Editing Mountain View, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{For|other places in California named "Mountain View"|Mountain View (disambiguation)#United States{{!}}Mountain View (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Mountain View, California
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = City Hall of Mountain View - panoramio - Aleh Haiko (1).jpg
|imagesize                = 275px
|image_caption            = City Hall and Performing Arts Center
|image_flag               = Flag of Mountain View, California.gif
|image_seal               = Seal of Mountain View, CA.png
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Santa Clara County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Mountain View Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location within Santa Clara County
|image_map1               = Mountain View city plan California USA.svg
|mapsize1                 = 250px
|map_caption1             = Mountain View city map, California, U.S.
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = 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]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]<ref name="ca"/>
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Ellen Kamei<ref name="ca">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/city-council/councilmembers |title=City Council Roster |publisher=City of Mountain View |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = [[Deputy mayor|Vice mayor]]
|leader_name1             = Emily Ann Ramos<ref name="ca"/>
|leader_title2            = [[City manager]]
|leader_name2             = Kimbra McCarthy<ref>{{cite web |title=City Manager's Office |url=https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/city-managers-office |publisher=City of Mountain View |access-date=27 January 2025}}</ref>
|leader_title3            = [[Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors|Supervisor]]
|leader_name3             = Margaret Abe-Koga<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20230926192722/https://www.santaclaracounty.gov/government/elected-officials]}} </ref>
|leader_title4            = [[California State Assembly|State Assembly Member]]
|leader_name4             = [[Marc Berman]]<ref>{{cite web|title=General Election - Statement of Vote, November 6, 2018 |url=https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/prior-elections/statewide-election-results/general-election-november-6-2018/statement-vote/ |publisher=California Secretary of State}}</ref>
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = November 7, 1902<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date |format=Word |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s |access-date=August 25, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc |archive-date=November 3, 2014 }}</ref>
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web|title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 17, 2024}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 31.691
|area_land_km2            = 30.971
|area_water_km2           = 0.719
|area_total_sq_mi         = 12.236
|area_land_sq_mi          = 11.958
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.278
|area_water_percent       = 2.26
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 81059
|pop_est_as_of            = 2022
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 82376
|population_density_km2   = 2617
|population_density_sq_mi = 6780
|population_rank          = US: [[List of United States cities by population|439th]]<br>CA: [[List of largest cities in California by population|103rd]]
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = –8
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = –7
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 32
|elevation_ft             = 105
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|23|10|N|122|05|02|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm |title=Look Up a ZIP Code |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=April 17, 2024}}</ref>
|postal_code              = 94035, 94039–94043
|area_code                = [[Area code 650|650]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 06-49670
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
|blank1_info              = 0277611,<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|0277611}}</ref> 2411186
|blank2_name              = [[Sales tax]]
|blank2_info              = 9.125%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/california/cities/mountain-view.html|title=Mountain View (CA) sales tax rate|access-date=April 17, 2024}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://mountainview.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Mountain View''' is a city in [[Santa Clara County, California]], United States, part of the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. Named for its views of the [[Santa Cruz Mountains]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Munro-Fraser |first=J. P. |title=History of Santa Clara County, California |year=1881 |url=https://archive.org/details/historysantacla00munrgoog |access-date=April 1, 2008 |publisher=Alley, Bowen & Co. |location=San Francisco |page=[https://archive.org/details/historysantacla00munrgoog/page/n299 262]}}</ref> the population was 82,376 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Mountain_View_city,_California?g=160XX00US0649670 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=April 17, 2024}}</ref>

Mountain View was integral to the early history and growth of [[Silicon Valley]], and is the location of many [[high technology]] companies. In 1956, [[William Shockley]] established [[Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory]] in Mountain View, the first company to develop silicon semiconductor devices in Silicon Valley. Mountain View houses the headquarters of many of the world's largest technology companies, including [[Google]] and [[Alphabet Inc.]], [[Unicode Consortium]], [[Intuit]], [[Applied Intuition]], NASA Ames Research Center, and former or existing headquarters for [[NortonLifeLock|Symantec]], [[23andMe]], [[LinkedIn]], [[Samsung]], [[Quora]] and [[Synopsys]].

==History==
{{For timeline}}
{{More citations needed|section|date=February 2022}}
[[File:MountainView-1890.png|thumb|upright|Map of Mountain View surrounds, 1890. Note [[Rancho Posolmi]] (here called Ynigo Rancho) and [[Rancho Pastoria de las Borregas]]. [[Mountain View Whisman School District]] is named for Whisman.]]
[[File:2009-0723-CA-MtnViewAdobe.jpg|thumb|[[Mountain View Adobe]] was constructed as a [[Works Progress Administration]] project in 1934.]]

The fertile land between the [[Santa Cruz Mountains]] and the shores of the southern [[San Francisco Bay]] once supported multiple villages of the indigenous [[Ohlone people]]. Spanish missionaries utilized the land for sheep pastures.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SfbOwB-bidwC&q=images+of+america+California|title=Mountain View|first=Nicholas|last=Perry|date=November 9, 2012|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=9780738595764 |access-date=November 9, 2023|via=Google Books}}</ref>

The Mexican land grant of [[Rancho Pastoria de las Borregas]] was given in 1842 by [[Alta California]] Governor [[Juan Bautista Alvarado|Juan Alvarado]] to Francisco Estrada. This grant was later passed on to [[Mariano Castro (Californio)|Mariano Castro]], who sold half of the land to Martin Murphy Jr. 
Eventually, the former land grant was developed as the cities of Mountain View and [[Sunnyvale, California|Sunnyvale]].

The southwest shore of San Francisco Bay was settled by European-Americans in 1852 as a stagecoach station. This was after the United States acquired California. By the early 1900s, it was a shipping point for fruit and grain, as well as a center of religious book publishing.<ref name="EB">{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Mountain-View-California |title=Mountain View, California, United States |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] |access-date=February 19, 2018}}</ref>    
  
The early pioneers were commonly buried at the old cemetery between Mercy & Church, off Castro Street. This is now the site of the present city library and park, known as Pioneer Park.

