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Sunnyvale, CA 94086

<i>Out to Lunch</i>, Statue outside Sunnyvale Public Library

Zip 94086

With just five exits leading to it off of US Highway 101, Sunnyvale is one of the several city-towns that make up the amorphous region known simply as 'Silicon Valley'. The fruit factories and apricot fields which Sunnyvale was known for at the time of its incorporation in 1912 have long been replaced by the defense factories and hi-tech industries. The trend towards hi-tech in the last decade has led to higher incomes : the median household income in Sunnyvale is nearly $75,000. Perhaps because people who make this much money don't have the time for violent crime, Sunnyvale is also the 5th safest city in the entire United States. For cities with large-ish populations from 100,000 to 500,000 Sunnyvale improves to 3rd safest in the US. In nearly 5 years of residence here, I have yet to hear of a violent crime and most of the police stops are for traffic violations.

The 2000 census listed the population of Sunnyvale as 132,000 of which fully 40% were foreign-born. In comparison, California's foreign-born fraction is 26%. For the entire United States, this percentage is about 20%. This influx shows itself all along El Camino Real (Spanish for 'The King's Road'), the road that runs through Sunnyvale's heart in its journey through the entire length of California. Ethnic restaurants abound. In addition, there are 'speciality' stores for groceries and clothes and even electronics which sell converters from the 110V in use in the United States to the 230V more common in India and the rest of Asia. Diversity is a lot of fun and manifests itself in unusual ways - at the local barbershop, I have gotten haircuts from the Spaniard owner, a Japanese grandmother, an Iranian refugee, a Hispanic immigrant and an assortment of women from South Asia - Vietman, the Phillipines etc. In comparison, in my hometown in India, for nearly 20 years, my hair was cut in the same barbershop first by the owner and then by his sons.

A plaque commemorates the location of what was once the world's largest Cannery, Sunnyvale, California Libby Water Tower, Sunnyvale, California Cherry Blossoms in the Spring, Sunnyvale, California An attempt to rename Persian Drive to Mandir Drive led to one of Sunnyvale's rare social disputes

Any friction with the influx of so many nationalities is practically absent on the surface. However, a recent initiative by Indian Americans to rename Persian Drive to Mandir Drive (Mandir means Temple in Hindi) erupted into one of sleepy suburbian Sunnyvale's rare city hall crises. Locals objected to the name change, Iranians who were especially sensitive after Sept 11th objected as well as did some businesses and long-time residents along Persian Drive who did not want to reprint stationery. Evidently surprised by the strength of the opposition - renaming streets and districts and entire cities in India after local, state or national heroes is now routine - the initiative was quickly withdrawn after an acrimonious meeting lasted past midnight in city hall.

Tourism-wise, there is precious little in Sunnyvale and the two most frequently listed spots are the Lace Museum and the Sunnyvale History Museum, both on Murphy Avenue. I myself haven't visited either.

However, you don't live in a place for five years without learning some of its secrets and here are some of the spots to visit in Sunnyvale if you happen to be visiting:

  • The Sunnyvale Public Library on Olive Avenue has a nice bronze statue - "Out to Lunch" - of a man in rolled-up sleeves, a burger in one hand and a book in the other.
  • A water tank on California Ave marks the spot of Sunnyvale's cannery past - at one time, the world's largerst cannery.
  • A sculpture on Mathilda and El Camino is built so that the sun shines right through the center on Winter Solistice. Otherwise it is very drab.
  • A man has got to eat and Thai Basil and Udipi Palace serve good Thai and Indian food respectively.

    Sunnyvale in the vicinity of San Francisco and Santa Cruz

    Comments from others who've read this article
    1. on Wednesday, 21-Mar-2007 Nancy-Jo said:
    Great, but I was looking for more pictures of Sunnyvale to share with friends, I'm going to visit soon. Thanks.
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