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San Jose keeps the Bay Area buzzing along. While San Francisco gets more national attention, San Jose emerges as the true capital of Silicon Valley. The city has grown up from its roots as a farming village, now boasting a population that ranks the third largest in all of California.
San Jose is tech central. IBM opened their West Coast operations here in the early 1940s, helping brand the town as frontrunners for post-WWII research and development. Cisco, Apple and Adobe continue the trend, playing huge roles in the local economy. San Jose attracts the brightest minds from around the globe, all in the name of digital development. Men out number women in the tech industry and, as a result, the town has developed as a haven for single ladies looking to take advantage of the good odds for finding a match.
The sprawling city of over 1 million residents includes a great mix of culture and distinct neighborhoods. A cruise through San Jose on the widely available public transportation system takes residents and visitors through ethnic enclaves ranging from Japanese, Portuguese and Vietnamese to all points of Central and South America. Ethnic celebrations take center stage in San Jose with large public events including Chinese New Year and Cinco de Mayo. A lively restaurant and bar scene is found throughout town with emphasis on Hispanic and Asian fare. Restaurants, food trucks and home chefs rave about the local farms and farmers markets, which provide seasonal and local eats all year round.
The San Francisco 49ers have recently built a stunning new facility in nearby Santa Clara. The facility, in true California fashion, aims be "net zero" for energy use. The stadium comes equipped with state-of-the-art water collection and conservation systems, as well as solar paneling and a 27,000-square-foot living roof. Other local sporting options include the San Jose Sharks (NHL) and the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS). San Jose has quietly become a town for film lovers. The annual Cinequest has grown to be among the largest film festivals in the world, drawing thousands of visitors each March. Summertime brings outdoor screenings of old classics each Wednesday in the San Pedro Market Square.