Berryessa is a district of
San Jose, California
San Jose, officially San José (; ; ), is a major city in the U.S. state of California that is the cultural, financial, and political center of Silicon Valley and largest city in Northern California by both population and area. With a 2020 popul ...
, located in
North San Jose
North San Jose (abbreviated as NSJ) is the northern region of the city of San Jose, California. North San Jose is made up of numerous neighborhoods grouped into three districts: Alviso, Berryessa, and Rincon / Golden Triangle. North San Jose ...
. The district is named after the
Berryessa family, a prominent
Californio
Californio (plural Californios) is a term used to designate a Hispanic Californian, especially those descended from Spanish and Mexican settlers of the 17th through 19th centuries. California's Spanish-speaking community has resided there sinc ...
family of the
Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Gov ...
which historically owned most of the area.
History
In the late 19th century, Berryessa was a small farming community, well-known across
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
for its high-quality fruit. Hostetter Road, Capitol Avenue, Piedmont Road, and Lundy Avenue were formerly surrounded by
apricot
An apricot (, ) is a fruit, or the tree that bears the fruit, of several species in the genus ''Prunus''.
Usually, an apricot is from the species '' P. armeniaca'', but the fruits of the other species in ''Prunus'' sect. ''Armeniaca'' are also ...
and
prune
A prune is a dried plum, most commonly from the European plum (''Prunus domestica''). Not all plum species or varieties can be dried into prunes. A prune is the firm-fleshed fruit (plum) of ''Prunus domestica'' varieties that have a high solu ...
orchards. The J. F. Flickinger Fruit Packing Company, one of the largest fruit packing companies in the
Santa Clara Valley
The Santa Clara Valley is a geologic trough in Northern California that extends 90 miles (145 km) south–southeast from San Francisco to Hollister. The longitudinal valley is bordered on the west by the Santa Cruz Mountains and on the east ...
, was located around present-day Hostetter Road. In the 1960s and 70s, the land where the orchards stood was developed into suburban residential neighborhoods and businesses. Today, tiny remnants of the orchards remain, including the Orlando Farm. In 2013 it, too, was developed into housing on Capitol Avenue and the Mattos' apricot orchard off Piedmont Road.
Today, Berryessa is distinguished as a fast-growing bedroom community of San Jose. It is served by
VTA light rail and (in 2019), an extension of the Bay Area Rapid Transit
BART
Bart is a masculine given name, usually a diminutive of Bartholomew, sometimes of Barton, Bartolomeo, etc.
Bart is a Dutch and Ashkenazi Jewish surname, and derives from the name ''Bartholomäus'', a German form of the biblical name ''Bartho ...
system.
The old Berryessa Elementary School building, built in 1927, is a
Spanish Colonial Revival style
The Spanish Colonial Revival Style ( es, Arquitectura neocolonial española) is an architectural stylistic movement arising in the early 20th century based on the Spanish Colonial architecture of the Spanish colonization of the Americas.
In the ...
, designed by noted Northern California architect
W.H. Weeks. The building has served as a commercial space since 1983.
Geography
The district borders
Milpitas
Milpitas (Spanish for "little milpas") is a city in Santa Clara County, California, in Silicon Valley. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 80,273. The city's origins lie in Rancho Milpitas, granted to Californio ranchero José Marí ...
along Landess Avenue to the north and the
Alum Rock neighborhood of
East San Jose
East San Jose (abbreviated as ESJ), commonly called The East Side and less commonly as the East Valley, is the eastern region of the city of San Jose, California. The East Side is made up of numerous neighborhoods grouped into two larger distric ...
along Mabury Road to the
south
South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...
.
The residential neighborhood is part of the Fourth City Council District, along with
Alviso. It was represented by
Chuck Reed
Charles Rufus Reed (born August 15, 1948) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 64th Mayor of San Jose, California from 2007 to 2014.
Biography
Early life
Reed was born in Garden City, Kansas. Reed attended Garden City High ...
, prior to his election as
Mayor of San Jose
The Mayor of San Jose, officially the Mayor of the City of San José, is executive of the Government of the City of San Jose, California in the United States.
The mayor presides over the San Jose City Council, which is composed of 11 voting me ...
. The current district representative is David Cohen.
Parks
*
Berryessa Creek
__NOTOC__
Berryessa Creek is a seasonal creek in northeastern San Jose and Milpitas. Its main source is located in the Los Buellis Hills slightly west of Felter Road. Berryessa Creek has many tributaries, including Piedmont Creek, Calera Creek, ...
