Located along the southeastern side of the San Francisco Bay, the city of Fremont, California is a young and well-educated town considered to be a part of Silicon Valley. With a population of just over 213,000 it is also the fourth-biggest city in the Bay Area and is considered one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the region. Fremont also boasts a healthy environment, chosen in 1999 as the National Public Health Institute's healthiest city for raising children. Whatever your lifestyle, those moving to Fremont will discover an unique place to live.
Economy:
A manufacturing center until the 1980s and 1990s, Fremont now trends toward the technology industries of Silicon Valley. Despite this, the largest numbers of jobs in the city still remain in manufacturing. Through the 1980s, the largest single employer was General Motors, whose assembly plant is now in the process of shutting down. Today, Fremont's largest employers are New United Motor Manufacturing, Washington Hospital, the Fremont Unified School District, Oplink Communications, Smart Modular Technologies, Lam Research Corporation, Boston Scientific/Target Therapeutics, Inc., Seagate Magnetics, Western Digital and AXT Incorporated. With all of these exciting employment opportunities, it's no wonder Fremont moving companies are so busy.
History:
The history of Fremont begins with the establishment of Mission San Jose in 1797. The Mission was located on strategic routes connecting Los Angeles with the San Francisco Bay and with the Mission Pass gold fields. Although the Mission briefly fell into disuse with the secularization of land in 1834, the settlement again flourished due to its location as a travel hub, its fertile land and its abundant water sources. Eight separate settlements had formed around the original Mission by 1850, and these settlements formed the Washington Township in 1853. Unrestricted urban growth in the 1950s led five of the settlements (Centerville, Irvington, Niles, Mission San Jose and Warm Springs) to incorporate as a city. In 1956, the city of Fremont was named after the soldier and explorer John C. Fremont.
Tourism:
Fremont's long history and large population have led to many major tourist attractions in the city. Historic sites include the Ardenwood Historic Farm (reflecting 1890s-era farming), the Centerville Train Depot (opened in 1909 and still in use), the Higuera Adobe (built in 1840), the Leland Stanford Winery Historical Landmark (founded in 1869), the Mission San Jose and Cemetery and the Vallejo Adobe (built in 1842). More active fun is available from the Aqua Adventure Water Park (open from May to September) and from Fremont's Central Park (450 acres in the middle of the city). Fremont's museums include the Museum of Local History, the Niles Depot Museum and the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum and Edison Theater. Other cultural activities in the city include three Farmers Markets, a gallery district, the Broadway West Theatre Company and the Fremont Symphony Orchestra. Air travel to Fremont is available via the Oakland International Airport, the San Francisco International Airport or the Mineta San Jose International Airport. Buses and trains both serve the city and its surrounding regions.