Gilroy, California

Gilroy is a city in Santa Clara County, California, that brands itself as the Garlic Capital of the World. If you happen to drive through Gilroy, you can literally smell the garlic in the air. The city covers 15.9 sq mi (41.1 sq km) and has a population of 52,000 (2011 estimate).

Gilroy is located about 26 km south of San Jose on US Route 1. It is only southern part of the Santa Clara Valley, at about 200 ft (61 m) above sea level. The city experiences a Mediterranean climate with the warmest month in July, when temperatures touch 90.2°F (32.3°C) while in January, it drops to 33.6°F (0.9°C). Snowfalls are rare here.

Gilroy Garlic Festival, Gilroy, California
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GilroyGarlicFestival1.jpg
Author: Shift6


The Gilroy area was first settled in the 1770's by Spanish missionaries led by Father Junípero Serra. In 1809, the village of San Ysidro was established. The township of Gilroy itself was named after a rather colorful character. There was an English seaman named John Cameron who left Portsmouth, England, in 1812. In 1814, the ship arrived at Presidio of Monterey where Cameron either jumped ship or were abandoned due to scurvy. In any case, he changed his name to John Gilroy. He eventually arrived in San Ysidro, became a Roman Catholic, and became the first non-Spanish European settler in Alta California to be recognized by the Spanish crown.

Today the economy of Gilroy is supported by cattle ranching, timber and agriculture, of which the growing of garlic and strawberries is particularly significant. The city is the site of the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, said to be the largest food festival in the United States. The festival is usually held over three days on the last full weekend of July, usually on 24-26 July. It was started by Dr Rudy Melone, Don Christopher and Val Filice in 1979, and has been successful in showcasing garlic-related products and health benefits, while at the same time raising funds for various charities.

Visiting Gilroy, California

The S Valley Freeway (US Highway 101) is the main highway through Gilroy.

Gilroy Gardens
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BGMonarchGarden3600ppx17.jpg
Author: Fastily

Places of Interest in Gilroy, California

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