Monte Sereno, city in Santa Clara County, California, United States
Monte Sereno is a small city in Santa Clara County, California, situated in the hills just south of San Jose. It is made up almost entirely of large residential lots surrounded by trees, giving the area a wooded, rural feel.
The land that Monte Sereno now occupies was once part of large private estates belonging to wealthy families from the broader region. The city was officially incorporated in 1960, partly to remain independent from the growing neighboring city of Los Gatos.
Monte Sereno has no shops, restaurants, or commercial centers of any kind, making it unlike most cities in the area. Driving through it feels more like passing through a private residential neighborhood than through a city.
Monte Sereno is best reached by car, as there is no meaningful public transportation serving the area. There are no shops or cafes within the city itself, so it is wise to stop in a neighboring town before arriving.
Monte Sereno is one of the smallest incorporated cities in California by population, yet it consistently ranks among the wealthiest in the entire state. Despite this, the city has no police department of its own and contracts law enforcement services from the Santa Clara County Sheriff.
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