Alum Rock, San Jose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alum Rock
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Neighborhood of San Jose
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 .jpg)  .jpg) Clockwise from top left: Alum Rock Village; Overfelt Gardens; Mayfair; Alum Rock Park
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Location in Santa Clara County and the state of California
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 Alum Rock, San Jose
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Santa Clara |
| City | San Jose |
| Region | East San Jose |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.87 sq mi (2.25 km2) |
| • Land | 0.87 sq mi (2.25 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 151 ft (46 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,042 |
| • Density | 13,857.31/sq mi (5,350.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
95127
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| Area codes | 408/669 |
| FIPS code | 06-01458 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 218196, 2407736 |
Alum Rock (/ˈæləm/) is a lively neighborhood in San Jose, California, found in the eastern part of the city. It used to be its own town, but in the 1950s, it became a part of San Jose. Some areas are still not officially part of the city.
Alum Rock is known for its strong Chicano and Mexican-American heritage. It's also home to Alum Rock Park, which is the oldest city park in California. It's also one of the biggest parks of its kind in the entire country!
Contents
A Look Back: Alum Rock's History
Alum Rock got its name from a special rock found nearby in Alum Rock Park. People once thought this rock was made of a mineral called alum.
In the 1800s and early 1900s, Alum Rock was mostly covered with fruit orchards. Imagine rows and rows of fruit trees! Then, in the 1940s and 1950s, people started building homes here. This is how the community of Alum Rock began to grow. Back then, a road called Alum Rock Avenue and a train line went right through the town, heading towards Alum Rock Park.
Later, in the 1980s and 1990s, more and more Latino families moved to the area. This made Alum Rock a very diverse and unique place. Today, it still feels like its own special community, even though it's part of San Jose.
On October 30, 2007, a moderate earthquake, called the 2007 Alum Rock earthquake, happened just northeast of the community. It was the strongest earthquake in the area since 1989. Luckily, no major damage or injuries were reported.
Where is Alum Rock?
Alum Rock is a large area within East San Jose. It's made up of many smaller neighborhoods, each with its own feel. Some of these include Little Portugal, Little Saigon, Mayfair, and East Foothills.
You can find Alum Rock north of the Evergreen area and south of the Berryessa area. It's also east of Downtown San Jose. To the east, you'll see the Diablo Range mountains, and to the west, there's Coyote Creek.
Who Lives in Alum Rock?
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According to the 2020 Census, about 12,042 people live in the main part of Alum Rock. In 2010, the population was 15,536. A large number of people living here are of Hispanic or Latino background, making up about 70% of the population in 2010.
The community is home to many families, with a lot of households having children under 18. The average household size is about 4 people. The median age in Alum Rock is around 30-31 years old, meaning it's a relatively young community.
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Learning in Alum Rock
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Students in Alum Rock attend schools in two main districts. Younger students go to elementary and middle schools run by the Alum Rock Union School District. Older students attend high schools managed by the East Side Union High School District.
Here are some of the schools you can find in Alum Rock:
- James Lick High School
- Mt. Pleasant High School
- William C. Overfelt High School
- Joseph George Middle School
- Cassell Elementary School
- César Chávez Elementary School
- Linda Vista Elementary School
- San Antonio Elementary School
- Meyer Elementary School
- Dorsa Elementary School
- Sheppard Middle School
- McCollam Elementary School
Fun Places: Parks and Plazas
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Alum Rock has many great parks and open spaces where you can relax and play.
- Alum Rock Park
- Cimarrón Park
- Delano Manongs Park
- Emma Prusch Farm Park
- Overfelt Gardens (which includes the beautiful Chinese Cultural Garden)
- Mayfair Park
- Plata Arroyo Park
- Zolezzi Park
Getting Around: Transportation
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The Alum Rock Transit Center is a very important hub for public transportation in East San Jose. It's operated by the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). You can catch both buses and light rail trains here.
Light rail stations within Alum Rock include:
- McKee station
- Alum Rock station
Another station, Penitencia Creek station, is right on the border of Alum Rock and Berryessa. There are also plans to build another light rail station at Story Road and Capitol Expressway in the future.
Major highways like the Bayshore Freeway (US-101) and the Sinclair Freeway (I-680) also pass through the Alum Rock area, making it easy to travel by car.
Gallery
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Alum Rock Village
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Station 2 of the San Jose Fire Department
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Alum Rock community mural
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Alum Rock Village
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Alum Rock Transit Center
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