Welcome to Cupertino

Apple's hometown — a globally recognized Silicon Valley city with top-rated schools and a strong family-friendly community.

Cupertino sits in the heart of Silicon Valley at the western edge of Santa Clara County. Best known as the home of Apple's headquarters at Apple Park, it's also home to De Anza College — one of California's top community colleges — and consistently ranks among the best school districts in the state.

The city's name traces back to 1776, when Spanish priest and cartographer Pedro Font named the local creek Arroyo San Jose de Cupertino (today known as Stevens Creek). After the Mexican-American War, the settlement was originally called West Side, but because nearby towns shared the name, residents returned to its Spanish roots and renamed it Cupertino.

Like much of the South Bay, Cupertino began as orchards — French prune, peach, apricot, cherry, plum, walnut, and almond — earning the region its nickname, the "Valley of Heart's Delight." That agricultural identity gave way in the 1960s when De Anza College opened, and again in 1976 when Apple set up shop. Cupertino has been one of Silicon Valley's most influential addresses ever since.

What Makes It Great

Living in Cupertino

Cupertino has the feel of an established Silicon Valley suburb with a strong sense of community. Most homes were built between the 1950s and 1980s as ranch-style residences, though many have been remodeled or rebuilt as modern custom homes. The city is diverse, education-focused, and family-oriented — public schools draw buyers from all over the Bay Area, and Apple's presence keeps the local economy among the most stable in the region.

Dining, Entertainment, & Shopping

Cupertino's main commercial corridors are Stevens Creek Boulevard, De Anza Boulevard, and Homestead Road. Local favorites include:

For shopping and grocery, Main Street Cupertino is an outdoor lifestyle center on Stevens Creek Boulevard with restaurants, shops, a public lawn, and seasonal events. Cupertino Crossroads (at Stevens Creek and De Anza) anchors larger retail with TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, and Whole Foods. The De Anza and Cupertino Village shopping centers offer additional dining and Asian groceries.

The Apple Park Visitor Center on Tantau Avenue is also a worthwhile stop, with rooftop views of Apple Park, an augmented-reality model of the campus, and an Apple Store exclusive to the location.

Things to Do

Memorial Park, Cupertino's largest park at 28 acres, hosts the Cupertino Senior Center, Veterans Memorial, an amphitheater, and the city's annual events. Blackberry Farm offers a nine-hole golf course, picnic grounds, swimming pools, and bocce courts in a quiet creek setting. Stevens Creek Trail is a popular paved trail running along the creek with bike and pedestrian access.

For more rugged outdoor recreation, Rancho San Antonio County Park (just over the western city line) has 23 miles of hiking trails and the historic Deer Hollow Farm. Fremont Older Open Space Preserve in the south offers ridge-top hikes with sweeping South Bay views.

The annual Cherry Blossom Festival each April is one of the city's signature events, along with the Cupertino Diwali Festival, the Fall Festival, and the city's free summer concert series at Memorial Park.

Schools

Cupertino is served by some of the most highly-rated school districts in California. Students may attend: