Campbell CityCampbell was founded by Benjamin Campbell, after whom the city was named. William started a sawmill in Saratoga and surveyed the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara. In 1851, Benjamin bought 160 acres in southern Santa Clara Valley and cultivated hay and grain on it. This area later became Campbell's historical downtown core. Campbell is home to the Pruneyard Shopping Center, a sprawling open-air retail complex. Pruneyard was involved in a famous U.S. Supreme Court case that established the extent of the right to free speech in California. The associated Pruneyard Towers, built in 1970, was for many years the tallest building between San Francisco and Los Angeles. |
Campbell historical downtown
Location & Map
About Campbell historical downtown
Campbell is situated in the southern portion of the Santa Clara Valley, with Highway 17 passing through eastern Campbell and Highway 85 to its south. The historic downtown section sits just west of the railroad in the central area. The southwestern area of Campbell is known as the San Tomas neighborhood and varies somewhat from most of Campbell in the size of its lots and styles of housing. Hamilton Avenue is one the northernmost roads in Campbell.
Panographer: Val T. Hoang, Canon 5D