Sunnyvale

Fairchild Semiconductor was founded in Sunnyvale, California, in 1956. This event marked a significant point in the history of Silicon Valley and the global technology industry. Fairchild Semiconductor was crucial in the development of silicon transistors and integrated circuits, paving the way for the modern computing era. Its founding is often seen as the dawn of Silicon Valley, as it spawned dozens of spin-off companies in the area and attracted technology talent worldwide.

In 1961, the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, which is adjacent to Sunnyvale, expanded its facilities to include areas within Sunnyvale city limits. This extension played a significant role in technological and aerospace research endeavors during the space race era. The inclusion of these facilities brought aerospace and engineering expertise to Sunnyvale, marking an important period of collaboration between government space agencies and Silicon Valley.

Atari, Inc., was incorporated in Sunnyvale and became one of the earliest pioneers in the electronic gaming industry. Founded by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, Atari was instrumental in creating the video arcade market with the release of Pong, the first commercially successful video game. The company's location in Sunnyvale made the city a hub for early video game development and contributed to the broader rise of Silicon Valley as a technology epicenter.

In November 1994, Yahoo was founded in Sunnyvale by Jerry Yang and David Filo. Over the years, Yahoo grew to become a major force in the Internet industry, offering services like search engine, email, and news. The founding of Yahoo was an important milestone in Sunnyvale's history as it reinforced the city's standing in the technology world. Yahoo's presence in Sunnyvale helped attract other tech companies to the area, further solidifying Silicon Valley's reputation as a tech innovation hotspot.

In 2009, LinkedIn, a professional networking company, announced the relocation of its headquarters to Sunnyvale, California. This move was part of LinkedIn's strategic growth plan as it continued to expand its user base and influence in the social networking industry. The choice of Sunnyvale underscored the city's reputation as a hub for technology companies, benefiting from its proximity to the talent and innovative climate of Silicon Valley.

Onizuka Air Force Station, located in Sunnyvale, was officially closed in 2014. Known colloquially as 'The Blue Cube', Onizuka AFS was once a central part of U.S. military satellite operations. Its closure marked the end of an era in military history for Sunnyvale, as the base had been a significant site for satellite command and control operations for several decades. The event represented a pivotal moment in the city's transition away from military operations.