===Residents===
Reverend Henry Merrill Henderson, born in Maryland, arrived here at age 35 with his family in 1852; he was meeting relatives: the Ricketts and others who had migrated from [[Missouri]] and [[Kentucky]]. He was the first Baptist minister in town. He soon rode a circuit for preaching, going by horseback to Half-Moon Bay and [[Saratoga, California|McCarthysville]] for services.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Later that year, Seligman Weilheimer and his brother Samuel immigrated from Dossenheim, [[Baden, Germany]]. They settled on the next plot, and in 1856 built the first big general merchandise store in the settlement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hodder |first=Mary |title=History Of Castro Street And Its Buildings |url=https://www.livablemv.org/2019/03/15/history-of-castro-street-and-its-building/ |access-date=March 2, 2023 |website=Livable Mountain View |language=en-US |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302220026/https://www.livablemv.org/2019/03/15/history-of-castro-street-and-its-building/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

William Bubb bought {{convert|80|acres|ha}} to farm in October 1851; he became a leader in town and died there in 1864. His heirs' descendants prospered, marrying into other pioneer families.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

===Advent of local aerospace and electronics industries===
The U.S. Navy's adjacent {{convert|1000|acre|km2|adj=on}} Moffett Field Complex was constructed beginning after 1931; its development attracted many workers and it brought many economic opportunities. After [[World War II]], the population grew significantly with the development of regional aerospace and electronics industries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mountainview.gov/services/learn_about_our_city/default.asp |title=City of Mountain View – Learn About Our City |access-date=March 15, 2011 |archive-date=March 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326142047/http://www.mountainview.gov/services/learn_about_our_city/default.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> Between 1950 and 1960, the population grew from 6,563 to 30,889, an increase of 370.7%.

Between 1929 and 1994, [[Moffett Field Naval Air Station]] operated in Mountain View. In 1940, the city was the base of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (now the NASA Ames Research Center), which had a strong influence on the development of aerospace and electronics industries.<ref name="EB" />

===Current economic climate===
Today, high technology is the foundation of the local economy. Few remnants are visible of the city's agricultural past.

In 1990, Kevin Duggan began his position as city manager. He built a relationship with Google, Inc., and issued a long-term lease to it and other technology companies. <!-- A lease of land? whose? What were the terms of the leases? Needs explanation-->As of 2014, those leases generate over $5 million per year in city revenue. The Castro Street downtown area also benefited from a special tax district.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gibboney |first=Tom |date=July 4, 2014 |title=A front-row seat watching the city boom: Farewell to the Voice |newspaper=[[Embarcadero Media|Mountain View Voice]]}}</ref>

In 2016, the city's voters approved a [[rent control]] ordinance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/14/business/mountain-view-california-confronts-housing-crisis.html |title=Teslas in the Trailer Park: A California City Faces Its Housing Squeeze |last=Dougherty |first=Conor |work=The New York Times |date=November 14, 2016 |access-date=October 19, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/151783/deceptive-shameful-lucratively-funded-war-rent-control |title=The Deceptive, Shameful, Lucratively Funded War Against Rent Control |magazine=The New Republic |access-date=October 19, 2018 |language=en-US |first=Sophie |last=Kasakove}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|12.236|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|11.958|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.278|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (2.26%) is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/>

The city borders [[Palo Alto]] and the [[San Francisco Bay]] to the north, [[Los Altos, California|Los Altos]] to the south, and [[Moffett Federal Airfield]] and [[Sunnyvale, California|Sunnyvale]] to the east.

Mountain View is located in the south-eastern and south-western section of the San Francisco Peninsula, at the north end of [[California State Route 85|State Route 85]], where it meets [[U.S. Route 101 in California|U.S. Route 101]]. [[California State Route 82|State Route 82]] follows the route of the historic [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]] through Mountain View. The city is bounded to the north by the [[San Francisco Bay|Bay]], northeast by [[Palo Alto, California|Palo Alto]], to the south and southwest by [[Los Altos, California|Los Altos]], and to the east by [[Sunnyvale, California|Sunnyvale]] and [[Moffett Federal Airfield]].

The [[Santa Cruz Mountains]], the origin of the city's name, lie to the west. This range separates Mountain View from the Pacific Ocean and, together with the Diablo Range to the south-east, form the [[Santa Clara Valley]].

===Neighborhoods===
Most of Mountain View consists of residential neighborhoods. Business parks are located mostly in the North Shoreline neighborhood, north of Highway 101.

The Blossom Valley neighborhood comprises five smaller neighborhoods: Springer Meadows, Varsity Park, Blossom Valley Estates, Springer Trees, and Gest Ranch subdivision known as Miramonte Oaks which borders Los Altos. This would be one of the more exclusive areas, this development was built in 1963 to about 1965. The other neighborhood's [[Ranch-style house|ranch-style housing]] were built in the 1950s and 1960s on orchard land.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2010/01/13/blossom-valley|title=Blossom Valley|last=Tai|first=Crystal|date=2017|website=Palo Alto Online|language=en|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref>

The Cuernavaca neighborhood is located off Crestview Drive near the Sunnyvale border. This neighborhood used to be the location of a cherry orchard, and later a nine-hole golf course and swim club before it was turned into housing, which was completed in 1989.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://mv-voice.com/news/2015/12/16/cuernavaca-neighborhood|title=Cuernavaca neighborhood|last=Calloway-Appleton|first=TaLeiza|date=2015|website=Mountain View Voice|language=en|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref> Most of the housing in Cuernavaca is Spanish-style, with red tiled roofs.<ref name=":1" />

The [[Monta Loma, Mountain View|Monta Loma]] neighborhood is located between the bounds of San Antonio Road, Middlefield Road, Rengstorff Avenue and Central Expressway.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2009/01/26/monta-loma|title=Monta Loma|last=Schrenk|first=Kathy|website=PaloAltoOnline.com|date=January 26, 2009 |language=en|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref> Currently Monta Loma houses a collection of California-style [[mid-century modern]] houses by [[Joseph Eichler]], [[John Calder Mackay]], and Mardell Building Company.<ref name=":0" />

===Hazardous waste===
Due to its history as a center for semiconductor manufacturing, Mountain View has seven sites on the [[Environmental Protection Agency]]'s Final [[National Priorities List]] (NPL), a list of hazardous waste sites in the United States eligible for long-term remedial action financed under the federal [[Superfund]] program. The sites were formerly used by companies including [[Fairchild Semiconductor]], [[Intel]], [[Raytheon]], CTS Printex Inc., Spectra-Physics, Jasco Chemical, [[GTE]] and [[Teledyne]]. These seven sites make up a portion of the 22 NPL sites in Santa Clara County, which are included in the total of 94 sites in California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/query/queryhtm/nplfin.htm#CA |title=Final National Priorities List (NPL) Sites - by State |publisher=[[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] |access-date=March 25, 2011}}</ref>

===Climate===
Mountain View has a [[warm-summer Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Csb'': dry-summer subtropical).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=90547&cityname=Mountain+View%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Mountain View, California Climate Summary|publisher=Weatherbase|access-date=July 8, 2015}}</ref> Summers are warm and dry, while winters are cool and wet. However, both summers and winters are somewhat moderated due to its relative proximity to the Pacific, although it has a lesser maritime influence than San Francisco further north on the peninsula.

