Los Gatos

Los Gatos is a town at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains in Santa Clara County, California, where Victorian houses stand beside modern shops. The center stretches along a few main streets lined with trees, cafés, and small plazas that invite lingering.

The settlement grew around a mill in the 1850s and first served timber operations in the mountains. By 1900 it had shifted to an agricultural community with orchards and vineyards in the surrounding area.

The downtown core preserves an active arts scene with galleries and sidewalk cafés that draw crowds on weekends. Locals gather often along Los Gatos Creek, where trails invite shared jogging and cycling outings.

The town sits about 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of San Jose and is reached via the mountain road Route 17. Parks and walking paths along the creek offer chances for strolls and bike rides in a quiet setting.

Between 1891 and 1929 around twenty oil wells pumped crude from the ground in and around the town. This short period left few visible traces, but old town maps still show the locations of the drilling towers.

Location: Santa Clara County

Shares border with: San Jose, Saratoga, Campbell, Monte Sereno

Address: Los Gatos, CA, USA

Website: http://losgatosca.gov

GPS coordinates: 37.23611,-121.96167

Latest update: December 12, 2025 20:50