As the southernmost of the county’s  communities, Gilroy is undergoing a rapid transformation from a rural to suburban environment with an emphasis on young families. Adding to the allure is a growing collection of shops and antique dealers in the downtown district, as well as one of the South Bay’s most popular retail attractions–sprawling collection of factory outlet stores.

In spite of its distinction as one of the county’s hot spots for growth, Gilroy still offers the rural flavor of countryside in the farmland along the periphery as well as the hillsides and mountains to the east and west. The commercial development has kept pace with the residential boom, which adds convenient shops and services. Commuters can take advantage of CalTrain, which runs up to San Jose and finishes in San Francisco.

A colorful town of festivals and abundant options for activity, Gilroy is best known for its annual Garlic Festival. Attracting well over 130,000 visitors that consume about 5,000 pounds of garlic, the implications of this unusual social event defy the imagination. Also home of Gavilan Community College, Gilroy has plans for amenities that are on the drawing board, including a horticultural theme park expected to attract over one million visitors each year.