{{Weather box|location = Moffett Federal Airfield, Mountain View, California
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high F = 77
|Feb record high F = 84
|Mar record high F = 85
|Apr record high F = 98
|May record high F = 100
|Jun record high F = 107
|Jul record high F = 105
|Aug record high F = 101
|Sep record high F = 105
|Oct record high F = 100
|Nov record high F = 89
|Dec record high F = 75
|year record high F = 
|Jan high F = 59.0
|Feb high F = 61.8
|Mar high F = 65.0
|Apr high F = 68.0
|May high F = 71.7
|Jun high F = 75.9
|Jul high F = 76.9
|Aug high F = 76.9
|Sep high F = 77.7
|Oct high F = 74.1
|Nov high F = 65.5
|Dec high F = 58.9
|year high F = 
|Jan mean F = 50.7
|Feb mean F = 53.1
|Mar mean F = 55.8
|Apr mean F = 58.4
|May mean F = 62.1
|Jun mean F = 65.8
|Jul mean F = 67.7
|Aug mean F = 68.0
|Sep mean F = 67.5
|Oct mean F = 63.6
|Nov mean F = 55.9
|Dec mean F = 50.5
|year mean F = 
|Jan low F = 42.2
|Feb low F = 44.5
|Mar low F = 46.7
|Apr low F = 48.9
|May low F = 52.5
|Jun low F = 55.7
|Jul low F = 58.5
|Aug low F = 59.0
|Sep low F = 57.3
|Oct low F = 53.1
|Nov low F = 46.3
|Dec low F = 42.1
|year low F = 
|Jan record low F = 21
|Feb record low F = 20
|Mar record low F = 22
|Apr record low F = 31
|May record low F = 33
|Jun record low F = 40
|Jul record low F = 43
|Aug record low F = 44
|Sep record low F = 37
|Oct record low F = 34
|Nov record low F = 26
|Dec record low F = 20
|year record low F = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.06
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.31
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.49
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.98
|May precipitation inch = 0.48
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.09
|Jul precipitation inch = 0
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.03
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.15
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.76
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.96
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.95
|year precipitation inch = 
|Jan precipitation days = 10
|Feb precipitation days = 10.5
|Mar precipitation days = 9.6
|Apr precipitation days = 5.2
|May precipitation days = 2.6
|Jun precipitation days = 0.7
|Jul precipitation days = 0.2
|Aug precipitation days = 0.2
|Sep precipitation days = 1.5
|Oct precipitation days = 4.1
|Nov precipitation days = 8.3
|Dec precipitation days = 11.1
|year precipitation days = 63.9
|source 1 = <ref>{{cite web |url =https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/USCA0746:1:US|title=Mountain View, California Monthly Weather|publisher=The Weather Channel |access-date = January 29, 2018}}</ref>
|source 2 = <ref>{{cite web |url =https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00023244&format=pdf|title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020|publisher=NOAA |access-date = June 29, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Economy==
[[File:Googleplex HQ (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Google]] headquarters, [[Googleplex]], is Mountain View's largest employer]]

Mountain View is one of the major cities that make up [[Silicon Valley]], and has many notable Silicon Valley companies either headquartered there or with a large presence. As of 2024, major tech companies such as [[Google]]<ref name="BI" /> and [[Intuit]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Worldwide Office Locations {{!}} Intuit |url=https://www.intuit.com/company/locations/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |website=www.intuit.com |language=en}}</ref> were headquartered in Mountain View.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/layoffs-mozilla-taiwan-changes-firefox-work-in-asia/ |title=Layoffs strike as Firefox's Mozilla reworks Asian operations |author=Stephen Shankland |date=January 18, 2018 |website=[[CNET]] |access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref>

After voting to increase the minimum wage incrementally in 2015, in December 2017, the Mountain View City Council implemented a mandatory $15 minimum wage, to apply to employees who work two or more hours a week.<ref name="M" /> At the start of 2018, Mountain View raised its minimum wage to $15.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sanjoseinside.com/2018/01/02/minimum-wage-increases-to-13-50-in-san-jose-15-in-sunnyvale-and-mountain-view/ |title=Minimum Wage Increases to $13.50 in San Jose, $15 in Sunnyvale and Mountain View |author=Jennifer Wadsworth |date=January 2, 2018 |publisher=San Jose Inside |access-date=December 31, 2018}}</ref> Starting on January 1, 2019, the minimum wage was to be "adjusted annually based on the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose regional Consumer Price Index."<ref name="M">{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/30/mountain-view-minimum-wage-reaches-15-an-hour-on-monday/ |title=Mountain View: Minimum wage reaches $15 an hour on Monday |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= December 31, 2017|newspaper=[[Mercury News]] |access-date=February 18, 2018 }}</ref>  A proposal to slow down the rate of the wage increases by a year<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2018/12/04/city-could-slow-down-minimum-wage-increases |title=City could slow down minimum wage increases |author=Mark Noack |date=December 4, 2018 |newspaper=Mountain View Voice |access-date=December 31, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/12/03/mountain-view-to-consider-freezing-minimum-hourly-wage-at-15-for-next-year/ |title=Mountain View to consider freezing minimum hourly wage at $15 for next year |author=Kevin Kelly |date=December 4, 2018 |newspaper=[[Mercury News]] |access-date=December 31, 2018}}</ref> was defeated in a City Council meeting on December 4, 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2018/12/05/plan-to-delay-minimum-wage-hike-defeated |title=Plan to delay minimum-wage hike defeated |author=Mark Noack |date=December 5, 2018 |newspaper=[[Mountain View Voice]] |access-date=December 31, 2018}}</ref> Subsequently, on December 30, 2018, it was announced that Mountain View's minimum wage would rise to $15.65 on January 1, 2019, with the increase delayed by one year for companies with 25 or fewer employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/minimum-wage-goes-up-in-california-on-jan-1-2019/1680243855|title=Minimum wage goes up in California on Jan. 1, 2019|last=Seldon|first=Aja|date=December 31, 2018|publisher=KRON|access-date=December 31, 2018}}</ref> As of January 2024, the minimum wage in Mountain View is $18.75 per hour.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2023 |title=Minimum Wage in Mountain View will be $18.75 for 2024 |url=https://www.mountainview.gov/Home/Components/News/News/758/284 |access-date=March 30, 2024}}</ref>

