City of East Palo Alto, California

City of East Palo Alto, CA

The name "East Palo Alto" misleads people unfamiliar with the area. East Palo Alto is not part of Palo Alto nor is it east of Palo Alto, however it is adjacent to Palo Alto. East Palo Alto is located in San Mateo County, north of the city of Palo Alto, which is located in Santa Clara County.

East Palo Alto has gone through strong changes. In the 1950s cheap housing was built over farm land, much of which had been owned by Japanese families who were forced out during World War II. Many blue collar workers who worked on the SF Peninsula moved into the new housing and because of racial redlining a high percentage were African American. The Hispanic/Latino population in East Palo Alto has grown steadily and in 2010 reached about 65%. With the move of Facebook and other high-tech employers to east Menlo Park and East Palo Alto, there has been strong growth in the number of young, high-income, professionals moving into the city.

East Palo Alto was an unincorporated area in San Mateo County until June 1983, however legal challenges prevented the incorporation from being officially recognized until 1987. East Palo Alto was not eligible for many of the revenue benefits for areas with city status.

Major employers in the city are: 1) Ravenswood City School District, 2) Ikea, 3) Four Seasons Hotel, 4) Home Depot, 5) Ravenswood Family Health Center, 6) US Post Office, 7) NTT Group, 8) City of East Palo Alto, 9) Nordstrom Rack, 10) Ropes and Gray Law Firm

U.S. Census Facts for East Palo Alto

• Total Population: 28,155
• 7,754 housing units - 37.8% owner occupied
• Median household income: $50,142
• Bachelors degree or higher: 16.3%
• Median age: 28.9