Palo Alto, CA
Music connected to Palo Alto
About Palo Alto
- • Joan Baez, the famous folk singer and activist, was born in Palo Alto.
- • Palo Alto is where Hewlett-Packard (HP) was founded in 1939, sparking Silicon Valley's growth.
- • Stanford University's founding in 1885 spurred Palo Alto's development and prestige.
- • A 1906 ordinance banned clotheslines in front yards, reflecting early aesthetic concerns.
- • The 1890s saw a land boom tied to Stanford's opening, shaping Palo Alto's initial layout.
- • It's named after 'El Palo Alto,' a tall redwood tree, and was incorporated in 1894.
- • With about 68,572 residents, it's smaller than nearby Mountain View.
- • The city sits at an elevation of 33 feet, making it relatively flat.
- • Many residents work in technology, venture capital, and at Stanford University.
- • It feels ambitious, innovative, and comfortably affluent, a place of constant progress.
- • The San Francisco 49ers, located nearby, won Super Bowl XVI with a 26-21 victory.
- • Stanford Cardinal football has a historic rivalry with UC Berkeley's Golden Bears.