===Top employers===
According to the city's 2024 [[annual comprehensive financial report]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/finance-and-administrative-services/accounting |title=Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 |publisher=City of Mountain View, California |format=[[PDF]] |page=189 |access-date=February 8, 2025}}</ref> the largest employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
! Percentage
|-
| 1
| [[Google LLC]]
| 24,700
| 20.4%
|-
| 2
| [[El Camino Hospital]]
| 3,400
| 2.8%
|-
| 3
| [[Intuit]]
| 3,200
| 2.6%
|-
| 4
| [[LinkedIn]]
| 2,500
| 2.1%
|-
| 5
| [[Microsoft]]
| 2,300
| 1.9%
|-
| 6
| [[Waymo]]
| 1,600
| 1.3%
|-
| 7
| [[Palo Alto Medical Foundation|Palo Alto]]/[[Sutter Health]]
| 1,200
| 1.0%
|-
| 8
| [[Bytedance]]
| 1,000
| 0.8%
|-
| 8
| [[Nuro]]
| 1,000
| 0.8%
|-
| 10
| [[Wipro]]
| 900
| 0.7%
|-
|—
|'''Total employers'''
|'''41,800'''
|'''34.6%'''
|}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 250
|1930= 3308
|1940= 3946
|1950= 6563
|1960= 30889
|1970= 54132
|1980= 58655
|1990= 67460
|2000= 70708
|2010= 74066
|2020= 82376
|estyear=2022
|estimate=81059
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=April 15, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 15, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Mountain View, California – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mountain View city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0649670&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mountain View city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0649670&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mountain View city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0649670&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|39,029
|34,052
|style='background: #ffffe6; |33,008
|55.20%
|45.98%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |40.07%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,674
|1,468
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,155
|2.37%
|1.98%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.40%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|164
|116
|style='background: #ffffe6; |101
|0.23%
|0.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.12%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|14,513
|19,064
|style='background: #ffffe6; |28,760
|20.53%
|25.74%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |34.91%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|160
|372
|style='background: #ffffe6; |215
|0.23%
|0.50%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.26%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|221
|241
|style='background: #ffffe6; |557
|0.31%
|0.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.68%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|2,036
|2,682
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,374
|2.88%
|3.62%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.31%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|12,911
|16,071
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14,206
|18.26%
|21.70%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17.25%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''70,708'''
|'''74,066'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''82,376'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 82,376 people and 34,423 households, and 19,585 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Mountain%20View%20city,%20California%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=April 17, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|6888.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}} There were 37,295 housing units.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mountain View had an unemployment rate of 5.0% in August 2013.<ref name="B">{{cite web|url=https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/about-mountain-view/city-demographics |title=City Demographics |publisher=City of Mountain View |access-date=April 17, 2024}}</ref> It had a female population of 47.8 percent and a male population of 52.2 percent. Persons under five were 6.4 percent, persons under 18 were 20.3 percent, and persons aged 65 and older were 11.1 percent in 2020. In 2022, 5.4 percent of people in Mountain View were living below the poverty line. Of the citizens over the age of sixteen, 72.9 percent were employed in the labor force, while 27.1 percent were not.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 74,066 people, households, and families residing in the city.<ref>{{cite web |title=Population |url=https://census.bayareametro.gov/population?year=2010&location=mountain_view |website=Bay Area Census |publisher=Association of Bay Area Governments and Metropolitan Transportation Commission |access-date=12 May 2025 |ref=2010 Pop.}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|6174.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 31,957 housing units.<ref>{{cite web |title=Households |url=https://census.bayareametro.gov/households?year=2010&location=mountain_view |website=Bay Area Census |publisher=Association of Bay Area Governments and Metropolitan Transportation Commission |access-date=12 May 2025 |ref=2010 Households}}</ref>

145 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 120 (0.2%) were institutionalized. There were 31,957 households, out of which 8,731 (27.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 13,806 (43.2%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 2,456 (7.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,253 (3.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,928 (6.0%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 280 (0.9%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 10,961 households (34.3%) were made up of individuals, and 2,471 (7.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31. There were 17,515 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (54.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.01. The population was spread out, with 14,594 people (19.7%) under the age of 18, 5,401 people (7.3%) aged 18 to 24, 28,577 people (38.6%) aged 25 to 44, 17,647 people (23.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 7,846 people (10.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males. There were 33,881 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,760.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 13,332 (41.7%) were owner-occupied, and 18,625 (58.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%. 32,002 people (43.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units, and 41,799 people (56.4%) lived in rental housing units.

[[File:RV Campers in Mountain View2.jpg|thumb|RV campers used as residences on a Mountain View street]]

{{anchor|Homelessness}}According to the Santa Clara County Homeless Census and Survey, the number of homeless individuals in Mountain View increased 51% from 2015 to 2017, with 276 homeless individuals in 2015, and 416 in 2017.<ref name="MN" /> In August 2017, the ''Mercury News'' reported that Mountain View had seen RVs and recreational vehicles become the choice of residence for many working poor in the city. The city's communications coordinator called it a "new" situation, noting that many of the residents living in RVs were working up to three jobs, and that affordable housing was hard to come by in the city.<ref name="MN">{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/07/12/working-poor-finding-homes-on-four-wheels-in-mountain-view/ |title=Working Poor Finding Homes on Four Wheels in Mountain View |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=July 12, 2017 |newspaper=[[Mercury News]] |access-date=February 18, 2018 }}</ref> In December 2017, Google received approval to build nearly 10,000 new units of housing near its future campus in the city.<ref name="BI">{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/google-is-building-homes-in-mountain-view-2017-12 |title=Silicon Valley might get some relief from high housing prices — Google will build nearly 10,000 homes near its new campus |author=<!--Not stated-->Melia Robinson |date=December 13, 2017 |website=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 70,708 people, 31,242 households, and 15,902 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,263.7|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}. There were 32,432 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,038.3|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the city was 63.77% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 20.67% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 18.26% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] (of any race), 2.53% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.39% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.26% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 8.32% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.07% from two or more races.

There were 31,242 households, out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.1% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.0% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 43.4% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $69,362, and the median income for a family was $80,379. Males had a median income of $64,585 versus $44,358 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $39,693. About 3.6% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
===Points of interest===
{{POV section|date=November 2024|talk=Sounds like advertising}}

====Downtown====
[[File:Castro Street Mountain View sidewalk.jpg|thumb|Sidewalk along Castro Street in downtown Mountain View]]

Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the [[Downtown Mountain View Station]] transit center in the north to the intersection with [[California State Route 82|El Camino Real]] in the south. The transit center links the [[Caltrain]] commuter rail and [[Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority]] (VTA) light rail and bus systems.

