The city's population was , at the census , making it the eighth-most populous city in the Bay Area. Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 18th century, the Tamien tribe of the Ohlone nation of Indigenous Californians had inhabited the area for several millennia. In , Santa Clara College was established on the grounds of the original Mission. In , Santa Clara was incorporated as a town; it became state-chartered by For the next century, the economy centered on agriculture since orchards and vegetables were thriving in the fertile soil.
By the beginning of the 20th century, the population had reached 5, and stayed about the same for many years. In , the first public high-altitude flights by humans were made over Santa Clara in gliders designed by John J. The semiconductor industry , which sprouted around , changed the city and surrounding Valley of Heart's Delight ; little of its agricultural past remains. Santa Clara's first medical hospital was built in Santa Clara was also home to a major mental health facility, Agnews State Hospital.
According to the National Park Service, more than persons were killed at this site in the earthquake. In , Santa Clara City Council voted to knock down the eight-block grid of Downtown Santa Clara, in order to receive federal funding for urban renewal. There are some significant biological resources within the city including habitat for the burrowing owl , a species of special concern in California due to reduction in habitat from urban development during the latter 20th century. Coyotes have also become active in the area in recent years.
According to the U. Census Bureau , the city covers an area of Most of the annual rainfall comes in the winter months; the summer months are generally rainless. The United States census [ 20 ] reported that Santa Clara had a population of , The population density was 6, The ethnic makeup of Santa Clara was 52, There were 22, people The Census reported that , people There were 43, households, out of which 14, There were 2, 5. The average household size was 2.
There were 27, families The age distribution of the population was as follows: 24, people The median age was For every females, there were For every females age 18 and over, there were There were 45, housing units at an average density of 2, The homeowner vacancy rate was 1. Santa Clara owns and operates an electric utility called Silicon Valley Power.