Park
*
Penitencia Creek
Upper Penitencia Creek is actually one of two creeks by the name Penitencia Creek in the northeastern Santa Clara Valley of Santa Clara County, California. They are both tributaries of Coyote Creek. The upper creek was diverted southwestward, c ...
Park
*Alum Rock Park
*Boccardo Look Trail
*Cataldi Park
Community
San Jose Public Library
The San José Public Library ( es, Biblioteca Pública de San José) is the public library system of San Jose, California, made up of 23 branch libraries spread across the city.
Organization
Its central library, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Librar ...
operates the Berryessa Branch Library and the Educational Park Branch Library.
Berryessa is home to the long-established
San Jose Flea Market.
Berryessa Art & Wine Festival
The annual Berryessa Art & Wine Festival, one of the best-known local events in the area, has been a tradition for over 40 years.
The festival is typically held in May. It includes 120-150 artist booths and 14 food booths, run by Berryessa non-profit groups. Community Row features booths from various service groups and non-profits that offer information to the festival-goers. Business Row has representatives from the Berryessa community and other local San Jose businesses. A stage area features local amateur and professional entertainment, and there are booths from several local radio stations.
The festival is held on the grounds of Penitencia Creek Park.
Transportation
Berryessa is well-served by two regional transit systems:
VTA light rail
VTA Light Rail is a light rail system in San Jose and nearby cities in Santa Clara County, California. It is operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, or VTA, and consists of of network comprising three main lines on stand ...
and
BART
Bart is a masculine given name, usually a diminutive of Bartholomew, sometimes of Barton, Bartolomeo, etc.
Bart is a Dutch and Ashkenazi Jewish surname, and derives from the name ''Bartholomäus'', a German form of the biblical name ''Bartho ...
.
*VTA light rail:
**
Berryessa (VTA)
**
Cropley (VTA)
**
Hostetter (VTA)
**
Penitencia Creek (VTA)
Penitencia Creek is a light rail station operated by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). This station is served by VTA's Orange Line (VTA), Orange Line.
The station was opened on June 24, 2004, as part of VTA's Capitol light rail ...
* BART:
**
Berryessa/North San Jose station
Education
Berryessa Union School District operates public schools.
Saint Victor Catholic School an
Milpitas Christian Schoolref>https://www.milpitaschristian.org/ Milpitas Christian School (founded in Milpitas but now located in Berryessa) are the only private schools in the area.
Public schools in Berryessa include:
High schools
*
Independence High School
*
Piedmont Hills High School
Piedmont Hills High School is a comprehensive public four-year high school located in the Berryessa neighborhood of San Jose, California, USA. It is part of the East Side Union High School District and in 2019 was ranked in the highest categorie ...
Middle schools
* Morrill Middle School
* Piedmont Middle School
* Sierramont Middle School
Elementary schools
* Brooktree Elementary School
* Cherrywood Elementary School
* Laneview Elementary School
* Majestic Way Elementary School
* Noble Elementary School
* Northwood Elementary School
* Ruskin Elementary School
* Summerdale Elementary School
* Toyon Elementary School
* Vinci Park Elementary School
Gallery
File:King's Crossing at Newbury Park in Berryessa 1 (cropped).jpg, King's Crossing at Newbury Park
File:Townhomes in Berryessa 0734 (cropped).jpg, Townhomes on Mabury
File:Berryessa Flea Market from new BART station (cropped).jpg, San Jose Flea Market
File:Starbucks in Berryessa 0702.jpg, Café on N. Capitol Ave
File:Berryessa, San Jose 432325 (cropped).jpg, Townhomes on Mercado Way
Notable residents
The following people either grew up in Berryessa or are current residents of the area:
*
Rex Walters
Rex Andrew Walters (born March 12, 1970) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who serves as an assistant coach for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Previously, he was the Associate Hea ...
- former NBA player and Head Basketball Coach at USF
*
Chris Manak, aka Peanut Butter Wolf - DJ and Music Producer
*
Chuck Reed
Charles Rufus Reed (born August 15, 1948) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 64th Mayor of San Jose, California from 2007 to 2014.
Biography
Early life
Reed was born in Garden City, Kansas. Reed attended Garden City High ...
- former Mayor of San Jose
References
External links
Berryessa Citizens Advisory CouncilCity of San Jose, Council District 4Berryessa branch of San Jose Public Library system
{{Neighborhoods of San Jose
Neighborhoods in San Jose, California