Four blocks with a concentration of restaurants, cafes, and shops extend south from the downtown station. The [[Michelin Guide]]-starred restaurant Chez TJ is located a block from Castro Street on Villa Street. Tied House, located next door, was one of the first brewpubs in the Bay Area, and was a popular stop in downtown until it closed in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kadvany |first1=Elena |title=Facing monthslong closure due to chemical contamination, Mountain View brewery Tied House calls it quits |url=https://www.mv-voice.com/blogs/p/2019/12/23/facing-monthslong-closure-due-to-chemical-contamination-mountain-view-brewery-tied-house-calls-it-quits |website=Mountain View Voice |date=December 23, 2019 |access-date=September 17, 2020}}</ref>

The core of downtown is the plaza shared by City Hall, the [[Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts]] (MVCPA) and the Mountain View Public Library. The plaza is used for many community gatherings and events, and features a collection of public art. Peninsula Youth Theatre and [[TheatreWorks (Silicon Valley)|TheatreWorks]] are among the home companies of the MVCPA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/mvcpa/gen_info.html|title=MVCPA General Info|access-date=October 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025114218/http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/mvcpa/gen_info.html|archive-date=October 25, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The City Hall and MVCPA complex, designed by William Turnbull of San Francisco, opened in 1991.<ref>{{cite news |first=Morris |last=Newman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/16/realestate/national-notebook-mountain-view-calif-a-civic-center-for-a-revival.html |title=National Notebook: Mountain View, Calif.; A Civic Center For a Revival |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 16, 1991}}</ref> Behind those buildings is Pioneer Park, formerly the site of Mountain View's first cemetery.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mv-voice.com/special_pubs/mountainview/55/section1.pdf |title=Info Mountain View 2014–15 |newspaper=Mountain View Voice |page=16 |type=pdf}}</ref>

The Mountain View Police Department is located two blocks away from Castro Street on Villa Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mountainview.gov/depts/police/contact.asp |title=Contact Us |publisher=Mountain View, California |access-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-date=January 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101002832/https://www.mountainview.gov/depts/police/contact.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Since 1971, the city has held the annual Mountain View Art & Wine Festival on Castro Street by closing down the street to traffic for two days. There is a farmers' market in the Caltrain parking lot every Sunday morning. Every summer, once a month, the city celebrates Thursday Night Live by closing off Castro street to cars and providing live music events and car shows on Castro Street.

The entire length of El Camino in Mountain View is a low-density commercial area.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

===Buildings===
[[File:Computer history museum.jpg|thumb|[[Computer History Museum]]]]
[[File:Shoreline Amphitheatre.jpg|thumb|[[Shoreline Amphitheatre]]]]

The [[Computer History Museum]] has a collection of computing artifacts.

The [[Shoreline Amphitheater]] is a large outdoor venue for large concerts and shows.

[[Moffett Federal Airfield|Moffett Field]] is a joint civil-military federal airfield located between northern Mountain View and northern [[Sunnyvale, California]]. It is home to the [[Air National Guard]]. Its [[hangar]]s for [[blimp]]s and [[rigid airship]]s (now mostly vacant) make unique landmarks for motorists on Highway 101.

[[NASA Ames Research Center]] is a research facility adjacent to Moffett, and also houses a gift-shop NASA visitor center.

The [[Mountain View Adobe]], a small events center on Moffett Boulevard, is listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

===Seminary===
[[Saint Joseph Parish (Mountain View, California)|St. Joseph Parish]] was founded in 1905, and survived the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake]], only to burn down in 1928.<ref name="Joey" /> [[St. Joseph's Seminary (Mountain View, California)|St. Joseph's Seminary]] operated here between 1924 and 1991.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome Friends|url=http://www.saintjosephscollege.ws/|website=Saintjosephscollege.ws|access-date= October 30, 2012}}</ref> The current St. Joseph church building was built in 1929.<ref name="Joey">{{cite web|url=http://www.sjpmv.org/content/history/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228074626/http://www.sjpmv.org/content/history/|title=St. Joseph Parish: History|archive-date=February 28, 2008 |website=Sjpmv.org|access-date=May 27, 2015}}</ref>

===Library===
[[File:City of Mountain View Public Library exterior.jpg|thumb|Library]]

Mountain View has one central public library, the Mountain View Public Library, which has video, music, books, and access to the Internet. The library provides outreach services through the bookmobile and S.O.S. volunteer program to those in Mountain View who are unable to come to the main branch. The building was built in 1997. The second floor of the library has a special collection in a room devoted to the history of Mountain View, which features a portrait of Crisanto Castro, for whom the major downtown thoroughfare is named.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mountainview.gov/city_hall/library/default.asp|title=City of Mountain View - Library|access-date=October 25, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714230300/http://www.mountainview.gov/city_hall/library/default.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> Displayed outside the library is a piece of the [[Berlin Wall]], installed in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2013/03/19/berlin-wall-sections-find-new-home-in-mountain-view-in-front-of-library/|title=Berlin Wall sections find new home in Mountain View in front of library|website=Mercurynews.com|date=March 20, 2013|access-date=February 27, 2021}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:Mountain View Farmers Market.jpg|thumb|Mountain View Farmers' Market]]

The largest park in the city is [[Shoreline Park, Mountain View|Shoreline Park]], which was built on a landfill and runs along the Bay north of [[U.S. Route 101 in California|U.S. Route 101]]. It includes [[Shoreline Amphitheatre]], Shoreline Golf Course, as well as [[Rengstorff House]], which is listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. On the north side, facing the Bay, the park includes tidal ponds and mudflats, accessible via pedestrian and bicycle paths. The [[San Francisco Bay Trail]] runs along Shoreline Park.

[[Stevens Creek (California)|Stevens Creek]] runs through Mountain View from the south and empties into the Bay in Shoreline Park. A paved pedestrian and bicycle path, the Stevens Creek Trail, runs alongside the creek for nearly its entire distance in Mountain View. Stevens Creek is home to coyotes, gray foxes, black-tailed deer, butterflies, dragonflies, and 150 species of birds,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfbaywildlife.info/places/stevens_creek_county_park.htm|title=Stevens Creek County Park : sfbaywildlife.info|website=Sfbaywildlife.info|access-date=January 3, 2020}}</ref> as well as shorebirds that feed in the mudflat. The shorebirds can be seen at low tide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fws.gov/refuge/don_edwards_san_francisco_bay/visit/Stevens.Creek.East.Map.html|title=12. Stevens Creek East Trail - Mountain View - Don Edwards San Francisco Bay - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service|website=Fws.gov|access-date=January 3, 2020}}</ref>

Other parks include:
[[File:Charleston Park.jpg|thumb|Charleston Park]]

* Eagle Park, which holds a public swimming pool, dog-friendly lawn, and World War II [[war memorial|memorial]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=City of Mountain View - Memorials |url=https://www.mountainview.gov/depts/cs/memorials.asp |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=Mountainview.gov |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512071254/https://www.mountainview.gov/depts/cs/memorials.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Cuesta Park, a sprawling park with tennis courts, barbecue areas, and playgrounds, near El Camino Hospital and the YMCA
* Rengstorff Park, home to a public swimming pool, community center, skate park, fenced dog park, and multiple playgrounds and picnic areas
* Charleston Park, a five-acre park located near the [[Googleplex]]. The park was designed by SWA Group who received an ASLA Centennial Medallion in 1999 for their work.<ref>{{cite news |first = Helaine |last = Taylor |title = Company Headquarters For Google Inc Googleplex In California Receive ASLA National Honor Award 2001 |url = http://www.newslikethis.com/company-headquarters-google-inc-googleplex-california-receive-asla-national-honor-award-2001 |publisher = NewsLikeThis.com |date = August 23, 2011 |access-date = January 3, 2015 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150318170707/http://www.newslikethis.com/company-headquarters-google-inc-googleplex-california-receive-asla-national-honor-award-2001 |archive-date = March 18, 2015 |df = mdy-all}}</ref>

