ranch, and aSouthern Pacific Railroad station was built in the Huntington area. Rather than ask to stop at Huntington station, passengers would ask to stop at "Morgan Hill's Ranch", which eventually shortened to "Morgan Hill".[13]
On November 10, 1906, the planned community, a result of the divisions of C. H. Phillips, wasincorporated as the Town of Morgan Hill. Hiram Morgan and Diana Hill's only child, Diana Murphy Hill, married the French nobleman, Baron Hadouin de Reinach-Werth, and thus Baron Hadouin started to help manage Hiram Morgan Hill's properties between California and Nevada. However, the baron was called back to France to serve in the military and never returned. In 1913, Hiram Morgan Hill died at hisElko estate in Nevada, thus leaving his properties to his daughter. Diana Murphy Hill later remarried, in 1916, to Sir George Rhodes, thus causing the Murphy heiress of the Morgan Hill estate to relocate to the United Kingdom, taking her and Hiram Morgan Hill's daughter, Diana Murphy Hill, thus finally selling off theVilla Mira Monte and ending the Hill family presence in the community named after them.[13]
In 1959, Morgan Hill annexedMadrone, turning the formertownship into a Morgan Hill's northernmost district, borderingSan Jose andCoyote Valley.
Morgan Hill is approximately 24 mi (39 km) south of downtownSan Jose, 13 mi (21 km) north ofGilroy, and 15 mi (24 km) inland from thePacific coast. Lying in a roughly 4-mile-wide (6 km) southern extension of theSanta Clara Valley, it is bounded by theSanta Cruz Mountains to the west and theDiablo Range to the east. At thevalley floor, Morgan Hill lies at an elevation of about 350 feet (107 m) aboveMSL.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the city encompasses an area of 12.9 square miles (33 km2), all land. Although there are no natural lakes or ponds within the city limits, there are several flood-control and water storage reservoirs in the adjacent hills which are operated by theSanta Clara Valley Water District, with recreational activities such as boating, etc., administered by the Santa Clara County Department of Parks and Recreation.[22]
Morgan Hill is located within the seismically activeSan Francisco Bay region. The significant earthquakes in the region are generally associated with crustal movements along well-defined, active fault zones. The nearest knownactive faults are theSan Andreas Fault, approximately 12 mi (19 km) southwest, and theCalaveras Fault, approximately 0.99 mi (1.6 km) northeast. Both faults have produced major earthquakes in the past, and have estimated maximum credibleRichter magnitudes of 8.3 and 7.3, respectively. The1984 Morgan Hill earthquake registered at a 6.2 magnitude.
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Within Morgan Hill's area are a number of lakes and reservoirs, includingAnderson Lake (eastern Morgan Hill),Uvas Reservoir (west),Chesbro Reservoir (west), andCoyote Lake (south).
The Sargent-Berrocal Fault, a potentially active fault, lies 9.9 mi (16 km) away from the sites and has an estimated maximum credible Richter magnitude of 7.4. The Coyote Creek Fault is located in Morgan Hill and is classified as potentially active as well. In addition, several unnamed faults traverse the western slopes of the upland areas. Geomorphic evidence suggests that these faults were active during recent geologic time. However, these fault-related geomorphic features are not as fresh as those of the active Calaveras Fault and are considered to be somewhat older.[23]
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Morgan Hill is one of very few sources for a type of semi-precious gemstone marketed under the name "Morgan Hillpoppy jasper".[24] According to geologists, this local variety of orbicular jasper formed through a combination of volcanic and seismic activity on the slopes of El Toro. Known extant deposits of the mineral are located on private lands, not accessible to the public. A local business, El Toro Brewing Company, has a collection of poppy jasper on display at their rural Morgan Hill brewery and on a large bar top inlaid with the stone at their brewpub in downtown Morgan Hill. Examples are also on display at the Morgan Hill Museum and at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center.[25] The local Poppy Jasper Film Festival is also named after the mineral.[26]
The highlight of local geography isEl Toro. According to a local legend of the early 1900s, authorBret Harte named the hill when he climbed it and discovered two bulls fighting near the summit (they subsequently chased him back down). The official name shown on theU.S. Geological Survey's maps is simply "El Toro", but it has been deemed "Murphy's Peak" by locals.[27] Visitors, not aware of the origin of the town's name, often mistakenly assume that El Toro is "Morgan" Hill.[citation needed] It isUSGS Feature ID# 223063 in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), maintained by theUnited States Board on Geographic Names. Elevation at the summit is about 1,427 ft (435 m).[28] The hill, overshadowing the town to the west, has been incorporated into the city's seal and official logo.
