Population
Sunnyvale is a city located in Santa Clara County in the heart of Silicon Valley in the U.S. state of California. According to the Wikipedia page for Sunnyvale, the city had an estimated population of 153,656 as of 2021, making it the second largest city in Santa Clara County behind San Jose.
Sunnyvale is part of the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metropolitan statistical area, which has a population of around 2 million people. The city has seen steady population growth over the decades, more than doubling in size since the 1970 census.
Sunnyvale has a diverse population, with 38.7% Asian, 31.4% White, 13.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 7.5% African American residents according to 2019 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Over 55 languages are spoken across Sunnyvale households.
Economy and Major Employers
Silicon Valley has long been a hub for high-tech industry and innovation, and Sunnyvale is no exception. Many major technology companies are headquartered in Sunnyvale, making technology the leading industry in the city’s economy.
Some of the top employers in Sunnyvale include:
- Lockheed Martin Space Systems – over 15,000 employees
- LinkedIn – over 6,000 employees
- Juniper Networks – over 4,000 employees
- NetApp – over 3,500 employees
- Yahoo! – over 1,000 employees
- Apple Inc. – over 700 employees
In addition to high-tech, other major industries in Sunnyvale’s diverse economy include advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, clean technology, and health services.
Some key economic facts according to the City of Sunnyvale’s website:
- Sunnyvale had a daytime population of over 225,000 workers in 2019.
- Sunnyvale businesses generated over $3.9 billion in annual taxable sales in 2018.
- The city has over 7,100 businesses across various sectors.
With a skilled high-tech workforce, strong economy, and concentration of innovative companies, Sunnyvale continues to thrive as a center of technology and business in Silicon Valley.
Attractions
In addition to its vibrant economy and diverse population, Sunnyvale also offers many attractions and activities for visitors and residents to enjoy:
- California Air and Space Museum – This museum showcases aviation and space history with exhibits like historic aircraft, spacecraft models, and artifacts from Amelia Earhart. Website
- Baylands Park – Nature lovers will enjoy over 1,400 acres of trails, gardens, and wildlife habitat along the San Francisco Bay. Website
- Plaza Del Sol – Downtown Sunnyvale’s vibrant town square features shops, restaurants, a farmer’s market on Wednesdays, and outdoor events year-round. Website
- Columbia Park Playground – Families with children will love this huge playground’s slides, swings, climbing structures, and interactive features. Website
- Lake Elizabeth – Enjoy a nice stroll around this peaceful 34-acre lake located right in the heart of the city. Website
- Charles Street Gardens – See gorgeous roses and other flowers in bloom at this 4.5 acre botanical garden open year-round. Website
Whether you love the great outdoors, an educational experience, shopping and dining, or fun family activities, Sunnyvale has something for you!
Sports
While Sunnyvale does not have any major professional sports teams, residents are still able to enjoy sports and fitness activities of all kinds.
For recreational team sports, the Sunnyvale Community Services Sports Center offers youth and adult sports leagues for baseball, softball, basketball, and more. The City of Sunnyvale organizes these popular programs for the community.
Those looking to get active can utilize Sunnyvale’s many public parks, tennis courts, swimming pools, and golfcourses. Lakewood Park even offers a skate park and BMX track area for extreme sports enthusiasts.
Fitness centers like 24 Hour Fitness, Planet Fitness, and the YMCA also provide equipment and classes for working out and staying fit. For indoor courts and training, Bay Club Sunnyvale features racquetball, squash, basketball and other facilities.
Fans of professional and college sports teams can watch games at sports bars around the city or make the short drive to see the San Francisco 49ers, San Jose Sharks, Golden State Warriors, San Jose Earthquakes, and Stanford sports teams play in person.
With pleasant weather year-round, Sunnyvale provides the ideal backdrop for enjoying sports, fitness, and recreational activities of all kinds.
City Government
Sunnyvale follows a Council-Manager style of municipal government. The city is governed by a seven-member City Council consisting of a directly elected Mayor and six Councilmembers elected by geographic district to four-year terms.
The current Mayor of Sunnyvale is Larry Klein, who was elected in November 2020. The day-to-day operations of the city are overseen by the City Manager appointed by the Council.
Residents are encouraged to get involved in local government by attending City Council meetings, voting in municipal elections, applying for Council-appointed commissions, proposing ballot initiatives, and more.
Visit the City of Sunnyvale’s website and Facebook page to learn more about municipal government and community happenings in Sunnyvale.