==Government==
[[File:Mountain View, City Hall.jpg|thumb|upright|Mountain View City Hall]]

Mountain View has a [[council-manager government]] system. An executive city manager is in charge of several departments, while the city council, supported by several boards, commissions, and committees, is the legislature responsible for the ordinances of the city code. The executive in turn enforces the code and promulgates administrative regulations to execute it. The city clerk and attorney perform supporting roles. The Community Development Department is the agency responsible for planning and zoning.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/city_hall/default.asp|title=City of Mountain View - Departments|access-date=October 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715125005/http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/city_hall/default.asp|archive-date=July 15, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===State and federal representatives===
In the [[California State Legislature|state legislature]], Mountain View is in {{Representative|casd|13|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|23|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |title=Statewide Database |publisher=UC Regents |access-date=November 20, 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]], Mountain View is in {{Representative|cacd|16|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|18}}</ref>

===City council===
Mountain View is represented by a 7-member council elected at-large. The mayor is a council member appointed by their peers each year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mountainview.gov/council/default.asp|title=City of Mountain View - City Council|access-date=July 2, 2017|archive-date=July 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710074837/http://mountainview.gov/council/default.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> The City Council maintains a number of [https://www.mountainview.gov/council/bcc/default.asp Council Advisory Bodies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008181807/https://www.mountainview.gov/council/bcc/default.asp |date=October 8, 2019}}, which provide input on a range of city matters pertaining to development, land use and historical preservation.

==Education==
[[File:Mountain_View_High_School_building.jpg|thumb|[[Mountain View High School (Mountain View, California)|Mountain View High School]]]]

===Public===
The public elementary (Bubb, Castro, Imai, Landels, [[Gabriela Mistral Elementary School|Mistral]], [[Monta Loma, Mountain View|Monta Loma]], Stevenson, Theuerkauf, and Vargas) and middle schools (Crittenden and Graham) are governed by the [[Mountain View-Whisman School District]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.mvwsd.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070724021047/http://www.mvwsd.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=27| title= Mountain View Whisman School District - School Info|archive-date=July 24, 2007 |website=Mvwsd.org| access-date=May 27, 2015}}</ref> Springer Elementary, although located within the borders of Mountain View, is governed by the [[Los Altos School District]]. The public high schools are governed by the [[Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District]] and consist of [[Alta Vista High School (California)|Alta Vista High School]], [[Mountain View High School (Mountain View, California)|Mountain View High School]], and [[Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California)|Los Altos High School]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mvla.net/Home.aspx|title=MVLA High School District| access-date=October 25, 2014| url-status =dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130801172620/http://www.mvla.net/Home.aspx|archive-date=August 1, 2013}}</ref> Mountain View High and Los Altos High each contain approximately 50% Los Altos residents and 50% Mountain View residents. Some Mountain View residents attend Almond Elementary and Egan Junior High in the Los Altos School District.

Mountain View taxed a large portion of its most valuable commercial and industrial properties in the Shoreline Regional Park Community at very low relative levels, and until the creation of a joint-powers agreement (JPA) in 2006, none of those property taxes reached the local schools. After the creation of the JPA, the Shoreline Regional Park Community shared less than $1 million per year with the elementary and high school districts.<ref>[http://www.mv-voice.com/story.php?story_id=1732 "Flush times at high school district,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927084607/http://www.mv-voice.com/story.php?story_id=1732 |date=September 27, 2007}} ''Mountain View Voice,'' June 30, 2006</ref><ref>[http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/kopec/b155/html/tab-234.html "Mountain View Shoreline Regional Park Community Act,"] {{webarchive| url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903100613/http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/kopec/b155/html/tab-234.html |date=September 3, 2006}} uncodified Act of the California Legislature, 1969, Chapter 1109.</ref>

In 2008, a citizen-supported parcel tax, largely aimed at reducing class sizes, was renewed in an overwhelmingly positive vote.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mv-voice.com/news/2008/06/04/measure-c-passes-by-a-landslide| title=Measure C passes by a landslide|author=Casey Weiss|date=June 4, 2008| website=Mv-voice.com|access-date=May 27, 2015}}</ref> The current ratio of students to full-time-equivalent teachers in the Mountain View public elementary schools is 20.4&nbsp;:&nbsp;1.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&details=1&DistrictID=0626280&ID2=0626280|title=District Detail for Mountain View-Whisman Elementary|access-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref>

===Private===

Notable private schools in Mountain View include: [[Khan Lab School]], a [[laboratory school]] associated with [[Khan Academy]]; [[Saint Francis High School (Mountain View)|Saint Francis High School]], a [[Roman Catholic]] [[secondary school]]; [[German International School of Silicon Valley]] (GISSV), a [[K–12 (education)|PK-12]] German-English bilingual international school; and [[Yew Chung International School of Silicon Valley]], a PK-8 Chinese-English bilingual international school.

==Media==
The ''[[Mountain View Voice]]'' is a local newspaper, which began publishing in 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.mv-voice.com/about/ |access-date=September 7, 2022 |website=Mountain View Voice}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Roads===
Major thoroughfares that feed through the city include:
* [[California State Route 237|SR-237]] 
* [[California State Route 85|SR-85]]
* [[Bayshore Freeway|US-101]]
* [[California county routes in zone G#G6|County Route G6]]
* El Camino Real ([[California State Route 82|SR 82]])

===Public transportation===
[[File:Caltrain at Mountain View.jpg|thumb|[[Caltrain]] commuter rail at Mountain View Station]]
[[File:VTA Tasman Station (August 11th, 2005).jpg|thumb|[[Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority]] (VTA) light rail]]

The [[Downtown Mountain View Station]] is the transit center for the city, connecting the public commuter rail, light rail, bus, and private shuttle systems. It is one of the busiest transit centers in the county, behind Milpitas, Palo Alto and San Jose.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20220522171251/https://www.caltrain.com/media/1359/download]}} </ref>

====Rail service====
Mountain View is served by the [[Caltrain]] commuter rail system, which runs from [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] to [[Gilroy, California|Gilroy]]. The two Caltrain stations in the city are the Mountain View Station and the [[San Antonio (Caltrain station)|San Antonio Station]]. Caltrain provides all classes of service in Mountain View, with Baby Bullet trains stopping at the main downtown station.

