East San Jose facts for kids

Quick facts for kids East San Jose The East Side
Region of San Jose, California
Top: Evergreen Village Square, Gurdwara Sahib of San Jose; middle: Lake Cunningham; bottom: Alum Rock Village; Overfelt Gardens.
East San Jose Location in San Jose, California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Santa Clara
City	San Jose

East San Jose is a big area on the eastern side of San Jose, California. People often call it The East Side or ESSJ for short. It's also sometimes known as the East Valley.

This area is split into two main parts: Alum Rock and Evergreen. Each part has many smaller neighborhoods. East San Jose is surrounded by the Diablo Range mountains to the east and south. The Coyote Creek is to its west, and Mabury Road is to the north.

East San Jose is known for being very diverse. It's home to important neighborhoods like Mayfair and King & Story, which have a rich Chicano and Mexican-American history. You can also find the Gurdwara Sahib of San Jose here. This is the biggest Sikh temple in the world outside of India!

History of East San Jose

East San Jose wasn't always part of the city of San Jose. It used to be a small separate town. In 1911, this town officially became part of San Jose. That original area is now considered part of Central San Jose.

Important People and Places

The Alum Rock neighborhood of Mayfair is famous for its connection to César Chávez. He was a very important civil rights leader in California. In the 1950s, César Chávez lived in Mayfair. He started his work helping people at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Mayfair.

Another interesting historical fact comes from Evergreen. In 1911, a man named John J. Montgomery did important flight experiments there. He is well-known for inventing flying machines that could be controlled.

Districts and Neighborhoods

East San Jose is divided into two main districts. Each district then has its own smaller neighborhoods.

• District of Alum Rock
  • Little Portugal
  • Little Saigon
  • Mayfair
  • Naglee Park
  • King & Story
  • East Foothills
• District of Evergreen
  • Silver Creek Valley
  • Meadowfair

Landmarks to Visit

East San Jose has many interesting places to see and visit. Here are some of them:

• Eastridge Center: A large shopping mall where you can find many stores and places to eat.
• Lake Cunningham/Raging Waters San Jose: A big lake perfect for outdoor activities. Next to it is Raging Waters San Jose, a popular water park for fun in the sun.
• Mexican Heritage Plaza: A cultural center that celebrates Mexican and Chicano arts and traditions.
• Reid-Hillview Airport: A local airport mainly used for smaller planes and flight training.
• East San José Carnegie Branch Library: A historic library branch that serves the community.