All About the Alum Rock, San Jose Area

Alum Rock is a unique community separated from the rest of San Jose. In the 19th century and early 20th century Alum Rock was mostly fruit orchard land. During the 1940s and 1950s, developers began building residential housing and formed the community of Alum Rock. During that time, Alum Rock Avenue and a passenger railroad passed through the town on the way to Alum Rock Park.

Alum Rock was named after a rock formerly thought to be composed of alum in nearby Alum Rock Park. Formerly a separate town, much of the community is unincorporated surrounded by incorporated San Jose; neighborhoods between White Road and Capitol Avenue are part of a city/county agreement for annexation. James Lick High School, Mt. Pleasant High School, and William C. Overfelt High School, Joseph George Middle School, Ocala Middle School, and other schools in the Alum Rock Union School District serve the neighborhood. Near the center of the community is a small neighborhood commercial strip along Alum Rock Avenue at White Road.

Schools in the Area:

High Schools
James Lick High School
Mt. Pleasant High School
William C. Overfelt High School

Middle Schools
Joseph George Middle School
Ocala Middle School

 source: wikipedia