The city is also served by the [[Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority]] (VTA), which operates various bus lines and a [[VTA light rail|light rail system]] connecting Mountain View with other points in [[Santa Clara County, California|Santa Clara County]]. There are a total of four stations in the city on the [[Orange Line (VTA)|Orange Line]] VTA [[light rail]] line, with Downtown Mountain View Station serving as the northern terminus, while the other three stations are [[Whisman (VTA)|Whisman]], [[Middlefield (VTA)|Middlefield]], and [[Bayshore-NASA (VTA)|Bayshore/NASA]].

====Bus service====
MVgo is a free shuttle service that runs three routes throughout Mountain View beginning and ending at Downtown Mountain View Station during morning and evening commute hours. Many large local employers (including [[Google]], [[Microsoft]], [[Apple Inc.]], and NASA [[Ames Research Center]]) operate employee shuttles that stop at the Downtown Mountain View Station. There is also a free community shuttle bus that serves 50 stops in a loop within Mountain View, which connects the major shopping areas with the residential neighborhoods.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://mvcommunityshuttle.com/ |title=Mountain View Community Shuttle |access-date=February 11, 2015}}</ref>

VTA operates several regularly scheduled routes within the city, including Routes 21, 22/522, 40, 51, and 52. VTA also has a bus yard in Mountain View, near Shoreline Blvd and US-101.

====Air travel====
The nearest major commercial airport is [[San Jose International Airport]] (SJC), located about 11 miles (15 minutes) from downtown Mountain View. [[San Francisco International Airport]] (SFO) and [[Oakland International Airport]] (OAK) also serve Mountain View and often have more international flights available than SJC. [[Moffett Federal Airfield]] is located just north of Mountain View, but it is restricted to government, military, and private use. The nearest [[general aviation]] airport is the [[Palo Alto Airport]].
{{See also|List of airports in the San Francisco Bay area}}

===Utilities===
Power in the city is operated by [[Pacific Gas and Electric Company]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://patch.com/california/mountainview/mountain-view-power-outages-ongoing |title=Mountain View Power Outages Ongoing |author=Maggie Avants |date=April 24, 2018 |website=Patch |publisher=Bay City News Service |access-date=April 26, 2018}}</ref>

The city is one of the region's largest users of [[Reclaimed water|Recycled Water]], mostly for landscaping in the area North of US-101 covering Shoreline Park and the Google campus. Mountain View uses about 460,000 gallons of recycled water daily, with plans to expand that usage to up to 1.4 million gallons each day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Forestieri |first=Kevin |title=Mountain View seeks to triple its recycled water use over the next decade amid statewide droughts |url=https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2022/03/21/mountain-view-seeks-to-triple-its-recycled-water-use-over-the-next-decade-amid-statewide-droughts |access-date=August 25, 2023 |website=Mv-voice.com |date=March 21, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

On August 16, 2006, after over a year of test deployments, Google announced that its implementation of free [[IEEE 802.11]]g wireless service for all of the city was fully operational.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/16/technology/16google.html|title=Google Says It Has No Plans for National Wi-Fi Service|first=John|last=Markoff|work=The New York Times |date=August 16, 2006|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

On February 19, 2014, the City of Mountain View and [[Google]] announced a new connectivity plan for residents, to replace the existing system. Service was to be available along the downtown corridor of Mountain View, primarily on Castro Street. Other areas to be covered included Rengstorff Park, the Mountain View Public Library, Senior, Community, and Teen Centers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mountainview.gov/depts/it/wi_fi.asp|title=City of Mountain View - Wi-Fi|website=Mountainview.gov|access-date=May 27, 2015|archive-date=May 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524212037/http://www.mountainview.gov/depts/it/wi_fi.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Public safety===
[[File:Mountain View Fire Station Number 1.jpg|thumb|Mountain View Fire Station No. 1]]

The Mountain View Fire Department maintains five stations, and is responsible for fire protection and emergency medical services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mountainview.gov/documents/MVFD/Fire%20Annual%20Report%20FY%2015-16.pdf|title=Mountain View Fire Department Annual Report 2015-2016|access-date=July 12, 2018|archive-date=July 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713074250/https://www.mountainview.gov/documents/MVFD/Fire%20Annual%20Report%20FY%2015-16.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mountainview.gov/depts/fire/default.asp|title=City of Mountain View - Fire|access-date=July 12, 2017|archive-date=July 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724130032/http://www.mountainview.gov/depts/fire/default.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mountainview.gov/depts/fire/emergency/apparatus.asp|title=City of Mountain View - Fire - Apparatus|access-date=July 12, 2018|archive-date=July 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713073054/https://www.mountainview.gov/depts/fire/emergency/apparatus.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Mountain View Police Department maintains patrol, traffic enforcement, detective, K9 and SWAT services for the city,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=26646|title=Mountain View Police Department Annual Report 2017|website=Mountainview.gov|access-date=February 27, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308145557/https://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=26646|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mountainview.gov/depts/police/default.asp|title=City of Mountain View - Police|access-date=July 12, 2018|archive-date=July 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713073032/https://www.mountainview.gov/depts/police/default.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://joinmvpd.com/specialty-units/|title=Mountain View Police Department Specialty Units|access-date=July 12, 2018|archive-date=July 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713073314/https://joinmvpd.com/specialty-units/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and participates in several task forces,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=13148|title=Mountain View Police Department Annual Report 2013|access-date=July 12, 2018|archive-date=August 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819141515/https://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=13148|url-status=dead}}</ref> including the Regional Allied Computer Crime Task Force (REACT) and the Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RAATF).<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2005 |title=Resolution - Approve Police Dept's Participation in REACT |url=https://laserfiche.mountainview.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=19736&dbid=0&repo=CityDocuments&cr=1 |access-date=October 25, 2024 |website=City of Mountain View}}</ref>

==Sister cities==
The Mountain View Sister City Affiliation was incorporated in 1974 as an independent non-profit governed by a board of directors. Mountain View is affiliated with the cities of

*{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Iwata, Shizuoka]], Japan
*{{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Hasselt]], Belgium

The rock garden in Pioneer Park was a gift from the sister city of Iwata to celebrate the completion of Mountain View's City Hall building.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mv-voice.com/morgue/2002/2002_02_01.andy.html |title=Former Mayor Dies |newspaper=Mountain View Voice |access-date=February 11, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM9AFZ_Pioneer_Park_Rock_Garden_Mountain_View_CA |title=Pioneer Park Rock Garden |publisher=Waymarking.com |access-date=February 11, 2015}}</ref> The rock garden is located near the Mountain View Public Library.

