Morgan Hill, California

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City of Morgan Hill
Location in Santa Clara County and the state of California
Location in Santa Clara County and the state of California
Coordinates: 37°7′36″N 121°38′35″W / 37.12667, -121.64306
Country United States
State California
County Santa Clara
Incorporated November 10, 1906
Government
 - Mayor Steve Tate
 - City Manager J. Edward Tewes
Area [1]
 - Total 11.67 sq mi (30.2 km²)
 - Land 11.67 sq mi (30.2 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0 km²)  0%
Elevation [2] 350 ft (107 m)
Population (2000)[1]
 - Total 33,556
 - Density 2,876.6/sq mi (1,110.7/km²)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 - Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP codes 95037-95038
Area code(s) 408
FIPS code 06-49278
GNIS feature ID 1659174
Website: http://www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/

Morgan Hill (IPA: /ˈmɔrgɨn ˈhɪl/) is a city located in the southern part of Santa Clara County, California, USA. Founded on November 10, 1906, the city was named after Hiram Morgan Hill, a San Franciscan who built a country retreat home there in 1884. Originally a community of ranchers, farmers and orchardists, the city has evolved into a bedroom community for the high-tech industries in Silicon Valley. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city had a population of 33,556.[1] The silhouette of El Toro[3], a distinctive hill overshadowing the town to the west, has been incorporated into the city's seal and official logo.

Contents

[edit] Geography and geology

El Toro
El Toro

Morgan Hill is located at 37°07′36″N, 121°38′35″W (37.126795, -121.643166)[4]. It is approximately 39 km (24 mi) south of San Jose, 21 km (13 mi) north of Gilroy, and 24 km (15 mi) inland from the Pacific Coast. Lying in a roughly 6 km-wide (4-mi-wide) southern extension of the Santa Clara Valley, it is bounded by the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west and the Diablo Range to the east. At the valley floor, Morgan Hill lies at an elevation of about 107 m (350 ft) above MSL.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city encompasses an area of 30.2 km² (11.67 sq mi), all land.[1] 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 the Santa Clara Valley Water District, with recreational activities such as boating, etc., administered by the Santa Clara County Department of Parks and Recreation.[5]

Morgan Hill is located within the seismically active San Francisco Bay region. The significant earthquakes which occur in the region are generally associated with crustal movements along well-defined, active fault zones. The nearest known active faults are the San Andreas Fault, approximately 19 km (12 mi) southwest, and the Calaveras Fault, approximately 1.6 km (1 mi) northeast. Both faults have produced major earthquakes in the past, and have estimated maximum credible Richter magnitudes of 8.3 and 7.3 respectively. The Sargent-Berrocal Fault, a potentially active fault, lies 16 km (10 mi) 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.[6]

Morgan Hill is the only known site where one can find the semi-precious stone Poppy Jasper, which is a form of Jasper known as Orbicular or Picture Jasper. It is believed that the deposits of Poppy Jasper were formed due to the unique combination of volcanic/seismic activity in the El Toro mountain area of what is now Morgan Hill. The El Toro Brewing Co. has a collection of Poppy Jasper on display at their brewery in rural Morgan Hill and a large bar inlaid with the stone at their brewpub in downtown Morgan Hill. Examples are also on display at the Morgan Hill Museum. Poppy Jasper is the name of an ale produced by El Toro Brewing Co. as well as the name of a local non-profit Film Festival.

[edit] Climate

Due to the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean, Morgan Hill enjoys a mild, Mediterranean climate. Temperatures range from an average midsummer maximum of 32.3°C (90.2°F) to an average midwinter low of 0.9°C (33.6°F). Average annual precipitation 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 supports chaparral and grassland biomes, with stands of live oak at higher elevations.

[edit] Demographics

United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church

As of the United States 2000 Census[1], there were 33,556 people, 10,846 households, and 8,633 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,875.4 people per square mile (1,110.2/km²). There were 11,091 housing units at an average density of 950.3/sq mi (366.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.40% White, 1.71% African American, 1.08% Native American, 6.02% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 13.43% from other races, and 5.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.50% of the population.

There were 10,846 households out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.4% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $81,958, and the median income for a family was $90,134. Males had a median income of $61,999 versus $42,003 for females. The per capita income for the city was $33,047. About 3.3% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

Substantial expansion of the population of Morgan Hill occurred in from the late 1980s onward. This population expansion was enabled by the removal of a growth constraint in the form of sewage treatment capacity.[7]

[edit] Parks and recreation

[edit] Politics

In the state legislature Morgan Hill is located in the 15th Senate District, represented by Republican Abel Maldonado, and in the 27th Assembly District, represented by Democrat John Laird. Federally, Morgan Hill is located in California's 11th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +3[8] and is represented by Democrat Jerry McNerney.

[edit] Media

Morgan Hill has one local newspaper, published by the Gilroy-based Mainstreet Media Group:

[edit] Infrastructure

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Major highways

[edit] Public transportation

[edit] Utilities

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[edit] Healthcare

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[edit] Sister cities

Morgan Hill has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ USGS GNIS: Morgan Hill
  3. ^ El Toro means "The Bull" in Spanish. Locals may refer to the hill as El Toro Mountain or Murphy's Peak. According to a local legend, author Bret 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 USGS maps is simply El Toro. Elevation at the summit is about 427 m (1403 ft). Visitors, not aware of the origin of the town's name, often mistakenly assume that El Toro is "Morgan" Hill.
  4. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ Morgan Hill does not have water rights to the nearby reservoirs; the city's water supply consists of a number of deep wells and aboveground steel storage tanks. Streams in the vicinity are small and seasonal, unable to supply the city's water needs.
  6. ^ Jackson Meadows Expanded Initial Study, Earth Metrics Inc., San Mateo, Ca., prepared for the city of Morgan Hill, Oct. 16, 1989
  7. ^ Environmental Impact Report for the Long Term Wastewater Management Plan, Cities of Gilroy and Morgan Hill, Earth Metrics, Inc. 1986, prepared for cities of Gilroy and Morgan Hill and State of California Environmental Clearinghouse
  8. ^ Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?. Campaign Legal Center Blog. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
  9. ^ "Gilroy and Morgan Hill Service". Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.
  10. ^ "Caltrain timetable effective April 2, 2007". Caltrain. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.
  11. ^ "Line 55 Monterey - San Jose Express". Monterey-Salinas Transit. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.

[edit] External links

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