Morgan Hill is divided into numerous neighborhoods, which can in turn be divided into smaller communities or areas. Morgan Hill's principal neighborhoods are:
Due to the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean, Morgan Hill experiences a mild,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). The average annual precipitation is 18.9 inches (480 mm), and the summer months are typically dry. Snowfall is rare within Morgan Hill; there have only been two reported cases of snow.[29][30] Summer months contain coastal fogs, while winter months have many sunny and partly cloudy days, with frequent breaks between rainstorms. The local terrain is inconducive totornadoes, severe windstorms and thunderstorms. The local climate supportschaparral and grasslandbiomes, with stands oflive oak at higher elevations.
| Climate data for Morgan Hill (1948 to 2016) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 61.3 (16.3) | 62.1 (16.7) | 62.8 (17.1) | 69.3 (20.7) | 75.4 (24.1) | 80.5 (26.9) | 86.4 (30.2) | 86.9 (30.5) | 85.2 (29.6) | 77.1 (25.1) | 63.6 (17.6) | 61.1 (16.2) | 72.6 (22.6) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.83 (123) | 4.72 (120) | 3.21 (82) | 1.50 (38) | 0.29 (7.4) | 0 (0) | 0.03 (0.76) | 0 (0) | 0.04 (1.0) | 0.95 (24) | 2.39 (61) | 3.70 (94) | 21.68 (551) |
| Source: WRCC[31] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 607 | — | |
| 1920 | 646 | 6.4% | |
| 1930 | 908 | 40.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,014 | 11.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,627 | 60.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,151 | 93.7% | |
| 1970 | 5,579 | 77.1% | |
| 1980 | 17,060 | 205.8% | |
| 1990 | 23,928 | 40.3% | |
| 2000 | 33,556 | 40.2% | |
| 2010 | 37,882 | 12.9% | |
| 2020 | 45,483 | 20.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[32] | |||
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The2020 United States census reported that Morgan Hill had a population of 45,483. The population density was 3,515.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,357.3/km2). The racial makeup of Morgan Hill was 49.7%White, 2.2%African American, 1.4%Native American, 14.8%Asian, 0.4%Pacific Islander, 16.0% fromother races, and 15.5% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.1% of the population.[33]
The census reported that 98.7% of the population lived in households, 0.9% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.5% were institutionalized.[33]
There were 15,140 households, out of which 39.8% included children under the age of 18, 60.7% were married-couple households, 5.5% werecohabiting couple households, 21.4% had a female householder with no partner present, and 12.4% had a male householder with no partner present. 16.9% of households were one person, and 8.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.96.[33] There were 11,790families (77.9% of all households).[34]
The age distribution was 24.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% aged 18 to 24, 24.5% aged 25 to 44, 28.1% aged 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males.[33]
There were 15,567 housing units at an average density of 1,203.2 units per square mile (464.6 units/km2), of which 15,140 (97.3%) were occupied. Of these, 71.8% were owner-occupied, and 28.2% were occupied by renters.[33]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $159,758, and theper capita income was $65,671. About 2.0% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line.[35]
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The2010 U.S. census[36] reported that Morgan Hill had a population of 37,882. The population density was 2,940.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,135.4/km2). Theethnic makeup of Morgan Hill was 24,713 (65.2%) White, 746 (2.0%) African American, 335 (0.9%) Native American, 3,852 (10.2%) Asian, 125 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 5,779 (15.3%) from other races, and 2,332 (6.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12,863 persons (34.0%).
The Census reported that 37,496 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 164 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 222 (0.6%) were institutionalized.
There were 12,326 households, out of which 5,538 (44.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 7,581 (61.5%) wereopposite-sex married couples living together, 1,469 (11.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 646 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 660 (5.4%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 89 (0.7%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,998 households (16.2%) were made up of individuals, and 757 (6.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04. There were 9,696families (78.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.39.
The population was spread out, with 10,838 people (28.6%) under the age of 18, 2,909 people (7.7%) aged 18 to 24, 10,000 people (26.4%) aged 25 to 44, 10,537 people (27.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,598 people (9.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
There were 12,859 housing units at an average density of 998.2 per square mile (385.4/km2), of which 8,793 (71.3%) were owner-occupied, and 3,533 (28.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.6%. 26,148 people (69.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 11,348 people (30.0%) lived in rental housing units.
Substantial expansion of the population of Morgan Hill occurred from the late 1980s onward. This population expansion was enabled by the removal of a growth constraint in the form ofsewage treatment capacity.[37]
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According toForbes, Morgan Hill is one of the top 500 most expensive places to live in the United States.[38]Business Insider ranked Morgan Hill as the 479th most expensive housing market in the United States, owing to its concentration ofhigh-net-worth individuals and restrictive growth policies.[39][40]
Morgan Hill, along withSaratoga,San Martin, andGilroy make up theSanta Clara Valley AVA, a designatedAmerican Viticultural Area for wineries and vineyards within the historicSanta Clara Valley.[41]
Numerous companies of other industries are based in Morgan Hill as well, such asSpecialized Bicycle Components, a major global manufacturer of high performance bicycles.[42]
Morgan Hill is served byThe Morgan Hill Times, a weekly newspaper founded in 1894 and published by New SV Media.[43] The biweeklyMorgan Hill Life[44] lifestyle publication, founded in 2013, is published by Morgan Hill Life, LLC.
