Rucker, California facts for kids
Rucker is a small, quiet place in Santa Clara County, California. It's not a city or a town with its own government, but more like a neighborhood. You can find it about halfway between the cities of Gilroy and San Martin. Even though it has an official name, people who live nearby don't often call it "Rucker" anymore.
The area is about 235 feet (72 meters) above the ocean. You can still see the name "Rucker" on maps today. It's also used for local places like Rucker Avenue, Rucker School (for kids from kindergarten to sixth grade), and Rucker Creek.
Rucker's Past
Long ago, the land where Rucker is now was part of a large area given by the Mexican government. This area was called Rancho San Francisco de las Llagas.
In 1933, the name Rucker was used to describe a special spot on the railroad tracks. This spot was a "siding," which is like a parking place for trains. It was part of what is now the Union Pacific Railroad.
Life in Rucker Today
Rucker is on the southern edge of a larger area called the San Jose metropolitan area. Over time, more homes are being built here.
For many years, Rucker has been a farming area. Even today, many homes have a lot of land, often an acre or more. Some people even keep horses on their property! You might see old, strong trees and simple barbed-wire fences around the homes. Farmers in the area grow things like grass (turf), alfalfa, and other crops that need water.
The area uses phone numbers that start with area codes 408 and 669. The local post office delivers mail to ZIP code 95020.
