Editing Alum Rock, San Jose

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Alum Rock
|settlement_type          = [[:Category:Neighborhoods in San Jose, California|Neighborhood of San Jose]]
<!-- images and maps ----->
| image_skyline           = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                 = Downtown Alum Rock 0661.jpg 
| photo1b                 = Chinese Cultural Garden Gate (cropped).jpg 
| photo2a                 = Alum Rock Park Fountain.jpg
| photo2b                 = Tierra Encantada, Alum Rock 5 (cropped).jpg
| spacing                 = 2
| position                = center
| color_border            = white
| color                   = white
| size                    = 285
| foot_montage            = Clockwise from top left: Alum Rock Village; [[Overfelt Gardens]]; [[Mayfair, San Jose|Mayfair]]; [[Alum Rock Park]]
}}
|image_map                = Santa_Clara_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Alum_Rock_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Santa Clara County, California|Santa Clara County]] and the state of [[California]]
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief          = 1
<!-- Location ------>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[California]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Santa Clara County, California|Santa Clara]]
|subdivision_type3        = City
|subdivision_name3        = [[San Jose, California|San Jose]]
|subdivision_type4        = Region
|subdivision_name4        = [[East San Jose]]
<!-- Government ------>
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
|established_date         = 
|established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2        = 
|established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
|established_date3        = 
<!-- Area ------->
| unit_pref               = Imperial
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 0.87
| area_land_sq_mi         = 0.87
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.00
| area_total_km2          = 2.25
| area_land_km2           = 2.25
| area_water_km2          = 0.00
<!-- Population --->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 12042
|population_density_km2   = 5350.74
|population_density_sq_mi = 13857.31
<!-- General information  ---->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|timezone_DST             = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|22|3|N|121|49|32|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 164
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 95127
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
|area_code                = [[Area codes 408 and 669|408/669]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
|blank_info               = {{FIPS|06|01458}}
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2407736<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2407736}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Alum Rock''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|l|əm}}) is a district of [[San Jose, California]], located in [[East San Jose]]. Formerly an independent town, it has been a neighborhood of San Jose since the 1950s,<ref>[https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showdocument?id=54919 City of San José - Vision for the Alum Rock Corridor]</ref> though some portions are still unincorporated as a [[census-designated place]].<ref>{{cite web
 |title       = County Island Annexations
 |publisher   = City of San Jose
 |url         = http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/annex/
 |access-date  = August 4, 2008
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080724114215/http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/annex/
 |archive-date = July 24, 2008
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref> Alum Rock is one of San Jose's most notable and historic [[Chicano]]/[[Mexican-American]] districts.<ref>[https://sanjosespotlight.com/lechuga-san-joses-alum-rock-area-needs-cultural-designation/ San José Spotlight - Lechuga: San Jose’s Alum Rock area needs cultural designation]</ref><ref>[https://sanjosespotlight.com/the-price-of-growth-alum-rock-businesses-at-risk-of-displacement/ San José Spotlight - The price of growth: Alum Rock businesses at risk of displacement]</ref> It is home to [[Alum Rock Park]], the oldest municipal park in [[California]] and one of the largest in the country.

==History==
[[File:Calvary Cemetery in Alum Rock SJ 1.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Calvary Cemetery was founded in 1852.]]
Alum Rock was named after a rock formerly thought to be composed of [[alum]] in nearby [[Alum Rock Park]].<ref name=gudde>{{cite book|first=Erwin|last=Gudde|author2=William Bright |title=California Place Names|year=2004|edition=Fourth|publisher=University of California Press|pages=10|isbn=0-520-24217-3}}</ref>

In the 19th century and early 20th century Alum Rock was mostly fruit orchard land. During the 1940s and 1950s, developers began building housing and formed the community of Alum Rock. During that time, Alum Rock Avenue and a passenger railroad passed through the town on the way to [[Alum Rock Park]].

In the 1980s and 1990s, the neighborhood became older and increasingly populated with [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] immigrants as "[[white flight]]" affected the area of [[East San Jose]]. Today, Alum Rock remains a distinct community separated from the rest of San Jose.

==Geography==
Alum Rock is a vast district of [[East San Jose]], made up of numerous smaller neighborhoods.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> Neighborhoods include [[Little Portugal, San Jose|Little Portugal]], [[Little Saigon, San Jose|Little Saigon]], [[Mayfair, San Jose|Mayfair]], [[King & Story, San Jose|King & Story]], [[East Foothills, San Jose|East Foothills]], Alum Rock Village, Mount Pleasant, among others.

Alum Rock is located north of the [[Evergreen, San Jose|Evergreen]] district, south of the [[Berryessa, San Jose|Berryessa]] district, and east of [[Downtown San Jose]]. Alum Rock is bound by the [[Diablo Range]] to the east, [[Coyote Creek (Santa Clara County)|Coyote Creek]] to the west, Mabury Road to the north and Ocala Avenue to the south.