Notable high tech companies that are headquartered or have their American headquarters in Morgan Hill includeAnritsu (Japanesetelecommunications company),Flextronics (the world's second largest electronics-manufacturing service provider),Velodyne (sensor and laser developer), Hypnos Entertainment[45] (video game company),Toray Advanced Composites (Dutchadvanced composite materials manufacturer), and Paramit Corporation, a high tech medical device manufacturer.
High tech companies that have research and development or manufacturing facilities in Morgan Hill include theHarris Corporation (information and defense contractor based in theMadrone district),Infineon Technologies (semiconductor and chip manufacturer), and NxEdge Inc., a semiconductor and business solutions company.
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According to the city's 2018 Employment Report, the top employers in the city are:[46]
| No. | Employer | No. of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morgan Hill Unified School District | 900 |
| 2 | Anritsu | 480 |
| 3 | Specialized Bicycle Components | 380 |
| 4 | Paramit Corporation | 300 |
| 5 | CalDoor | 300 |
| 6 | NxEdge | 280 |
| 7 | Lusamerica Foods | 270 |
| 8 | Mission Bell Manufacturing | 250 |
| 9 | Toray Advanced Composites | 250 |
| 10 | Infineon Technologies | 240 |
| 11 | Safeway | 230 |
| 12 | Velodyne | 200 |
TheMushroom Mardi Gras Festival is an annual celebration established in 1980 by fire chief Brad Spencer,[47][48] who wanted to raise money for his fire department affected byProp 13.[49] The festival primarily celebrates the mushroom as a homage to the city's original nickname, the Mushroom Capital of the World.[49]
ThePoppy Jasper International Film Festival (PJIFF) is an annual event managed by the non-profit organization Poppy Jasper, Inc. It was established in 2004 by Mattie Scariot as a fundraiser on MHAT, Morgan Hill'spublic-access television channel.[26] Since its establishment, PJIFF features films produced by people of multiple backgrounds.[50][51]
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Morgan Hill's government is composed of the Morgan Hill City Council, its legislative branch; the mayor of Morgan Hill, its semi-executive branch; and the departments of Morgan Hill City Hall. The current mayor of Morgan Hill is Mark Turner, who was elected to office in November 2022.[2] The current Morgan Hill City Manager is Christina Turner.
In theCalifornia State Legislature, Morgan Hill is inthe 15th senatorial district, represented byDemocrat Dave Cortese, and inthe 28th Assembly district, represented byDemocrat Gail Pellerin.[59]
Federally, Morgan Hill is inCalifornia's 18th congressional district, represented byDemocrat Zoe Lofgren.[60]
The Morgan Hill Police Department is tasked with ensuring public safety within the city's incorporated borders. Chief Shane Palsgrove was appointed in 2020.[61]
TheMorgan Hill Unified School District (MHUSD) serves the whole of Morgan Hill, as well asSan Martin, California andCoyote Valley. MHUSD schools have variously been awarded asCalifornia Distinguished Schools andCalifornia Gold Ribbon Schools.[62][63]
Morgan Hill's public high schools are:
Alongside its traditional schools, MHUSD, in special partnership withThe Tech Interactive, a leadingSilicon Valley institution, operates 4 specialized public"focus academies", through its innovativeTech Academies Initiative:[65]Focus Academies will provide the opportunity for students to specialize their studies within broad fields (engineering, STEAM, math, music, health sciences), allowing for greater, in-depth learning within subjects within programs designed by noted subject matter experts, including scientists from The Tech Museum of Innovation andStanford University medical professors.[66][67]
Morgan Hill also hosts a campus ofGavilan College.[72]
Morgan Hill is also home to numerousprivate school, both religious and nonsectarian in nature.
Nonsectarian schools:
Religious schools:
Santa Clara County Library District operates the Morgan Hill Library, which was renamed after former mayor Steve Tate.[76]
Morgan Hill has five sister city affiliations:[82]
Headford, County Galway, Ireland[83]
San Casciano in Val di Pesa,Tuscany,Italy[83]
Mizuho, Tokyo, Japan[84]
San Martín de Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico[83]
Seferihisar, Izmir, Turkey[85][86].jpg)
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A dusting of snow in January 1989 transformed Monterey Road into a frosted greeting card, in keeping with the spirit of the holidays.
...the man originally from Morgan Hill, California...
In addition to Ameca, it also hosts relationships with five international cities: San Casciano, Italy; Seferihisar, Turkey; San Martin de Hidalgo, Mexico; Mizuho, Japan; and Headford, Ireland.
In December 2010, students from Morgan Hill middle schools were selected as ambassadors to go to Morgan Hill's Sister city Mizuho-machi, Tokyo, Japan.
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