San Jose Kicks Off 250th Anniversary Year
The city began a year-long celebration marking 250 years since its founding, unveiling new branding at San Pedro Square.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Civic
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San Jose launched a year-long runup to its 250th anniversary celebration, revealing the 'San Jose 250' logo and branding imagery at San Pedro Square on Saturday. The city is the oldest civilian community in California, founded when a small group of Spanish settlers moved into the area on November 29, 1777.
Why it matters
The anniversary gives San Jose residents a shared milestone to mark the city's origins and history. The branding highlights groups that make up the city's past, framing the celebration around its community heritage.
The city's anniversary is tied to a 250-year span beginning 18 months after the Declaration of Independence, and the city plans to plant 250,000 daffodil bulbs in the coming months. The complete schedule of events remains to be set through upcoming advisory meetings.
The players
San Jose, California
The oldest civilian community in California and the largest city in the Bay Area, which is marking its 250th anniversary.
Gonzalez-Peralta Adobe
The only surviving structure from the original El Pueblo de San Jose settlement, now owned by the city.
The details
The 'San Jose 250' logo features stylized images of groups that make up the city's past. The Gonzalez-Peralta Adobe, the only remaining structure of the original settlement El Pueblo de San Jose, was used mainly as a storage shed for roughly the last 100 years before the city bought it in 1976.
Timeline
November 29, 1777: Spanish settlers move in to establish El Pueblo de San Jose.
1976: The city purchases the Gonzalez-Peralta Adobe.
November 7, 2026: The year-long 250th anniversary celebration kicks off.
Historical Context
The 250th anniversary marks the 1777 founding of El Pueblo de San Jose, the settlement that established the city as California's oldest civilian community. The celebration looks back to that Spanish-era origin, which predates California's statehood by decades.
Residents can expect a year of city-organized events and festivals as the list is finalized through advisory meetings. Public spaces such as San Pedro Square are already hosting anniversary branding and activities.
The takeaway
San Jose's 250th anniversary invites residents to explore the layered history behind the city, from its 1777 Spanish founding to the preserved adobe that remains a physical link to its origins.
What happens next
The city will hold advisory meetings to develop the list of events and festivals for the anniversary year, and plans to plant 250,000 daffodil bulbs in the coming months.
Further reading
Explore more local civic news in Civic coverage of San Jose's milestone celebrations.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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