==Notable people==
<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline -->{{See also|Category:People from Mountain View, California}}

=== Business ===
* [[Steve Jobs]], technology entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Apple, lived in Mountain View during his childhood<ref>{{cite web |title=Mountain View Online : Steve Jobs called Mountain View home as a child |url=http://www.mv-voice.com/news/show_story.php?id=4823 |website=Mv-voice.com}}</ref>
* [[Salman Khan (educator)|Salman Khan]], Khan Academy online educator, resides in Mountain View<ref>{{cite news |last1=Begos |first1=Kevin |title=Salman Khan among three Bay Area residents getting $250,000 Heinz awards |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_25223089?source=rss |newspaper=San Jose Mercury News}}</ref>
* [[Jan Koum]], CEO and co-founder of WhatsApp, grew up in Mountain View

=== Entertainment ===
* [[Alex Brightman]], actor and singer
* [[Carroll Clark]], seven-time [[Academy Award for Best Art Direction]] nominee<ref>{{cite web|title=CARROLL CLARK AND EMILE KURI|url=http://fan.tcm.com/_Carroll-Clark-and-Emile-Kuri/blog/6176929/66470.html?createPassive=true|publisher=Turner Classic Movies|access-date=July 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714154215/http://fan.tcm.com/_Carroll-Clark-and-Emile-Kuri/blog/6176929/66470.html?createPassive=true|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Laura Chavez]], blues, soul, and rhythm and blues guitarist, songwriter and record producer<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/laura-chavez-mn0000320109/biography|title=Laura Chavez &#124; Biography & History|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=February 26, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Assaf Cohen]], supporting actor, ''[[Heroes (U.S. TV series)|Heroes]]'' and ''[[Entourage (U.S. TV series)|Entourage]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=Assaf Cohen|url=http://www.tv.com/people/assaf-cohen/|website=TV.com|access-date=July 9, 2014|archive-date=July 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713174240/http://www.tv.com/people/assaf-cohen/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Kurt Kuenne]], filmmaker and composer best known for the documentary ''[[Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father]]''<ref>{{cite web |title=Kurt Kuenne |url=https://www.soundtrack.net/person/kurt-kuenne/ |website=Soundtrack.net}}</ref>

=== Media ===
* [[Dave Finocchio]], co-founder of [[Bleacher Report]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2014/03/10/Forty-Under-40/Dave-Finocchio.aspx|title=Forty Under 40: Dave Finocchio|website=Sportsbusinessdaily.com|date=March 10, 2014 |access-date=October 24, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Doris Gates]], author and librarian<ref>{{cite book |title=Something About the Author, Autobiography Series, Vol. 1 |publisher=Gale Research |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-8103-4450-1 |editor-last=Sarkissian |editor-first=Adele}}</ref>
* [[Edward Michael Keating]] (1925–2003), American publisher, journalist, lawyer; founder of ''[[Ramparts (magazine)|Ramparts]]'', member of the [[New Left]] movement.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=McLellan |first=Dennis |date=April 12, 2003 |title=Edward Keating, 77; Founder of Ramparts |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-12-me-keating12-story.html |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035}}</ref>
* [[Jose Antonio Vargas]], journalist, filmmaker, immigration rights activist, and namesake of new Mountain View elementary school<ref>{{cite web |title=Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary |url=https://www.mvwsd.org/district_business/facilities/school_construction/jose_antonio_vargas_elementary_construction |access-date=September 7, 2019 |publisher=Mountain View Whisman School District}}</ref>
* [[Andy Weir]], wrote ''The Martian'' book and eventual film, while living in Mountain View

=== Politicians ===
* [[Hugh Fate]], dentist and Alaska state representative<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alaska State Legislature |url=http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Member/Detail/23?code=FHT |access-date=February 27, 2021 |website=Akleg.gov}}</ref>

=== Sports ===
* [[Jabri Abdur-Rahim]], [[college basketball]] player for the [[Georgia Bulldogs basketball|Georgia Bulldogs]]
* [[Mark Baena]], soccer player<ref>{{Cite web |title=ASL-Mark Baena |url=https://www.nasljerseys.com/ASL/Players/B/Baena.Mark.htm |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=(NASL) jerseys}}</ref>
* [[Tully Banta-Cain]], two-time [[Super Bowl]] champion<ref>{{cite web |title=Tully Banta-Cain |url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BANTATUL01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211133616/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BANTATUL01 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 11, 2007 |access-date=December 3, 2012 |website=Databasefootball.com}}</ref>
* [[Josh Cohen (soccer)|Josh Cohen]], soccer player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Josh Cohen |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/players/c/josh-cohen |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=[[United States Soccer Federation]]}}</ref>
* [[Brandon Crawford]], professional baseball player in MLB, played for the [[San Francisco Giants]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Brandon Crawford Stats |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=crawfbr01 |access-date=December 3, 2012 |publisher=Baseball Almanac}}</ref>
* [[Paula Creamer]], professional golfer and formerly [[Women's World Golf Rankings]] number two player<ref>{{cite web |title=Hottest players on the LPGA Tour |url=http://www.golf.com/photos/hottest-players-lpga-tour/paula-creamer-0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714115634/http://www.golf.com/photos/hottest-players-lpga-tour/paula-creamer-0 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |access-date=July 9, 2014 |website=Golf.com}}</ref>
* [[Dan Green (powerlifter)|Dan Green]], powerlifter, world record holder in 220 and 242 lbs weight classes<ref>{{cite web |title=Men's Raw World Records |url=http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/records/raw/world |access-date=May 27, 2015 |website=Powerliftingwatch.com}}</ref>
* [[Mark Keil]], five-time ATP tennis doubles champion
* [[Mark Leonard (baseball)|Mark Leonard]], former left fielder for the [[San Francisco Giants]] and [[Baltimore Orioles]]
* [[Adam Peters]], football scout and executive<ref>{{cite web |title=Player Bio: Adam Peters |url=https://uclabruins.com/sports/2013/4/17/208195218 |access-date=January 9, 2024 |website=uclabruins.com |publisher=[[UCLA Bruins]]}}</ref>
* [[Kenny Roberts Jr.]], 2000 [[List of 500cc/MotoGP Motorcycle World Champions|500cc Road Racing World Champion]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Kenny Roberts Jr |url=https://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profile/Kenny+Roberts%20Jr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204084531/https://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profile/Kenny+ROBERTS%2520JR |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |access-date=May 27, 2015 |website=Motogp.com}}</ref>
* [[Bianca Sierra]], player for [[Mexico women's national football team]]

==See also==
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area}}
* [[Timeline of Mountain View, California]]
* [[St. Joseph's Seminary (Mountain View, California)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{See also|Timeline of Mountain View, California#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Mountain View, California}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mountain View, California}}
{{Wikivoyage|Mountain View (California)}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Mountain View, California}}
{{Santa Clara County}}
{{San Jose and Silicon Valley attractions|nocat=1}}
{{SF Bay Area}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mountain View, California| ]]
[[Category:1902 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Butterfield Overland Mail in California]]
[[Category:Cities in Santa Clara County, California]]
[[Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1902]]
[[Category:Silicon Valley]]