Willow Glen, San Jose facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Willow Glen
Neighborhood of San Jose
Top: Willow Glen Branch of the San José Public Library, Lincoln Ave; middle: Lincoln Ave, Willow Glen Sign; historic Garden Theater; bottom: Downtown Willow Glen.
Country	United States
State	California
County	Santa Clara
City	San Jose
Elevation	115 ft (35 m)

Willow Glen is a neighborhood in San Jose, California. It is located in Santa Clara County. Willow Glen is famous for its historic downtown area. It offers many places for dining and shopping. It is also known as a very nice place to live in San Jose. Willow Glen used to be its own town. However, in 1936, its residents voted to join San Jose.

History of Willow Glen

Don Antonio Suñol helped found Willow Glen.

The historic Roberto Adobe and Suñol House is a registered historic place.

The Willow Glen area started in the mid-1800s. It was part of two large Mexican land grants. These were called Rancho de los Coches and Rancho San Juan Bautista. They were next to the San Jose pueblo, which was an early settlement. Don Antonio Suñol owned Rancho de los Coches. He built the Suñol House. Many people consider him the founder of the Willow Glen community.

The name "Willow Glen" comes from the area's natural features. It was a wet, marshy place between the Guadalupe River and Los Gatos Creek. Many willow trees and cattails grew there. This was unusual for other parts of the region. By the 1860s, the small community needed a school. Willow Glen Elementary School opened in 1863. The land for the school was given by Ira Cottle.

Frank Lewis and Isaac Bird helped plan much of Willow Glen. Bird Avenue is named after Isaac Bird. In 1860, Lewis dug a channel for the Guadalupe River. This channel is still used today. It helped drain the marshy land. This made Willow Glen suitable for farming. By the late 1800s, Willow Glen was a top spot in the Santa Clara Valley. Farmers grew wheat, barley, hay, tobacco, and hops there. By 1880, farmland in Willow Glen was worth almost 10 times more than other valley plots.

Buildings in Downtown Willow Glen show Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

Lincoln Avenue was once called "Willow Glen Road." It was renamed in 1865. This happened shortly after President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Willow Glen remained an independent community until the 1920s. At that time, the City of San Jose wanted the Southern Pacific Railroad to move its main train line. The railroad was then going down Fourth Street. Southern Pacific suggested moving it to Lincoln Avenue. To stop this, Willow Glen officially became a city in 1927. The railroad line was instead moved to its current path. This path goes through an area now called North Willow Glen. Today, Caltrain is the main user of this railway.

Being a city meant Willow Glen had to deal with services like sewage. Willow Glen did not have a sewer system. Each home had its own cesspool or septic systems. Because the area was marshy, the ground had a high water level. This often caused raw sewage to spill above ground from flooded cesspools. Building their own sewage system would have been very costly. So, in 1936, Willow Glen residents chose to join San Jose. They wanted to connect to San Jose's sewage system. The vote passed with 38 votes for joining and 17 against.

Geography of Willow Glen

The eBay headquarters is located in Willow Glen.

A map showing Willow Glen's boundaries.

Willow Glen is mostly within the 95125 zip code. However, not all areas in this zip code are considered Willow Glen. Also, some areas in the 95126 zip code are seen as part of Willow Glen. The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association has specific boundaries for voting members. These boundaries are based on the San Jose 2009 Greenprint map. They also include areas within half a mile of that boundary.

Interstate 280 is generally seen as the northern border of the community. The Guadalupe River was the original eastern border when Willow Glen was a city. The Los Gatos Creek was the natural western edge. However, in 1866, a big flood changed the creek's path. It cut a new channel far west of what was Willow Glen. This left behind a dry creek bed, known as "Dry Creek." This change allowed Willow Glen to expand further southwest.

Areas and Neighborhoods

• Palm Haven - a historic neighborhood with many homes.
• Gardner/North Willow Glen - the northern part of the district.
• Lincoln Glen/Willow Glen South - the southwestern part of the district.
• Downtown Willow Glen - the main area for shopping and dining.

Culture and Community Life

Architecture Styles

The Stone Church of Willow Glen.

Homes in Willow Glen are mostly custom-built or semi-custom. They show a wide variety of architectural styles. Many houses were designed by architects. You can see styles like Victorian, Neoclassical, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Mission, Prairie, and Spanish Eclectic. There are also Eichler Homes and Tudor styles. In recent years, some smaller houses have been replaced with larger ones.

Founders' Day Celebration

The Life in Willow Glen mural on Lincoln Ave.

Founders' Day is a special event held in September. It is not celebrated every year. This day honors the rich history and culture of Willow Glen. It celebrates the homes and the community. A main part of the celebration is a festive parade. The parade goes down Lincoln Avenue. The exact start of Founders' Day is not fully known. Some records suggest it began during Willow Glen's nine years as an independent city. This was between September 8, 1927, and September 4, 1936. Others believe it celebrates the work of Antonio Suñol. He built Laura Ville in 1847.

Downtown Willow Glen at night.

Christmas Decorations Tradition

Willow Glen residents have a unique way of decorating for Christmas. They buy similar, small Christmas trees. These trees are placed in front yards, about ten feet from the sidewalk. They are decorated with multicolored lights. Homes and businesses in the neighborhood put up many decorations each year. This happens both in the neighborhoods and on Lincoln Avenue. Many visitors come from all over the area to see them.

The tradition of a Christmas tree on each lawn began in 1950. Robert and Arlene Cimino started it. Trees were bought in large amounts from the Knights of Columbus. They were then delivered to homes that wanted to participate. The Ciminos moved away in 1956. Frank Badagliacca Jr. continued the tradition. His wife, Dolores Badagliacca, suggested putting a single white light on top of each tree. This tradition now includes over 200 streets in the greater San Jose area.

Parks and Outdoor Spaces

Willow Glen Elementary School.

• Willow Street Frank Bramhall Park
• Fuller Park
• River Glen Park
• Wallenberg Park & Garden
• Wilcox Park

Walking and Biking Trails

Two parts of the Los Gatos Creek Trail end in Willow Glen. To connect them, you need to travel on streets through much of Willow Glen.

One section of the Guadalupe River Trail ends near the far northeast edge of Willow Glen. However, it does not run through the neighborhood itself.

The Highway 87 Bikeway runs along the eastern side of Willow Glen. It ends at Willow Street at its northernmost point.

The Three Creeks Trail goes diagonally through Willow Glen. It passes close to the downtown area.

Transportation Options

Willow Glen does not have its own railway stations. However, the area is served by nearby train and light rail stations. The VTA light rail's Blue Line and Caltrain stations are on or near its borders. These stations include Fruitdale, Race, Curtner, Tamien, Diridon, and Virginia.

Notable People from Willow Glen

• Evander Kane, a hockey player for the San Jose Sharks.