The fast-growing community prides itself on committing to traditional values of strong neighborhoods, quality education and citizen involvement. Throughout the year, the community holds numerous cultural and recreational celebrations including the annual Art & Wine Festival, a summer concert series, the spring parade, a Halloween festival and the Christmas tree lighting ceremony.Residents enjoy access to plenty of recreational opportunities and programs through an outstanding parks and recreation department. The Civic Center, built around downtown's Pioneer Park, has one of the finest theater facilities in Northern California as well as a new, 60,000 square foot state-of-the-art library. The local Center for the Performing Arts is a state-of-the-art facility that offers a comprehensive performing arts program for a culturally diverse community. Mountain View real estate options consist of single-family detached homes for sale, estate properties, condominiums and townhouses
The central location of Mountain View and its progressive, pro-business environment allows the city to maintain a strong and diversified economy. There are several high technology, major biotechnology/pharmaceutical and telecommunications companies in this area. Companies such as Handspring, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, ALZA Corporation/Johnson & Johnson, Nokia and Web TV are all located in the area. The businesses of Mountain View are not limited to these industries; there are also a variety of retail stores, executive offices, research and development firms and professional services.
Mountain View offers a variety of transportation options that includes highways, rail systems and air service. Interstate 280, US 101 and state highways 82, 85, and 237 cross through the city and offer quick access to all parts of the San Francisco Bay area. Two major international airports can be found nearby: the San Francisco International Airport and the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport.
In addition to the strong economy, Mountain View prides itself on its educational institutions and programs. Students in the city are currently served by both the Mountain View-Whisman School District and the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District. Two private schools are also located within the city: Mountain View Academy and St. Francis High School. Institutions of higher learning include Foothill Community College, San Jose State University, Santa Clara University and Stanford University.
Mountain View is not all work and no play. There are a variety of recreational opportunities available to its residents. There are a variety of neighborhood parks located throughout the city. Shoreline Park is a 660-acre regional park that features a network of trails, an 18-hole championship golf course and a saltwater lake for water sports. The Shoreline Amphitheatre is the region\'s premiere outdoor venue where several large acts have performed. In addition to these recreational activities, Mountain View offers several shopping opportunities in the downtown area.
Mountain View was once an area that was covered in orchards and vineyards. The city began as a stagecoach stop and an agricultural center for the beautiful surrounding Santa Clara Valley. In 1902, Mountain View was incorporated with less than 1,000 citizens. After World War II, the population grew tremendously with the growth of the electronic and aerospace industries. The mission of the Mountain View city government then and now aims to focus on providing quality services and facilities for its residents while balancing the needs of growth and the environment.