==Demographics==
The following demographic data is about the Alum Rock CDP, not the larger Alum Rock district of San Jose.
{{US Census population
|2000= 13479
|2010= 15536
|2020= 12042
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br>1850–1870<ref name=1870CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><ref name=1870CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County  |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1880-1890<ref name=1890CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1900<ref name=1900CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1930<ref name=1930CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1960<ref name=1960CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1990<ref name=1990CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
2000<ref name=2000CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
}}

[[File:Mexican_Heritage_Plaza,_San_Jose_(cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Mexican Heritage Plaza]] in Alum Rock's [[Mayfair, San Jose|Mayfair]] neighborhood.]]
{{multiple image
 | direction = vertical
 | align = right
 | width = 
 | footer = [[Alum Rock Park]], founded in 1872, is [[California]]'s oldest municipal park.
 | image1 = Alum Rock Park Bridge.jpg
 | image2 = Alum Rock Park pathway.jpg
 }}

The [[2020 United States census]] reported that the CDP had a population of 12,042. The population density was {{convert|13,857.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 16.7% [[White Americans|White]], 1.4% [[African Americans|African American]], 3.4% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 19.0% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.3% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 43.3% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 15.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 67.1% of the population.<ref name=DP1>{{cite web |title=Alum Rock CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0601458 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref>

The census reported that 98.7% of the population lived in households, 0.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1.0% were institutionalized.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 2,922 households, out of which 47.1% included children under the age of 18, 53.1% were married-couple households, 7.2% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 24.0% had a female householder with no partner present, and 15.7% had a male householder with no partner present. 14.1% of households were one person, and 5.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 4.07.<ref name=DP1/> There were 2,332 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (79.8% of all households).<ref>{{cite web |title=Alum Rock CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0601458 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref>

The age distribution was 23.4% under the age of 18, 10.3% aged 18 to 24, 29.1% aged 25 to 44, 25.5% aged 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 35.8{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 103.8 males.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 3,029 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3,485.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 2,922 (96.5%) were occupied. Of these, 62.0% were owner-occupied, and 38.0% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

[[File:Alum Rock, San Jose, CA, USA - panoramio (4).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Mt. St. Joseph Monastery is a [[Carmelite]] novitiate.]]

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 45.3% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 27.3% spoke only English at home, 54.6% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]], 1.9% spoke other [[Indo-European languages]], 16.0% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.2% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 66.8% were high school graduates and 19.8% had a bachelor's degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alum Rock CDP, California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSCP5Y2023.CP02?g=1600000US0601458 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref>

The median household income was $111,976, and the [[per capita income]] was $34,255. About 5.1% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alum Rock CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0601458 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref>

==Government==
[[File:Alum Rock Branch, San Jose Public Library.jpg|thumb|left|The Dr. Roberto Cruz Alum Rock Branch of the [[San José Public Library]]]]
In the [[California State Legislature]], Alum Rock is in {{Representative|casd|15|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|27|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |title=Statewide Database |publisher=UC Regents |access-date=December 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |archive-date=February 1, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Alum Rock is in {{Representative|cacd|19|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|19}}</ref>

Regarding [[San Jose City Council]], most of Alum Rock falls inside of District 5, represented by Magdalena Carrasco, though small portions are inside of District 7 and District 4.

==Education==

[[File:James Lick High School 0677 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[James Lick High School]]]]
Alum Rock is served by the [[Alum Rock Union School District]] for elementary and middle school, while high schools are served by the [[East Side Union High School District]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Schools - Alum Rock Union School District |url=https://www.arusd.org/schools |website=www.arusd.org |access-date=January 25, 2024}}</ref>

Schools in Alum Rock include:
{{sort list|asc|2=
* [[James Lick High School]]
* [[Mt. Pleasant High School (San Jose, California)|Mt. Pleasant High School]]
* [[William C. Overfelt High School]] 
* Joseph George Middle School
* Cassell Elementary School
* César Chávez Elementary School
* Linda Vista Elementary School 
* San Antonio Elementary School
* Meyer Elementary School
* Dorsa Elementary School
* Sheppard Middle School
* McCollam Elementary School

}}

==Parks and plazas==
[[File:Delano Manongs Park in Alum Rock, East San Jose 3672 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Delano grape strike|Delano Manongs]] Park]]
[[File:Memorial (5597882459).jpg|thumb|The [[Chinese Cultural Garden]] memorial hall at [[Overfelt Gardens]]]]
Parks in the Alum Rock district include:
*[[Alum Rock Park]]
*Cimarrón Park
*Delano Manongs Park
*[[Emma Prusch Farm Park]] 
*[[Overfelt Gardens]] (including the [[Chinese Cultural Garden]])
*[[Mayfair, San Jose|Mayfair]] Park
*Plata Arroyo Park
*Zolezzi Park

==Transportation==
[[File:VTA trains at Alum Rock station, March 2005 (cropped) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Alum Rock Transit Center]]]]
The [[Alum Rock Transit Center]] is an important transit center for East San Jose, operated by the [[Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority|Valley Transportation Authority]]. It is serviced by bus and light rail.

[[VTA light rail]] stations along Capitol Expressway within Alum Rock:
*[[McKee (VTA)|McKee station]]
*[[Alum Rock (VTA)|Alum Rock station]]

[[Penitencia Creek (VTA)|Penitencia Creek station]] is located right at the border of Alum Rock and Berryessa.

The Eastridge Expansion of the VTA light rail plans the construction of another light rail station at Story Road and Capitol Expressway.

Both the [[Bayshore Freeway]] (US-101) and the [[Interstate 680 (California)|Sinclair Freeway]] (I-680) pass through Alum Rock.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights=120>
File:Los Delicios in Downtown Alum Rock 0664.jpg|Alum Rock Village
File:Alum Rock station of the SJ Fire Department 2.jpg|Station 2 of the [[San Jose Fire Department]]
File:Downtown Alum Rock 0666 (cropped).jpg|Alum Rock Village
File:Alum Rock Transit Center 1881 06 (cropped).JPG|[[Alum Rock Transit Center]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Alum Rock, San Jose, California}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090628181917/http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/locations/alum_rock/ Alum Rock branch of the San Jose Public Library system]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080212014627/http://www.sanjoseca.gov/district5/ City of San Jose, Council District 5]
{{Neighborhoods of San Jose}}
{{Santa Clara County}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Santa Clara County, California]]
[[Category:Neighborhoods in San Jose, California]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in California]]
[[Category:Chicano and Mexican neighborhoods in California]]